The talented English actor Rupert Grint became an overnight sensation when he starred as fan-favorite Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise. He would portray the lovable character for a decade and appear in eight films between 2001 and 2011, sharing the screen with fellow leads Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson and swiftly establishing themselves as some of Hollywood’s most brilliant up-and-comers.
While he will no doubt be forever remembered as Harry’s wise-cracking loyal sidekick, Grint has demonstrated his dynamic range as a performer in the 12 years since the franchise’s conclusion and has gone on to craft an illustrious television and film resume. From portraying a brave World War II pilot to a savvy con artist, and even a man who lies about having cancer to gain attention and sympathy, Grint has proven himself to be a fearless and gifted talent. Let’s check out some of Rupert Grint’s best performances in his career so far.
10 Into the White
Set during World War II in the unforgiving Norwegian wilderness, German and British pilots find themselves forced to set aside their hostilities and join forces in order to survive in the 2012 action drama Into the White, which chronicles the enemies as they develop a surprising bond despite being on opposing sides of the battle.
Loosely based on real-life events that occurred in the country during the global conflict, Rupert Grint appears as gunner Robert Smith in the engrossing film, a British soldier who initially becomes a prisoner of war by the Germans before the adversaries decide to team up to increase their odds of surviving. Into the White was Grint's first project after the conclusion of the Harry Potter franchise, and garnered a mixed response from critics.
9 Driving Lessons
Centering on the offbeat and unexpected friendship between a sensitive 17-year-old and quirky aging actress, the 2006 dramedy Driving Lessons follows the shy Ben Marshall (Rupert Grint) as he takes on a summer job as the assistant to the alcoholic former soap opera star Dame Evie Walton (Julie Walters), with the unlikely duo bringing laughter and joy to the other along the way.
The delightful chemistry between the endearing leads garnered praise from audiences, with the heartwarming flick being favorably compared to films like Driving Miss Daisy and Harold and Maude. Walters' scene-stealing humor and Grint's sweet vulnerability helped make Driving Lessons a joyride for moviegoers to go on and was a tender triumph.
8 Snatch
Grint starred as a savvy scammer who finds himself caught up in the dangerous world of organized crime in the 2017 crime dramedy series Snatch, in which he appears as hustler Charlie Cavendish-Scott, a young man from an affluent aristocratic family who works closely with his Cockney partner Albert Hill (Luke Pasqualino) and a group of misfit swindlers, stumbling upon a truck full of stolen gold bullion.
The ambitious and cunning gang must tread carefully if they want to make it out of the situation alive, with the program being based on the Guy Ritchie of the same name. Snatch ran for two seasons on Crackle, with Grint being nominated for a National Film Awards UK for Best Actor.
7 Wild Target
With an exceptional ensemble cast including Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, Rupert Grint, and Martin Freeman, the 2010 black comedy Wild Target tells the story of a reclusive assassin (Nighy) who wants to retire from the business and start fresh and finds himself attracted to his latest contract target, a beautiful and skilled con artist (Blunt).
After sparing the thief's life, hit-man Victor Maynard is joined by the hustler Rose and a young homeless man Tony (Grint), whom he decides will be his protégé in the assassination business, and must evade the powerful criminal who hired him to do the murder. Though Wild Target failed to make a splash with critics and at the box office, it nonetheless allowed Grint to shine in a more mature and gritty performance.
6 Sick Note
Grint starred as an insurance agent misdiagnosed with life-threatening cancer in the 2017 black comedy series Sick Note, which follows his compulsive liar character Daniel Glass as he finds himself appreciating the way people treat him after his diagnosis. When Daniel discovers the truth and that he is not terminally ill, he decides to keep up with the charade but quickly finds keeping a lie of that magnitude up may be harder to do than he thought.
Praised for its unique premise, risqué humor, and stellar performances of Grint and fellow cast members Nick Frost and Don Johnson, the show ran for two seasons and showcased both Grint's comedic and dramatic acting chops.
5 Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
The lauded Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro translated his spine-tingling stories to the small screen when he created the horror anthology series Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, which features eight chilling episodes consisting of sinister stories and a colorful cast of illustrious stars like Andrew Lincoln, Tim Blake Nelson, Crispin Glover, and Dan Stevens. In the sixth episode entitled "Dreams in the Witch House," Grint appears as Walter Gilman, a man determined to rescue the soul of his twin sister Epperley, whom he witnessed being carried to a supernatural forest as a young child and whose death still haunts him.
Cabinet of Curiosities was a smash hit for both the director and Netflix, earning multiple accolades and rave reviews for its gothic storytelling and breathtaking visuals and atmosphere. The New Yorker declared, "In his new eight-part Netflix production, del Toro acts as a benevolent landlord of the horror genre, carving out space for others in the crowded pop-culture terrain."
4 The ABC Murders
John Malkovich took on the legendary role of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in the 2018 mystery thriller miniseries The ABC Murders, in which the Agatha Christie fan-favorite character sets out to investigate who is sending him nefarious letters as the cryptic killer wreaks havoc on society in 1933 England, known only as the mysterious A.B.C. Grint portrays Poirot's suspicious partner Inspector Crome, a police officer who was first tasked with catching the murderer and who is not receptive to the seasoned detective's techniques and connections with the dangerous criminal.
Both Malkovich and Grint shine in their engrossing roles, with the riveting program also delving into the unease and suspicion that plagued Britain during the time period as fascism was on the rise in Europe. The ABC Murders had audiences on the edge of their seats as Poirot and Crome were caught up in a taught cat-and-mouse game and raced against the clock to catch the elusive killer.
3 Knock at the Cabin
M. Night Shyamalan captivated moviegoers once again when he directed the 2023 apocalyptic psychological horror film Knock at the Cabin, focusing on a loving family as they head out to a rural Pennsylvania cabin for a much needed getaway, only to find their picturesque vacation destroyed by the arrival of four ominous strangers who demand they save the world from an impending apocalypse. Adapted from the Paul G. Tremblay novel of the same name, the gripping picture features Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Abby Quinn as the mysterious outsiders who take the family hostage in order to save all of humanity.
Knock at the Cabin Door was a critical and modest commercial success, grossing over $54 million at the box office while garnering appreciation for its unnerving suspense, emotional complexity, and the compelling performances of its impressive cast. Shyamalan once again proved himself to be a master storyteller who is not afraid to go big and make any project a wild and thrilling escape for audiences.
2 Servant
Grint completely shed his Ron Weasley persona when he headlined the 2019 psychological horror series Servant, centering on Philadelphia couple Dorothy and Sean Turner as they attempt to rebuild their marriage following the devastating death of their 13-week-old son Jericho, with the grieving mother using a reborn doll as a way to cope with the unimaginable tragedy. When the Turners decide to hire a nanny to look after "Baby Jericho," strange and supernatural occurrences begin to plague their household.
In the edgy and dark program, Grint appears as Julian Pearce, Dorothy's alcoholic younger brother who is constantly hovering around the Turner's home and is struggling with his own personal demons. M. Night Shyamalan directed and executive produced the horror series, and was blown away by Grint when he tried out for the project, telling Entertainment Weekly, "He came in and auditioned, and I just saw a different person. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this kind of reinvention from child actor to adult actor in my life, it’s amazing.”
1 Harry Potter Franchise
Rupert Grint will forever have a place in cinematic history due to his exceptional role as wizard pure blood Ron Weasley in the critically-acclaimed blockbuster Harry Potter franchise, sharing the screen with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in eight spellbinding installments of the beloved J.K. Rowling series. Grint was just eleven years old when he was first cast in the life-changing role, with the charming actor making his screen debut in 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in his first outing as the Chosen One's lovable sidekick Ron.
The beloved film series follows the titular hero as he and his best friends Ron and Hermione face off against the wizard's diabolical arch-enemy Lord Voldemort, with the franchise quickly becoming a comforting and celebrated franchise that sparked a worldwide craze and following. The installments grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide over the course of a decade and helped establish its phenomenal ensemble cast as bona fide movie stars, while also launching numerous spin-offs and prequels and its very own theme park.
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