Alan Cumming's 15 Greatest Films Ranked

When what Alan Cumming been, there are nice movies protecting many genres. More often than not, he exhibits how he can remodel into virtually any character in any function, certainly one of 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 best way, he has turn into a cult favourite for a number of of his roles.

Nonetheless, Cumming didn't simply get pleasure from roles in impartial movies and arthouse movies. He has appeared in two of the largest franchises on the planet, with a task within the James Bond franchise (Golden Eye) and the Marvel Universe with a task as Nightcrawler in X-Males 2. Moreover, he has appeared in comedies, dramas, motion movies, romantic comedies and even a satire based mostly on the world of Archie. By way of all of it, Cumming provides nice performances in all roles he does whatever the dimension 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 function, starring in a musical movie referred to as Burlesque. The movie additionally co-starred Cher, and each singers managed to meet their half within the musical with nice aplomb. Nonetheless, there have been many issues with the movie, significantly relating to the story and plot that didn't hit all the best notes. It ended up being a field workplace disappointment, though it acquired three Golden Glove nominations (profitable for the music "You Haven't Seen the Final of Me").

Alan Cumming performed Alexis, the doorman on the Burlesque Lounge. Though it was a small function, he was given the possibility to carry out a music for the soundtrack, though it was minimize from the movie and is barely a part of the DVD/Blu-ray particular options). Cumming sang "That's Life" within the movie, his solely music in the complete movie. Nonetheless, 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 a beautiful comedy movie referred to as Romy and Michele's highschool reunion. The extremely underrated movie acquired a lot vital reward when it was launched, though followers principally ignored it whereas it was in theaters. Regardless of this, it gained a substantial viewers on residence video and has since turn into a cult basic. Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino star as Romy and Michelletwo 28-year-old girls 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 (regardless that they're each struggling and don't have profitable jobs). Nonetheless, whereas there, they encounter a former highschool nerd turned profitable inventor and businessman named Sandy Frink (performed by Alan Cumming). He performs an necessary function within the movie, serving to Romy and Michelle get revenge and eventually have a cheerful time. The movie gained a tv sequence 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 worldwide monetary collapse. In Golden Eye, Alan Cumming performs Boris Grishenkoa Russian laptop programmer who works for Bean's villain. He additionally has an iconic loss of life that overshadows even Bean's loss of life from being frozen in liquid nitrogen.

The movie grew to become 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 function for Cumming, and because it was in a James Bond movie, it stays memorable for quite a lot of causes. It additionally helps that this was the spotlight of the Pierce Brosnan period of Bond movies and stay top-of-the-line 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 vital and industrial failure when it was launched. Nonetheless, it ended up being re-evaluated years later and have become a cult basic. Based mostly on characters from Archie Comics world, the movie relies on a woman band that's profitable and Cumming performs a manipulative prosecutor who recruits and manages younger bands for MegaRecords. He principally performs an antagonistic function, however he's so excessive that he makes the whole lot work completely when he will get what's coming to him.

The film is humorous and works greatest when folks notice it's a satire on consumerism and popular culture success. A cult basic, 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 sensible of their villainous roles, and when considered by the lens of satire, there could not have been higher selections to play these roles.

11

Eyes Broad Shut (1999)

Cumming performs a resort worker in Kubrick's movie

Stanley Kubrick was nonetheless engaged on the ending touches for his ultimate movie on the time of his passing. Eyes huge 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, finally ending up in a mysterious mansion for a weird secret group assembly.

Cumming was chosen by Kubrick enjoying a resort receptionist in a fleeting however attention-grabbing function. The movie was polarizing at greatest, as many followers couldn't recover from Kidman and Cruise within the lead roles, as they have been married on the time. Nonetheless, it additionally grew to become a movie with optimistic evaluations, contemplating it was Kubrick's final directed effort earlier than his loss of life. Cumming joins a big checklist of supporting actors alongside Sydney Pollack, Todd Discipline, 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 scholar. The documentary exhibits his time in school and the results after his unmasking. It's advised by 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 Competition and continued at festivals earlier than being acquired by Magnolia Photos. It acquired optimistic evaluations, with comparisons to Drew Barrymore's fictional movie I've By no means Been Kissed (1999). Critics cherished the movie, giving it a latest ranking 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 associates and unintentionally falls in love. Alan Cumming is Reverend Elton, a rich suitor enchanted by Emma. He performs the character as boastful and ostentatious. He joins a formidable solid that features Ewan McGregor, Jeremy Northam, Toni Colette and extra.

The movie was nicely acquired by critics on the time, typically 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 recent ranking 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 preventing a biased system

Any day now follows a homosexual couple who try to take custody of a susceptible teenager, however are compelled to battle 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, exhibiting 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 Contemporary ranking 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 certainly one of Cumming's most necessary roles he performs Nightcrawler within the first sequence of X-Males franchise. Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue and Jean Grey are compelled to group 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 the most effective X-Males movie.

Though he wasn't within the first movie and solely had a small function within the third, Nightcrawler was extraordinarily necessary within the second movie, and Alan Cumming was sensible in his function 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 the most effective new mutant added to the movies' solid 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 in regards to the preparations for one of the crucial well-known tennis matches on the planet; when former world #1 Bobby Riggs wager he might beat any lady. THE the primary roles are performed by Steve Carell and Emma Stone as Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, with Cumming enjoying 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 strong dramedy for drawing parallels to present points, similar 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 function because the overtly homosexual icon who helped guarantee nobody forgot what Billie Jean King was like earlier than the large match.

5

Tito (1999)

Cumming performs Saturninus, son of the Roman emperor

Certainly one of Alan Cumming's greatest movies, Titus is a retelling of William Shakespeare's revenge tragedy, Titus Andronicusin regards to the collapse of a Roman normal. Anthony Hopkins performs the title function in Julie Taymor's directorial debut. Titus sacrifices the son of the Romans' nice enemy, the Queen of the Goths, and she or he 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. Because of this, he abandons the Andronicus household and turns to Tamora (Jessica Lange) as his new bride. The movie acquired blended 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 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 kids's movies with the Spy kids 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 kids who have been additionally spies - work they hid from their kids. However when a villain kidnaps their mother and father, it's as much as the youngsters to discover a approach to get them again. utilizing the spy units left behind.

Alan Cumming performs Fegan Floop, a kids's tv presenter who can be a felony mastermind. Having Cumming play the villain in opposition to 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 function. 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 Celebration (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 function Phoebe Cates took earlier than retiring from appearing. Cumming and Leigh star as a Hollywood couple who have a good time their marriage ceremony anniversary after reconciling after a interval of separation. Nonetheless, after they take some ecstasy, the whole lot falls aside as soon as once more.

The movie gained the Nationwide Board of Evaluate 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. Nonetheless, critics praised the best way they dealt with the solid round them, with credit score going to a script that ensured everybody had an opportunity to point out their significance to the tales. Cumming and Leigh have nice emotional moments and carry the movie to greatness.

2

Candy Earth (2005)

Frandsen's function was written for enjoyment

Candy Earth is an American impartial romance movie that includes Elizabeth Reaser as a German lady who travels to Minnesota for an organized marriage with Olaf, a Norwegian. It's set in 1920 and is a narrative in regards to the tens of millions of immigrants who shaped the USA as residents comprehend it right this moment. The function he performs, Frandsen (Olaf's pal), 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 certainly one of Alan Cumming's greatest movies. The movie was produced with a modest funds 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 many of the reward went to the cinematography and route, 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 considerations 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 loss of life, and is definitely Alan Cumming's greatest movie. Regardless of this heavy premise, it's a light-hearted, mischievous experience. The movie acquired related evaluations to Emmain different phrases, the script is a respectful adaptation of the supply materials and has a superb solid.

This solid 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 Evaluate 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 the whole lot he seems in.