The Best Ethan Hawke Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 2.5K votes 480 voters 35.6K views
Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Ethan Hawke Movies
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List of the best Ethan Hawke movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Ethan Hawke's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Ethan Hawke movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Ethan Hawke movies will be at the top of the list. Ethan Hawke has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Ethan Hawke movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Ethan Hawke films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Ethan Hawke role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Ethan Hawke performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

This list is made up of films like Training Day and Brooklyn's Finest.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Ethan Hawke movies?" and "What are the greatest Ethan Hawke roles of all time?"

Natalie Portman and Frank Marshall have both worked with Ethan Hawke over the years, as have plenty of other well-known directors. If you're a fan of Ethan Hawke, then check out our lists of the best Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Dern movies as well.

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  • Gattaca
    1

    Gattaca

    Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law
    114 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Andrew Niccol
    In the not-so-distant future, Gattaca unfolds a tale of genetic discrimination. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), naturally born, aspires to travel into space despite his society's preference for genetically engineered humans. He strikes an unlawful pact with Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a genetically superior individual, crippled by an accident. As Freeman impersonates Morrow to secure a place in the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation's mission to Saturn's moon, Titan, he finds love in Irene Cassini (Uma Thurman). However, a murder investigation threatens to expose his identity. This 1997 science fiction film directed by Andrew Niccol explores themes of destiny and free will.

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  • Before Sunrise
    2

    Before Sunrise

    Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Erni Mangold
    105 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Richard Linklater
    In the romantic drama Before Sunrise, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American, encounters Celine (Julie Delpy), a French woman, on a train in Europe. Struck by an inexplicable connection, they decide to disembark in Vienna. Unfolding over the course of one night, the film captures their deep conversations, flitting from philosophy to love to the meaning of life. It is a testament to director Richard Linklater's skill that this seemingly simple premise becomes a profound exploration of human connection. The movie was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 68th Academy Awards.

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  • Dead Poets Society
    3

    Dead Poets Society

    Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
    111 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Peter Weir
    In the captivating drama, Dead Poets Society, English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) introduces his students at the conservative Welton Academy to the world of poetry. His unconventional teaching methods, centered around the motto Carpe Diem - seize the day, inspire his pupils to challenge the status quo and explore their individual identities. The narrative unfolds as Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), an aspiring actor, grapples with his authoritarian father's expectations. This 1989 Peter Weir-directed film was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Original Screenplay.
  • Before Sunset
    4

    Before Sunset

    Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff
    92 votes
    • Released: 2004
    • Directed by: Richard Linklater
    A sequel to "Before Sunrise," this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

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  • Training Day
    5

    Training Day

    Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn
    121 votes
    • Released: 2001
    • Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
    In the gritty urban drama Training Day, Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), an idealistic rookie cop, embarks on his first day with the narcotics squad of the LAPD. His training officer, Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), is a seasoned detective with questionable methods and a blurred moral compass. Throughout the day, Hoyt is exposed to the harsh realities of law enforcement, navigating a world where right and wrong aren't always distinguishable. Denzel Washington's gripping performance garnered him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film delves into police corruption, exploring its impact on those who uphold the law and those they protect.

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  • Boyhood
    6

    Boyhood

    Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
    73 votes
    • Released: 2014
    • Directed by: Richard Linklater
    Boyhood, a coming-of-age drama, is an extraordinary cinematic journey that spans over 12 years in the life of Mason (Ellar Coltrane), starting from age six to eighteen. Directed by Richard Linklater, the film also stars Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke as Mason's parents. Uniquely filmed over a 12-year span, it captures the subtle shifts and seismic upheavals of growing up. Punctuated with life's joys and sorrows, it explores relationships, adolescence, and the passage of time. A winner of multiple awards, including an Oscar for Patricia Arquette's performance, Boyhood stands as a groundbreaking achievement in filmmaking.

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