Robert Pattinson returns to the big screen this weekend with the first of three movies this year in The Drama, a dark comedy drama written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli and co-starring Zendaya. Pattinson has certainly come a long way since his Twilight days, when critics and audiences may not have taken him all that seriously due to the nature of those films, and has established himself as one of the best actors of his generation because of his bold choices and desire to work with directors who allow those bold choices to shine. Since the Twilight series ended, Pattinson has established a top-notch filmography that has all proved that he’s the best of the best. Since we’ll be seeing him a few times this year, it seems like the right opportunity to highlight his five best performances ever ahead of The Drama, The Odyssey, and Dune: Part Three.
Honorable Mention: Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Batman (2022)
Pattinson hinted at duality in The Batman but went all out on the idea in 2025’s Mickey 17, a film that allowed the actor to expertly differentiate two distinct roles in a dual performance that also showcased his versatility as an actor. Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17 is based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton and is set in 2054 as Pattinson’s Mickey Barnes joins a space colony voyage as a disposable worker known as an “Expendable” who is cloned every time he meets his demise. Pattinson’s distinct characterization in both roles brings to life two different living and breathing personas who feel like their own characters even when they appear together on screen.
One is more meek and mild, allowing Pattinson to portray a more goofy and human side that gives the character considerable heart and gives the actor several opportunities to show off a knack for comic timing. The other is more volatile yet charismatic, someone who moves with confidence in his body language and in the way he presents himself. There is a distinct physicality and vocal structure for both characters that Pattinson utilizes to make their personalties unique from each other, something that is even more impressive when the characters are interacting with each other. Pattinson is so good in the dual roles that he even has chemistry with himself, which is no small feat. Even as the film’s narrative becomes more chaotic and absurd in the best way, Pattinson’s ability to bring humor and genuine emotional weight to the film always keeps it grounded.
3. Monte in High Life (2018)
If anyone had doubts about Pattinson’s commitment to a role, that was all put to bed when audiences and critics saw him in The Lighthouse, which saw the actor going to some intense and unhinged places that only raised the stakes of an already uniquely compelling film. Directed by Robert Eggers from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Max Eggers, The Lighthouse follows nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers who are stranded at a New England outpost during a treacherous storm. The Lighthouse has been interpreted by many critics as many things because it’s a film that can’t be pinned down as one specific genre, but what is certain are the performances courtesy of Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, who almost make a darkly buddy comedy pair as they both begin to go mad the longer they are stuck with each other.
Pattinson’s role of the two is interesting because he initially comes off as more sympathetic than Dafoe’s cranky Thomas Wake, but his role turns out to be much more meaty as the film moves along, and soon the audience’s sympathies are stripped away when the character’s deeply unhinged nature is finally revealed. It’s a dynamic performance that Pattinson poured his very being into. The actor stepped into method acting for the part and got into the physical discomfort of the role by reportedly pushing himself to the point of urinating or vomiting to get into the character’s physical state. This is the very definition of suffering for your art, but the result makes for one of his most memorable performances and a true indication that Pattinson was indeed the real deal as an actor.
1. Constantine “Connie” Nikas in Good Time (2017)
Pattinson purposely sought out more indie-driven roles with directors who could challenge him once his tenure with Twilight was over, and that led him to working with Josh and Benny Safdie in the crime thriller Good Time, a film that allowed the actor to completely disappear into a role that matched the movie’s frenetic energy and visceral style. Written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, Good Time follows Pattinson’s small-time criminal as he tries to free his developmentally disabled brother Nikolas “Nick” Nikas (Benny Safdie) from police custody while also trying to avoid detainment himself. Good Time takes Pattinson to some crazy places, once again showing his commitment to roles and his dedication to the vision of the directors he’s working with. Pattinson has become known for donning different accents, and he showcases a convincing New Yorker in a transformative performance that is completely immersive in its nature.
This was a pivotal role for Pattinson at the time because it signaled his desire and ability to step away from my blockbuster-driven fare to something a bit more grimy, intense, and darker in its execution. Perhaps Pattinson’s best work in the film is that, despite frequently matching the movie’s chaotic energy, he’s able to bring vulnerability to the role, primarily due to his relationship with his brother, which makes Connie less of a one-note character in a movie that could’ve been more style over substance. Good Time becomes exhausting for the audience in the best way due to Pattinson’s own exhaustion and desperation throughout his pursuits, and perhaps misguided dedication to his brother, but it keeps viewers glued to the screen and proves that Pattinson always had the chops to take on roles that truly challenged his abilities.
The Drama hits screens nationwide this Friday.
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