My Favourite Andrew Garfield Films of All-Time

Few actors have made movies audiences value like Andrew Garfield. Since the 2000’s, Garfield has become an icon. Whether it’s web-swinging superheroes, social network founders of pacifist soldiers, Garfield has portrayed many characters. Given the sheer number of movies he has made, making a top 10 list isn’t easy. Nevertheless, listed below are my picks for the best movies of an actor that deserves to be celebrated.

1. The Social Network

Friendships are relationships that often face hardships. I vividly remember developing friendships with a kid in school that I grew up to treasure. We enjoyed playing soccer creating bonds with each other. However, all of a sudden our bond came to a closure. No longer the friend that I had grown up to adore, he became a stranger I didn’t recognize anymore. Years later, I lost all touch with a friend that I once used to treasure. Few films I’ve ever seen have captured the hard work it takes to maintain friendships on a social network as powerfully as “The Social Network”. Ever since its release in 2010, Andrew Garfield’s Oscar-winning movie has become a classic. In the greatest role of his career, Garfield embodies an entrepreneur whose friendships face despair when he forms a social network about which people deeply care. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. Garfield is one of those actors that has always excelled at delivering meaningful monologues in his movies, and his strengths are clearly evident in “The Social Network”. For instance, the scene in which Eduardo Saverin throws temper tantrums at Mark breaking his laptop for lowering his shares in Facebook is one of the greatest moments of the actor’s career. Ultimately, what makes “The Social Network” Andrew Garfield’s greatest movie is its message. Viewers aren’t required to be Facebook users to connect with the movie. The film delivers a profound message about friendships which would resonate with everyone. Nearly 15 years following the release of a film about the formation of a social network organization, it’s a fantastic reminder about an actor with dedication whose movies are worthy of celebration.

2. Silence

Religion has shaped my identity. At an early age, I became drawn to religion with an inspiring message. Praying became a pivotal part of my routine at the age of thirteen. My connection to religion has always given my clueless life greater direction. As someone that has grown to treasure religion shaping my life experience, I loved “Silence”. Released in 2016, Andrew Garfield’s movie depicted religious priests embarking on a dangerous journey to discover Catholic beliefs in history. In the most physically demanding role of his career, Garfield embodies a religious priest facing despair that carries a heavy burden to bear. Garfield showcased commitment towards playing a priest that he hadn’t demonstrated in his career before. It’s a role that gave the actor the opportunities to showcase his aptitude for method acting. For instance, the scene in which Father Rodrigeus is faced with a dilemma torn between his faith and lives of his congregants is one of the best moments of actor’s career. Ultimately, what makes “Silence” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a profound message about religion which would resonate with everyone. A spectacular portrait of priests seeking a state of silence, it’s a sensational reminder of a commemorated actor with a larger-than-life presence that thrives making movies that challenge the audience.

3. Hacksaw Ridge

War movies are a genre of film that my uncle has always loved dearly. At an early age, I formed a strong bond with an uncle that loved movies about historical events. Fascinated by WWII, he enjoyed witnessing hardships that soldiers went through. As someone treasuring fond memories of an uncle that considered it a privilege to learn about historical wars, I adored “Hacksaw Ridge”. Released in 2016, Andrew Garfield’s movie honoured the true story of a pacifist that fought in World War II. In the most emotionally draining role of his career, Garfield embodies a pacifist veteran. Garfield has always been one of those actors with the ability to communicate emotions through expressions without words, and “Hacksaw Ridge” showcased his strengths as an actor. For instance, the scene in which Desmond Doss goes back into the trenches of warfare risking his life to rescue a solider in danger is one of the best moments of the actor’s career. Ultimately, what makes “Hacksaw Ridge” a great war movie is its message. The film delivers a strong message about war which would resonate with everyone. A powerful tribute towards a pacifist that refused to bear arms during WWII, it’s a breathtaking reminder about an actor whose movies audiences value.

4. Tick, Tick…Boom!

Singing is a passion that my father has always enjoyed pursuing. Several years ago, I formed strong bonds with a father had dreams to become a musical maestro. Drawn toward sound of music, he found enjoyment in composing melodies that were profound. I would marvel at a father that had the beautiful voice of an angel. As someone treasuring a father with a voice that would stun everyone in a room, I loved “Tick, Tick…Boom!”. Released in 2021, Andrew Garfield’s movie honoured legacy of a real-life musical theatre icon that loved composing melodies. In the most musical role of his career, Garfield embodies a dedicated musician with a flair for melodies. It’s a role that gave Garfield an opportunity to showcase his talent for melodies. For instance, the opening scene in which Jonathan Larson performs a rock melody at a New York Theatre workshop is one of the greatest moments of the actor’s career. Ultimately, what makes “Tick, Tick…Boom!” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a profound message about dreams which would resonate with everyone. A breathtaking tribute towards a Broadway icon whose melodies blew audiences away, it’s a brilliant reminder of an actor whose timeless movies are worth celebrating today.

5. The Amazing Spider-Man

Spider-Man is a spectacular superhero that shaped my teacher’s identity. Several years ago, I formed long-lasting relationships with a teacher that appreciated the web-swinging superhero. A comic-book nerd, he spoke fondly about a superhero that made him feel heard. Through his love of Spider-Man, my teacher inspired me to make my film criticism dreams come true. In 2012, Andrew Garfield did an amazing job of portraying the web-swinging superhero in his movie “The Amazing Spider-Man”. In the most heroic role of his career, Garfield embodied the iconic superhero whose great powers come with great responsibilities to bear. Garfield has always been one of those actors that has embodied qualities of classic American heroes, and his strengths as a performer are evident in “The Amazing Spider-Man”. For instance, the scene in which Peter Parker breaks down in tears discovering Uncle Ben’s heartbreaking death showcased the actor at his best. Ultimately, what makes “The Amazing Spider-Man” an amazing comic-book movie is its humanity. The film turned Spider-Man into a relatable person with humane qualities whom anyone could easily identify with. A spectacular tribute towards an amazing web-swinging hero spinning a legacy that’s lasting, it’s a breathtaking reminder of a commemorated actor whose engaging movies are worth celebrating.

6. 99 Homes

Unemployment is a painful process that causes families to face stress. It’s often challenging for families to survive when nobody is employed. Caregivers often face pressure securing stable jobs to secure their children’s future. In 2014, Andrew Garfield did an amazing job depicting hardships faced by unemployed families seeking homes in his movie “99 Homes”. In the most anxious role of his career, Garfield embodies an unemployed father struggling to provide for his family facing despair. It’s a role that gave Garfield an opportunity to showcase his aptitude for playing anxiety-ridden characters under intense pressure. An unforgettable portrait of unemployment causing lives of families to deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor that hasn’t lost abilities to captivate whose timeless movies audiences appreciate.

7. Never Let Me Go

Few science-fiction books published years ago are as beloved as Never Let Me Go. Since it was published in 2005, Kazuo Ishiguro’s book has become literature readers have cherished. In 2010, Andrew Garfield did an exceptional job of adapting the classic book about lovers facing sorrow in his film “Never Let Me Go”. In the most romantic role of his career, Garfield embodies an anxious man caught in a love triangle that becomes a burden to bear. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to step out of his comfort zone playing a character far different from Spider-Man. Working alongside Carey Mulligan who is also excellent, Garfield honoured legendary literature. A beautiful adaptation of a beloved book about lovers refusing to let each other go, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor whose timeless movies always give audiences dreams to follow.

8. Breathe

When it comes to the most inspiring figures that fought disabilities in British history, it’s worth discussing Robin Cavendish. Years ago, Cavendish was a British icon that faced sorrow he was diagnosed with polio. Cavendish miraculously overcame his disability building a lasting legacy. In 2017, Andrew Garfield did an exceptional job of portraying the polio survivor that was determined to breathe in his film “Breathe”. In the most transformative role of his career, Garfield embodies a real-life icon that fought a disease which was a heavy burden to bear. It’s a role that gave Garfield a chance to showcase aptitude for playing real-life historical figures. Nearly 70 years after Robin Cavendish fought a deadly disease causing his body to perish, it’s a powerful reminder of an actor that has managed to accomplish great feats in movies audiences cherish.

9. Boy A

One of the common criticisms levelled against Andrew Garfield is that he doesn’t take risks as an actor. Following the success of Spider-Man, Garfield has built an image for playing heroes with courage. However, in 2007 the actor blew audiences away when he took on a risky role in the film “Boy A”. In the breakthrough role of his career, Garfield embodied a troubled youth engaging in a criminal lifestyle that’s a burden to bear. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to step out of his comfort zone playing a teenager engaging in criminal behaviour. Garfield showcased emotional vulnerability in one of his first roles that signalled he was a great actor with a bright future. A terrific portrait of trauma experienced by a trouble-making teen, it’s a tremendous reminder of an actor whose timeless movies deserve to be seen on the big-screen.

10. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man hasn’t always been portrayed perfectly on the big-screen. While most movies have depicted the superhero with success, others have proven to be a mess. Unfortunately, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” falls into the latter group of movies that failed to honour a superhero that’s amazing. Released in 2014, Andrew Garfield’s comic-book blockbuster was a disaster that failed to celebrated a legendary character. Nevertheless, Garfield remained the bright spot of an otherwise bad movie. Despite its flaws, the film remains a reminder of Garfield’s strengths as an actor. As strong as webs that Spider-Man seeks to weave, it’s an awe-inspiring reminder of an actor that hasn’t lost abilities to leave audiences captivated whose movies I will forever treasure for motivating me to believe my film criticism dreams are possible to achieve.