Dave Bautista’s Blockbuster Brilliance: Unveiling His Top 10 Critically Acclaimed Movies

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Dave Bautista has always been an excellent performer, with his extensive history in the world of professional wrestling.

Unsurprisingly, his showmanship has transferred perfectly from the ring to the big screen, as Dave Bautista has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most versatile and talented actors.

After starting his acting career in the late 2000s, Bautista has proven his worth, bouncing between direct-to-DVD films and big-budget blockbusters.

Dave Bautista at the premiere of Knock at the CabinDave Bautista at the premiere of Knock at the Cabin in New York City on January 30, 2023 (Credit: ROGER WONG / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

In recent years, he’s also shown he’s far from a one-trick pony, excelling in comedy, serious drama, and even suspense.

It’s no wonder that Bautista has started to nab leading roles and is poised to become an even greater acting powerhouse as his career continues.

Before He Was a Star

Born on January 18, 1969, in the US capital city of Washington, D.C., David Michael Bautista is a 54-year-old performer who had a rough start when he was younger.

According to the actor, he had a tough time growing up, living in poverty and dabbling in crime to make ends meet. In his teens and early 20s, Bautista bounced between multiple jobs, including being a lifeguard, a nightclub bouncer, and eventually, a body-builder.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Bautista credits the bodybuilding world for “saving his life” and finally putting him on a good path. Using his towering physique and undeniable athleticism to his advantage, he soon joined the world of professional wrestling, starting with major organizations like the World Wrestling Federation and WWE.

It wasn’t until the late 2000s that he started trying his hand at acting.

Although Dave Bautista enjoyed minor roles on television in his early acting career, he was soon promoted to headlining direct-to-DVD action films before his big break.

Dave Bautista as Brass Body in the 2012 martial arts film The Man with the Iron FistsDave Bautista as Brass Body in the 2012 martial arts film The Man with the Iron Fists (Credit: Universal Pictures)

In 2012, he made his Hollywood acting debut in the martial arts film, The Man with the Iron Fists. From there, the actor’s career has snowballed into success with no signs of slowing down.

Dave Bautista’s Top 10 Movies According to Critics

To celebrate this actor’s rise to prominence, we’re counting down Dave Bautista’s top 10 movies according to the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Let’s see what they have to say about Dave Bautista’s top 10 movies.

10. Knock at the Cabin (2023) – 68% Score

Knock at the Cabin is a psychological thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan and is based on the horror novel of the same name, written by author Paul Tremblay.

The film follows a family as they settle in for a weekend getaway. Their vacation is interrupted when a group of zealots looking to prevent the apocalypse takes them hostage.

Jonathan Groff as Eric and Dave Bautista as Leonard in the 2023 apocalyptic psychological horror film Knock at the CabinJonathan Groff as Eric and Dave Bautista as Leonard in the 2023 apocalyptic psychological horror film Knock at the Cabin (Credit: Universal Pictures)

In the movie, Dave Bautista appears as Leonard, the burly and intimidating leader of the invaders. Putting off major “silent but deadly” vibes, Bautista offers a stunning showcase of suspense.

Reportedly, M. Night Shyamalan was impressed by Bautista’s performance in Blade Runner 2049, leading to his casting in the film. While the movie received mixed reviews upon release, critics wholeheartedly agreed that Dave Bautista offered the best performance in the film, with his character stealing every scene.

9. Final Score (2018) – 69% Score

Directed by Scott Mann, Final Score is a wacky action and suspense movie that’s centered around a soccer stadium and a terrorist plot.

The film follows a soldier who takes a trip to London to pay respects to his brother-in-arms and decides to attend an uproarious soccer match to bond with his friend’s niece, Danni.

Dave Bautista as Michael Knox in the 2018 action thriller film Final ScoreDave Bautista as Michael Knox in the 2018 action thriller film Final Score (Credit: Saban Films)

Popping up in the lead role at 49 years old, Dave Bautista plays the part of Michael Knox, whose trip to London is interrupted by a bomb threat at the soccer stadium.

When Danni disappears and terrorists threaten to blow up the stadium, Knox must eliminate the villains and rescue Danni before time runs out.

Ironically, before accepting the role, Bautista admitted that he had no real knowledge of soccer, nor did he even like the concept of it. However, he must have found some comfort in his character, as Michael Knox was also the name of an old coworker from his wrestling days.

8. Dune (2021) – 83% Score

Arguably one of the biggest and most anticipated films of the past decade, Dune is a sci-fi epic directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Based on the beloved 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, the film follows a political war between two powerful factions as they fight for control of a priceless planet.

Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban in the 2021 epic science fiction film DuneDave Bautista as Glossu Rabban in the 2021 epic science fiction film Dune (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Although his role in the film is limited due to the immense scope of the narrative, Dave Bautista plays Glossu Rabban, a violent and crazed enforcer for the villainous Harkonnen faction. As expected, Bautista shines in this fitting role at 52 years old, striking fear and intimidation into his enemies.

While Bautista was only on set for a week or so, he had an immediate effect on the production crew. In particular, the makeup department consistently sang his praises, stating that he was one of their favorite actors to work with.

7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – 85% Score

As a major follow-up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, expectations were high for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and luckily, it lived up to the hype.

Directed by James Gunn, this sci-fi sequel offered another playground for Dave Bautista to flex his comedic talent.

Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in the 2017 superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in the 2017 superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Credit: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

At 48 years old, Bautista returns to the role of Drax, an intergalactic warrior who seeks vengeance for the death of his wife and child. Despite his grim backstory, Drax is a constant source of deadpan comedy, providing plenty of chuckles for the audience.

That said, Bautista basically disappears into the role of Drax, courtesy of the massive amount of make-up and prosthetics that result in the character’s iconic look.

Surprisingly, the make-up application only took an hour and a half, approximately half the time it took to perform during the production of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – 85% Score

Containing one of the most gut-punching twists in pop culture, Avengers: Infinity War was a massive success upon release and helped push Dave Bautista even further into stardom.

Directed by the Russo Brothers, this record-breaking blockbuster sees the heroic Avengers facing off against their biggest adversary yet, Thanos.

Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in the 2018 superhero film Avengers: Infinity WarDave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord in the 2018 superhero film Avengers: Infinity War (Credit: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Once again, Dave Bautista reprises his role as Drax the Destroyer, sticking close to his Guardians of the Galaxy family as they help repel Thanos’ attacks. This film marks a major turning point for the character, as he finally faces off against the cruel villain who killed his wife and child.

Despite only appearing in the film for a total of 4 minutes and 45 seconds, the 49-year-old actor impressed audiences with his screen time, standing out among the massive cast containing dozens of A-list actors.

Interestingly, the actor tried a bit of improvisation during the shoot, with some of his ad-libbed lines making it into the final cut.

5. Blade Runner 2049 (2017) – 88% Score

As a decades-late sequel to the 1982 sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner, expectations were tempered when Blade Runner 2049 was released in theaters.

Luckily, the film was a massive hit, thanks to the visionary direction of Denis Villeneuve and the talented cast.

Dave Bautista as Sapper Morton in the 2017 epic neo-noir science fiction film Blade Runner 2049Dave Bautista as Sapper Morton in the 2017 epic neo-noir science fiction film Blade Runner 2049 (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Appearing for just one scene near the beginning of the film, Dave Bautista plays the role of Sapper Morton, a robotic “replicant” that needs to be put out of commission. When the replicant-killer “K” goes to settle the score, the pair gets into a brutal fistfight.

Simply put, Blade Runner 2049 was the film that proved Bautista’s acting talent outside of the realm of comedy.

Audiences and critics were massively impressed with the actor’s serious turn at 48 years old, proving that he was more than just a muscular source of comedic relief.

4. Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018) – 89% Score

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy is a spin-off film of the popular Chinese martial arts franchise, Ip Man, and was directed by Yuen Woo-ping.

The movie follows Max Zhang, a warrior defeated by the legendary Ip Man, who becomes a deadly mercenary.

Promotional art for the 2018 Chinese martial arts film Master Z: Ip Man LegacyPromotional art for the 2018 Chinese martial arts film Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (Credit: Universal Studios)

Filling a villainous role with proper menace, Dave Bautista appears as Owen Davidson, a restaurant owner who uses his steakhouse as a cover for drug smuggling.

As Owen’s illicit business begins to affect Zhang’s family and livelihood, the duo must face off in a classic one-on-one fight.

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy offered a stage for Bautista to step back into the ring, keeping his martial arts skills tight and practiced.

This was no problem for the 49-year-old actor, as he had previously pursued an MMA career in the early 2010s, learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other fighting disciplines in the years to prepare.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – 92% Score

Guardians of the Galaxy is arguably the movie that elevated the Marvel Cinematic Universe from a bustling niche to mainstream success.

Directed by James Gunn, the film tells the story of a ragtag group of intergalactic misfits who team up to save the world from an oppressive tyrant named Ronan.

This was undoubtedly the breakout role for Bautista at 45 years old, appearing as the frenzied but funny brawn of the team, Drax the Destroyer. It makes sense that the role was perfect for him, as both James Gunn and producer Kevin Feige stated he was the only actor they ever considered for Drax.

Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in the 2014 superhero film Guardians of the GalaxyDave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in the 2014 superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy (Credit: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Simply put, the role of Drax was a career-changer for Bautista, so much so that he reportedly broke down in tears when he discovered he had landed the job.

However, he has remained humble throughout the experience. James Gunn specifically recalls a promise that he, Bautista, and Chris Pratt made to each other when the movie started gaining traction; they would remain level-headed and not be ego-struck by the success that was to come.

2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) – 92% Score

Glass Onion is a darkly humorous, whodunit thriller and the sequel to Knives Out, with both films being written and directed by Rian Johnson.

Mixing meta-humor with mystery, the movie follows Detective Benoit Blanc as he investigates a group of billionaires involved in a deadly game.

Dave Bautista as Duke Cody in the 2022 mystery film Glass Onion: A Knives Out MysteryDave Bautista as Duke Cody in the 2022 mystery film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Credit: Netflix)

Sliding up next to other superstar celebrities like Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and more, Dave Bautista plays the role of Duke Cody.

An eccentric role for Bautista at 53 years old, Duke is an outspoken video game streamer and men’s rights activist who eventually sparks the beginning of the film’s focal mystery.

That said, the role of Duke makes some sense for the actor, as Bautista is actually a pretty big fan of video games in real life. Throughout his entire acting career, he has been very outspoken about his desire to play the lead role of Marcus Fenix from the video game Gears of War, if it ever gets adapted into a live-action movie.

1. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – 94% Score

Avengers: Endgame is a film that needs little introduction, as it currently sits as the second highest-grossing movie of all time.

Directed by the Russo Brothers, this sci-fi action epic served as the end of the MCU’s 10-year-long cinematic story.

The climactic scene with all of the Marvel superheroes gearing up to fight and defeat ThanosThe climactic scene with all of the Marvel superheroes gearing up to fight and defeat Thanos (Credit: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Truthfully, Drax only appears briefly during the climactic fight, joining with dozens of other superheroes to take Thanos down. That said, it’s a fitting and satisfying wrap-up for his character, as Drax has been eager for Thanos to perish since the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

If Guardians of the Galaxy was Dave Bautista’s take-off into the world of Hollywood, Avengers: Endgame was his celebratory landing. Taking part in an ensemble cast that’s arguably the biggest and best Hollywood has ever put together, the 50-year-old actor’s career was set in stone with this blockbuster.