This article has been updated by Rory O'Connor.
He may once have admitted that his name “sounds like a fart in a bath”, but Benedict Cumberbatch has for years been a name revered enough - and indeed, a name long enough - to fill the top line of a poster and launch a hit film, be it a superhero blockbuster or an arthouse favourite destined for Oscar glory.
For the London-born actor, this didn’t all happen at once — indeed, Cumberbatch's was, at least in the early days, a slow and steady rise. He made his first real inroads on the big screen with Starter for 10 in 2006, an agreeable British rom-com centred on University Challenge, the immortal TV quiz show, and with James McAvoy in the lead role. From that came supporting stints (in admittedly less than sympathetic roles) in Atonement (again, with McAvoy) and The Other Boleyn Girl, as well as a bit part in Chris Morris' daring satire Four Lions. Then came his life-changing role in the TV series Sherlock, at which point his film stock shot through the roof.
Since then, he’s continued to appear in prestige dramas while also becoming a central player in some of the biggest franchises around. In the list below — which is arranged in ascending order — you’ll find evidence of both those sides of Cumberbatch’s big screen career. Read on to discover more and use the guide below to find out where to stream them on services like AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video and elsewhere.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
In 2011, hot on the success of his breakout role in Sherlock, Cumberbatch landed a part in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy — a film that, while based on John le Carre’s immortal Cold War novel, was also in some ways a remake of a classic BBC production from 1979.
That earlier version featured the great Alec Guinness as the book's protagonist, the intelligence operative George Smiley — a role that was taken on by Gary Oldman in Alfredson’s slick and starry film. Opposite him, Cumberbatch plays Peter Guillam, Smiley’s right-hand man, in a cast that also features John Hurt, Mark Strong and Tom Hardy, to name a few.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
In 2014, Cumberbatch was unlucky not to receive an Oscar nomination for his memorable supporting role in 12 Years a Slave — in which he played William Ford, Solomon Northrup’s first “owner” and, at least compared to some others in the film, a relatively compassionate if ultimately broken character.
Coming after the indie successes of Hunger and Shame, the movie was director Steve McQueen’s biggest production at that time and surprised absolutely no one when it went on to win Best Picture.
1917 (2019)
Another prestige supporting turn for Cumberbatch came in Sam Mendes’ dazzling war movie, 1917 — in which the actor played a British officer serving in the trenches during the height of the First World War.
The film, which is presented as one continuous take, follows two soldiers as they desperately attempt to deliver a message in order to stop a lot of young men from losing their lives. Cumberbatch’s screen-time may be limited in this one, but he makes his presence felt.
The Courier (2020)
Outside of those prestige productions, Cumberbatch has taken on a number of serious, character-based roles in films that, for one reason or another, went under the radar.
One of the best of these was the historical drama, The Courier, in which Cumberbatch plays a businessman recruited as an intermediary by British intelligence. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the movie is also notable for being one of Jessie Buckley’s first projects after her breakout performance in Wild Rose — so if you are currently on a Buckley-binge, this could be right up your alley.
Wrecker (2011)
One of the most rewarding Cumber-watches from his pre-super-stardom days is his lead turn in Dictynna Hood’s tense adultery drama Wreckers, in which he plays one half of a couple whose relationship unravels when they return to the rural community where the husband grew up.
This was a harbinger of the sort of intense role Cumberbatch would excel in later on in his career — and much the same can be said for his similarly garlanded co-stars, Claire Foy (The Crown) and Jack O’Connell (Sinners).
The Grinch (2018)
As a renowned voice artist, Cumberbatch has contributed to numerous animated projects over the years. One of the best was the 2018 Universal Pictures adaptation of The Grinch — in which Cumberbatch, of course, plays the title role.
Come to this one for the actor's moans and groans but stick around for Pharel’s narration and, best of all, the legendary Angela Lansbury as Mayor McGerkle.
The imitation Game (2014)
In 2015, Cumberbatch received his first Oscar nomination for playing the godfather of modern computing, Alan Turing, in The Imitation Game — an Oscar-baity but still engrossing film about a remarkably significant yet often overlooked piece of history.
As the mathematician who helped to crack the Nazi’s enigma machine, Turing should have been remembered as a war hero; but he was also a closeted gay man during a less accepting time — all of which makes the film both a wonderfully crafted period piece and a moving, romantic tragedy.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
It might have taken a little time, but Cumberbatch’s Sherlock stardom soon led to him being cast in major franchises. The first of these was his role as Smaug the dragon in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy — which of course meant a lot of extravagant movements performed in front of a green screen.
In truth, the character was only really glimpsed in the first movie, but he becomes the title character in the middle chapter — The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug — and kind of stole the show.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
These days, even with all the success of Sherlock, Cumberbatch is probably best known (at least by a section of viewers) for playing a key part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leading both Doctor Strange and the superior follow-up, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — a movie that was directed by Sam Raimi and boasts a good helping of the director’s signature flourishes.
As Strange, Cumberbatch also featured heavily in the hugely successful Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Look out for him again in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
It might look strange (ahem), but our pick for Cumberbatch’s best film and performance is perhaps his toughest role of all, but one in which he clearly triumphed. Jane Campion’s clever, sinewy revenge drama The Power of the Dog allowed him to play a fearsome but ultimately vulnerable monster of a man, an intimidating presence on the screen who slowly reveals his weakness.
Campion took the Academy Award for Best Director for the film in 2022, but her star (who was also nominated for Best Actor, ultimately losing out to Will Smith for King Richard) was a huge part of the movie’s success.
