Scottish actor Gerard Butler wasn’t an overnight sensation. His acting career evolved organically, with a few small parts in films and plays leading to larger roles.

The actor’s big break came when he was cast as the title character in Dracula 2000 as well as in the TV mini series Attila in 2001.

Although Butler is widely known as an action movie star, his resume is full of romantic comedies, dramas, and even animated children’s movies. Like any actor, some of Butler’s roles were critically acclaimed, while others fell short. Let’s take a look at 20 of his worst and best movies.

300 (2006)

Directed by Zack Snyder, 300 is an epic battle movie based on the comic book by Frank Miller. In the film, King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) and 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

Most reviews noted that the story wasn’t anything to write home about, but acknowledged that the visual action makes up for that. Butler received a great deal of attention for the physical transformation he endured for the role—some viewers even thought his abs might be fake.

Hunter Killer (2018)

Although Gerard Butler’s performance in the action thriller film Hunter Killer received some praise, the film was not wildly successful with critics. This movie centres on an American Submarine Captain (Butler) who is on the hunt for a U.S. submarine in distress in the Arctic Ocean.

Bounty Hunter (2010)

When The Bounty Hunter was released in 2010, the tabloids were abuzz with rumours that Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston were getting cozy off-screen.

The film tells the story of a bounty hunter (Butler) whose next case is his ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston). While the movie’s plot wasn’t a hit with viewers, the chemistry between the two lead actors delighted audiences.

Last Seen Alive (2022)

One of Gerard Butler’s latest acting roles was playing Will Spann in the film Last Seen Alive. After Spann’s soon-to-be ex-wife goes missing, he goes down a dark path to find her. This was the top-rated film on Netflix in October 2022; however, it only scored 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Beowulf & Grendel (2005)

Set in 6th century Denmark, Beowulf & Grendel tells the story of a Danish king and a warrior (Gerard Butler) who is recruited to help battle the vengeful son of a troll. While the film is set in a picturesque location, the plot and action mostly fell flat with audiences and critics.

Coriolanus (2011)

Interestingly, Gerard Butler’s first stage role as an actor was in the play Coriolanus. While the Coriolanus movie wasn’t a smashing success among audiences, it did receive a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on the Shakespeare play, this film tells the story of a general (Ralph Fiennes) who has based his career on protecting Rome. However, when a riot expels him from the city, his enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) works with him to destroy it.

London Has Fallen (2016)

London Has Fallen tells the story of Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), who is caught in a plot to assassinate world leaders while in London for the Prime Minister’s funeral.

While critics weren’t fans of this action movie’s clichéd plot, audiences were more intrigued, and it is often recommended as a streaming pick for fans of fast-paced flicks. The film also stars Morgan Freeman as the Vice President. Interestingly enough, due to scheduling conflicts, the two actors never had a chance to share a scene together.

A Family Man (2016)

Gerard Butler shows off his sensitive side in A Family Man (aka Headhunter’s Calling)—something not a lot of people had seen in his previous action films.

The movie tells the story of a workaholic headhunter (Butler) whose dreams of owning the company he works for clash with his family’s needs. Butler was credited with taking the film to the next level, artfully showcasing the wide range of emotions his character is going through from beginning to end.

RocknRolla (2008)

Director and writer Guy Ritchie cast Gerard Butler in his film RocknRolla after seeing the actor’s abs in 300. Set in the London underworld, this film is about a gangster who is scrambling to get a piece of a Russian mobster’s land deal, while a man named One Two (Butler) plays both sides.

The film opened to mixed reviews but was generally well received by audiences and critics. Butler notably had a horrible cold during filming; his romantic lead (Thandie Newton) found workarounds for kissing scenes to avoid catching his bug.

Nim’s Island (2008)

Nim’s Island offered audiences a rare chance to see Gerard Butler starring in a family-friendly, children’s-oriented film. This movie tells the story of a young girl (Abigail Breslin) who seeks the help of an adventurer (Butler) when her father goes missing from the island they live on.

The film received mixed reviews, with some viewers feeling it showcases an empowering adventure story free of special effects, and others criticizing it for being a bit too cutesy.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon has a rare 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and it was nominated for two Oscars. The DreamWorks animated flick is one of Butler’s only voice-acting roles thus far in his career.

In the film, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons, becomes fast friends with one of the beasts and learns lessons from the bond. Butler voices the young Viking’s father, Stoick.

Chasing Mavericks (2012)

While Gerard Butler has had many physically demanding roles over the course of his acting career, Chasing Mavericks is unique in the sense that Butler plays a real-life legendary athlete.

The film is based on the true story of a young surfer (Jonny Weston) who enlists the help of surf legend Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) to help him surf one of the best waves on Earth—the Mavericks surf break. Butler had a near-death experience while filming this movie. With a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, this film was a hit with viewers, although its Tomatometer rating is only 33%.

The Ugly Truth (2009)

Like many romantic comedies, The Ugly Truth did not receive a lot of positive feedback from critics. However, its box-office earnings were impressive, no doubt thanks to moviegoers who turned up to see Gerard Butler acting opposite Katherine Heigl.

In this film, a TV producer (Heigl) is paired with a misogynist (Butler) for a morning show segment about modern relationships.

Reign of Fire (2002)

Gerard Butler impressively holds his own alongside Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale in Reign of Fire, which is no easy feat! This post-apocalyptic film is set in 2020, as humans fight for survival in a world overrun by fire-breathing dragons.

Playing for Keeps (2012)

While the romantic comedy Playing for Keeps was not beloved by critics, it nevertheless serves as a source of lighthearted entertainment.

The flick tells the story of a retired professional soccer player (Gerard Butler) who starts coaching his son’s soccer team and tries to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife (Jessica Biel)—all while the other soccer moms start falling for him.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

In Law Abiding Citizen, Gerard Butler plays a father and husband who seeks justice after one of the men who killed his family receives a plea bargain from a lawyer (Jamie Foxx).

Although the film wasn’t remarkably successful upon its initial release, it recently gained more traction, and even appeared in Netflix’s top 10 lineup at one point in 2022. So much so, in fact, that a sequel to the film is currently in the works.

P.S. I Love You (2007)

While P.S. I Love You might not have been critically acclaimed, rom-com fanatics adored this tear-jerker, and it had great commercial success.

In the film, a widow (Hilary Swank) discovers notes left by her late husband (Gerard Butler) that help lead her through her grief. While Butler does have Irish ancestry, he had to apologize for his terrible Irish accent. Nevertheless, this film remains a fan favourite.

Greenland (2020)

Greenland really showcases Gerard Butler’s acting range. In this thriller, Butler plays a father and engineer who has many likable qualities, as his family does everything it can to survive a cataclysmic natural disaster.

The film’s director Ric Roman Waugh later shared that in this film, Butler was instrumental in striking a balance between building up the action and telling an emotional story.

Gamer (2009)

Although Gamer was not top-rated by most audiences or critics, the Midwest Film Journal called it the “greatest Gerard Butler film ever made.” In this action movie, a death row inmate (Gerard Butler) battles other prisoners in an online game remotely controlled by a teenager.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Playing the lead character in the legendary musical The Phantom of the Opera would ideally require great musical abilities, but Gerard Butler took on the role with no experience other than singing in a rock band while he was studying law at Glasgow University.

Butler nailed the role with a little help in the operatic sections where his voice was combined with an experienced opera singer. And it worked—audiences loved the film!