Christoph Waltz – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 23, 2025

Inglourious Basterds introduced most audiences to Christoph Waltz in one go, an Oscar-winning villain performance built on unbearable tension, and Django Unchained gave him an equally sharp, much warmer role a few years later. Green Hornet is a comic villain funnier than the film around him, Downsizing is a scene-stealing turn in an uneven satire, The Zero Theorem is a committed lead in a very strange Terry Gilliam film, and Alita: Battle Angel is a rare paternal role. Water for Elephants, Big Eyes, Spectre and The Legend of Tarzan round out the list.

Green Hornet (2011)

TMDB ★ 5.8

Christoph Waltz gives a comic villain performance that's funnier than the film around it.

Directed by Michel Gondry · 1h 59m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Downsizing (2017)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Christoph Waltz steals scenes in a supporting turn in an ambitious, uneven satire.

Directed by Alexander Payne · 2h 15m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Zero Theorem (2013)

TMDB ★ 5.9

Christoph Waltz gives a strange, committed lead performance in a very strange Terry Gilliam film.

Directed by Terry Gilliam · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Christoph Waltz plays against type in a rare warm, paternal role.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Water for Elephants (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A veterinary student joins a struggling Depression-era circus and falls for its star performer.

Directed by Francis Lawrence · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Christoph Waltz plays a gleefully theatrical villain in an otherwise straightforward adventure.

Directed by David Yates · 1h 49m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Eyes (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A painter discovers her husband has been secretly taking credit for her hugely popular artwork.

Directed by Tim Burton · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spectre (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A cryptic message from the past leads a British spy towards the sinister organisation behind it all.

Directed by Sam Mendes · 2h 28m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Django Unchained (2012)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 87% Metacritic 81

A freed slave partners with a bounty hunter to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino · 2h 45m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars58 wins & 158 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 89% Metacritic 69

A team of Jewish-American soldiers and a vengeful cinema owner plot to assassinate Nazi leaders.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino · 2h 33m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar134 wins & 173 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Christoph Waltz – 10 Best Movies

Green Hornet (2011)

Downsizing (2017)

The Zero Theorem (2013)

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Water for Elephants (2011)

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Big Eyes (2014)

Spectre (2015)

Django Unchained (2012)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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