Adam Driver's 10 best performances

Good soup.

From small town Mishawaka, Indiana to the Big Screens all over the world, Adam Driver is undoubtedly one of the most talented actors of this generation. From his humble beginnings to securing some of the biggest roles available, Adam Driver continues to prove his acting excellence along with his kindness and humility that are admired by many. With latest roles such as Maurizio Gucci in House of Gucci and Enzo Ferrari in the upcoming Ferrari, it is obvious to see that Adam is making waves in the acting world. Here are his ten best performances, ranked.

10. Allan, What If (2013)

There are very few actors that could play Allan without it being cringy and Adam Driver is one of the few. Even though he is only a supporting role, Adam perfectly nails the comedic timing in this film and adds so many laughable moments that give the audience some relief from the main themes. I would love to see him be in some more cheesy rom-coms because he makes his characters so loveable.

9. Jamie, While We're Young (2014)

Adam Driver has perfected the "endearing asshole" personality type and his performance as Jamie in Noah Baumbach's film While We're Young shows it perfectly. This smart and witty film definitely allowed Adam to explore a character that is charming and cool but underneath it all, a manipulative, hipster filmmaker who is happy to step on people to get what he wants. Adam truly hit the nail on the head with Jamie, because by the end you really want to punch him in the face.

8. Phillip Altman, This is Where I Leave You (2014)

Once again, he plays a charming asshole. This Is Where I Leave You follows a dysfunctional family post their father's funeral where they have to sit Shiva for seven days. Adam plays the irresponsible, inappropriate baby brother, Phillip. Like previously mentioned, he has perfected this typecasting but with Phillip, Adam brought some tender moments to the character and ultimately, more depth to the scenes he is in.

7. Toby Grummett, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)

In The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Adam plays Toby, a film director who finds himself time-jumping in Spain with an old man who believes he is the legendary, Don Quixote. This film is wild and hard to keep up with, clearly that was no struggle for Adam. He perfectly understands how and when character development needs to shine through his characters, even if it is in the most subtle ways. His comedic delivery and ability to bounce off his co-stars made this performance unforgettable.

6. Jude, Hungry Hearts (2014)

This psychological drama about postnatal psychosis is a serious heartstopper, and all you want to do is protect Jude and his baby. Adam has this ability to make the audience really understand how he is feeling and the way he plays Jude is no exception. Hungry Hearts is the perfect example of how serious of an actor he is, and his effort was recognised with winning Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. Plus, It was very easy to get all googly-eyed for Jude when he sings a rendition of Tu Si Na Cosa Grande at his wedding.

5. Jacques Le Gris, The Last Duel (2021)

Never in my life did I think that I would be so disgusted by Adam Driver, that was until he played the most vile, evil character, Jacques Le Gris and wow... he played it well. This movie comes with a heavy trigger warning, but it is definitely one of the best historically based films I have seen in a long time. Adam has played some characters that have done bad things, but I couldn't even look Jacques Le Gris in the eye when he was on screen, and I think that truly shows Adam's acting range.

4. Flip Zimmerman, The BlacKkKlansman (2018)

This was the performance that made me realise how big of a star Adam Driver is and is going to become. Scoring his first Oscar nomination with his portrayal of Detective, Flip Zimmerman was truly fitting as you are unable to take your eyes off him during this film. You see Flip progress in the movie as Driver fully takes on the struggles of dealing with his duties on the job and understanding his Jewish identity. Adam makes Flip Zimmerman so honest and understandable you find yourself holding your breath when he is in danger because you don't want to lose him.

3. Kylo Ren, Star Wars VII, VIII, IX (2015 - 2019)

Kylo Ren is my comfort character, is that embarrassing? Whatever, I'm not embarrassed. It is obvious to anyone who watched these movies that Adam Driver needed to book a chiropractor appointment afterwards because he carried the sequel trilogy on his back. Kylo Ren is such a deep and complex character, and we definitely have to give thanks to Adam for the level of commitment he put into it. I am still beefing with J.J. Abrams for killing him off because Adam could have done so much more with the redemption arc if he was given the time. I will never forget when Kylo Ren first takes off his mask in The Force Awakens, that was the beginning of it all for me.

2. Charlie Barber, Marriage Story (2019)

What I love about Charlie. Everything, clearly. Adam embodied the softness of a father who loves his son and the hurt of one being put through a divorce. His performance never fails to make me cry as he has perfected the struggle of wanting to do the right thing and wanting to protect yourself. The argument scene makes me sweat so much, I truly have never seen better acting from two people that didn't feel manufactured. I am still a bit heartbroken that Adam Driver didn’t win the Oscar for this role, if it were any other year and Joaquin wasn’t in the mix, he would have secured it.

1. Henry McHenry, Annette (2021)

Annette is a criminally underrated film. Everything about it is perfection. It is dark, camp, comedic, melancholic, and it completely sucks you in. Adam plays Henry McHenry, a controversial and twisted comedian who has a daughter with a special talent. Through this musical, you see Henry unravel and give in to all the worst parts of himself. From his singing voice, comedic brilliance, sex appeal, and ability to dabble into all emotions and personalities, this movie showcases all of Adam Driver's talents. The soundtrack to Annette was second on my Spotify Wrapped last year because I was and am still completely enthralled with the talent and genius that was put into this film. It is clear to see that Adam Driver thrives in strange roles, and I am eager to see what he does next.