The bestPeter Dinklagemovies and TV shows are all examples of the incredibly wide range of talent held by theGame of Thronesstar. Born in New Jersey in 1969, Peter Dinklage has been an active presence on the stage and screen since 1993. His first feature-film role came in 1995, playing Tito in the black comedyLiving in Oblivion.However, his career breakthrough didn’t really come until 2003 when he played Finbar McBride in director Tom McCarthy’sThe Station Agent.
Of course, whileThe Station Agenthelped Peter Dinklage secure more central roles in both movies and TV, he wouldn’t become a household name until 2011 when he took onthe role of Tyrion Lannisterin HBO’s hit seriesGame of Thrones.Since then, Peter Dinklage’s career has accelerated at a rapid pace, and his best movies and TV shows reveal why he’s never found finding work hard in any genre, be it emotional and poignant dramas, blockbuster action films, or laugh-out-loud comedies.
Avengers: Infinity War
Cast
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
The ensemble cast list of 2018’sAvengers: Infinity Waris one of the most star-studded lineups in the history of cinema. While Peter Dinklage’s character,Eitri the King of the Dwarves, wasn’t a central member of the Avengers team and had comparatively little screen time compared to many others, this doesn’t stopInfinity Warfrom counting among Peter Dinklage’s best movies.
Peter Dinklage was part of some of the funniest interactions inInfinity War,having impeccable chemistry with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. For example, when Eitri informs Thor that taking the energy of a sun will kill him and Thor responds,“only if I die”,Dinklage’s perplexed“yes… that’s what killing you means”is without a doubt one of the most hilarious lines in the 2018 MCU blockbuster. However, Eitri was also critical when it came to showing audiences the emotional impact Thanos had on the universe. It was a surprisingly nuanced role and an incredibly memorable one, despite Eitri himself only being included to ensure Thor found a replacement for Mjolnir.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: Days of Future Past features a time-traveling mission where the ultimate X-Men ensemble battles across two periods. Combining forces with their younger selves, they attempt to alter the past to ensure the future of their species. Released in 2014, the film stars Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender.
The MCU isn’t the only superhero franchise Peter Dinklage has given an exceptional performance in. He also appeared in Fox’sX-Menuniverse in the 2014 entryX-Men: Days of Future Past.The movie saw both the present and past versions of many characters appear, with Peter Dinklage starringas antagonist Bolivar Trask, the twisted genius behind the mutant-hunting Sentinels.
Peter Dinklage was exceptional at portraying a genius blinded by ambition and his unfounded fear of mutantkind, so much so that he was nomniated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2015.He managed to make Trask one of the most memorable non-mutant antagonists in Fox’sX-Menuniverse. What’s more, his portrayal of inDays of Future Pastshowed many specific qualities of his skills as a performer that he’d later rely on in movies like 2023’sThe Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes.
Death At A Funeral
Death at a Funeral is a British comedic film centered around an eccentric family navigating a series of chaotic events during their patriarch’s funeral. Released in 2007, the story unfolds as secrets and interpersonal conflicts emerge amidst the somber occasion, leading to a myriad of unexpected twists.
2007’s dark British comedyDeath at a Funeralcomes from director Frank Oz, and stars an ensemble cast of UK comedians alongside Peter Dinklage. It’s one of best Peter Dinklage movies when it comes to his comedic performances, and his character (also named Peter) is easily a highlight of the film. The story focuses on the children, wife, and friends of the late Edward, who all return to a small village in the UK for his funeral.
Among the guests is an unexpected arrival, Peter (Dinklage’s character), an American who is a stranger to everyone else in attendance. Peter reveals that he was Edward’s secret lover, and attempts to blackmail the family.Peter Dinklage’s performance is hilarious, so much so that he reprized a similar role for the 2010 U.S. remake ofDeath at a Funeral.While the remake is also worth watching, it’s the 2007 original is superior when it comes to Dinklage’s performance.
I Think We’re Alone Now
I Think We’re Alone Now is a post-apocalyptic drama directed by Reed Morano, starring Peter Dinklage as Del, a man who thrives in solitude after a devastating event wipes out humanity. His peaceful existence is disrupted when a mysterious young woman named Grace, played by Elle Fanning, arrives. The film explores themes of isolation, companionship, and survival in a desolate world.
Not only did Peter Dinklage star in 2018’sI Think We’re Alone Now,but he also served as a producer. The movie, from director Reed Morano, is an interesting genre blend. Not only is it a post-apocalyptic drama, but it’s also a romance story. Peter Dinklage plays Del, a man living alone after a lethal virus wiped out the human population over the span of a single afternoon. Del thinks he’s the only survivor of the plague - until he meets Grace (Elle Fanning), that is.
I Think We’re Alone Nowis one of the most nuanced and thematically complex post-apocalyptic movies out there, eschewing action and a focus on the end of the world for an exploration of trauma and bonding.Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning have incredible chemistry as Del and Grace, andI Think We’re Alone Nowdeserved much more recognition than it received due to the strength of both of their performances.
I Think We’re Alone Now: 10 Horror Movies About Isolation
In horror, being all alone can be one of the scariest things characters will ever face. These 10 horror movies all about isolation are proof of that.
The Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger is directed by Macon Blair and follows downtrodden janitor Winston Gooze, who becomes a superhuman hero after a toxic accident. Armed with a glowing mop, he must save his son and thwart a power-hungry tyrant seeking to exploit toxic superpowers.
Theblack superhero comedyThe Toxic Avengercomes from director Macon Blair, and revitalizes the cultToxic Avengerfranchise. Unfortunately, it’s also an incredibly difficult movie to view, as it’s yet to have a wider release outside of festival screenings. Still, this doesn’t preclude it from being one of the best Peter Dinklage movies, as the early reviews have had nothing but universal praise for his performance as Winston Gooze, the titular Toxic Avenger.
As evidence,The Toxic Avengercurrently sits with a 92% Tomatometer rating onRotten Tomatoes.Undoubtedly a niche release, it nevertheless showcases a unique side of Peter Dinklage’s range as a performer, bringing his comedic skills to the fore and reminding viewers that, while he’s proved time and time again he’s an incredible actor in dramas, he’s more than capable of providing intense hilarity too.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel movie set 64 years before the events of the original movie with Katniss Everdeen. The film centers on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and shows his rise to power as the leader of Panem. Taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12.
The prequel toThe Hunger Gamesfranchise was one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2023, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. A key reason for this was the exceptional performances of the cast - and a standout was Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbottom, the creator of the Hunger Games. While he wasn’t the most central character to the story, he did give one of the best performances of the cast, which easily cementsThe Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakesas one of the best Peter Dinklage movies.
In many ways, Casca Highbottom echoed several roles Peter Dinklage took on earlier in his career, most notably Bolivar Trask inX-Men: Days of Future Past.Like Trask, Highbottom is a cold and calculated genius, unafraid to bring harm to a few in service of what he believes it the greater good.Dinklage ensured Highbottom was one of the most intriguingnew charactersThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesbrought toThe Hunger Gamesuniverse.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri tells the story of Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a mother of a murder victim who rents three billboards to call attention to her daughter’s unsolved murder. The film also stars Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, and was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, earning nominations for seven Academy Awards.
The crime dramaThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouricomes from director Martin McDonagh, who also wrote the script. It’s a movie with an incredible ensemble cast, and while the story focuses mostly on Frances McDormand’s Mildred Hayes, Peter Dinklage gives a career-highlight performance as James. Mildred, a woman trying to bring attention to the unsolved rape and murder of her daughter, finds the local law enforcement against her - and James proves critical in helping delay their attempts to stop her from uncovering the truth.
Peter Dinklage and Frances McDormand share several incredibly emotional scenes as Mildred and James inThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.Not only was Peter Dinklage’s performance exceptiona;, but the movie itself was highly critically acclaimed, being nominated for 192 awards of which it won 81.It currently sits with a 90% Tomatometer score onRotten Tomatoes, further highlighting its place as one of the best Peter Dinklage movies.
Wicked
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wickedwas one of the cinematic success stories of 2024, finally bringing the hit musical of the same name (which was itself based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire). InWicked,Peter Dinklage voices the talking goat Dr. Dillamond, displaying his incredible aptitude as a voice actor. Dr. Dillamond is an incredibly important character in the story ofWicked.He becomes an important role model for Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West encountered by Dorothy inThe Wizard of Oz.
The response toWickedfrom critics and viewers alike was incredibly positive. The movie currently sits with an 88% Tomatometer score and 95% Popcornmeter score onRotten Tomatoes. What’s more, it’s already received a staggering 236 award nominations and 76 wins at time of writing.Peter Dinklage is due to reprisethe role of Dr. Dillamondin the upcoming sequelWicked: For Good,which will further cement the character as one of his career-defining roles.
Cyrano
Cyrano is a 2021 musical drama directed by Joe Wright, based on the classic play “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand. Peter Dinklage stars as Cyrano, a gifted poet and swordsman who feels unworthy of his love for Roxanne (Haley Bennett) due to his appearance. Instead, he helps Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) win her heart by ghostwriting love letters
When it comes to the best movie performances of Peter Dinklage, it’s inarguably 2021’sCyranothat marks the biggest feature-length success for theGame of Thronesstar. Based on both the1897 play by Edmond Rostandand the 2018 musical, both of the same name,Cyranowas directed by Joe Wright. Dinklage took the lead role as the titular Cyrano de Bergerac, a member of the nobility who carries an unrequited love for his childhood friend, Roxanne (Haley Bennett).
Outside ofGame of Thrones, Cyranostands as Peter Dinklage’s most critically acclaimed role. His performance in the incredibly tragic romantic musical drama earned him several award wins and nods.These include a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy in 2022, and a Critics Choice nomination for Best Actor the same year.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
While it might be somewhat unsurprising given that it’s his most widely recognized appearance,Game of Thronesis undoubtedly the best Peter Dinklage TV show. Running on HBO from 2011 to 2019,Game of Thronesis regarded by many critics and viewers as the best TV show of the 21st century so far (even if the final season was divisive). What’s more, Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister was arguably the fan-favorite character, and the closest thing to a hero in the morally murky world of Westeros.
The role of Tyrion LannisterinGame of Thronesdrew a huge amount of acclaim and accolades for Peter Dinklage.Among the awards he won were a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries, or Motional Picture Made for Television.Tyrion tapped into every corner of Dinklage’s incredibly wide range of abilities, being responsible for as many of the funniest moments inGame of Thronesas he was its most emotional. It’s clear that no other project is as deserving of the top spot when it comes to the best movies and TV shows ofPeter Dinklage’s career.
