Adam Driver has spent the past decade curating an extraordinary filmography, amassing projects with visionary filmmakers the way Thanos collects Infinity Stones. From working with cinematic legends like Martin Scorsese and Noah Baumbach to auteurs like Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Mann, Driver has become a go-to actor for directors seeking depth and complexity in their characters. Few contemporary actors can claim such an extensive list of collaborations with celebrated filmmakers.
Yet, despite his incredible output and critical acclaim, Driver’s career hasn’t fully crossed over into mainstream A-list stardom. He often stars in a director’s fourth or fifth best movie rather than their defining masterpiece. While these films are fascinating in their own right, they tend to inhabit a space more attuned to cinephiles than general audiences. Even so, Driver’s presence often makes these projects more compelling, serving as a reliable anchor for directors pushing the boundaries of their craft.
That said, Driver remains one of the most exciting and hard-working actors in Hollywood today, consistently involved in ambitious films by some of the industry’s most intriguing directors. His next anticipated release, Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, reunites him with Jim Jarmusch, a collaboration bound to generate interest among his admirers.
For this ranking, I’ve included all films where Adam Driver has a credited role, even if his part is smaller or supporting. This means that films like Inside Llewyn Davis and Silence, where Driver shines despite limited screen time, have earned their places here, though their rankings are adjusted accordingly.
With that in mind, here are the 20 best Adam Driver movies:
20. 65 (2023)
Despite Adam Driver‘s attempt to deliver cinema’s next best science fiction thriller movie, 65 doesn’t successfully convey much that feels new or enticing. Lackluster pacing and storytelling make up a generally bland film stripped of any exciting elements.
Read our review of 65 (2023).
19. The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
18. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
17. Annette (2021)
16. While We’re Young (2014)
15. White Noise (2022)
Although initially thought to be a novel too demanding for the big screen, Noah Baumbach successfully delivers White Noise to Netflix. Even with a few flaws in its delivery, White Noise is a captivating and occasionally even breathtaking movie.
Read our review of White Noise (2022).
14. House of Gucci (2021)
13. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
12. Megalopolis (2024)
Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis makes it crystal clear that the legendary director is disappointed in the trajectory of modern civilized life. To think that this passion project of his has been in the works for nearly four decades is astonishing considering how neatly it conveys modern anxieties about the fragility of social infrastructure.
Read our review of Megalopolis (2024).
11. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
10. The Last Duel (2021)
9. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
8. Logan Lucky (2017)
7. Paterson (2016)
6. Ferrari (2023)
Considering he hadn’t made a movie since Blackhat in 2015, Michael Mann’s long-awaited return to the big screen, Ferrari, is incredibly succinct and satisfying. It’s a scorching melodrama that burns with the intensity of its titular character’s relentless ambition. This isn’t anywhere near a sugarcoated biopic; it’s a raw, unflinching exploration of Enzo Ferrari’s inner demons, where the pursuit of automotive excellence takes a brutal toll on personal relationships and those around him.
Read our review of Ferrari (2023).
5. Silence (2016)
4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Inside Llewyn Davis is indeed a masterpiece of nuanced character study, where the Coen brothers bring their signature blend of dark humor, existential despair, and offbeat storytelling into a film that feels as emotionally resonant as it is stylistically unique. It’s a film that pulls no punches in portraying the painful, humbling reality of an artist struggling against not just the world, but also his own shortcomings. Llewyn Davis may be a man adrift, emotionally wounded by the loss of his partner, selfish and hard to like, yet he is also profoundly human, filled with raw talent and unfulfilled potential.
Read our review of Inside Llewyn Davis (2013).
2. Marriage Story (2019)
1. Frances Ha (2012)
