Orlando Bloom’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked

The English actor Orlando Bloom has had astounding success in Hollywood and has been involved in some of the biggest franchises of all time. With timeless good looks, impeccable charisma, and a willingness to explore different genres and styles, Bloom’s career has featured collaborations with blockbuster directors right through to intimate rom-coms that showcased his talents in a more intimate setting. As a true icon of the 2000s, Bloom has perfectly encapsulated movie stardom with extraordinary roles in sweeping historical epics and grand fantasy narratives.

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Bloom’s defining roles included Will Turner in The Pirates of the Caribbean and Legolas in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, two major franchises among the biggest movie series ever produced. From getting his breakout role in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down to the divisive romance of Elizabethtown, Bloom has long been at the forefront of Hollywood filmmaking. While recent years saw Bloom shift into television with his acclaimed role on Carnival Row, the actor’s feature film career has solidified his unquestionable legacy as a major star.

10 Troy (2004)

Orlando Bloom as Paris

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Troy RDrama

Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004, is a historical epic based on Homer’s Iliad. The film chronicles the legendary Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, and Hector, portrayed by Eric Bana. Starring Orlando Bloom as Paris and Diane Kruger as Helen, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and the fates of the warriors involved in the siege of Troy.

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*Availability in US Director Wolfgang Petersen Release Date May 14, 2004 Writers Homer , David Benioff Cast Brad Pitt , Eric Bana , Orlando Bloom , Julian Glover , Brian Cox , Nathan Jones , Adoni Maropis , Jacob Smith Runtime 163 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand

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While Wolfgang Petersen’s historical war movie based on Homer’s epic Iliad received mixed reviews when it was released, there’s no denying it wasn’t an ambitious effort to depict the entirety of the Trojan War. With some great performances, including Brad Pitt’s enjoyable take on Achilles, Troy had incredible production values but was bogged down by commercial interests, which stood in the way of its potential to live up to historical classics like Lawrence of Arabia or even Peterson’s own Das Boot.

While Troy could be criticized as a movie that valued style over substance, one highlight of the film was Orlando Bloom’s performance as Paris, Helen of Troy’s (Diane Kruger) lover and the brother of Hector (Eric Bana). As the impulsive Trojan prince whose actions helped kickstart the entire conflict, Bloom brought charm and vulnerability to Paris as he captured the characters’ naivety and recklessness. With a script by future Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff, Troy’s Achilles heel was that it took on too much at once and strayed too far away from its source material.

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9 Ned Kelly (2003)

Orlando Bloom as Joe Byrne

The cast of Ned Kelly in old fashioned suits.

Gregor Jordan’s Ned Kelly tells the story of Australia’s most infamous bushranger, outlaw, and gang leader, with Heath Ledger in the title role and Orlando Bloom as his associate, Joe Byrne. Based on Robert Drewe’s novel Our Sunshine, Kelly was a real historical figure who became a powerful symbol for revolution in the often underrepresented Wild West-esque bushranger era of 1800s Australia. While this Western tale could have gone further in unpacking the depth behind this legendary outlaw, as a straightforward retelling of Kelly and his gang’s exploits, it worked well.

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Bloom gave a strong performance as Byrne, Kelly’s second-in-command, whose fierce dedication and loyalty to the gang would ultimately lead to his untimely demise. With beautiful cinematography that paired a picturesque landscape with the tribulations of its trigger-happy bandits, Ned Kelly had its moments, and Bloom was great in his role, but it failed in its endeavor to make the definitive depiction of its complex gang leader. Instead, True History of the Kelly Gang from 2019 fared much better as it looked at the story through a more interesting post-modern lens.

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8 Red Right Hand (2024)

Orlando Bloom as Cash

Red Right Hand Movie Poster

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Red Right Hand Not Yet RatedActionThriller

Red Right Hand is an action thriller directed by Ian and Eshom Nelms and released in 2024. Having secluded himself in a rural town with his niece, whom he cares for now, Cash attempts to live his days peacefully. However, his world is shattered when a ruthless criminal boss named Big Cat forces him to work for her and tests the limits of how far he’ll go to protect his family.

Director Ian Nelms , Eshom Nelms Release Date February 23, 2024 Studio(s) Traction , Asbury Park Pictures Distributor(s) Redbox Entertainment Writers Jonathan Easley Cast Orlando Bloom , Andie MacDowell , Scott Haze , Garret Dillahunt , Mo McRae , Brian Geraghty Runtime 111 Minutes Expand

Orlando Bloom conjured his action movie hero persona for Red Right Hand, an action thriller about an ex-drug addict named Cash trying to lead a clean life after leaving Big Cat’s (Andie McDowell) gang. However, after Cash’s alcoholic brother-in-law fell into money troubles with the gang, Cash was forced back into action to protect his young niece and family. While this typical thriller setup was nothing new, it was interesting to see Bloom in this kind of role and show his potential as a true action hero.

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Bloom brought a hard edge to the tattoo-clad Cash, although the biggest fault with Red Right Hand was that it took itself a little bit too seriously. With elements of a knowing, fun-filled B-movie style, Red Right Hand would have benefited from more humor and less staunch seriousness. There were elements of a great film in Red Right Hand, and it worked well as mindless entertainment, but with talented stars at the helm, it was a shame it did not fully live up to its potential.

7 Elizabethtown (2005)

Orlando Bloom as Drew Baylor

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Elizabethtown PG-13ComedyDramaRomance

Elizabethtown follows aspiring shoe designer Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) who gets fired from his high-profile job after a project fails to land. To make his situation worse, his girlfriend, Ellen (Jessica Biel), leaves him, and he quickly becomes depressed. His plans to end his life are interrupted by the news of his father’s death, and he flies home to his Kentucky hometown meeting Claire (Kirsten Dunst) on the way, who helps him find light in his life.

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*Availability in US Director Cameron Crowe Release Date October 14, 2005 Studio(s) Cruise/Wagner Productions , Vinyl Films Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Cameron Crowe Cast Orlando Bloom , Kirsten Dunst , Susan Sarandon , Alec Baldwin , Bruce McGill , Judy Greer , Jessica Biel Runtime 119 Minutes Budget $45 Million Main Genre Romance Expand

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While Elizabethtown’s main claim to fame is the fact that Kirsten Dunst’s Claire Colburn was such a stock character that it led to the creation of the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl by The A.V. Club reviewer Nathan Rabin, this Cameron Crowe romantic tragedy still had plenty to offer for those who love a good ‘Meet Cute.’ With Orlando Bloom as Drew Baylor, a man on the verge of suicide who found romance on a visit back to his hometown, the by-the-numbers nature of Elizabethtown stopped it from truly standing out among other films of its type.

However, Bloom was rather affecting in his role, and there was a sentimental depth to this story of depression, suicidal thoughts, and redemption that brought to mind cinematic triumphs like It’s a Wonderful Life. With plenty of heart and some real laughs thrown in for good measure, Elizabethtown stood as one of Crowe’s more enjoyable endeavors, and although it was criticized upon release, the underlying subtext of Claire’s angelic nature meant Elizabethtown was more than meets the eye.

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6 The Outpost (2019)

Orlando Bloom as Captain Benjamin D. Keating

The Outpost Movie Poster

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The Outpost RWarDocumentary

The Outpost is a dramatic war film by director Rod Lurie, based on the accounts of a battle in Afghanistan written by Jake Tapper. The film centers on a small group of soldiers in the heart of Kamdesh, Afghanistan, who are forced to hold the line against near-impossible odds as they face off against several Taliban soldiers.

Director Rod Lurie Release Date November 2, 2019 Studio(s) Millennium Media , Perfection Hunter Productions Distributor(s) Screen Media Films Writers Eric Johnson , Paul Tamasy , Jake Tapper Cast Scott Eastwood , Milo Gibson , Orlando Bloom , Caleb Landry Jones , Taylor John Smith , Celina Sinden Runtime 108 minutes Budget $5 Million Main Genre War Expand

The Outpost told the story of soldiers at PRT Kamdesh during the war in Afghanistan in a base that was regarded as a deathtrap due to the regular onslaught of attacks from the Taliban. An impressive technical accomplishment, The Outpost depicted the bloodiest American engagements of Operation Enduring Freedom, as 53 U.S. soldiers and two Latvian military advisors battled 300 enemy insurgents at the Battle of Kamdesh. With Orlando Bloom as Captain Benjamin D. Keating, The Outpost was a thrillingly realistic tribute to U.S. soldiers.

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As a harrowingly immersive account of the battle, The Outpost did not sugarcoat its characters’ split-second decisions and brave sacrifices, as its point-of-view style took viewers right into the heart of the conflict. A brutal war film about the importance of collective heroism, The Outpost gave time to the ensemble cast as the sheer magnitude of the attacks was brought into full focus. The film received widespread praise from veterans, including Stoney Portis, a participant in the battle, who even wrote a piece in The New York Times about the power of witnessing the film.

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5 Black Hawk Down (2001)

Orlando Bloom as PFC Todd Blackburn

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Black Hawk Down RWarDramaHistory

Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia. Tasked with capturing a warlord, elite soldiers find themselves in a fierce battle against Somali militia forces.

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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date January 18, 2002 Writers Ken Nolan Cast Jason Isaacs , Eric Bana , Josh Hartnett , Ewan McGregor , Tom Sizemore , Tom Hardy , Hugh Dancy , Orlando Bloom Runtime 144 minutes Budget $92 million Expand

One of Orlando Bloom’s earliest roles came in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down, the excellent ensemble war film that featured many of the biggest stars of the 2000s. With Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Josh Harnett, and Tom Hardy among its cast, this story about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu was set during the 1992 Somali Civil War. As an intense depiction of warfare from the perspective of combat troops, Black Hawk Down took viewers into the heart of battle and conflict.

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As one of Scott’s greatest movies, Black Hawk Down had no romantic subplots or sappy side stories distracting from the sheer brutality of war and a visceral film viewing experience that left an undeniable mark on war cinema. With gritty realism, Black Hawk Down was an important film during George W. Bush’s presidency, whose presentation of heroic soldiers helped influence the U.S. perception of warfare in the post-9/11 era. An impressive start to Bloom’s Hollywood career, Black Hawk Down was a powerful and effective war movie.

4 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

Orlando Bloom as Balian of Ibelin

Kingdom of Heaven Film Poster

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Kingdom of Heaven RActionAdventureDrama

Kingdom of Heaven is a historical epic directed by Ridley Scott. Set during the Crusades of the 12th century, the film stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a blacksmith who becomes a knight and defender of Jerusalem. The cast includes Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. The movie explores themes of honor, faith, and conflict in a turbulent period of history.

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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date May 6, 2005 Writers William Monahan Cast Martin Hancock , Michael Sheen , Nathalie Cox , Eriq Ebouaney , Jouko Ahola , David Thewlis Runtime 144 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand

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Orlando Bloom reunited with his Black Hawk Down director, Ridley Scott, for the historical epic Kingdom of Heaven, which told a heavily fictionalized portrayal of the events leading to the Third Crusade. Bloom led an ensemble cast as Balian of Ibelin as Christian monarchs sought to capture Jerusalem during the 1100s in a big-budget spectacle that brought to mind Scott’s previous work on Gladiator.

While Kingdom of Heaven received mixed reviews upon release, it was a hit at the box office and was much improved by Scott’s later released director’s cut version. Bloom gave a solid performance as Balian of Ibelin but was overshadowed by stronger work from secondary characters like Edward Norton as King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. Kingdom of Heaven was an extraordinary showcase of spectacular visuals that once again proved Bloom’s talents in a grand and sweeping narrative of epic battles.

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3 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

Orlando Bloom as Legolas

lord of the riings

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9.2/10 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King pg-13AdventureFantasyAction

The final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King concludes the epic saga of the Fellowship’s quest to destroy the One Ring and put an end to Sauron’s reign of terror. As Frodo and Sam continue on their way to Mordor and Mount Doom, accompanied by Gollom, the rest of the Fellowship work to defend Minas Tirith from Sauron’s forces. The film’s ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Vigo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan. 

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*Availability in US Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 17, 2003 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers Peter Jackson Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Bernard Hill , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Hugo Weaving , Miranda Otto , David Wenham , Karl Urban , John Noble , Andy Serkis , Ian Holm , Sean Bean Runtime 201 Minutes Franchise(s) The Lord of the Rings prequel(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Budget $94 million Main Genre Fantasy Expand

As the culmination of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this final installment rightfully swept the Oscars as it took home all eleven Academy Award nominations it received, including Best Picture. By showcasing the conclusion of the remaining Fellowship’s quest to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, The Return of the King saw Orlando Bloom as Legolas join his comrades in the fight against Sauron. As the second film in history, following Titanic, to cross $1 billion at the box office, it’s difficult to overstate just how impactful The Return of the King was.

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By providing audiences with a satisfying conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy classic, The Return of the King became the measure by which all other franchise conclusions were judged. While Legolas’ character wasn’t as impactful in this film as in the previous entry, Bloom continued to shine as the heroic elven prince of Mirkwood. A true artistic and commercial triumph, The Return of the King was a defining film of the 2000s.

2 Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner

Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl Poster

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8.2/10 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl PG-13ActionAdventureFantasy

The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.

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*Availability in US Director Gore Verbinski Release Date July 9, 2003 Studio(s) Jerry Bruckheimer Films , Disney Distributor(s) Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Writers Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert Cast Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce Runtime 143 Minutes Franchise(s) Pirates of the Caribbean Sequel(s) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest , Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End , Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides , Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Budget $140 Million Main Genre Adventure Expand
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While Orlando Bloom successfully developed the character of the blacksmith’s apprentice, Will Turner, in love with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) throughout the franchise, it’s hard to deny that Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl wasn’t his crowning achievement in the series. This first entry in the Pirates series gave more time over to Will’s characterization as the later installments became overwhelmed by the breakout popularity of Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow.

However, in The Curse of the Black Pearl, the story’s real heart was in Will and Elizabeth’s romance, as the duo of Will and Jack sought to rescue the kidnapped maiden. With a level of energy that matched the theme park ride it was inspired by, everything from the music to the action sequences made The Curse of the Black Pearl an instant swashbuckling classic. While the franchise would become even grander and more bombastic in future installments, Bloom was never better as Will than in The Curse of the Black Pearl.

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1 The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Orlando Bloom as Legolas

lord of the rings

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9/10 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers rAdventureFantasyActionDrama

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a Fantasy film by director Peter Jackson and is based on The Two Towers book by author J. R. R. Tolkien. A sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this installment continues Frodo’s journey to take the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it.

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*Availability in US Director Peter Jackson Release Date January 15, 2002 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers Peter Jackson Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Bruce Allpress , Sean Astin , John Bach , Sala Baker , Cate Blanchett , Andy Serkis Runtime 179 Minutes Franchise(s) The Lord of the Rings Sequel(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King prequel(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Budget $94 million Main Genre Fantasy Expand

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy was an unmatched fantasy smash success that succeeded in part due to its outstanding ensemble cast. Among the litany of hobbits, wizards, and dwarfs stood Orlando Bloom as the brave elven archer Legolas, an essential member of the Fellowship throughout the entire trilogy. While each installment of The Lord of the Rings had something special to offer, Legolas’s true time in the spotlight came during The Two Towers.

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As an unstoppable fighter with no qualms about bravely putting himself at the forefront of battles, Legolas’s shining moment throughout the fantasy series was during the Battle of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers. It was here that Bloom showed off everything great about Legolas’s character, as he played an essential role in fighting the legions of Saruman. With intense charisma, impressive showmanship, and iconic imagery, Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of Legolas in The Two Towers was the actor’s finest moment on film.

Source: The A.V. Club, The New York Times

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