, as there aren’t many screen legends in history that played as many great characters as he did. Although Rickman actually didn’t start acting in films until he had an established career on stage, he certainly made up for lost time by appearing in some of the most popular films and franchises of the last several decades

; while he would often do serious dramas and period pieces, he was also not above appearing in goofy comedies and recurring franchises. Although it is sad that Rickman passed before he had the chance to give many more great performances, it’s impressive that he was able to gift cinephiles everywhere with so many amazing works of acting. Here are ten essential Alan Rickman movies, ranked.

, as it gave him the chance to indulge within the playfully satirical, foul-mouthed humor of Smith’s controversial 1999 comedy centers on two angels (and ) that are kicked out of Heaven and forced to save the world; Rickman’s booming voice perfectly suits the role of the angel known as “Metatron,” who chastises them for their ignorance.

that works in contrast to the more over-the-top sensibilities of the other characters. Although Dogma does mock many aspects of organized religion, it does ultimately have a positive message about the importance of protecting one’s faith and showing kindness and grace to others. Although the entire film is packed with memorable lines of dialogue, Metatron is by far the most quotable character.

, and featured a bit of a star making for as a charismatic gunslinger who travels throughout the vast desert of Australia. Rickman got to play one of his most evil characters ever, and succeeded in bringing a genuine level of suspense to a film that otherwise did not take itself very seriously.

, which made it very easy for viewers to root for Selleck’s protagonist to defeat him. Although narratively, Quigley Goes Down shares a lot in common with other classic westerns, it was able to make the material feel fresh again through the use of witty humor, beautiful cinematography, and actors like Rickman who understood the unique tone that the film was going for in terms of tone.

, as it is one of the rare works of fiction that grapples with the moral complexities of drone warfare. Rickman stars as an experienced general who works with another military leader () and a drone pilot () to determine whether or not to bomb a compound housing a terrorist cell; while their mission is likely to be a success, the collateral damage could be very significant.

, and is entirely authentic as a soldier who has seen his fair share of action. Although the film was released only shortly after Rickman’s passing in real life, it featured a performance that should have put him in serious contention to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

that has become a yearly viewing for many cinephiles. While each of the storylines in Love Actually are charming in their own way, one of the most moving segments involves an aging couple whose marriage is depleting; although Rickman and are still able to add a good deal of humor to what is ultimately a crowd pleaser, their segment is by far the more serious aspect of the film.

, as the film does not shy away from the reality that some relationships begin to fade overtime. Even though is a writer and director that often opts to make his stories extremely melodramatic and schmaltzy, Thompson and Rickman are so terrific together that it becomes easier to overlook some of the film’s more outrageous moments.

, as he intervened to help save the script by adding and improving new lines of dialogue for himself as the Sheriff of Nottingham. While received a lot of blowback for his performance as Robin Hood (particularly because he was either unable or unwilling to do an English accent), Rickman was able to make the film way more entertaining by being as over-the-top as possible.

, and Rickman certainly gives the most definitive portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham in film, which is a rather astounding achievement when considering how many different versions of the Robin Hood story have been adapted to the big screen since the 1920s.

in which gives one of his best performances ever as the influential Irish revolutionary leader who fought for his nation to be independent of Great Britain throughout the 20th century. Rickman appears in a key supporting role as one of Collins’ chief allies, who helps him sway the direction of the people into supporting their radical attempts to challenge the authority of the English crown.

, and has the inherent charisma necessary to play a political leader. Despite being recognized by the BAFTA awards for his performance in Michael Collins, Rickman was sadly overlooked for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, indicating that the Oscars were not tuned into how truly brilliant he was as a performer.

, and is probably the last truly “great” movie before he began making a series of very mediocre projects. Although it was who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as the titular anti-hero, Rickman gives a genuinely repulsive performance as one of the most evil characters in any Burton film.

, so the intensity that Rickman brought within his role perfectly suited the parameters of the narrative. It also proved that he had an amazing singing voice, as hearing Rickman deliver an emphatic rendition of classic showtunes from Sondheim was simply a treat for theater fans everywhere. It kicked off a brief series of collaborations with Burton, as Rickman also popped up in .

, as it analyzes the tough relationship between popular media franchises and the culture that they inspire. Rickman delivers a surprisingly complex performance as a frustrated actor who is best known for his work in a cult science fiction show that was cancelled too soon; although initially he despises this aspect of his career, he gradually begins to grow proud of it when he and his co-stars are whisked away to space to go on a real adventure.

, and Rickman certainly draws a lot from and his performance as Spock. Even though the film is mostly tongue-in-cheek, Rickman is able to deliver one powerful speech at the end that is nearly tear-inducing.

Harry Potter franchise, as it it reveals that the former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was actually trying to protect Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) from Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) because he was deeply in love with his mother.

While it could be argued that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are stronger films overall, Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows- Part 2 was the perfect way to close out a franchise that had existed for ten years without ever experiencing a dip in quality. Snape’s emotional death scene and flashback aren’t just the most emotionally powerful moments of Harry Potter and the Death Hallows- Part 2, but arguably the most affecting scenes in the entire franchise.

Die Hard isn’t just the greatest action film of all-time, but a masterpiece that shaped the way in which the genre would evolve for the next several decades. Although Bruce Willis’ performance as John McClane is easily one of the greatest hero performances ever, the film would not work nearly as well if it didn’t have an antagonist as compelling as Hans Gruber.

Die Hard was surprisingly the first film that Rickman ever appeared in, and he certainly made an impression by creating one of the greatest movie villains of all-time. Gruber is both ruthless and cowardly, manipulative and ignorant, and serves as the perfect foil for McClane; although the Die Hard franchise would continue on with a few decent sequels, they would always be in the shadow of the original because they never featured a villain nearly as compelling as Gruber.

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