Whether you instantly recognize his name or not, odds are, you’ve enjoyed a Nicholas Hoult performance. The English actor has been working since a young age, first earning acclaim at age 11 for his performance in About a Boy before growing into more mature roles in both film and TV.
Most recently, Nicholas Hoult has taken on an iconic character in one of 2025’s biggest movies: Lex Luthor in Superman (2025). Here are the best movies and TV shows of Hoult’s career so far and where to find them on platforms like HBO Max and Netflix.
Superman (2025)
It’s probably too soon to definitively say that Lex Luthor is Nicholas Hoult’s best role yet, but even when the recency bias fades, Superman is likely to land at or near the top of the list. Joining the likes of Gene Hackman and Jesse Eisenberg, Hoult portrays the titular hero’s archnemesis as a terrifying force who wields genius intellect and massive amounts of influence in lieu of superpowers. At the same time, Lex is a manchild incapable of comprehending that he can’t always get what he wants, and Hoult doesn’t need to even say a word to make the character’s indignant, petulant rage clear as day.
This version of Lex takes inspiration from kinds of billionaire tech bros currently making headlines, making the character as timely as he is menacing—and making it super satisfying when Clark Kent (David Corenswet) takes him down with his dedication to humanity, kindness, and decency. Really, a superhero movie is only as good as its villain, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor allows Superman to be the perfect film for anyone who loves heroic heroes and a healthy dose of optimism in their action movies.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Another massive blockbuster hit to star Nicholas Hoult is Mad Max: Fury Road, in which he plays terminally ill War Boy Nux. The role involved Hoult shaving his head, losing a lot of weight, and performing various stunts, all of which clearly pays off in his performance. Nux goes from a slave taking blood from Max (Tom Hardy) and vying for attention from the powerful Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) to helping take Joe down and bonding with one of the cult leader’s fleeing wives, Capable (Riley Keough), and Hoult makes him captivating to watch through each step of the journey.
On top of being the highest-grossing Mad Max film to date and winning six Oscars, Mad Max: Fury Road is widely considered among the best action movies ever made, making it a must-watch for any Nicholas Hoult fans.
The Great (2020-2023)
Nicholas Hoult returned to television for the first time since starring in Skins as a teenager to play Emperor Peter III of Russia in Hulu’s The Great. This darkly comedic series tells, as the title card puts it, the “Occasionally True Story” of the rise of Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning), who was born a Prussian princess, married the future Russian Emperor, overthrew him just months into his reign, and ultimately ruled as Empress herself for over 34 years.
Hoult’s filmography is filled with dark comedies and dramadies, and it’s delightful to watch him really dive into a character over the course of three seasons. Peter III is cruel at worst, immature at best, and, overall, just an absurd person, which allows Hoult to really show his range. If a show that combines the period drama of Reign (2013) or The Tudors (2007) with the humor of Fleabag (2016) sounds appealing to you, give The Great a shot. Just don’t expect it to be historically accurate.
The Favourite (2018)
The Favourite is mostly known for its leading women and their political and physical entanglements. After all, it earned Olivia Coleman an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne, and both Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for playing her scheming courtiers. However, Hoult plays an important supporting role as Robert Harley, a political opposition leader who seeks to use Abigail (Stone) to influence the Queen.
The Favourite earned plenty of praise for mixing humor with a commentary on power, gender, and sexuality led by three multifaceted women, and Hoult and his male co-stars do a commendable job of giving the actresses what they need without overshadowing them. The movie shares a lot of DNA with The Great, which was created by The Favourite co-writer Tony McNamara, so if you enjoyed seeing Hoult in one, you definitely need to watch the other.
About a Boy (2002)
Hoult’s breakout role came in About a Boy, a comedy-drama based on a 1998 book by Nick Hornby. In it, he plays a socially awkward child who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a wealthy man (Hugh Grant) as his mother (Toni Collette) struggles with depression. At just 11 years-old, Hoult’s performance as a lonely schoolboy impressed critics and audiences, showing a level of talent and maturity well beyond his years.
About a Boy is a great watch for fans who want to see where the actor got his start, particularly those who enjoy movies like Little Miss Sunshine (2006) that feature hilarious writing mixed with serious topics and impressive performances from child actors.
The Menu (2022)
In black comedy The Menu, Nicholas Hoult plays a man who brings a date (Anya Taylor-Joy) to an exclusive restaurant on a private island run. However, the evening quickly takes a dark turn when the celebrity chef (Ralph Fiennes) preparing the meal serves his guests some uncomfortable—and increasingly violent-–surprises.
The Menu is a not-so-subtle commentary on wealth, inequality, and the nature of art that’s full of shocking twists, and Hoult is in great company as part of an ensemble cast that also includes John Leguizamo and Judith Light. If you enjoy thrillers where the main course is pointed social commentary, you don’t want to skip The Menu.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
While he may be getting a lot of attention for playing Lex Luthor, Superman (2025) is far from Hoult’s first time in a superhero movie. He plays Hank McCoy/Beast in the 20th Century Fox X-Men movies, starting with X-Men: First Class (2011). The actor does a great job of bringing to life a younger version of the character played by Kelsey Grammer in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), capturing Hank’s intelligence and warmth that clashes with his monstrous appearance.
Of the five X-Men films he appeared in, special mention has to go to X-Men: Days of Future Past, which features both Hoult and Grammer. Based on an iconic comic storyline, it follows Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) as he goes back in time to prevent an event that leads to the destruction of mutants and humans alike, culminating in mutants past and future working together. With Avengers: Doomsday (2026) bringing back Grammer’s Beast, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and more, now is the perfect time for superhero fans to revisit Days of Future Past and the rest of the X-Men movies.
Nosferatu (2024)
Nicholas Hoult stars as Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu (2024), adding to the list of iconic properties the actor has left his mark on. In this remake of the 1922 silent film based on Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, Hoult’s character is married to Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), a woman with a strange connection to the mysterious nobleman Count Orlok, who is, of course, actually the eponymous vampire.
The gruesome Gothic horror story is both beautiful and disturbing, and Hoult’s terrified reactions to Orlock heighten the tension and genuine fear the movie elicits. Nosferatu certainly is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for true horror, this movie is exactly that.
Skins (2007-2013)
After getting his start as a child star, Hoult transitioned into more mature roles with the topical and controversial teen drama Skins. He plays Tony Stonem, who starts out as a popular and manipulative teen but becomes more mature and vulnerable after a traumatic accident.
Hoult, along with the rest of the original main cast, left the show after Season 2, at which point the show moved onto a new group of teens that included Tony’s sister, Effy Stonem. If you like melodramatic teen dramas like Euphoria (2019), Degrassi (2001), and Misfits (2009), consider Skins a must-watch.
Warm Bodies (2013)
One of the stranger films of Hoult’s career, Warm Bodies is a supernatural rom-com based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that casts the star-crossed lovers as a human and a zombie. Hoult plays R, a zombie who only feels alive when eating human brains until he meets Julie (Teresa Palmer).
It may not be the best movie of Hoult’s distinguished career, but it’s a testament to his talent, and that of his co-stars, that he could take what sounds like a silly premise contrived to take advantage of the zombie craze started by The Walking Dead (2010) and infuse plenty of charm into what could have easily been a shallow parody. If you’ve ever longed for a lighter take on zombies that combines horror with romance and humor, Warm Bodies is for you.
