The 14 Best Mark Wahlberg Movies, Ranked
With an acting career stretching back to 1994, Mark Wahlberg has starred in everything from independent character studies to blockbuster action fare. Often bringing a focused intensity to his performances, Wahlberg parlays his talents into taking on everything from Transformers to super-intelligent apes to effectively playing against type as an earnest comedic foil. Possessing a subtly wide range, Wahlberg has gone on to work with some of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood, sometimes on multiple projects and often with critical acclaim and box office success.
Wahlberg is at an inevitable stage in his career that defies typecasting and gives him the freedom to choose from a robust variety of projects. And despite his movie star good looks, Wahlberg often maintains an everyman quality that makes him a relatable actor, even as his characters face extraordinary circumstances. Here are the 14 best Mark Wahlberg movies ranked, elevated by his sheer commitment and the determined energy that he brings to each production.
14. Fear (1996)
Back in 1996, when Wahlberg's musical career as rapper Marky Mark was still relatively fresh, he received his breakout role in the thriller "Fear." Rather than playing a clean-cut All-American teen, Wahlberg instead went full tilt villain as the ultimate bad boyfriend, the menacing David McCall, who targets Seattle high schooler Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon). As David becomes more controlling and jealous, his behavior quickly grows murderous, with Nicole's father, Steve (William Petersen), struggling to keep his daughter safe from the boyfriend from hell.
Wahlberg brings the same level of intensity and single-minded obsession that any number of slasher movie villains would, embracing the possibilities of a bad boy image to the fullest. David's penchant for sadism makes "Fear" hard to watch for stretches at a time, more unpleasant than similar thrillers like "Fatal Attraction" or "Basic Instinct," but Wahlberg is undeniably magnetic. "Fear" falls apart a bit during its climax, but Wahlberg's charisma and unrelenting energy offer a clear look at the actor he would become and one of the rare chances to see him play an out-and-out villain.
13. Invincible (2006)
With his natural athleticism, Wahlberg effortlessly translates his physicality and charm into portraying real-life walk-on professional football player Vince Papale in the 2006 film "Invincible." Set in '70s Philadelphia, the Eagles have endured an embarrassing losing streak, prompting new head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) to hold open tryouts for the team. A lifelong Eagles fan, the recently laid off and divorced Vince applies to be a walk-on for the team, meeting surprise success and becoming a local sensation.
Taking significant creative liberties with the real Papale's life story, "Invincible" is an inspirational sports drama that plays it safe with the family-friendly veneer of a Disney production. Wahlberg is an easygoing underdog hero, playing well off the ensemble cast, especially Elizabeth Banks as his encouraging love interest, Janet Cantrell. Powered by its earnest sense of heart and entertaining football sequences, particularly a rainy pickup game in the streets of Philly, "Invincible" gives Wahlberg a likable all-ages film far different from most of his other work.
12. Instant Family
Wahlberg's other (and more memorable) foray into all-ages-appropriate work is the 2018 family dramedy "Instant Family," based on the real-life experiences of director and co-writer Sean Anders. Wahlberg plays Pete Wagner, who, along with his wife, Ellie (Rose Byrne), decides to turn become foster parents, adopting a trio of siblings ranging from ages 6 to 15. Though the Wagners connect with the younger children quickly, they struggle to effectively parent the teenage Lizzie (Isabela Merced). This leads to resentment and conflict as they try to finalize the adoption.
Wahlberg is a steady, reliable presence in "Instant Family," but the movie is a showcase for Byrne and an ensemble of standup comedians in various supporting roles, including Tig Notaro and Tom Segura. Still, Wahlberg has great chemistry with Byrne, with Wahlberg forming a great rapport with Merced as Pete and Lizzie learn to trust each other. Another family comedy that runs heavy on schmaltz and predictability, Byrne and Wahlberg keep "Instant Family" watchable and engaging.
11. Lone Survivor
If David O. Russell works well with Wahlberg to deliver subversive comedy and searing drama, Peter Berg collaborates with him to present everyman heroes in extraordinary situations. Berg and Wahlberg's first movie is the 2013 biopic "Lone Survivor," recounting Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell's harrowing mission behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. While attempting to apprehend a local Taliban leader responsible for several deadly attacks, Luttrell (Wahlberg) and his unit are ambushed. Only a grievously wounded Luttrell is left alive.
Wahlberg, who also produced "Lone Survivor" with Berg, plays Luttrell not as a supremely confident super-soldier but as a duty-bound man who is just trying to stay alive in the face of disaster. "Lone Survivor" could have easily gone the route of presenting Luttrell as this generation's answer to John Rambo but instead strives for authenticity and a quiet dignity for the servicemen it honors. Though the movie doesn't provide its audience much breathing room to get to know its characters better, "Lone Survivor" is a taut portrait of survival anchored by Walhberg's performance.
10. The Italian Job (2003)
The cult classic '60s British film "The Italian Job" got a modern, Americanized revamp in 2003, boasting an all-star ensemble cast headed by Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. After professional thief Steve Frazelli (Edward Norton) betrays his crew to steal a load of gold bullion, his double-crossed associate, Charlie Croker (Wahlberg), reassembles the survivors for revenge. Targeting Steve after he relocates to Los Angeles for a life of lavish luxury from his ill-gotten gains, each of Charlie's team leans into their specific skills to retake the gold and fulfill and make good on their vendetta.
"The Italian Job" is a fascinating pastiche of heist movies that is very much a product of its time, feeling more like a cross between "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Fast and the Furious" than the original British film. Wahlberg's Charlie comes off as a more streetwise Danny Ocean but no less cool and confident as he leads his crew. Buoyed by its likable cast and cool cars, "The Italian Job" may have a flimsy plot, but a nuanced story was never really the objective so much as providing a good time at the movies.
9. The Other Guys
On paper, Mark Walhberg and Will Ferrell don't seem like the most logical comedic pairing, but the success of the duo's "Daddy's Home" films would suggest otherwise. Funnily enough, Wahlberg and Ferrell's best collaboration to date isn't a "Daddy's Home" movie at all but their first film, 2010's buddy-cop comedy, "The Other Guys." After two of New York City's most popular police detectives die in a nonsensical chase, mismatched colleagues Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) and Allen Gamble (Ferrell) step up to take their place.
"The Other Guys" boasts a particularly impressive all-star cast, including Michael Keaton as Terry and Allen's long-serving boss and Eva Mendes as Allen's wife, but Wahlberg and Ferrell shine throughout. Wahlberg brings a hot-headed cop intensity to his role, played effectively for laughs opposite Ferrell's unassuming geeky performance as Allen. Completely skewering the buddy-cop genre, "The Other Guys" establishes Wahlberg as a comedic actor after years of more action-oriented and dramatic fare, and for a simple reason — he's really funny in it.
8. Patriots Day
Mark Wahlberg's third collaboration with Peter Berg is the 2016 drama "Patriots Day," depicting the explosive terrorist attack targeting the Boston Marathon in 2013. In addition to producing the film, Wahlberg plays police officer Tommy Saunders, a fictional character created for the movie that serves as a composite of several real-life figures surrounding the incident. Set in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, Tommy leads the police manhunt for the terrorists responsible for the attack, pursuing them before they can escape to carry out a follow-up attack in New York.
The decision for "Patriots Day" to have a composite character as the story's protagonist rather than more accurately recount the tragedy's events and individuals involved was met with controversy and certainly not undeserved. Despite the circumstances surrounding his character's creation, Wahlberg gives a reliably strong performance as Saunders, while Berg brings the same level of detailed authenticity to the rest of the production. Though not the strongest collaboration between Wahlberg and Berg, "Patriots Day" fits more comfortably in Wahlberg's wheelhouse than "Lone Survivor" and is all the better for it.
7. The Departed
Setting his 2006 film "The Departed" in Boston, filmmaker Martin Scorsese brought in two of the biggest actors from Massachusetts to fill out his ensemble cast: Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon (Ben Affleck would've completed the set). A loose remake of the 2002 Hong Kong crime film "Infernal Affairs," "The Departed" weaves a web of deception and betrayal involving Boston's Irish Mob and the Massachusetts State Police. Wahlberg plays Detective Sean Dignam, who supervises Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he infiltrates mobster Frank Costello's (Jack Nicholson) outfit.
Wahlberg lights up the screen whenever he appears, but "The Departed" is driven by Damon, DiCaprio, and Nicholson, with all other characters caught in their orbit. Wahlberg functions as a contentious counterpoint to Costigan within the police force. The two men are clearly at odds despite being forced to work together, and Wahlberg gets a lot of mileage out of that friction, reportedly preparing extensively for the role. "The Departed" is a great film and easily one of Scorsese's best. There are just better silver showcases for Wahlberg's acting chops.
6. All the Money in the World
Most of the buzz surrounding Ridley Scott's 2012 true-crime thriller "All the Money in the World" during its production and release focused on Christopher Plummer replacing Kevin Spacey after principal photography. The production also garnered a fair amount of criticism for the pay disparity between Mark Wahlberg and co-star Michelle Williams.
The movie dramatizes the kidnapping and ransom of John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and his grandfather's (Christopher Plummer) refusal to capitulate to the kidnappers' demands. Wahlberg portrays Getty's veteran security advisor, James Fletcher Chace, who works with J. Paul Getty's mother, Gail Harris (Williams), to get her son back.
Chace is the one consistent source of support for Harris throughout the film, with Wahlberg giving a more understated performance compared to his co-stars. While "All the Money in the World" is powered by Christopher Plummer and Michelle Williams' commanding performances, Wahlberg's pivotal monologue near the film's end should be on every sizzle reel highlighting his acting chops. Overshadowed by behind-the-scenes drama, "All the Money in the World" deserves a healthy reevaluation for Scott and its cast, including Wahlberg.
5. Deepwater Horizon
Released in 2016, "Deepwater Horizon," the second collaboration between Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg, explores the 2010 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Wahlberg, who also produced the film, portrays real-life electronics technician Mike Williams. Williams is on the rig when it explodes while drilling off the coast of Louisiana. As the rig is consumed by the inferno, Williams leads the survivors from the initial blast to safety to await rescuers.
"Deepwater Horizon" captures the heroic everyman ethos at the core of all three of Wahlberg and Berg's projects without compromising its fiery intensity. The struggle is surviving a force of nature, as opposed to "Lone Survivor" and "Patriots Day," involving human antagonists. Wahlberg's character is just trying to keep it together and save his colleagues. There is a maturity beyond Berg's usual penchant for authenticity, and that elevates "Deepwater Horizon" as one of his and Wahlberg's most underrated films.
4. Three Kings (1999)
Filmmaker David O. Russell has directed three of Mark Wahlberg's more critically acclaimed movies, with their first collaboration being 1999's "Three Kings." Set in the final days of the first Gulf War and the subsequent civil unrest throughout Iraq in 1991, the movie follows a group of American soldiers out to steal a gold cache in the chaos. Wahlberg plays Sgt. Troy Barlow, a family man roped into the heist by Maj. Archie Gates (George Clooney), who plans to venture back into enemy territory to pull off the score of a lifetime.
"Three Kings" is one of the most smartly crafted movies in Russell's distinguished filmography, blending genres while offering a commentary on the merits of the American military presence in the Persian Gulf. The film really belongs to Clooney and Spike Jonze, who both steal the show. And that largely keeps it from topping this list for Wahlberg, though he gives a solid performance as well. "Three Kings" marks a turning point in Wahlberg's acting career, not only in forming a professional partnership with Russell but further cementing him as a serious actor.
3. Ted
Mark Wahlberg has a comedic simpatico with filmmaker and "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, with the two first working together in 2012's "Ted," MacFarlane's feature directorial debut. After making a childhood wish to bring his teddy bear, Ted (MacFarlane), to life, John Bennett (Wahlberg) and his magical best friend grow up to be unabashed slackers. As John and his longtime girlfriend Lori Collins (Mila Kunis) take their relationship to the next level, he questions his relationship with Ted and if it's holding him back from maturity.
Like most of MacFarlane's animated comedies (most notably "Family Guy"), the jokes come fast and furious and are as politically incorrect as ever throughout "Ted." Wahlberg not only gives his funniest performance to date in the movie but does so with a level of wide-eyed energy that perfectly evokes a manchild at the apex of arrested development. Admittedly, "Ted" isn't everybody's cup of tea, but what it does, it does very well and propels Wahlberg to unexpected, hilarious heights.
2. The Fighter (2010)
The best collaboration between Wahlberg and David O. Russell to date is 2010's "The Fighter," a biopic chronicling the rise of professional boxer Micky Ward. As Micky progresses up the ranks to welterweight world champion, he addresses the lifelong dysfunctional relationships he has with his mother (Melissa Leo) and half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale). Inspired by the strength of his new girlfriend and eventual wife, Charlene (Amy Adams), Micky reconciles with his family, and he goes on to win the title.
While Leo and Bale might give the flashier, award-winning performances in "The Fighter," the whole movie would fall apart if it weren't for Wahlberg's laser-focused lead performance as Micky. "The Fighter" gives so much for Wahlberg to work with as an actor. He delivers on the physicality required to play a boxer in a genuinely thrilling climactic bout. His moments playing off Micky's family and Charlene give Wahlberg some of the most fulfilling dramatic work he's ever done. Though Wahlberg may occasionally be overshadowed by the supporting cast in "The Fighter." That's no slight on his performance, and he's firing on all cylinders here.
1. Boogie Nights
If "Fear" proves that Mark Wahlberg has the chops to be an actor,1997's "Boogie Nights" showcases just how much raw talent he possesses. Chronicling the rise of fictional porn star Dirk Diggler (Wahlberg) in '70s and '80s Southern California, "Boogie Nights" is also a breakthrough project for filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. Tightly crafted, "Boogie Nights" plays out like an end of innocence through Dirk's eyes as drugs and violence spread throughout the adult film industry.
There's a wide-eyed enthusiasm that Wahlberg brings to Dirk in "Boogie Nights" that just wouldn't have worked nearly as well if he was a more established actor at the time. That sense of innocence not only perfectly fits within Dirk's role in the story, elevating it significantly, but carries with it an ephemeral quality that has eluded Wahlberg with age and experience. Playing opposite veteran co-stars like Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore, Wahlberg holds his own, more than rising to the level of quality that they bring. It's a shame that Wahlberg hasn't worked with Anderson again. For his part, Wahlberg reportedly has regrets about starring in the film. Nevertheless, the two caught lightning in a bottle.