American actor Mark Hamill has been a beloved talent in the entertainment industry since the 1970s. He's most known for roles in the super obscure, niche franchise Star Wars. His portrayal of the lead man, Luke Skywalker, put him on the map for science fiction and movie lovers all across the globe. Hamill also played the Joker in various Warner Bros. Batman adaptations.
While his time fighting against the Galactic Empire remains Hamill's biggest work, he has taken on various projects over the years that solidified him as the seasoned, reliable actor we all know today. Whether it's in film, television, Broadway, or voice acting, Hamill continues to push the bounds of genre, medium, and theme. In 2018, he received a well-deserved place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Despite all of his success, several films in his filmography have flown under the radar. Here are 10 Mark Hamill films you've probably never seen.
10 Wizards (1977)
Hamill’s first voice acting role came in the Ralph Bakshi post-apocalyptic animated film Wizards. In this world, Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear war that’s resulted in radioactive weather elements.
Many humans were mutated and creatures like trolls, elves, and fairies now roam the planet. Twin wizards Avatar and Blackwolf struggle for power after their mother dies. Blackwolf, the mutated one of the siblings, is defeated but vows to return to take over.
First Foray Into Acting
This isn’t just Hamill’s debut voice acting gig, but his first film credit at all. Little did the world know, the voice who had a relatively small part as a captain of the guards would go on to star in one of the biggest science fiction movies ever. So, while Hamill may not be the reason that fans stay for the film, they will enjoy the mature themes packed into this PG-friendly movie. The conversations about technology and threat of nuclear war have remained relevant in the decades since it was released. Rent on Prime Video.
9 Corvette Summer (1978)
By the time Corvette Summer rolled around, Hamill was no longer an unknown actor and had the notoriety from Star Wars attached to his name. As the title suggests, this adventure comedy film is perfect for a warm summer day when viewers crave a lighthearted romp. Kenny is a high school senior from California who’s obsessed with cars. He finds a Corvette in a scrapyard about to be destroyed and decides to fix it up. However, the car is stolen, and he sets out to get it back in the company of a woman named Vanessa.
A Nice On-Screen Pairing
Corvette Summer is by no means a cinematic masterpiece. There’s much more focus put on driving fast cars than driving the plot, the dialogue is a bit over-the-top, and it lacks substance. With that said, it’s a fun and fast-paced journey with two characters that are likable enough.
Vanessa is played by Annie Potts in her first role, and she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her part. Together, Hamill and Potts made a wildly entertaining duo. Rent on Apple TV.
8 The Big Red One (1980)
The Big Red One is a World War II film based on the experience of the film’s writer and director. During World War I, an American soldier killed a German soldier only to find out the war ended hours prior. Now in the Second World War, that soldier is now a sergeant and still grappling with his actions that day. He leads The Big Red One aka the 1st Infantry Division and is helping his troops navigate across North Africa.
An Overlooked War Film
Viewers follow several soldiers throughout this movie, though the lens is primarily aimed at the sergeant. Hamill was cast as Private Griff and, despite the bravery he and the others show, there are moments when they appear in over their heads.
World War II is a time in history that’s been heavily documented in film and television, but there are still elements to enjoy in this story. Namely, the bond within the division and the sergeant’s character arc make it worth a watch. Rent on Apple TV.
7 Brittania Hospital (1982)
Britannia Hospital is a black comedy that takes shots at the British public healthcare system. This is the last installment in a trilogy following a character named Mick Travis. Protestors are rallying outside the Britannia Hospital to make their various complaints heard, such as the preferential treatment of private patients. Mick is a reporter making an undercover documentary about unethical practices. He gains entry inside the building and hopes to expose Professor Millar’s experiments.
A Small, Fun Role
As with all black comedies, the reception relies on the audience wholly appreciating and buying into the humor and tone. Opinions on Britannia Hospital are certainly mixed, feeling it was too exaggerated to get across the point it was trying to make. Hamill plays Red, a member of the media who spends more time smoking weed and eating mushrooms than paying attention to the events in the film.
Though we unfortunately don’t get to hear Hamill try his hand at a British accent, we can appreciate his character’s carefree, unbothered demeanor. Rent on Apple TV.
6 The Guyver (1991)
In The Guyver, Hamill goes back to his science fiction roots. This superhero film is based on a Japanese manga and follows a guy named Sean Barker who comes across an artifact known as The Unit. He takes it and later when he’s attacked by a gang, the device merges with him and transforms him into an alien hybrid known as The Guyver. A corporation called Chronos is desperately after the unit so they can create an army of monsters.
Sci-Fi Sweet Spot
Hamill’s character is Max Reed, a CIA agent who brings Sean to the scene where he finds The Unit. He becomes an ally of Sean and his girlfriend Mizuki as they try to keep the dangerous artifact out of Chronos’ hands. Despite its age, the CGI of the monsters holds up surprisingly well.
The Guyver had a tiny budget and didn’t receive universal praise, though it was popular enough to earn a sequel. Hamill has matured in his acting by this time and is one of the highlights of the movie.
5 Watchers Reborn (1998)
Watchers Reborn is a horror film and the fourth film in the Watchers series, which was based on a Dean Koontz novel. Detective Jack Murphy has been a shell of himself after his wife and son lost their lives in a fire. And that’s not the only death surrounding him. His partner was killed and no one knows if the perpetrator was human, animal, or something in between. Perhaps the roaming golden retriever and scientist asking questions can help Jack find the answers.
Why You Should Watch
It’s hard to meet the bar propped up by the book in adaptations. So many don’t get it right, and even if they’re good, fans will shout how the book was better. Most agree that Watchers Reborn and the series as a whole didn’t capture the same magic as the books, but it’s silly enough with a cheap design to be a funny hate-watch.
Sure, “funny” isn’t how most filmmakers would want their horror movie described. But with a genius dog, Hamill as a detective, and a Halloween costume-looking werewolf, it’s a good time.
4 Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a direct-to-video film following the Mystery Gang on their latest case. The team grew tired of every unmasked villain revealed to be a regular person in disguise. But they miss each other. Thus, Daphne and Fred get the gang back together in hopes of finding real ghosts and monsters. Their quest leads them to New Orleans, where they encounter a soft-spoken woman named Lena who claims Moonscar Island where she lives is actually haunted.
This Kid's Movie Isn't All Fluff
Hamill landed a voice role as Snakebite Scruggs, a resident of Moonscar Island trying to catch a huge catfish, as well as Shaggy and Scooby’s boss at the beginning of the film.
Within the Scooby-Doo fandom, Zombie Island is praised as one of the best films, though it's largely unknown by the public at large. Sure, it’s a children’s movie, but it touches on very real issues like colonialism and reincarnation. Parts of this film are genuinely frightening and thought-provoking. Rent on Apple TV.
3 Airborne (2012)
Airborne is a horror movie that showcases many passengers' worst fears about what could happen on their flight. A plane leaves London heading for New York and slowly, passengers start to disappear. One passenger who’s flown this route many times notices the plane divert from its usual course. It’s revealed that the pilots are dead, the plane is driving on autopilot, and two hijackers are on board. There’s an ancient vase on the plane they seek, and will stop at nothing to ensure they leave with it.
An Exciting Plane Heist
Hamill portrays air traffic controller Malcolm Brook. He’s the one who sent that plane into the sky, adding to his urgency in getting the situation under control. This is another case where a film doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to be a good time. The tension felt between the passengers on the plane is visceral. Viewers also feel like they can’t trust anyone, from the flight attendants to the person in the aisle over.
The scenes cutting back to the ground as they try to get a handle on things is nothing short of thrilling. Stream on Plex.
2 Sushi Girl (2012)
Sushi Girl is a crime thriller about a man named Fish who just got out of prison. He was locked up for his participation in a diamond heist and refused to rat out his accomplices. If he thought his loyalty would be rewarded, he was wrong. At a dinner, crime boss Duke doesn’t believe Fish when he claims not to know where the diamonds are. Duke instructs his men, Crow and Max, to torture Fish, leading to a fatal night they now have to reconcile with.
Overlook the Graphicness
This may be a violent thriller, but it’s hard not to crack even the smallest smile at Hamill’s getup as Crow. Many people believe Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs was an inspiration for this film, which can be a huge pro or con for some people. The violence and nudity in Sushi Girl can appear to be a bit unnecessary, but if viewers manage to look past that, there is an engaging plot underneath. Stream on Prime Video.
1 Brigsby Bear (2017)
Brigsby Bear is an emotional and heartwarming movie about a man who doesn’t want to give up a key part of his childhood. Since he was a kid, James’ parents told him the outside world was full of danger and kept him isolated in an underground bunker. The only connection he had to the outside world was a children’s TV program called Brigsby Bear. Eventually, he ventures outside and is rescued by the police and his “parents” sent to jail.
A Sentimental Journey
What should be the start of a new chapter is put on pause when James realizes the show was created by his kidnappers and doesn’t have a final episode, the latter of which he plans to rectify. Hamill plays Ted, the man James knew as his father.
Those who have seen the film largely enjoyed it, connecting to James’ heartbreaking upbringing. Yet, due to a small budget and limited distribution, it never got the reach it deserved. Rent on Apple TV.
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