Ethan Hawke – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 25, 2025

Before Sunrise best shows what he does well, two people talking for ninety minutes and somehow it’s riveting, and Training Day gave him an equally strong, much darker showcase. Reality Bites is a defining Gen X romantic comedy-drama, First Reformed is one of his most internal, devastating performances, Moon Knight gives him a villain role against type, and The Purge grounds a high-concept horror in panicked stakes. Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, Before Sunset and Boyhood round out the list.

Moon Knight (2022)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A genuinely strange, psychologically complex entry that took real creative risks.

Directed by Brad Baruh · 1h 07m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Purge (2013)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A family's home security is tested when a stranger seeking shelter draws violent purgers to their door during the annual night of lawlessness.

Directed by James DeMonaco · 1h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Reality Bites (1994)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Ben Stiller, who also directed, appears in a defining Gen-X romantic comedy.

Directed by Ben Stiller · 1h 38m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

First Reformed (2017)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A grieving pastor's crisis of faith deepens against a looming environmental catastrophe.

Directed by Paul Schrader · 1h 53m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dead Poets Society (1989)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 85% Metacritic 79

An unconventional English teacher inspires his boarding school students to seize the day through poetry.

Directed by Peter Weir · 2h 09m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar20 wins & 19 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Boyhood (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.9

One boy's childhood, filmed with the same cast over twelve real years.

Directed by Richard Linklater · 2h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gattaca (1997)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 82% Metacritic 64

A genetically imperfect man takes another man's identity to pursue his forbidden dream of space travel.

Directed by Andrew Niccol · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar6 wins & 16 nominations

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

Before Sunset (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 95% Metacritic 91

Two strangers who spent one night together in Vienna meet again by chance nine years later in Paris.

Directed by Richard Linklater · 1h 20m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar10 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

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

Training Day (2001)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 74% Metacritic 71

A rookie cop's first day with a corrupt narcotics detective becomes a single, brutal test of loyalty.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar18 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, TNT · 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

Before Sunrise (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 100% Metacritic 79

Two strangers who meet on a train spend one unforgettable night wandering and talking through Vienna.

Directed by Richard Linklater · 1h 41m · Rated R

2 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or 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.

Ethan Hawke – 10 Best Movies

Moon Knight (2022)

The Purge (2013)

Reality Bites (1994)

First Reformed (2017)

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Boyhood (2014)

Gattaca (1997)

Before Sunset (2004)

Training Day (2001)

Before Sunrise (1995)

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