We bet that the first character you think of when you hear “Nikolaj Coster-Waldau” is the one-armed antihero from Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister. Still, before he had the opportunity to cement himself as the Kingslayer, Coster-Waldau began his rich acting career in his native Denmark, appearing in American movies starting only in 2001. Until now, Coster-Waldau has shot a total of approximately 40 movies in a wide variety of genres, with many colorful roles. Finished binge-watching Game of Thrones long ago and are aching for more Coster-Waldau? Here are the 10 best movies he’s appeared in, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Wimbledon (2004) - 61%
A British sports romantic comedy. The main protagonist’s name is Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), a professional tennis player who finds himself falling in love with rising tennis star Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst). However, alongside this charming couple, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays the supporting role of Dieter Prohl, Peter’s practice buddy and best friend. According to some critics, it’s the two actors’ friendship that make this movie so warm and playful. All in all, Wimbledon serves us a quite predictable story of reaching your dreams, which in this case, alongside the cup, means winning a girl’s heart.
Mama (2013) - 64%
Though it may not sound like it at first glance, Mama is quite a terrifying horror movie directed by Andy Muschietti. Enveloped in a creepy atmosphere, the plot follows two sisters (Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nélisse) who, on the day of their mother’s death, wander off into a forest where they find a mother figure in a ghostly entity that haunts an abandoned house. Aside from Jessica Chastain, who embodies the role Annabel, Coster-Waldau set himself apart in a great portrayal of not one but two roles: Jeffrey Desange, the girls’ father, and his twin brother Lucas. The critics welcomed this movie with mostly positive reviews, but its success is also evident from the Golden Trailer Award it won in the category of Best Horror. Definitely a worthy watch for this spooky season.
Small Crimes (2017) - 65%
Conceived as an adaptation of a novel bearing the same name and written by Dave Zeltserman, this American drama/crime movie follows the events — or troubles — of a former cop released from jail after serving a sentence for attempted murder. In the role of the complex character of Joe Denton is Coster-Waldau himself, who’s been commended for his performance in the movie on multiple occasions. The originality, unexpected events, all the black humor, and Coster-Waldau’s electric onscreen presence make up a perfect recipe for a quality movie, especially if you’re already a big Coster-Waldau fan, or enoy the accomplishments of director E. L. Katz.
Shot Caller (2017) - 66%
Yet another one of Coster-Waldau’s main roles, Shot Caller amassed heaps of positive reviews. This time Coster-Waldau embodies Jacob, a businessman who transforms himself into a prison gangster nicknamed Money. This transformation and loss of identity, as well as his relationship with his close one,s is the main focus of the movie’s plot. The rest of the cast includes Omari Hardwick, Lake Bell, and Jeffrey Donovan. If you thought you will forever associate Coster-Waldau with his Game of Thrones role, this movie might just change your mind, as his intriguing character Money, with an imposing mustache, cool tattoos, and a unique attitude is beyond memorable.
1,000 Times Good Night (2013) - 71%
This striking drama centers around the character of Rebecca (Juliette Binoche), a passionate and successful war photographer, with the main plot centered around her husband Marcus’ (Coster-Waldau) request that Rebecca give up her career for the sake of her two daughters. This ultimatum provides a deep and complex topic for the movie to explore, with Binoche and Coster-Waldau delivering brilliant performances. After all, this surprisingly interesting and inspirational movie earned multiple awards, among which are the Special Grand Prix of the jury at the 2013 Montreal World Film Festival and the Best Norwegian feature, best cinematography, and best score at Norway’s Amanda Awards.
Enigma (2001) - 72%
This spy thriller by English director Michael Apted based on a Robert Harris nove,l Enigma explores the historical events tied to the deciphering of German messages during World War 2. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau appears in a supporting role as Jozef Pukowski, while the main roles belong to Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet, with the latter receiving accolades for her performance. Despite the plot being largely fictionalized, which is also one of the only criticisms of the movie, the exciting war story and atmosphere easily place Enigma on the watch list of every history buff.
Bent (1997) - 73%
Bent is another Coster-Waldau movie that draws inspiration from actual historic events. In this case, the plot takes place in 1930s Berlin, with the main protagonist Max (Clive Owen), a Jewish gay man, ending up in a concentration camp as one of the many victims of the Nazi regime. Of course, the drama offers much more than the aforementioned problems, with the tragedy of Max’s situation being moderated by original and touching romantic moments. Aside the talented Ian McKellen, Rachel Weisz, Mick Jagger, and Jude Law, among others, Coster-Waldau plays the role of Wolfe, a member of Sturmabteilung (SA). The movie won many accolades, including the Award of the Youth at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best Feature Film in the Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
Blackthorn (2011) - 74%
This Western focuses on entirely fictitious events inspired by the character of Butch Cassidy, the famous bank and train robber. If you’ve ever wondered about the mysterious fate that befell Cassidy in 1908, this movie will definitely get your imagination going. Blackthorn follows the story of an old Cassidy who, under a false name of James Blackthorn, tries to return to the US from a village in Bolivia. And while the older version of Blackthorn is embodied by the charismatic Sam Shepard, Coster-Waldau finds himself in the role of his younger self. The movie won four Goya Awards and is definitely an awesome choice.
Black Hawk Down (2001) - 76%
It’s Black Hawk Down that offered Coster-Waldau his first role in an American movie, which ended up winning an Oscar for Best Film Editing and Sound Mixing. The movie’s cast is largely made up of successful and talented actors such as Eric Bana, Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Hardy. In the movie, Coster-Waldau played the character of Gary Gordon, a Medal of Honor recipient and chess enthusiast.
It’s interesting to mention that this is not the only Ridley Scott film featuring Coster-Waldau in its cast; there’s also Kingdom of Heaven. All in all, Black Hawk Down received much better praise in its reviews, leaving a small cultural legacy.
Headhunters (2011) - 93%
With a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Headhunters is officially the highest rated Coster-Waldau movie out there. This action thriller is based on a novel with the same name, written by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø. Coster-Waldau’s role is that of Clas Greve, a former CEO for GPS company HOTE and the owner of a Rubens painting worth millions. It’s the latter that motivates the intelligently conceived plot. We won’t go into any more details, but we’ll leave you with the fact that this Norwegian film went on to become the country’s highest-grossing movie ever and won multiple accolades and awards, including a nominaion for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Film.
