by Tom Hiddleston has become one of the most popular actors working today thanks to his memorable performances in big blockbuster franchises as well as intimate indie films.
While he may be best known for playing Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston has proven himself a versatile actor capable of tackling a wide range of genres and roles. Many of his films have found their way to Netflix over the years, giving fans an easy way to explore more of his impressive body of work from the comfort of their own homes. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of Tom Hiddleston’s most notable movies available to stream on Netflix and what makes each one worth watching.
Crimson Peak (2015)
Guillermo del Toro is known for his visually stunning gothic horror films and Crimson Peak is no exception. The film tells the story of Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring author who marries a mysterious British aristocrat named Sir Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston). Sharpe takes Edith back to Allerdale Hall, his dilapidated family mansion in the mountains of Cumberland. Edith soon discovers that the house is haunted by vengeful spirits and starts to suspect her new husband and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) are hiding sinister secrets of their own.
As Sharpe, Hiddleston oozes charm but there’s an underlying creepiness to his performance that hints at the dark truths of his character. The film is a gothic romance with horror elements and Hiddleston navigates the line between romantic lead and villain quite skillfully. Visually, Crimson Peak is a stunning showcase for del Toro’s talents with its sumptuous production design and ghostly atmosphere. While the story may not break new ground, it’s an engrossing ghost story elevated by Hiddleston’s captivating central performance.
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
In Kong: Skull Island, Hiddleston takes on the role of James Conrad, a former British Special Air Service captain hired as a tracker and combat scout. He’s part of a team that travels to an uncharted island in the Pacific in the 1970s to survey it and its inhabitants. Of course, that inhabitant turns out to be Kong, the giant ape lord of the island.
Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Kong: Skull Island is a monster movie throwback with shades of Apocalypse Now. It features impressive creature design and some epic clashes between Kong and other monstrous denizens of the island like skullcrawlers. While the human characters are somewhat thinly written, Hiddleston brings gravitas and grit to Conrad. He grounds the big, bombastic set pieces with his capable yet haunted performance. Kong: Skull Island is a fun, fast-paced kaiju romp and Hiddleston fits right in with the pulp adventure vibe.
War Horse (2011)
Steven Spielberg’s War Horse is a sweeping epic drama based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo. The film follows the journey of Joey, a horse purchased by a poor British farmer, who ends up serving on both sides of World War I after being sold to the British cavalry and ending up in No Man’s Land.
Hiddleston has a supporting but significant role as Captain Nicholls, the officer who comes to care for Joey after he’s wounded in battle. Like the rest of the talented ensemble cast, Hiddleston brings sincerity and gravitas to his performance. Though the story is told from the perspective of the eponymous horse, Hiddleston and the other human actors help bring its emotional beats to life. With gorgeous cinematography and a moving score by John Williams, War Horse paints a vivid and heart-wrenching picture of the horrors of the war and the profound bonds that can form between man and beast even in the darkest of times. It’s a film that will leave you reaching for the tissues by the end.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris is a romantic fantasy comedy that sees Owen Wilson’s character Gil travel back in time to 1920s Paris every night at midnight. While there, he encounters iconic figures from the Lost Generation like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein.
Hiddleston has a delightful supporting role as F. Scott Fitzgerald, capturing the writer’s charm, wit, and underlying melancholy perfectly. The whole ensemble seems to be having a blast bringing these legendary literary figures to life. Midnight in Paris is quintessential Woody Allen – smart, charming, and just fantastical enough. It’s a love letter to Paris and the romance of another era. Hiddleston fits right in with the witty banter and period aesthetic. Even in a relatively small role, he leaves an impression and helps make this one of Allen’s most rewatchable modern films.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive tells the story of two vampires named Adam (Hiddleston) and Eve (Tilda Swinton) who have been in love for centuries. As the film begins, the depressed and reclusive Adam contacts his even more depressed partner Eve in Tangiers and convinces her to come stay with him in the decaying city of Detroit.
With his lean frame and air of melancholy, Hiddleston is perfectly cast as the world-weary vampire Adam. Much of the film’s charm comes from the playful yet profound conversations between Adam and Eve as they ruminate on humanity, history, art, and their own immortal existences. Hiddleston and Swinton have incredible chemistry and their scenes together are some of the most tender, romantic, and thought-provoking in Jarmusch’s filmography. While the plot is loose and atmospheric, Only Lovers Left Alive offers a unique vampire perspective and shows off Hiddleston’s ability to inhabit a role with pathos and nuance.
The Night Manager (2016)
The Night Manager is a mini-series adaptation of John le Carré’s 1993 novel of the same name. Hiddleston takes on the leading role of Jonathan Pine, a former British soldier who goes undercover at a luxury hotel in Cairo where he unwittingly becomes acquainted with Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), a dangerous arms dealer. Pine is later recruited by an intelligence officer named Corkoran (Tom Hollander) to infiltrate Roper’s inner circle.
At six episodes, The Night Manager had time to unfold its intricate espionage story slowly while developing complex characters. Hiddleston is pitch perfect as Pine, projecting vulnerability but also steely determination as he gets in deeper with Roper. The limited series format allows Hiddleston to showcase Pine’s emotional journey over many hours. Supported by top-tier co-stars, this adaptation of le Carré’s novel is a taut geopolitical thriller that will keep you on edge until the final frame. It proved Hiddleston is more than capable of shouldering a major television project with commanding screen presence.
The Avengers (2012)
Of course, any discussion of Tom Hiddleston’s career and popularity would be remiss not to mention his most iconic role – Loki in Marvel’s Avengers films. Hiddleston was first introduced as Thor’s trickster brother in 2011’s Thor before going on to play the villain in The Avengers the following year. Underneath Loki’s gleeful malice, Hiddleston imbued the character with layers of complexity, vulnerability, and Shakespearean flair that made him a standout in the ensemble.
In The Avengers, fans got their first taste of Loki squaring off against Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye after he launches an attack on New York using an alien army. Hiddleston rises to the challenge of holding his own in scenes against co-stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. With his magnetic screen presence and ability to flip between menace and melancholy, Hiddleston ensured Loki would become a fan favorite villain for the ages. His performance paved the way for Loki to recur in later Marvel films like Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
Conclusion
This overview has hopefully provided a sense of the range and depth Tom Hiddleston has brought to his film roles over the years. Whether in big budget blockbusters, literary adaptations, or arthouse indies, Hiddleston commits fully to each character with nuance, vulnerability and power. Many of these performances are available to discover or revisit on Netflix, giving audiences a chance to explore different facets of Hiddleston’s talent. With his chameleonic ability to inhabit any genre, along with continued popularity in the MCU, Tom Hiddleston has cemented himself as one of today’s most compelling leading men. His films on Netflix offer a rewarding dive into the career of this immensely talented actor.
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