Jeremy Renner has made headlines in recent months due to a tragic accident. Almost losing one of the biggest (and nicest) stars in Hollywood got us thinking about how lucky we are.
We’re lucky in life in general, but also lucky to have been graced by such a stellar acting talent.
Fortunately, whether Jeremy Renner ends up acting again or not, we can hang our collective hats on his brilliant past work.
Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered with the 7 best Jeremy Renner movies you’ll want to watch first.
7. The Avengers (2012)
I’ll kick off my list of the best Jeremy Renner movies you’ll want to watch with The Avengers. This is the box office smash hit that started it all, and it helped further Renner’s career.
The Avengers made over $1.5 billion worldwide and like every Avengers movie, was critically acclaimed.
Renner is famous for his role as Hawkeye in the original movie that started the franchise, and he’s used as a catalyst to accelerate the film.
Hawkeye is controlled by Loki for a good chunk of the film, so he’s actually technically a villain, but he plays the part well, and at the end gets to be a hero again.
He’s not utilized as much in future films, so if you want to see him in action, the first Avengers movie is probably a good place to start.
6. American Hustle (2013)
One of the Jeremy Renner’s best movies is either American Hustler, which has him starring as politician caught up in a dicey crime scheme.
Renner plays Mayor Carmine Polito, who is duped by Christian Bale is an elaborate con. He plays the character perfectly, and contributed heavily to one of the best movies of 2013.
In fact, American Hustler generated serious Oscar buzz, earning 10 nominations, including a nod for Best Picture. It didn’t win there, but it did manage to take home the big prize at the Golden Globes.
That said, it’s regarded by many as one of the best movies to not win Best Picture at the Oscars.
Renner’s role in the movie’s success didn’t go unnoticed, as the entire cast one Best Ensemble at the 2014 COFCA Awards, as well as Ensemble of the Decade by the Gold Derby Awards in 2020.
The film was also praised by critics, earning a stout 92% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
5. Arrival (2016)
So far on this list of Jeremy Renner movies, we’ve seen him crush it as a superhero, and impress as a corrupt political figure.
Here, Renner supports Amy Adams in a sci-fi drama about communicating with aliens. Adams is the major star here, but she collaborates with Renner in an effort to understand the visiting species.
I don’t want to give away a major plot twist, but there is a lot going on between Adams and Renner throughout the film, and his character is crucial to the film’s message.
Renner isn’t the commanding force in Arrival, but he plays his role well and it’s easily one of his best films (94% rating at Rotten Tomatoes).
3. The Town (2010)
While not nearly as thought-provoking as Arrival, The Town takes a higher spot in my Jeremy Renner movie rankings because of his legendary role.
Renner is not exactly the most likable character, as he stars as one of a handful of bank robbers, and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s also a bit of a loose cannon, and Renner tugs at the strings of his internal issues beautifully.
It all leads to a really intense final scene for his character, but you’ll have to watch it to find out how that goes down.
The Town is led by a gripping performance by Ben Affleck, but Renner’s grit and loyalty in the movie make him stand out. This isn’t the movie where he made his name, but it certainly gave him more momentum as he continued his path to stardom.
2. Wind River (2017)
There are a lot of good Jeremy Renner movies where he plays a nice bit role, is strong in support, or even shares the stage. There aren’t many where the movie is totally focused on him.
That changed in 2017 with Wind River, as Renner got a movie all to himself again, with co-star Elizabeth Olsen also doing a bang-up job as his teammate of sorts.
Renner plays a detailed tracker who helps investigate a local murder, and he aids Olsen’s character at every turn.
You’ll have to find out the exact plot and how the movie ends on your own, but rest assured, Renner is a total badass and the slow burn is very much worth your time in the end.
A bit overlooked in the discussion of Jeremy Renner’s best movies, Wind River got an 88% rating at Rotten Tomatoes and is a must watch for any die hard Renner fans.
1. The Hurt Locker (2008)
Lastly, we come to arguably the very best Jeremy Renner movie out there. If you haven’t seen Hurt Locker yet, I suggest you carve out some time to do so as soon as you can.
This is the movie that put Renner on the map, and it even earned him an Oscar nod, and the movie became the first Best Picture winner that was directed by a woman.
Renner didn’t win, but he played a tortured and determined soldier perfectly, illustrating the difficulty of transitioning back to normal life after serving in the military.
He also profiled the insanely intense job of a military bomb expert, giving us numerous riveting scenes and a lot of drama to sift through.
This was certainly an Oscar-worthy performance by Renner, instantly making him a name to watch on the Hollywood circuit. He hasn’t exactly gotten back to the status since, but as you can see, there are now a lot of terrific Jeremy Renner movies to watch.
Other Top Jeremy Renner Movies Worth Watching
- Kill the Messenger (2014)
- The Immigrant (2013)
- The Bourne Legacy (2012)
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
These movies are all good to great, but they didn’t quite have the goods to crack my top 7 Jeremy Renner movies I think everyone needs to see.
Kill the Messenger and The Immigrant are slow burns, but they’re both highly rated and tell compelling stories. The Bourne Legacy is not graded nicely by the critics, but it is action-packed and a rather fun ride.
Of this second batch, I’d most suggest checking out Ghost Protocol. MI movies rarely disappoint, and Renner is a nice little scene stealer in this specific installment.
You really can’t go wrong with all of these Jeremy Renner films. He’s an underrated talent, and he’s done a fantastic job picking the right gigs. I’d start with my top 7 Jeremy Renner movies and work your way to the honorable mentions.
Oh, and I didn’t list every Avengers or MCU movie Renner appears in, but if you haven’t seen any of those yet, I’d do so whether you’re huge into Renner or not.
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