With over $220 million grossed worldwide in just over a week, Uncharted has become the third-highest-grossing film of 2022. Despite mixed reviews, this action-packed adventure continues to top global box offices, likely due to the success of the original video game series, but also because of Tom Holland's rapidly increasing popularity. Over the last few years, the 25-year-old Spider-Man actor has solidified his status as a 21st-century movie star.
No stranger to playing lead roles in blockbuster hits, Tom Holland is one of the most sought-after young actors at the moment, even securing a place on the Forbes "30 Under 30" Europe list in 2019. His leading roles keep coming, as he is set to play Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic. However, while his success seems relatively sudden, Tom Holland has been working in the industry for over a decade. If Uncharted has piqued viewers’ interests, he has a substantial body of work to explore.
'The Impossible' (2012)
Based on the true story of the Belón family who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, The Impossible stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor as parents Maria and Henry Bennett. Tom Holland plays Lucas, one of their three sons. The film was widely praised and received rave reviews, especially for Naomi Watts’s performance. She was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards.
The Impossible was Tom Holland’s first film and ultimately became his breakout role. At only 14 years old during filming, he did an incredible job of carrying most of the scenes in the film, many of which have little dialogue. Holland’s immense range of emotion is palpable almost entirely through his eyes alone. He also spent weeks filming intense scenes with Watts in a real water tank to make the film authentic. Holland gave a standout performance for which he later received a London Film Critics Circle Award for Young British Performer of the Year. The Impossible gave audiences an incredible glimpse into who this actor would become in the coming years.
In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
In the Heart of the Sea, based on a 2000 book of the same name, tells the story of the sinking of the American whaling ship Essex in 1820, which inspired Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby Dick. Though the film was produced by Ron Howard and stars Holland’s future co-star Chris Hemsworth, it received mixed reviews from critics and a low box office turnout. However, this was likely due in part to the following week’s release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Once again, Tom Holland filmed in a large water tank and lost a significant amount of weight. The entire cast was put on a diet of 500-600 calories a day to portray sailors who had been lost at sea for an extended period of time. Holland was one of the youngest actors on set but held his own among his well-known castmates. In the Heart of the Sea is a fun preview of Holland and Hemsworth working together before becoming fellow Avengers.
'Edge of Winter' (2016)
Canadian psychological thriller Edge of Winter sees an emotionally unstable father take his two sons on a trip to a cabin in the woods, where his attachment to them becomes dangerous. The film received mixed reviews for its pacing and adherence to some typical thriller tropes. However, the main cast, including Joel Kinnaman, Tom Holland, and Percy Hynes White, were praised for their performances.
Holland performs well alongside White, sharing good chemistry as brothers. He finds a great balance in portraying an older brother trying to be a man and protect his little brother while also managing his own anger and fear. The suspense slowly builds in this film, and as a result, so do Holland’s realizations and terror. Edge of Winter is more of a character study than an action-packed film, allowing Tom Holland to play a realistically emotional role that would serve as preparation for some of his more recent performances.
'The Lost City of Z' (2016)
Based on a book of the same name, The Lost City of Z is a biographical film that tells the story of British explorer Perry Fawcett’s many travels to the Amazon in search of an ancient lost city. The film stars Charlie Hunnam as Percy Fawcett, Robert Pattinson as his exploration partner Henry Costin, Sienna Miller as his wife, and Tom Holland as his son. The film was well-received critically, but it underperformed at the box office. For a story with a polarizing main character and a mysterious ending, The Lost City of Z is a fun adventure that successfully transports viewers to early 20th century Amazonia.
Even though Tom Holland is only in the film for a few scenes in the second half, his character is pivotal to the story. He portrays Fawcett's son Jack over ten years, first as a young teenager upset and confused with his dad’s behavior and then as a young man eager to accompany his father and seek adventure. This film does not showcase Holland’s full range as an actor, but it is a great example of the action-adventure roles he would go on to pursue.
'Pilgrimage' (2017)
Taking place in medieval Ireland, Pilgrimage is about a group of monks who go on a dangerous journey to transport an ancient holy relic to Rome. The film stars Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland, among other successful actors, and received generally positive reviews. The cinematography is beautifully done, transporting viewers back in time to dark, desolate, yet breathtaking Europe. Pilgrimage also does a fine job of incorporating religious themes and dialogue.
The film’s events are seen primarily through the eyes of Tom Holland’s character, a novice who has never left the monastery. Viewers see danger, death, and betrayal through his lens of innocence; since the audience is also new to such a journey, it is easy to root for Holland’s character’s survival. Tom Holland shows another skill level by speaking Gaelic for at least half of his lines. While his character has minimal dialogue, he does a fantastic job portraying fear, confusion, desperation, and perseverance through his eyes and facial expressions alone.
'Onward' (2020)
Disney-Pixar’s Onward tells the story of two elf brothers who go on a quest to find a magical artifact that will temporarily bring their deceased father back to life. While this fantastical adventure might seem a bit weird, which it did to some critics, the film is actually a story about family, dealing with grief, and the bond between brothers, fathers, and sons. The film received mixed reviews and did not do too well at the box office. It was released a couple of weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but it was quickly released on Disney+, where it performed much better.
Even though Onward is an animated feature, Tom Holland still gives a wonderful performance as an innocent teenager trying to boost his self-confidence and connect with his father. He also stars alongside another Avengers co-star Chris Pratt. They have great chemistry as brothers and improvised some of their lines together in the recording studio. Onward is a perfect film for the family and is an excellent example of Tom Holland’s skills as a voice actor.
'The Devil All the Time' (2020)
A crime drama set in Ohio during the 1950s and 60s, The Devil All the Time is about a young man bent on getting revenge against sinister characters in his small town. The film was released in select theaters and on Netflix during the pandemic. With another Avengers connection, it has Sebastian Stan in a supporting role that was originally cast by Chris Evans. The film received mixed reviews because of its overly dark tone, but Tom Holland and co-star Robert Pattinson’s performances were widely praised.
This film was a definite shift in Holland’s career, as it was a darker role than others he had played in the past. He also had to speak in an American Southern accent, as did Pattinson. Holland does an outstanding job of playing a character that constantly battles between good and evil; he wants to protect his loved ones and avenge their deaths, but he is also a killer with a tragic past. Despite the character’s actions, viewers are sympathetic toward him because of Holland’s honest performance.
'Chaos Walking' (2021)
Chaos Walking is a dystopian film based on a science fiction book series of the same name. Starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, the film follows a young man from a planet without women. The men can hear each other’s thoughts as Holland's character helps a female spaceship crash survivor escape from being captured by the rulers of his town. The film was a box office bomb, making only $23 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. However, critics positively reviewed Holland and Ridley’s performances and the film's interesting visual effects.
Like Uncharted, Tom Holland successfully plays the leading man of this fantastical action-adventure film. He is a dynamic presence on screen and does an excellent job of playing an innocent character developing feelings for a girl while simultaneously being blindsided and having to adjust his entire perception of the only world he’s ever known.
'Cherry' (2021)
Cherry is an Apple TV original film based on Nico Walker’s autobiography of the same name. The film chronicles Walker’s journey from college student to veteran struggling with PTSD who robs banks to fund his and his wife’s drug addiction. Though the film was directed by Avengers directors Russo brothers, it received poor reviews for its formulaic storyline and unfavorable stylistic choices. However, critics praised Tom Holland’s performance as it showed his broadening range as an actor.
Holland embraced his role by shaving his head, losing 30 pounds, and interviewing veterans struggling with addiction and PTSD. Cherry showed audiences another side of the actor that he had not shown before. The role required a wide range of emotions, from being in love to crying out in fear and sadness and even dependency and withdrawal. This film makes it clear that Tom Holland has the aptitude for playing a wide variety of roles in the future.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (2016-2021)
Tom Holland is most well-known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has played the comic book superhero in six Marvel films, three of which are part of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time. In fact, Holland’s most recent addition to the MCU, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was the highest-grossing film of 2021. The film is also nominated for the Academy Awards' newest category, Fan Favorite Movie. Being close in age to Peter Parker, Tom Holland also holds a Guinness World Record as the youngest actor to play a title role in the MCU.
Previous Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield gave iconic performances in their own right. However, Tom Holland has brought a fresh take to the character due to his younger age and believability as an intelligent yet nerdy and awkward teenager. In No Way Home, Holland broadens his portrayal by acting in very emotionally intense scenes that are relatively uncommon in the superhero genre. He can also perform alongside giants in the industry like Robert Downey Jr. and not fade into the background. Arguably for the first time, Peter Parker and Spider-Man feel relatable and completely human, thanks to Holland’s performance that will forever be cemented in such a beloved franchise.