Ian McKellen – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 2, 2026

Ian McKellen spent decades as one of Britain’s most respected stage actors before Gandalf and Magneto introduced him to a generation that had never seen him do Shakespeare. In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): A hobbit inherits a ring that could either save or destroy Middle-earth. Another standout is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): The fellowship splits apart as Rohan faces an overwhelming siege at Helm’s Deep.

Apt Pupil (1998)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A teenager discovers his elderly neighbor is a fugitive Nazi war criminal and blackmails him for stories.

Directed by Bryan Singer · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mr. Holmes (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A retired, aging Sherlock Holmes tries to recall the details of his final unsolved case.

Directed by Bill Condon · 1h 44m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

IMDb ★ 6.7 RT 25% Metacritic 46

A symbologist and cryptologist race to unravel a conspiracy hidden inside religious history.

Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 29m · Rated PG-13

8 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, fuboTV, Philo, Netflix Standard with Ads, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · 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

Richard III (1995)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Shakespeare's scheming king reimagined in a fascist, alternate-history 1930s Britain.

Directed by Richard Loncraine · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

X-Men (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.4

The original team assembles as Magneto plots to force mutant acceptance by any means necessary.

Directed by Bryan Singer · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A reluctant hobbit joins thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim their mountain home.

Directed by Peter Jackson · 2h 49m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · 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

Gods and Monsters (1998)

TMDB ★ 7.4

The aging director of Frankenstein reflects on his life through a friendship with his gardener.

Directed by Bill Condon · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Here TV, Here TV Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

X2: X-Men United (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 85% Metacritic 68

A military strike on Xavier's school forces mutants and humans into an uneasy alliance.

Directed by Bryan Singer · 2h 13m · Rated PG-13

6 wins & 41 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

IMDb ★ 8.8 RT 95% Metacritic 87

The fellowship splits apart as Rohan faces an overwhelming siege at Helm's Deep.

Directed by Peter Jackson · 2h 59m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 Oscars132 wins & 139 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · 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

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

IMDb ★ 8.9 RT 91% Metacritic 92

A hobbit inherits a ring that could either save or destroy Middle-earth.

Directed by Peter Jackson · 2h 59m · Rated PG-13

Won 4 Oscars126 wins & 127 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · 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

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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

Ian McKellen – 10 Best Movies

Apt Pupil (1998)

Mr. Holmes (2015)

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Richard III (1995)

X-Men (2000)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Gods and Monsters (1998)

X2: X-Men United (2003)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

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