20 Robert Pattinson films everyone should see at least once

Why have one Robert Pattinson when you can have two — or more? From Parasite director Bong Joon-Ho, Mickey 17 is a quirky sci-fi comedy showing Pattinson’s versatility like never before. He plays Mickey, who agrees to become expendable for an expedition trying to colonize an ice planet. Every time Mickey dies, a new body of his is regenerated with his memories intact. However, two Mickys end up meeting, and Pattinson plays both distinctively and impressively. 

One of Pattinson’s most acclaimed performances can be found in Josh and Benny Safdie’s Good Time, a neon-drenched and stylish thriller. Pattinson plays Connie, whose younger brother Nick is sent to prison after a bank robbery gone wrong. Connie does everything in his power to free him and is sent on a dangerous odyssey into the criminal underworld of New York. It’s an adrenaline-fueled heist flick where things go from bad to worse for Pattinson’s Connie. 

In 2022, Pattinson took on the role of one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history, playing Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. In this gritty and realistic take on the superhero, Wayne grapples with himself as he tries to uncover a web of corruption after the murder of the mayor of Gotham City. Pattinson brings his own unique energy to the character, making him one of the best on-screen Batmans. He will reprise his role in The Batman Part II.

Pattinson stars alongside Willem Dafoe in Robert Eggers’ A24 film The Lighthouse. Shot entirely in black and white and with a square ratio, the movie sees the pair play lighthouse keepers. Due to a dangerous storm, they are stranded on a remote New England island. As time goes by, Howard and Wake (Pattinson and Dafoe) try to maintain their sanity while experiencing disturbing visions. It is a unique psychological horror that is darkly funny and unsettling. 

Pattinson’s first major role was as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The fourth Potter film sees Hogwarts participate in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament. Diggory is a handsome and popular Hufflepuff student, who is selected by the Goblet of Fire to be one of the Triwizard champions. While Cedric’s role is only supporting, Pattinson was able to show off his charisma as a character who was vitally important to the rest of the series, despite only being in one film.

Pattinson stars alongside John David Washington in Christopher Nolan’s trippy blockbuster Tenet. The film follows the Protagonist (Washington), a CIA operative who enters a world of international espionage and must trace the origins of objects that travel back through time while affecting the present. Pattinson plays Neil, the Protagonist's handler and right-hand man throughout his journey. The film is a mind-bending sci-fi ride that is as elaborate as it is entertaining. 

It’s definitely not Pattinson’s best film, but this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Twilight , which made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Based on the book series, the film sees Bella, a teenage girl, fall in love with Edward, a hundred-year-old vampire in the body of a young man. Starring alongside Kristen Stewart and playing Edward Cullen changed the trajectory of Pattinson’s career and catapulted him into unchartered heights of fame and stardom.

During his Twilight years, Pattinson built on his reputation as a leading man by starring in the romantic drama Water for Elephants . Pattinson plays Jacob, an animal caretaker in a travelling circus. His boss, August, is violent and married to the beautiful Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. As they bond over an elephant named Rosie, August stands in the way of their happiness. The film also stars Reece Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, and is based on the novel of the same name.

Remember Me is another film that sees Pattinson take the romantic lead. He plays Tyler, a young man whose parents have split after his brother took his own life. He meets and falls in love with Ally, who tries to live each day to the fullest after witnessing her mother’s murder. They meet under unique circumstances and help heal each other’s trauma, but it is those circumstances that also threaten to tear them apart. Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper also star.

The King is a historical epic directed by David Michôd and led by Timothée Chalamet. It tells the story of young Henry V, who becomes King of England in the aftermath of his brother’s death. Pattinson plays The Dauphin of France and only appears in the film for about five minutes. Despite this, he leaves an impression thanks to his memorable and campy French accent. The movie also stars Joel Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn, and Lily-Rose Depp. 

Based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, The Devil All the Time is a star-studded psychological crime drama set from the end of World War II to the 1960s. It follows many bizarre and deranged characters in a backwards postwar town, with Pattinson playing Rev. Preston Teagardin. As this sinister preacher, Pattinson oozes creepiness, which is elevated by his strong Southern accent. The film also stars Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, and Sebastian Stan.

Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki triumphantly returned to filmmaking with 2023’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron. The fantastical adventure follows Mahito, a young boy who discovers a surreal world shared by the living and dead as he searches for his missing stepmother. Pattinson voices the titular grey heron, a mysterious figure, and his voice is absolutely unrecognizable. It’s another example of his unconventional range and versatility.

Before collaborating with David Michôd on The King, the pair previously worked together on the Australian dystopian Western film The Rover . Guy Pearce plays a hardened loner who pursues the men who stole his car. After capturing one of the thieves' brothers along the way, the two form an uneasy bond. Pattinson plays Rey, the brother who is captured, and fully immerses himself in this gritty and challenging role that is considered underrated in his filmography.

Life is one of Pattinson’s lesser-known films, but it is worth checking out if you’re a fan of biographical dramas. It is based on the true story of Dennis Stock (Pattinson), a photographer for LIFE magazine, who is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean. As the pair travel around the U.S. together, they form an unlikely friendship. Dane DeHaan plays Dean, and he and Pattinson are a delight to watch together as they add more depth to a seemingly simple script. 

The Lost City of Z is a sprawling adventure film based on a real-life story. It follows British explorer Colonel Percival Fawcett, who embarks on a journey into the Amazon to find a fabled ancient civilization in the 1920s. Pattinson plays Corporal Henry Costin, who ventures with Fawcett on his expedition. The film is full of lush cinematography and is reminiscent of classic adventure epics. Charlie Hunnam, Tom Holland, and Sienna Miller star alongside Pattinson.

Pattinson stars in French director Claire Denis’s High Life, a disturbing sci-fi horror from A24. After a space mission goes wrong and its entire crew is wiped away, Monte (Pattinson) must find a way to save himself and his baby daughter. Pattinson’s performance as a loving father is moving and is the highlight of a film that is highly explicit, both violently and sexually. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a true Pattinson fan, you might just want to give it a try. 

Maps to the Stars is a twisted satirical thriller directed by legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg. It follows the dysfunctional Hollywood Weiss family, who are chasing fame and fortune. Through their desperation, their lives become as dramatic as a Hollywood movie. Pattinson plays Jerome Fontana, a limo driver who is also an aspiring actor, in one of his darker roles. The film also stars Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, and John Cusack. 

Pattinson reunites with his Maps to the Stars co-star, Mia Wasikowska, in the indie film Damsel. The story is set in the Wild West during the 1870s and follows Samuel Alabaster (Pattinson), who travels across the American frontier to marry Penelope (Wasikowska). His journey starts simple but becomes treacherous as the lines between hero, villain, and damsel are blurred. It features unexpected dark comedy and laughs, making for an odd but fun viewing experience. 

Waiting for the Barbarians is a drama-adventure film based on the 1980 novel by J. M. Coetzee. It follows a colonial magistrate who manages an isolated frontier outpost. When an army colonel arrives and uses cruel tactics to interrogate locals, the magistrate’s loyalties are tested. Pattinson plays Officer Mandel, the cruel colonel’s underling. His performance is full of rage, and what he does with the material he is given elevates the film.

Pattinson’s first collaboration with David Cronenberg was on Cosmopolis, a 2012 thriller that saw the actor truly step out of his Twilight shadow for the first time. Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a twenty-eight-year-old billionaire who senses that his empire is collapsing around him. As a result, his life begins to unravel in twisted and disturbing ways. It’s a challenging film to watch, and some will be put off by its coldness and explicitness, but Pattinson’s work makes it worth it.