Daniel Craig, a celebrated actor renowned for his portrayal of James Bond and numerous other iconic roles, was born on March 2, 1968, in Chester, Cheshire, England. Growing up in nearby Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, Craig’s early life was influenced by his mother, Carol Olivia, an art teacher, and his father, Timothy John Wroughton Craig, a pub landlord and later a midshipman in the Merchant Navy. As he ventured from his modest beginnings, he became a prominent figure in the world of cinema, captivating audiences worldwide with his compelling performances and versatility. In this piece, we delve into the top 10 movies that have not only showcased his acting prowess but also collectively grossed billions, cementing his status as one of the industry’s leading actors.
10 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 2011 ($239.4 million)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a gripping mystery thriller directed by David Fincher. Daniel Craig played Mikael Blomkvist, a determined journalist who teams up with Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to solve a decades-old disappearance case. Craig’s performance added depth to his character, enhancing the film’s dark and intriguing theme, which ultimately led to the film’s commendable gross of $239.4 million worldwide.
9 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – 2001 ($273.3 million)
In this movie, Daniel Craig plays the role of Alex Marrs, a key character who joins the intrepid archaeologist Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie). They go on a quest to find an ancient artifact with immense power, adding excitement to this action-packed adventure. His chemistry with Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft in this masterpiece directed by Simon West was a perfect blend, making it a hit. The film’s popularity propelled it to a worldwide gross of $273.3 million.
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8 Knives Out – 2019 ($312.9 million)
Gracing the screen as Detective Benoit, Daniel Craig uncovers the mysterious murder of a wealthy family’s patriarch in Knives Out directed by Rian Johnson. Daniel’s performance elevated the film’s charm, suspense, and intrigue, keeping audiences glued to their screens. The movie holds a gross record of $312.9 million worldwide. In Knives Out, Craig delivered a memorable performance and his charismatic presence elevated the film’s charm.
7 The Golden Compass – 2007 ($367.2 million)
In the fantasy adventure film, The Golden Compass directed by Chris Weitz, Daniel Craig played the role of Lord Asriel, a charismatic and adventurous explorer on a mission to investigate a mysterious substance called Dust. His performance enriched the fantasy setting, contributing to the film’s magical and epic journey and leading it to a worldwide box office gross of $367.3 million.
6 The Adventures of Tintin – 2011 ($374 million)
Daniel’s versatility was on full display in this animated adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, where he lent his voice to Red Rackham, a cunning and treacherous pirate on a quest for hidden treasures. His voice acting infused the character with complexity, and life. The Adventures of Tintin recorded a worldwide gross of $374 million.
5 Quantum of Solace – 2008 ($591.7 million)
Quantum of Solace is an action-packed James Bond movie directed by Marc Forster. In this movie, Daniel reprised his role as Bond, a suave secret agent on a relentless mission to uncover a global conspiracy. Craig’s portrayal continued to elevate Bond’s complexity, maintaining the franchise’s popularity and contributing to the movie’s box office success of $591.7 million worldwide.
4 Casino Royale – 2006 ($594.4 million)
Casino Royale is a gripping espionage thriller directed by Martin Campbell that marked Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond. Craig brings a gritty and charismatic edge to the iconic character who must thwart a high-stakes poker game financed by terrorists. His investment into the role revitalized the franchise, building the right foundation for Bond’s reputation as a legend, and contributing significantly to the film’s worldwide box office success of $594.4 million worldwide.
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3 No Time to Die – 2021 ($760 million)
The global audience says farewell to James Bond in the classic thrilling adventure, No Time to Die, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. In this emotionally charged installment, Bond comes out of retirement to confront a dangerous adversary Safin (Rami Malek), who threatens the world with a deadly new technology. His performance ensures a fitting farewell, contributing to the film’s success as it grossed $760 million worldwide.
2 Spectre – 2015 ($879 million)
Spectre features Daniel Craig’s return as James Bond with Sam Mendes as the director. In this highly anticipated installment, Craig’s performance as Bond leads him on a mission to uncover the sinister organization SPECTRE. He shines as an upholder of justice, bringing intensity and intrigue to the film, leading it to a worldwide gross triumph of $879 million.
1 Skyfall – 2012 ($1.1 billion)
Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall remains one of the most successful Bond movies, thanks in large part to Craig’s exceptional embodiment of the character, James Bond. In this movie, Bond tracked down a cyberterrorist named Silva (Javier Bardem), leading to a series of explosive and emotionally charged confrontations. With a memorable theme song by Adele, Skyfall is considered a classic blockbuster in the Bond series with a jaw-dropping worldwide gross of $1.1 billion.
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Sources: IMDb, Screen Rant, The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes
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