The Best Ralph Fiennes Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 28, 2023 2.1K votes 356 voters 21.8K views
Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Ralph Fiennes Movies
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
Latest additions: The Ratcatcher, Poison, The Swan
Most divisive: The Miracle Maker

List of the best Ralph Fiennes movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Ralph Fiennes'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 Ralph Fiennes movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Ralph Fiennes movies will be at the top of the list. Ralph Fiennes has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Ralph Fiennes movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Ralph Fiennes films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

The list you're viewing is made up of a variety of different films, including Spider and Sunshine.

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

Ralph Fiennes has worked with many famous directors, including big names like Steven Spielberg and Brett Ratner. If you're a fan of Ralph Fiennes, then check out our lists of the best Jeremy Irons and Alan Rickman movies as well.

Ranked by
  • Schindler's List
    1

    Schindler's List

    Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
    102 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Steven Spielberg
    Schindler's List, a poignant war drama directed by Steven Spielberg, unfolds through the life of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), an unlikely hero during the Holocaust. In Nazi-occupied Poland, businessman Schindler becomes an unexpected savior, employing Jews in his factories to spare them from concentration camps. Stern (Ben Kingsley), his accountant, and Goeth (Ralph Fiennes), a sadistic camp commandant, play significant roles in this stark narrative. The film won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. It's a gripping account of humanity's resilience amidst the darkest times.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • The English Patient
    2

    The English Patient

    Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe
    87 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Anthony Minghella
    Set against the backdrop of World War II, The English Patient is a compelling narrative of love and loss. The central character, Count Almรกsy (Ralph Fiennes), is a severely burnt man who finds solace in the care of nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche). As she tends to his wounds in an abandoned Italian monastery, Almรกsy recounts his past life as a cartographer and his passionate affair with Katharine Clifton (Kristin Scott Thomas) in the North African desert. This film, directed by Anthony Minghella, won nine Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. With its sweeping vistas and intricate storyline, The English Patient is a poignant exploration of human connection amidst the chaos of war.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • In Bruges
    3

    In Bruges

    Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
    50 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Martin McDonagh
    In Bruges is a dark comedy-drama that treads the cobblestone streets of an ancient Belgian city. Here, two Irish hitmen, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), find themselves hiding out after a job goes terribly awry. Sent by their unhinged boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes), they're shadowed by guilt, existential dread, and the idyllic beauty of Bruges itself. This BAFTA-winning film weaves intricate threads of humor and tragedy into its narrative fabric, with director Martin McDonagh orchestrating a symphony of nuanced performances. It's an exploration of morality, redemption, and the unexpected places where these themes collide.

    Available On:

    subscription

    free

  • Quiz Show
    4

    Quiz Show

    John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes
    47 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Robert Redford
    Queens-born Herbie Stempel (John Turturro) becomes an unlikely hero after winning on America's beloved game show, "Twenty One." When the network decides to bring in a more telegenic contestant, the WASP-ish Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), Stempel takes aim at the show, announcing that the game is rigged. Congressional investigator Dick Goodwin (Rob Morrow) is brought in to examine the claim that winners were given the answers. Goodwin wrote the book on which this true story is based.

    Available On:

  • Emily Brontรซ's Wuthering Heights
    5

    Emily Brontรซ's Wuthering Heights

    Ralph Fiennes, Sinรฉad O'Connor, Juliette Binoche
    32 votes
    • Released: 1992
    • Directed by: Peter Kosminsky
    Emily Brontรซ's Wuthering Heights is a 1992 feature film adaptation of Emily Brontรซ's novel Wuthering Heights directed by Peter Kosminsky. Paramount Pictures was forced to use the author's name in the title of the film as Samuel Goldwyn Studio owned the rights to the simple title Wuthering Heights due to the copyright on their 1939 film version of the novel. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as the tortured Heathcliff and Juliette Binoche as the free-spirited Catherine Earnshaw, in a precursor to their later, successful collaboration on The English Patient. The role of Heathcliff opened up doors for Ralph Fiennes to play Amon Goeth in Schindler's List. American director Steven Spielberg claimed he liked Fiennes for Goeth because of his "dark sexuality." This particular film is notable for including the oft-omitted second generation story of the children of Cathy, Hindley and Heathcliff.
  • The End of the Affair
    6

    The End of the Affair

    Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea
    41 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Neil Jordan
    In the years following World War II, writer Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) has an unexpected run-in with Henry Miles (Stephen Rea) and his wife, Sarah (Julianne Moore), with whom he once shared a passionate affair. Henry, who never knew, confides in Maurice that he suspects Sarah of adultery, leading to the hiring of a detective (Ian Hart) to follow her. As Sarah never explained why she called off their affair, Maurice follows the investigation closely, his feelings for her reawakened.

    Available On: