Adam Driver is one of the best actors in Hollywood. He has consistently proved to be an intensely talented and highly varied performer, ever since he made his breakthrough in the HBO series ‘Girls’ back in 2012. Throughout his career, Adam Driver has made some incredible movies, but which are the greatest of them all? Let’s take a look as we rank the best Adam Driver Movies.
10: Logan Lucky (2017)
Getting us started on the list of the best Adam Driver movies is the entertaining soda-caper comedy-drama ‘Logan Lucky’. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and co-starring Channing Tatum, this is the story of the unlucky-yet-foolhardy Logan family and their attempts to rob a NASCAR race in order to get some much-needed money. Adam Driver plays the role of Clyde Logan, the most laid back and level-headed of the Logan siblings, who is enlisted to help with the operation. Driver is excellent in this film – his debonair, unruffled performance is delightful to watch, and his wonderful chemistry with the rest of the cast brings a lot to the table.
9: Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
In the Coen brothers’ award-winning dramedy ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, Adam Driver plays the role of Troy Nelson, a supporting character alongside lead actor Oscar Isaac. It tells the story of the titular Llewyn Davis who, despite having an excellent singing voice, struggles to make a living as a folk musician in 1960s’ New York City. Driver’s portrayal of Troy Nelson, a giggling, insecure, and frustrated folk singer, is an absolute joy to watch. His slightly manic, yet likeable charm gives a lot of heart to the scenes he’s in, making his performance one of the highlights of this excellent film.
8: Burning (2018)
Featuring Adam Driver in one of his boldest performances yet, Chang-dong Lee’s ‘Burning’ is an intense and gripping thriller-drama. It’s the story of a young delivery man, Jong-Su (Yoo Ah-in), who crosses paths with the affluent and mysterious Haemi (Jeong-eun Lee). Things take a dramatic turn when the milieu lifestyle of Haemi’s new friend (Adam Driver in this enigmatic and intense portrayal) leads to unforeseen events. Adam Driver is simply mesmerizing on-screen, creating a sinister energy and strangeness that perfectly fits the overall tone of this atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful film.
7: Paterson (2016)
In Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Paterson’, Adam Driver plays the role of Paterson, a bus driver with a deep love of poetry. His days are filled with driving his route, stopping at the local bar for some beers, and writing profound poetry in his spare time. Adam Driver’s nuanced, gentle portrayal of this very quietly-lively and insightful character is really something to behold. His tremendous control and subtlety over his delivery give Paterson’s words an incredible depth and poignancy.
6: BlacKkKlansman (2018)
In Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning drama ‘BlacKkKlansman’, Adam Driver plays the role of Flip Zimmerman, a Jewish police officer who teams up with an African-American detective (John David Washington) in an undercover operation to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Driver is exceptionally good in this movie, adeptly managing to look like he actually belongs in the right-wing extremist group. His deceptive and skilful performance is a perfect counterpart to John David Washington’s exuberance, creating a wonderful back-and-forth between the two characters.
5: Marriage Story (2019)
Noah Baumbach’s real-dialogue-driven ‘Marriage Story’ features Adam Driver in the lead role of Charlie – a Broadway theater director caught in the midst of a divorce from his wife, Nicole (Scarlett Johannson). Driver brings an emotive intensity to this already brilliantly-acted movie. Whether his scenes are full of anger and frustration or vulnerable grief, he is always convincing and always mesmerizing as he gets lost in this painful physical and psychological journey.
4: The Report (2019)
Scott Z. Burns’ ‘The Report’ is an intense yet invaluable political drama about the CIA torture program and its subsequent investigation. Adam Driver plays the role of lead investigator Daniel Jones, who works for the Senate to uncover the truth about the CIA’s past misdeeds. Driver’s magnetic performance crackles with emotion – be it anger, distress, fear, or sheer determination to do what’s right, Driver truly is at the top of his acting game. He commands the screen with an elegant yet powerful method of acting, making his character an essential part of the movie’s success.
3: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
From blockbuster franchises to long-term trilogies, Adam Driver has proved himself to be a very versatile actor. His role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars universe is perhaps his most iconic, and ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is the perfect example of why this is. His presence on-screen is electric, and the intensity he brings to the Force-conflicted Kylo Ren is simply mesmerizing. Whether he’s desperately trying to channel his impressively dark and powerful voice, going through passionate and emotionally-charged monologues, or performing his lightsaber stunts in striking slow-motion shots, Adam Driver is a treat to watch as Kylo Ren.
2: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Driver’s first foray into the world of a galaxy far, far away was in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, the start of the third and most recent trilogy of the franchise. His portrayal of Kylo Ren in this film is especially remarkable, as Driver brilliantly conveys the deeply conflicted motivations and emotions this character is going through. It’s a gripping performance that shows off Driver’s prowess as a performer and creates a deeply unsettling yet intriguing character that fans would come to love and loathe in equal measure.
1: Silence (2016)
And finally, at the top of our list is Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed masterpiece ‘Silence’, making it the best Adam Driver movie of them all. Set in the 17th-century, Driver plays the role of Garupe, a Portuguese Jesuit priest who, along with his mentor (Andrew Garfield), are sent to Japan in search of their missing mentor. Driver delivers an understated yet powerful performance as the deeply devout Garupe, as he struggles in his faith of a God that he believes is silent. Driver shows off his range beautifully in this film, effectively expressing Garupe’s inner turmoil through a wonderful display of controlled acting.
Though it has been less than a decade since Adam Driver first came to widespread attention, the past few years have seen him gain increasing acclaim for his diverse and captivating performances. The movies in this list showcase just some of the remarkable performances he has given us throughout his career, from cackling robbers in comedies to Force-driven villains in sci-fi epics. So here are our Top 10 ranking of the Best Adam Driver Movies, voted on by fans and movie-goers alike.