Daniel Radcliffe is one of the finest actors of our time, and over the years, the actor has done a variety of films. Of course, we all know him as Harry Potter, but there are several other movies that feature the excellence of Daniel’s acting. With that in mind, here are some of the best movies of Daniel Radcliffe that should definitely be on your watch list in 2025
10. Victor Frankenstein
- Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
- Release Date: November 25, 2015
- Director: Paul McGuigan
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Charles Dance
- Running Time: 110 minutes
- IMDb: 6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 26%
There have been several adaptations of the classic horror novel by Mary Shelley, with the most distinguished being Victor Frankenstein, of course. Well, the movie couldn’t impress many fans because it was a retelling of a popular story that fans didn’t realize they needed. Daniel Radcliffe portrays Igor, the loyal and enthusiastic assistant of Victor Frankenstein. The film is entirely told from Igor’s perspective, which eventually acquaints us with how Igor transforms from a hunchback clown at the circus to an ally of the genius Victor Frankenstein.
Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy did a marvellous job and did everything possible to make the film a success. However, it was the dull direction, an uneven story, and the unimpressive final act that led to the movie’s downfall at the box office.
9. Guns Akimbo
- Genre: Comedy-Drama
- Release Date: September 9, 2019
- Director: Jason Lei Howden
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Ned Dennehy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Grant Bowler
- Running Time: 95 minutes
- IMDb: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
Like other Daniel Radcliffe movies on the list, Guns Akimbo is another weird yet interesting story that features Daniel in the lead role. It basically revolves around a live-streaming death game where chosen criminals from around the world hunt down each other to win the game. Well, an online banter makes Daniel’s character a target, and guns are glued to both his hands. Now, he must not only survive until the end of the day, but he must also learn to kill.
Honestly, it’s a bizarre concept, but that’s what makes it interesting. Daniel is fun to watch in Guns Akimbo, and while it’s not the most artistic film out there, it’s certainly an enjoyable one to watch.
8. Now You See Me 2
- Genre: Heist
- Release Date: November 25, 2015
- Director: Paul McGuigan
- Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman
- Running Time: 110 minutes
- IMDb: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 34%
Daniel Radcliffe joined the star-studded cast of Now You See Me as Walter in the sequel. Even though the film was an entertainer, those who watched it to see if it matched the level of the first one were totally disappointed. The tricks in Now You See Me 2 were decent enough to keep the fans hooked, but we can’t say it surpassed the standard created by the first one or even reached that height.
The tech magnet Walter kidnaps the Four Horsemen, now led by Mark Ruffalo’s Dylan Rhodes, and blackmails them to commit the most challenging heist of their lives.
7. Horns
- Genre: Horror
- Release Date: October 6, 2014
- Director: Alexandre Aja
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, Juno Temple, Kelli Garner, James Remar, Kathleen Quinlan, Heather Graham, David Morse
- Running Time: 120 minutes
- IMDb: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 41%
Horns is one of the films with the most unique plotlines. Daniel Radcliffe stars in the film as Ignatius “Ig” Perrish, whom society shuns after he becomes the prime suspect in his girlfriend’s murder. Despite trying harder to convince everyone of his innocence, no one really listens to him. One day, two horns sprout from the two sides of his forehead, and guess what, these aren’t any random horns. Instead, they give him the power to make anyone confess their darkest sins.
Several fans called it ‘weird yet mesmerizing.’ Daniel Radcliffe and every actor in the film gave their 100% and blessed the industry with this masterpiece. However, the film was released when social media wasn’t a mainstream platform to talk about films and TV Shows, so the movie couldn’t get the attention and reviews that it deserved.
6. The Lost City
- Genre: Action-Adventure, Comedy
- Release Date: March 25, 2022
- Director: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
- Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brad Pitt
- Running Time: 112 minutes
- IMDb: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 41%
Again, here comes an intriguing Daniel Radcliffe film that is a must-watch for everyone who enjoys action-packed yet humorous storylines. Radcliffe plays the role of the rich villain, Abigail Fairfax, who kidnaps the popular novelist and forces her to help him locate a treasure that is hidden on a remote island.
The story isn’t over the top, but it still feels refreshing when watched for the first time. Despite the average filmmaking and predictable romance sequences, The Lost City is a one-time watch that certainly provides the viewer with some of the best laughs ever.
5. Kill Your Darlings
- Genre: Biographical Drama
- Release Date: October 16, 2013
- Director: John Krokidas
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Ben Foster, Michael C. Hall, Jack Huston, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Elizabeth Olsen
- Running Time: 104 minutes
- IMDb: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Kill Your Darlings featured a stellar cast and a perfect narrative that no one expected from a dark-themed film. Moreover, it was all about the Beat Generation, and I must say that the experiment indeed ended well. It’s a rather complicated story to tell on the screen, but the incredible direction from John Krokidas and spectacular performances from the cast made the film get positive reviews from fans and critics alike.
The movie tackles some difficult topics, like a group of boys rejecting traditional values to step into a modern world. Daniel portrays the famous writer and poet Allen Ginsberg in the film, and once you watch the film, you’d agree that no one else could have done a better job in this role.
4. Jungle
- Genre: Survival
- Release Date: November 9, 2017
- Director: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell, Thomas Kretschmann, Yasmin Kassim, Joel Jackson, Jacek Koman
- Running Time: 115 minutes
- IMDb: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Jungle is one of the most unique movies that Daniel Radcliffe took part in, and I must say that this experimental role worked really well for the actor. In Jungle, Daniel takes on the role of an Israeli adventurer, Yossi Ghinsberg, who goes deep into the Amazon Rainforest. During his journey, Yossi comes across several challenges, and he must do everything in his power to survive the dark and harsh side of nature.
Jungle is a beautiful tale of survival, and as expected, Daniel is as graceful as ever in the film. This film is a testament that the Harry Potter actor has the ability to take on and do justice to diverse and unique roles.
3. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
- Genre: Biographical, Musical
- Release Date: November 4, 2022
- Director: Eric Appel
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Toby Huss, Julianne Nicholson
- Running Time: 108 minutes
- IMDb: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Wait, are you confused seeing the biographical genre? If you wonder if this is a serious biography, I would say you are surely in for the biggest surprise. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story makes one laugh with the insane comedy, and one thing you should note is that it makes fun of all the musicals and biopics ever made. Also, the film will force you to say that no one else could have played Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic better than Daniel Radcliffe.
The story revolves around Al and allows us to watch his journey from a nobody to a music star. We also get to witness his love affairs and other aspects of his life.
2. Swiss Army Man
- Genre: Comedy-Drama
- Release Date: June 24, 2016
- Director: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
- Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
- Running Time: 97 minutes
- IMDb: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
The industry is full of several unnecessary reimagination projects and remakes; that’s where Swiss Army Man stands out in the crowd. You can call it ‘different’, but I am fairly certain that when you start watching it, you won’t be able to leave the room until the climax of the film. Swiss Army Man sees Daniel Radcliffe at his best as he portrays a half-dead character, which must have been a very challenging role for the actor.
The story follows Hank, a man who is lost on an Island, but after encountering a half-dead man named Manny, he gets motivated to get back home. Radcliffe and Paul Dano left no stone unturned to show what actual versatility looks like. The film was distributed in global theatres by A24, one of the leading independent entertainment companies in the world. (Read our list consisting of the Best A24 movies here.)
1. Harry Potter Film Series
- Genre: Fantasy-Adventure
- Release Date: 16 November 2001
- Director: Chris Columbus (1–2), Alfonso Cuarón (3), Mike Newell (4), David Yates (5–8)
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Richard Harris
Daniel Radcliffe rose to fame from the portrayal of the long-running character, ‘The Boy Who Lived in Harry Potter.’ The pint-sized boy made a name for himself after appearing in the first film of the Harry Potter series. In fact, fans didn’t recognize him by his original name; instead, whenever the actor appeared on screen, everyone used to say, ‘hey, that’s Harry Potter.’ So, the film series eventually became a defining part of Radcliffe’s identity.
Harry Potter tells a story about the boy who lost his parents to death at the hands of Lord Voldemort. He was raised by his abusive maternal aunt and her husband. However, at the age of 11, he enters Hogwarts, the school of Wizardry and Witchcraft, and his life starts changing thereafter.
That’s it; these are some of the best films of Daniel Radcliffe that you should definitely watch, especially if you are a fan of the Harry Potter series. Of course, there are several other movies that could have been on this list, but I wanted to give you the very best.
