Robert Pattinson returns to the big screen this weekend with the first of three movies this year in The Drama, a dark comedy drama written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli and co-starring Zendaya. Pattinson has certainly come a long way since his Twilight days, when critics and audiences may not have taken him all that seriously due to the nature of those films, and has established himself as one of the best actors of his generation because of his bold choices and desire to work with directors who allow those bold choices to shine. Since the Twilight series ended, Pattinson has established a top-notch filmography that has all proved that he’s the best of the best. Since we’ll be seeing him a few times this year, it seems like the right opportunity to highlight his five best performances ever ahead of The Drama, The Odyssey, and Dune: Part Three.
Honorable Mention: Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Batman (2022)
When Pattinson was announced to be taking on the role of The Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, it wasn’t met with glowing enthusiasm because many still looked at him as the guy from Twilight, despite putting in performances following the conclusion of that IP that proved he was more than capable of taking the role on. Pattinson had to prove his worth in a role that many fans hold in high regard, and he did just that with a raw portrayal of the titular character that emphasized the detective skills established in the comics and his deep-rooted trauma. Directed by Reeves from a screenplay he co-wrote with Peter Craig, The Batman follows the character during his second year of fighting crime and corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler (Paul Dano), a serial killer who has the city’s elite in his sights.
Pattinson fits into the world that Reeves created for his film with his more gothic depiction of Gotham City, which makes the actor work as both the brooding billionaire sulking in his mansion and the man who is commanding when he dons his bastsuit. While not as stoic as previous portrayals, Pattinson’s take on the role sees him wearing the character’s pain on his sleeve, which allows the audience to see just how haunted he is by his past. As Batman, he’s commanding behind the cape and cowl while also showcasing blistering chemistry with Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle/Catwoman. He simply shut up all the naysayers who said he was wrong for the role and proved himself as a worthy successor to be Gotham City’s protector.
5. Rev. Preston Teagardin in The Devil All the Time (2020)
The Devil All the Time arrived on Netflix in 2020, when many could pay attention to it. As the pandemic continued to keep most at home, it offered up a perfect opportunity to discover this dark Southern Gothic psychological thriller that, while polarizing in some ways, offered up some stellar performances from its cast, particularly Pattinson in the eccentric supporting role of Rev. Preston Teagardin. Directed by Antonia Campos from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Paulo, The Devil All the Time is based on the novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock and follows several characters whose stories coincide in two small towns in Ohio and West Virginia, beginning at the end of World War II to the 1960s.
Pattinson enters the story as a corrupt preacher, and his bold choices make him a very memorable character, one that he distinctly helped create himself. The actor chose not to use a dialect coach to help with his Southern accent and instead used his instincts to give Teagardin a high-pitched variation on the dialect that made the character even more repulsive but always 100 percent engaging in all of his scenes. While the role could be perceived as campy by some, Pattinson went all in on unhinged energy that made the character difficult to turn away from. Whether he was abusing his power or engaging in repugnant manipulation, Pattinson stays 100 percent committed to Teagardin’s creepy nature, which makes him the most compelling character to watch in the film.
4. Mickey Barnes/Mickey 17/Mickey 18 in Mickey 17 (2025)
Pattinson hinted at duality in The Batman but went all out on the idea in 2025’s Mickey 17, a film that allowed the actor to expertly differentiate two distinct roles in a dual performance that also showcased his versatility as an actor. Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17 is based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton and is set in 2054 as Pattinson’s Mickey Barnes joins a space colony voyage as a disposable worker known as an “Expendable” who is cloned every time he meets his demise. Pattinson’s distinct characterization in both roles brings to life two different living and breathing personas who feel like their own characters even when they appear together on screen.
One is more meek and mild, allowing Pattinson to portray a more goofy and human side that gives the character considerable heart and gives the actor several opportunities to show off a knack for comic timing. The other is more volatile yet charismatic, someone who moves with confidence in his body language and in the way he presents himself. There is a distinct physicality and vocal structure for both characters that Pattinson utilizes to make their personalties unique from each other, something that is even more impressive when the characters are interacting with each other. Pattinson is so good in the dual roles that he even has chemistry with himself, which is no small feat. Even as the film’s narrative becomes more chaotic and absurd in the best way, Pattinson’s ability to bring humor and genuine emotional weight to the film always keeps it grounded.
3. Monte in High Life (2018)
Sometimes a good performance is all about restraint, and Pattinson showcases just that in 2018’s High Life, a science fiction film that has its share of disturbing themes that are deeply humanized by Pattinson’s performance. Directed by Claire Denis and co-written with Jean-Pol Fargeau, High Life follows a group of criminals taking part in scientific experiments as they are sent on a space mission to a black hole. Pattinson’s portrayal is more about body language and facial expressions, allowing the audience to get into the character’s psyche. This is especially true as the film explores the relationship with his daughter, a factor that brings a tender and human element to a film that explores some dark and disturbing themes.
It’s a credit to Pattinson that he’s able to navigate the places that the film takes its story to, because even as his galactic adventure grows more chaotic and his isolation grows, it’s his restrained yet uniquely powerful performance that keeps the audience transfixed. Pattinson shows a commitment and trust in the process, which likely may not have been easy, given that a lot of the film is tied to Denis’ vision of the story, which creates a perfectly symbiotic relationship between the actor and his director. High Life is a science fiction film by design, but it’s really a character-driven study about how isolation affects human behavior, and it’s all held together by Pattinson’s subdued yet stoic performance.
2. Ephraim Winslow/Thomas Howard in The Lighthouse (2019)
If anyone had doubts about Pattinson’s commitment to a role, that was all put to bed when audiences and critics saw him in The Lighthouse, which saw the actor going to some intense and unhinged places that only raised the stakes of an already uniquely compelling film. Directed by Robert Eggers from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Max Eggers, The Lighthouse follows nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers who are stranded at a New England outpost during a treacherous storm. The Lighthouse has been interpreted by many critics as many things because it’s a film that can’t be pinned down as one specific genre, but what is certain are the performances courtesy of Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, who almost make a darkly buddy comedy pair as they both begin to go mad the longer they are stuck with each other.
Pattinson’s role of the two is interesting because he initially comes off as more sympathetic than Dafoe’s cranky Thomas Wake, but his role turns out to be much more meaty as the film moves along, and soon the audience’s sympathies are stripped away when the character’s deeply unhinged nature is finally revealed. It’s a dynamic performance that Pattinson poured his very being into. The actor stepped into method acting for the part and got into the physical discomfort of the role by reportedly pushing himself to the point of urinating or vomiting to get into the character’s physical state. This is the very definition of suffering for your art, but the result makes for one of his most memorable performances and a true indication that Pattinson was indeed the real deal as an actor.
1. Constantine “Connie” Nikas in Good Time (2017)
Pattinson purposely sought out more indie-driven roles with directors who could challenge him once his tenure with Twilight was over, and that led him to working with Josh and Benny Safdie in the crime thriller Good Time, a film that allowed the actor to completely disappear into a role that matched the movie’s frenetic energy and visceral style. Written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, Good Time follows Pattinson’s small-time criminal as he tries to free his developmentally disabled brother Nikolas “Nick” Nikas (Benny Safdie) from police custody while also trying to avoid detainment himself. Good Time takes Pattinson to some crazy places, once again showing his commitment to roles and his dedication to the vision of the directors he’s working with. Pattinson has become known for donning different accents, and he showcases a convincing New Yorker in a transformative performance that is completely immersive in its nature.
This was a pivotal role for Pattinson at the time because it signaled his desire and ability to step away from my blockbuster-driven fare to something a bit more grimy, intense, and darker in its execution. Perhaps Pattinson’s best work in the film is that, despite frequently matching the movie’s chaotic energy, he’s able to bring vulnerability to the role, primarily due to his relationship with his brother, which makes Connie less of a one-note character in a movie that could’ve been more style over substance. Good Time becomes exhausting for the audience in the best way due to Pattinson’s own exhaustion and desperation throughout his pursuits, and perhaps misguided dedication to his brother, but it keeps viewers glued to the screen and proves that Pattinson always had the chops to take on roles that truly challenged his abilities.
The Drama hits screens nationwide this Friday.
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