Movies

10 Criminally Underrated Tom Hiddleston Performances You Should Know About

10 Criminally Underrated Tom Hiddleston Performances You Should Know About
Image credit: Apple TV+, Artificial Eye, StudioCanal

Loki is just the tip of the iceberg.

With the news of The Night Manager 's renewal, all eyes were on the show's star, Tom Hiddleston. Though widely known for his portrayal of Loki, Marvel's own God of Mischief, the actor has built a successful career outside of comic book adaptations, with a variety of films to suit everyone's tastes.

If you are interested in seeing more of Tom Hiddleston's performances, check out the list of movies and TV shows below that prove just how versatile the actor truly is.

The Gathering Storm (2002)

The film wasn't the young actor's first big screen appearance, but it was an impressive one. Hiddleston got to portray a historical figure, Randolph Churchill, the son of Winston Churchill, in the BBC and HBO joint production. The TV movie received a number of awards and nominations, and has been called the most memorable television portrayal of Churchill.

Unrelated (2007)

Premiering at the 2007 London Film Festival, this drama about a young adult rejected by both generations around her quickly won over both critics and audiences. The film has secured an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Tom Hiddleston's assured performance definitely had its effect.

Archipelago (2010)

A deep dive into the lives of the English upper class pulls back the curtain to show lives that are usually far removed from what the casual viewer experiences, without scandalizing them too much. The film delves into a plethora of philosophical questions, and Hiddleston's character Edward, who wants to volunteer in Africa, is in the middle of one of them.

War Horse (2011)

Directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, this war movie was never one of the director's biggest box office hits, but it held the position of highest grossing war movie before 2017's Wonder Woman. As Capt. James Nicholls, Hiddleston adds to the brilliance of a large ensemble cast and the overall success of the film.

The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

2011 was the year that Tom Hiddleston dazzled audiences in several very different roles, showing off his talent from all possible angles. The passionate and completely reckless Freddie Page, who wrecks the life of the movie's protagonist by forcing her to choose between him and a stable but boring marriage, is a great contrast to War Horse.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

While this isn't your usual Twilight- style vampire romance story, it's a movie that both fans of the genre and Tom Hiddleston fans will enjoy. The captivating love story between Hiddleston's Adam and his on-screen lover Eve, portrayed by Tilda Swinton, received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

High-Rise (2015)

This is a dystopian thriller that all fans of The Night Manager should enjoy. Based on the novel by J.G. Ballard, High Rise is set in London in 1975 and stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, who is excited to move into his new apartment building and achieve a new status in life. As the film progresses, however, the class divide becomes more pronounced.

Crimson Peak (2015)

For many viewers, Crimson Peak missed the mark of what they expected from a horror film, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. If anything, Guillermo del Toro 's gothic dark fantasy film is a perfect example of how versatile the genre can actually be. Tom Hiddleston's role as the enigmatic Victorian gentleman fits the actor like a glove.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Alongside his Marvel co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston proves his acting versatility as former British Special Air Service Captain James Conrad. The team successfully rebooted the King Kong franchise, earning the studio $568 million at the international box office.

The Essex Serpent (2022)

This Apple TV Plus miniseries does what not many other shows do when it comes to mixing genres. It is a period drama with a dash of mystery and fantasy. Plus, the chemistry between Tom Hiddleston's Will Ransome and Claire Danes' Cora Seaborne is so perfect, you won't even notice the season has gone by.