8 Milestones in the Evolution of Anthony Hopkins

Nixon (1995)

Quite possibly Hopkins' best performances as an actor. He took a well-known public figure and, somehow, reinvented the disgraced Richard Nixon as (at times) a fairly sympathetic figure -- as the scene below at the Lincoln Memorial illustrates. Hopkins, not surprisingly, would once again be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, this time losing to Nicolas Cage (ha!). This remains Hopkins last Best Actor Oscar nomination to date -- though he did receive a Best Supporting nod for 1997's Amistad , only to lose to Robin Williams (ha!).

Hannibal (2001)

Of the three Hannibal Lecter films (not counting Manhunter or the horrible Hannibal Rising) starring Hopkins, this is the one that cemented Hopkins as a franchise star. Hannibal grossed over $351 million worldwide, more than even its hit predecessor, Silence of the Lambs. No one is disputing that Silence of the Lambs is by far the better film, but, Hannibal, for better or worse, made Hopkins an unlikely genre star -- a trait that continues even to this day with this weekend's release, The Rite.

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Proof that Hopkins, when he wants to, can still make a good movie when he sets his mind to it. In fact, Hopkins to this day claims that his role as Burt Munro, a man who set a new land speed record, is still his favorite roll. The critical praise was there, but, unfortunately, the film only grossed $18 million, not even making back its budget.

The Wolfman (2010)

Perhaps it was the failure of The World's Fastest Indian, but, in the world we live in today, this has become the kind of movie we are going to get out of Hopkins. Supporting roles in not-very-good, bigger-budget genre films (or supporting roles in not very good Woody Allen films). It's odd because Hopkins never really phones it in; it's just the quality of the whole piece that's... questionable. The Wolfman co-stars Hopkins as... you know what? It doesn't matter; there's scary music and blood -- a lot like what we also see in The Rite. Up next for Hopkins: Marvel Studio's adaptation of Thor in which Hopkins plays Odin, ruler of Asgard.

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