Alan Cumming's 15 Greatest Films Ranked

When what Alan Cumming been, there are nice movies masking many genres. More often than not, he exhibits how he can remodel into virtually any character in any position, one in all cinema's true chameleons. He's additionally an award-winning actor, profitable an Emmy and a BAFTA, in addition to a Tony for his work on stage. He has been appearing on tv since 1984, in movie since 1986, and on stage since 1988. Alongside the way in which, he has change into a cult favourite for a number of of his roles.

Nevertheless, Cumming didn't simply take pleasure in roles in impartial movies and arthouse movies. He has appeared in two of the most important franchises on the earth, with a job within the James Bond franchise (Golden Eye) and the Marvel Universe with a job as Nightcrawler in X-Males 2. Moreover, he has appeared in comedies, dramas, motion movies, romantic comedies and even a satire primarily based on the world of Archie. Via all of it, Cumming provides nice performances in all roles he does whatever the measurement and standing of the movie through which he seems.

15

Burlesque (2010)

Alan Cumming will sing on this musical

In 2010, Christina Aguilera landed her first main position, starring in a musical movie referred to as Burlesque. The movie additionally co-starred Cher, and each singers managed to satisfy their half within the musical with nice aplomb. Nevertheless, there have been many issues with the movie, notably relating to the story and plot that didn't hit all the appropriate notes. It ended up being a field workplace disappointment, though it acquired three Golden Glove nominations (profitable for the tune "You Haven't Seen the Final of Me").

Alan Cumming performed Alexis, the doorman on the Burlesque Lounge. Though it was a small position, he was given the possibility to carry out a tune for the soundtrack, though it was lower from the movie and is simply a part of the DVD/Blu-ray particular options). Cumming sang "That's Life" within the movie, his solely tune in the whole movie. Nevertheless, seeing Cumming as a doorman was a delight, working alongside Cher and Aguilera.

14

Romy and Michele's highschool reunion (1997)

Cumming performs a former nerd turned profitable businessman

In 1997, Alan Cumming took half in an exquisite comedy movie referred to as Romy and Michele's highschool reunion. The extremely underrated movie acquired a lot essential reward when it was launched, though followers principally ignored it whereas it was in theaters. Regardless of this, it gained a substantial viewers on house video and has since change into a cult traditional. Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino star as Romy and Michelletwo 28-year-old ladies who go to their highschool reunion with a rating to settle.

Bullied as youngsters, they need to show to everybody that they've made it (despite the fact that they're each struggling and don't have profitable jobs). Nevertheless, whereas there, they encounter a former highschool nerd turned profitable inventor and businessman named Sandy Frink (performed by Alan Cumming). He performs an vital position within the movie, serving to Romy and Michelle get revenge and at last have a contented time. The movie gained a tv collection and even a play.

13

Golden Eye (1995)

Cumming performs a villainous Russian laptop programmer

On this Pierce Brosnan-led James Bond movie, the enduring spy faces Sean Bean's former MI6 agent in a race to cease him from inflicting a world monetary collapse. In Golden Eye, Alan Cumming performs Boris Grishenkoa Russian laptop programmer who works for Bean's villain. He additionally has an iconic demise that overshadows even Bean's demise from being frozen in liquid nitrogen.

The movie turned a reference within the cultural canon, a lot in order that Cumming nonetheless will get shouted at for his catchphrase: "I'm invincible" from followers. This was a really uncommon pure villain position for Cumming, and because it was in a James Bond movie, it stays memorable for quite a few causes. It additionally helps that this was the spotlight of the Pierce Brosnan period of Bond movies and stay among the best within the franchise earlier than Daniel Craig rebooted it.

12

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Cumming performs a manipulative music producer

Josie and the Pussycats was an underrated movie that was a essential and business failure when it was launched. Nevertheless, it ended up being re-evaluated years later and have become a cult traditional. Primarily based on characters from Archie Comics world, the movie is predicated on a lady band that's profitable and Cumming performs a manipulative prosecutor who recruits and manages younger bands for MegaRecords. He principally performs an antagonistic position, however he's so excessive that he makes all the pieces work completely when he will get what's coming to him.

The film is humorous and works finest when individuals notice it's a satire on consumerism and popular culture success. A cult traditional, the movie has acquired significantly better evaluations in recent times, and the movie's reappraisal has helped place it squarely within the realm of cult classics. Each Alan Cumming and Parker Posey are good of their villainous roles, and when seen by way of the lens of satire, there might not have been higher decisions to play these roles.

11

Eyes Extensive Shut (1999)

Cumming performs a resort worker in Kubrick's movie

Stanley Kubrick was nonetheless engaged on the ending touches for his remaining movie on the time of his passing. Eyes large closed is an erotic psychological thriller starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. When his spouse admits she fantasized about one other man, Dr. Invoice Hartford turns into paralyzed by the concept of ​​revenge, ultimately ending up in a mysterious mansion for a weird secret group assembly.

Cumming was chosen by Kubrick taking part in a resort receptionist in a fleeting however attention-grabbing position. The movie was polarizing at finest, as many followers couldn't recover from Kidman and Cruise within the lead roles, as they have been married on the time. Nevertheless, it additionally turned a movie with constructive evaluations, contemplating it was Kubrick's final directed effort earlier than his demise. Cumming joins a big checklist of supporting actors alongside Sydney Pollack, Todd Subject, Leelee Sobieski and Thomas Gibson.

10

My Outdated Faculty (2021)

Alan Cumming performs real-life Brandon Lee

Cumming appeared within the documentary My old-fashioned, telling the story of Brandon Leewho enrolled at Bearsden Academy in Glasgow aged 30, disguised as a 16-year-old pupil. The documentary exhibits his time at college and the results after his unmasking. It's instructed by way of interviews, archival footage and recreations. The true Brandon Lee refused to take part.

Cumming, who attended drama college in Glasgow, dubs the audio of his interviews as a stand-in for the subject material. It premiered on the Sundance Movie Pageant and continued at festivals earlier than being acquired by Magnolia Photos. It acquired constructive evaluations, with comparisons to Drew Barrymore's fictional movie I've By no means Been Kissed (1999). Critics beloved the movie, giving it a latest score of 93% and praising Cumming's efficiency above all else.

9

Emma (1996)

Cumming performs Reverend Elton within the adaptation

Whereas Amy Heckerling directed a contemporary revival a yr earlier with Clueless (1995), Jane Austen Emma has acquired a traditionally correct Regency-era adaptation. Gwyneth Paltrow is the vivacious gossiper who performs matchmaker for her buddies and by accident falls in love. Alan Cumming is Reverend Elton, a rich suitor enchanted by Emma. He performs the character as smug and ostentatious. He joins a powerful forged that features Ewan McGregor, Jeremy Northam, Toni Colette and extra.

The movie was nicely acquired by critics on the time, usually noting Paltrow's charming efficiency. Critics additionally praised the movie for staying near the novel, which incorporates jokes and dialogue between the characters, one thing that Alan Cumming managed to grasp. The movie has a contemporary score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an Oscar nomination for Greatest Costume Design, whereas additionally profitable for Greatest Authentic Musical or Comedy Rating.

8

Any Day Now (2012)

Cumming performs a homosexual man combating a biased system

Any day now follows a homosexual couple who try and take custody of a susceptible teenager, however are compelled to struggle a biased justice system. The movie stars the actor with Down syndrome, Isaac Leyva, because the couple's son. Cumming performs Rudy, a drag performer and musician, highlighting his nice expertise for cabaret. This places them in a bitter authorized battle with the boy's organic mom in California household courts. The movie has a surprising and tragic ending, displaying how the justice system was damaged on this case.

Upon launch, the movie acquired widespread reward, profitable a GLAAD Media Award for Greatest Restricted Launch Movie. Critics praised the casting of an actor with Down syndrome to play a personality with Down syndrome and a homosexual man to play a homosexual man within the movie. It additionally has a 78% Licensed Recent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and though its restricted launch ensured it wouldn't earn a lot on the field workplace, it was praised and remembered for its refined storytelling and harsh indictment of parental rights.

7

X2: X-Males United (2003)

Cumming performs the enduring X-Males Nightcrawler

In one in all Cumming's most vital roles he performs Nightcrawler within the first sequence of X-Males franchise. Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue and Jean Grey are compelled to crew up with Magneto to defeat the evil William Stryker. Cummings enters the franchise within the spectacular opening scene, the place he storms the White Home, bouncing off the partitions and kicking a number of Secret Service members within the face. He turns into an ally of the X-Males in what is taken into account by many to be one of the best X-Males movie.

Though he wasn't within the first movie and solely had a small position within the third, Nightcrawler was extraordinarily vital within the second movie, and Alan Cumming was good in his position as an ostracized mutant handled like a monster however all the time holding on to his power. feeling of religion and guilt. Cumming is definitely one of the best new mutant added to the movies' forged following the success of the primary, and is somebody who deserved extra display time than he acquired in future movies.

6

Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Cumming performs dressmaker Cuthbert “Ted” Tinling

Battle of the sexes is a biographical sports activities movie concerning the preparations for probably the most well-known tennis matches on the earth; when former world number one Bobby Riggs guess he might beat any girl. THE the principle roles are performed by Steve Carell and Emma Stone as Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, with Cumming taking part in real-life dressmaker Cuthbert "Ted" Tinling. Tinling was an overtly homosexual tennis icon, designing Billie Jean King's outfit for the historic match.

Though he was well-known for being bald, on this adaptation Cumming performs him with a full head of grey hair. General, the movie was praised as a stable dramedy for drawing parallels to present points, akin to highlighting the gender pay hole. Though Carell and Stone took all of the awards after the movie's launch, Cumming deserves reward for his position because the overtly homosexual icon who helped guarantee nobody forgot what Billie Jean King was like earlier than the massive match.

5

Tito (1999)

Cumming performs Saturninus, son of the Roman emperor

One in all Alan Cumming's finest movies, Titus is a retelling of William Shakespeare's revenge tragedy, Titus Andronicusconcerning the collapse of a Roman basic. Anthony Hopkins performs the title position in Julie Taymor's directorial debut. Titus sacrifices the son of the Romans' nice enemy, the Queen of the Goths, and he or she units out for brutal retribution. Alan Cumming performs the son of the late Roman emperorSaturnine.

Within the story, he's rejected for his makes an attempt to assert Lavinia (Laura Fraser) as his new bride. Consequently, he abandons the Andronicus household and turns to Tamora (Jessica Lange) as his new bride. The movie acquired combined evaluations, however has since gained a cult following. It acquired an Oscar nomination for Greatest Costume Design. Cumming acquired reward for his "extravagant efficiency,"with one critic calling him"fascist Pee-wee Herman" (by way of Lithub).

4

Spy Children (2001)

The villain of the primary movie

In 2001, Robert Rodriguez proved he might transfer from his action-packed grownup movies to youngsters's movies with the Spy youngsters franchise. The movie ended up being so profitable that it spawned a franchise that included sequels, a TV present, and extra. Within the first movie, Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino performed a pair with youngsters who have been additionally spies - work they hid from their youngsters. However when a villain kidnaps their mother and father, it's as much as the kids to discover a option to get them again. utilizing the spy gadgets left behind.

Alan Cumming performs Fegan Floop, a youngsters's tv presenter who can be a prison mastermind. Having Cumming play the villain towards a bunch of kids coming to cease him was an ideal selection, solely defeated in a later sequence when Sylvester Stallone took on the villain position. For a villain, Cumming was over-the-top and fabulous in his efficiency and helped take the movie to nice heights. In 2024, the Library of Congress added the movie to the Nationwide Movie Registry.

3

The Birthday Occasion (2001)

Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh co-direct and star on this movie

Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh teamed up in 2001 to co-direct and star within the movie, The birthday celebration. This was additionally the final position Phoebe Cates took earlier than retiring from appearing. Cumming and Leigh star as a Hollywood couple who have fun their marriage ceremony anniversary after reconciling after a interval of separation. Nevertheless, once they take some ecstasy, all the pieces falls aside as soon as once more.

The movie gained the Nationwide Board of Overview Award for Excellence in Movie for Cumming and Leigh. The truth that the 2 co-directed and starred within the movie was spectacular in itself. Nevertheless, critics praised the way in which they dealt with the forged round them, with credit score going to a script that ensured everybody had an opportunity to indicate their significance to the tales. Cumming and Leigh have nice emotional moments and carry the movie to greatness.

2

Candy Earth (2005)

Frandsen's position was written for enjoyment

Candy Earth is an American impartial romance movie that includes Elizabeth Reaser as a German girl who travels to Minnesota for an organized marriage with Olaf, a Norwegian. It's set in 1920 and is a narrative concerning the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who shaped the USA as residents realize it right now. The position he performs, Frandsen (Olaf's buddy), was written particularly for Cummingas he was an early supporter of the movie and helped launch the challenge.

The connection shines, like Candy Earth ended up being one in all Alan Cumming's finest movies. The movie was produced with a modest price range of US$1 million, financed by the director himself, and was very nicely acquired upon launch. It ended up profitable the Impartial Spirit Award for Greatest First Function Movie at its 2007 ceremony. Though a lot of the reward went to the cinematography and path, Cumming and the opposite actors held their very own with nice performances.

1

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

Cumming performs a member of the theater firm

This adaptation of Charles Dickens' third novel issues a younger man on a mission to avoid wasting his household from his cold-hearted uncle after being despatched to boarding college as a result of his father's demise, and is definitely Alan Cumming's finest movie. Regardless of this heavy premise, it's a light-hearted, mischievous journey. The movie acquired comparable evaluations to Emmain different phrases, the script is a respectful adaptation of the supply materials and has a wonderful forged.

This forged consists of Cumming as Mr Folair, a member of the Crummles Theater Firm - all the time wearing conventional Scottish apparel. For his or her work, the actors acquired the Nationwide Board of Overview Award for Greatest Performing Ensemble. This was a movie that made Charlie Hunnam a star and helped introduce Anne Hathaway to a wider viewers, however Alan Cumming has by no means been higher than on this movie, proving that he elevates all the pieces he seems in.