You might know Viggo Mortensen from his legendary turn as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but his filmography proves that he’s capable of playing far more than just Middle-earth royalty. The man has thrown himself into violent thrillers, quiet character dramas, and even foreign language gems. 

Yet, most of us aren’t aware of his incredible range and the way he’s committed to his craft. Sure, his portrayal of Aragorn is one of cinema’s most beloved performances, but it’s time that we recognize Mortensen for the outstanding actor that he is. So, here are seven movies where the LOTR famed artist will surprise you with his versatility and talent!

In David Cronenberg’s gripping thriller from 2005, Viggo Mortensen plays Tom Stall, a man who owns a peaceful diner and seems to be living the American dream. But then trouble comes knocking as violent mobsters enforce themselves into Tom’s life after he becomes a local hero and stops dangerous men during a robbery. The men in black claim that he’s connected to them, while Tom denies all their allegations, and then, the mystery around his past unfolds. 

In this movie, Mortensen truly delivers a masterclass in duality. We see the way he masks a man’s calm demeanor with a storm of aggression and regret. His transformation in a few scenes, which he only conveys through his body language, carries so much emotional weight. After 20 years of A History of Violence, Mortensen’s realistic performance still holds, and brings many questions to the viewers’ minds.

In Eastern Promises, a brutal and dark 2007 thriller, Mortensen once again teams up with Cronenberg. In the feature, he plays Nikolai, a Russian mob enforcer who traverses the underbelly of London’s criminal world. For this transformative role, the actor learned Russian, got realistic tattoos, and adopted a cold and calculated demeanor (via The Independent).

His portrayal of Nikolai is so detailed and chilling, especially in the now-iconic Turkish bathhouse fight scene, where we see how the actor displays vulnerability and violence at once. Critics have hailed his performance for its complexity, and Mortensen effortlessly nailed the physical aspect of it, which led to him even earning an Academy Award nomination. 

In Captain Fantastic, Mortensen stepped away from violence and action to play Ben Cash, a countercultural father, raising six kids in the wild. In this movie, his character is part philosopher, part survivalist, and completely dedicated to living a non-conventional life, as well as an unorthodox parenting style. 

One must watch Captain Fantastic for the way Mortensen is able to capture the duality of Ben, who is rigid yet loving, and brilliant but also flawed. As the narrative unfolds, he turns into a grieving man who questions himself and wonders whether he did the right thing for his children. The wholesome comedy drama earned the actor his second Oscar nomination, proving that he didn’t just play the dad, but embodied the soul of the film. 

The Road is a cinematic adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel, and it casts Viggo Mortensen as a nameless father who is desperately trying to protect his son in a post-apocalyptic world. His performance in this movie is so haunting, and he relies on sheer emotional force to communicate all the terror and tenderness, with no melodrama or overacting. 

Throughout The Road, Mortensen says very little in terms of dialogue, but it’s his body language and eyes that carry so much pain and love. Whether scavenging for food or shielding his son from terrible people, the actor looks devoted in every frame. It’s a shame that this role didn’t get an Oscar because Mortensen was probably at his best in this one!

Our beloved actor hasn’t shied away from arthouse or foreign movies, as he’s also starred in Far From Men, an underrated French-Algerian feature where he plays Daru, a school teacher. His character is caught between duty and conscience during the Algerian War, and is tasked with escorting prisoners across dangerous terrain. Daru does not want to participate in broader conflict, and is a man at war with himself, trying to do what’s best in a world where right and wrong are murky. 

In this movie, Mortensen’s portrayal is nuanced; he speaks fluent French and Arabic, as we see him walk through the desert landscape, which mirrors Daru’s internal isolation. All his glances and pauses add to the story, and there’s a slow-burn tension in his quiet role. With Far From Men, the actor proves just how powerful silence can be. 

In A Dangerous Method, Viggo Mortensen steps into the shoes of Sigmund Freud, and this is another one of his collaborations with Cronenberg! The movie explores the birth of psychoanalysis, and here, the actor goes a bit away from his more physical roles, but in no way is he less impactful. Freud is renowned in the field of psychology and academia in general, although controversial, he’s certainly a tough figure to play. 

But Mortensen was so meticulous as the founder of psychoanalysis! His interactions with Michael Fassbender’s Carl Jung had such layers of power dynamics and restrained emotions. For this one, he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor because his depiction of a man grappling with rivalry and the limitations of his theory was on point. 

Mortensen has also starred in a surreal Argentine drama titled Jauja, where he plays Captain Gunnar Diensen, a Danish engineer who ventures into Patagonia to find his runaway daughter. The role demands complete immersion and the ability to speak fluent Danish and Spanish, which the actor draws from his multilingual background. Mortensen also co-wrote the script and composed the music for the movie’s eerie and dreamlike score, proving that he’s a man of many talents.

Throughout the course of the film, Gunnar goes from being a restrained and disciplined man to someone with a haunted obsession. Jauja truly blurs the lines between reality and myth, and it’s the actor’s performance that grounds the movie with his rawness. Even a simple long take of him walking feels so monumental, as we see Mortensen lose himself in the character. 

An honorable mention is Green Book, which is one of his better-known movies, where he plays Tony “Lip” Vallelonga, an Italian-American Bouncer. In this feature, Viggo Mortensen packed on weight, adopted a Bronx accent, and showcased a character that was full of sass, humor, and contradictions. So, it’s clear that the artist has seldom taken the easy route, whether it be his role in LOTR or some lesser-known indie film.

He’s learned languages, transformed his physical appearance, channeled every kind of character from a mobster to a father, and a founding psychologist! Mortensen has brought such unmatched authenticity and sheer dedication to every role that it’s time we take more notice of him. 

Moreover, his film choices reflect just how fearless of an artist he is, who welcomes any kind of transformation with open arms! So, what do you think of his underrated performances, and most importantly, do you have a favorite one?