Orlando Bloom was once one of the most prominent actors. The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sluts are among his greatest successes. A look back at Orlando Bloom’s best movies
Orlando Bloom’s rise was meteoric. In no time, the actor went from unknown to planetary star. To fall just as quickly. Second-rate roles, little or unnoticed passages in minimal projects and failures forged his career between the end of the 2000s and the end of the 2010s. With the series Carnival Row, Orlando Bloom made a remarkable return to our screens in 2019. Despite some disappointments, the actor nevertheless offers a respectable filmography. Check out 10 must-see Orlando Bloom films.
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1. The Lord of the Rings (2001 to 2003)
Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Credit: Metropolitan FilmExport
For three years, Orlando Bloom endorsed the mythical role of the elf Legolas in the saga of Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The king’s return). The key is planetary success and a very rapid rise. It is indeed only the second film of the actor following a brief appearance in the biopic Oscar Wilde, in 1998. In the skin of Legolas, Orlando Bloom interprets this outstanding archer with conviction. A significant role for the actor who will take it on three times in The Lord of the Ringsthen twice in the continuation of the adventures of Hobbitin 2013 and 2014.
The Legolas character is probably one of the most iconic roles and famous from Orlando Bloom’s filmography. The charisma and humor of Legolas in The Lord of the Rings have made him one of the fan-favorite characters and one of the most recognized. So much so, that we saw no one other than the actor to take on this mythical role. The trilogy, huge success around the world, will pocket many awards (BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes) and 11 Oscars!
2. The Fall of the Black Hawk (2002)
The fall of the Black Falcon. Credit: Columbia Pictures
Between two blockbusters and action films, Orlando Bloom tries his hand at drama war movie. Not an easy task nor an easy subject. However, in front of Ridley Scott’s camera, with whom he is filming for the first time, Orlando Bloom realistically interprets soldier Todd Blackburn, whose team is caught up in the fighting in Mogadishu. In this film giving pride of place to the solidarity of the soldiersthe Brit shares the bill with the star actors: Eric Bana (whom he will find two years later in Sluts), Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore or Tom Hardy. An amazing film by the relevance of its story, its realism and its violence. A solid film in Orlando Bloom’s filmography.
3. Ned Kelly (2003)
Ned Kelly. Crédit : Universal Pictures
Although he is British, Orlando Bloom knows no boundaries when it comes to movies. After New Zealand for the Lord of the RingsMalta for Sluts and of course Hollywood, Orlando Bloom returns to the Southern Hemisphere. In Australia, the actor plays a member of the Kelly gang: Joseph Byrne.
In 1855, Ned Kelly became public enemy number one in Australia. A extremely famous character in the land of kangaroos held on screen by Australian actor Heath Ledger (the Joker in The Dark Knight). Orlando Bloom perfectly interprets his faithful companion, dangerous and merciless. The film remains relatively accessible to the greatest number and never sheds hemoglobin. Finally, a pattern emerges in the filmography of the actor: Orlando Bloom played mainly in period and/or historical films. He proves in Ned Kelly that he is able to play darker, unsympathetic characters.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003 then until 2017)
The Pirates of the Caribbean saga. Credit: Walt Disney Pictures
Orlando Bloom’s meteoric rise was not regarding to end. Only some time following the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings (The king’s return), Orlando Bloom is joining an ambitious Disney film. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlOrlando Bloom is more famous than ever and enjoys popular all over the world. A godsend for the actor who lends his features to the young and friendly blacksmith Will Turner. A new saga in the making and a new monster success on the planet. The shock trio that Orlando Bloom forms with Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp contributes to the film’s stunning success (654 million dollars collected at the worldwide box office; 4.5 billion dollars for the entire franchise).
Its adventure, horror and family film side make it a essential in the genre and one of the most successful of the Disney studios. Orlando Bloom charms his audience once once more and moves towards a more physical role – through his action scenes and swordsmanship – and adventurer which will have earned him some awards in specialized ceremonies (MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice Awards…).
5. Sluts (2004)
Troy. Credit: Warner Bros.
It seems that nothing can stop Orlando Bloom in the early 2000s. The British actor continues the big productions and the successes with. After having made a few films under the leadership of great directors such as Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott and Gore Verbinski, Orlando Bloom finds himself under the direction of Wolfgang Petersen.
Sluts is inspired by Greek mythology and the event of the Trojan Horse. In this epic adventure film, Orlando Bloom is once more very well surrounded by a five star cast. After Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchette, Vigo Mortensen, Sean Bean or Johnny Depp, the actor gives the answer to Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger… and Sean Bean. Orlando Bloom plays the fearful and in love Paris, a Trojan, who fled with Helen of Sparta. Which has the misfortune to provoke the fury of King Menelaus. A war quickly erupts between the two cities.
Finally rid of franchises, Orlando Bloom finds a role in withdrawal but crucial. It delivers a more restrained and tense performance. A more calm and worried character who diverges from the courageous and enterprising roles that the actor interpreted until then. A new facet welcome to a film with undeniable success.
6. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven. Crédit : 20th Century Fox
Second collaboration with Ridley Scott for Orlando Bloom and new period film. Kingdom of Heaven takes place in the 12th century, before the Third Crusade. In this big epic, big-budget movie, Orlando Bloom takes the lead role, he who officiated most of the time as a supporting role. Due to its delicate subject on religion and the crusades, Kingdom of Heaven had mixed success. However, the fault is not with the British actor. Facing Eva Green and Liam Neeson, Orlando Bloom continues to show the extent of his acting, well helped by the management of Ridley Scott. Decidedly, the collaboration with the director succeeds him well in terms of acting. His character, Balian d’Ibelin is embodied precisely by the actor who oscillates between moments of bravery, more intimate and respectable integrity. Unfortunately, due to the reception of the film in some countries and the criticism of religious movements, Kingdom of Heaven was unable to enjoy the cinematic experience that it nevertheless offered.
7. Zulu (2013)
Zulu. Credit: Pathé Distribution
In 2013, Orlando Bloom headed to South Africa. After having traveled several countries for his career, the Briton engages in this detective adaptation of the eponymous book, Zulu. This film marks his return to a unique and large-scale projectsix years following the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. In the meantime, the actor is more discreet although it never stopped spinning. But during this period, Orlando Bloom was unable to repeat the successes of yesteryear, or even draw attention to the projects in which he starred. After a rapid ascent, Orlando Bloom suffered a few failures which gradually took him away from ambitious projects.
However, in 2013, when he was preparing to divorce Miranda Kerr, it was at the Cannes festival that the actor came to present Zulu, directed by French director Jérôme Salle. Despite the failures and the glaring lack of opportunities in the cinema, Orlando Bloom manages to return and collaborate with respected actors (Forest Whitaker to whom he gives the reply). Orlando Bloom plays a Cape Town officer who seeks to solve a series of murders with his colleague (Whitaker).
The film is dark and not happy and shows the difficult undersides of the African city. The traces of Apartheid are still very present and the two police officers have to deal with the violence that inhabits these places, the fear and the reluctance of the citizens. Orlando Bloom is very convincing in his badass role. It sometimes shows an aspect unsympathetic and hot-headed, far from his image of ideal son-in-law that stuck to his skin for years. An interesting role that unfortunately will not meet the spectators. Zulu will receive a decent reception from critics and a mixed success in the world.
8. Conspiracy (2017)
Conspiracy. Credit: Lionsgate
Back to the action thriller and the role of badass for Orlando Bloom. Surrounded by great actors like Noomi Rapace, John Malkovich, Michael Douglas and Toni Collette, Orlando Bloom plays a member of the special forces coming to lend a hand to a former CIA agent. Finally a major project for the actor whose decade was rich in adventures (lack of opportunities, commercial failures on the professional side. Divorce from his wife Miranda Kerr in 2013 for the personal aspect). Besides the trilogy of Hobbit (continuation of the trilogy of Lord of the Rings), the actor struggled for a few years to find your way to the big screen. Solid and convincing in this tough role, Orlando Bloom has proven how rich and varied his game is. A welcome return.
9. Carnival Row (depuis 2019)
Carnival Row. Crédit : Amazon Prime Video
2019 finally marks the remarkable return of Orlando Bloom. Katy Perry’s fiancé became the show’s headliner Carnival Row. In the Amazon Prime series, Orlando Bloom stars opposite former model Cara Delevingne and perfect actors. The fantastic series, once morest a backdrop of drama and murder, recalls the British Gothic universe and sometimes Game of Thrones in his approach to characters. Between fairies, centaurs, werewolves and other mythological creatures, Orlando Bloom is back. This time on the small screen. In this fantastic universe, his character, Rycroft Philostrate, investigates the disappearance of fairies while a war with humans has left its mark. After being talked regarding for his private life with Katy PerryOrlando Bloom is finally refocusing on the game. The series, original and well constructed, sometimes lacks personality but has won over viewers. Carnival Row received good reviews and season 2 is expected to release soon.
10. Besieged (2020)
Besieged. Credit: Metropolitan FilmExport
In the midst of the Covid pandemic, Orlando Bloom returns in a war film, Besieged. A real role of composition and difficult for the actor, who tackles excesses of war and its consequences on the soldiers. A film that can recall the game Call of Dutybut far from the exotic adventure of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. A film with a theme that has already been seen and with a greyish photo in order to transcribe the emotions of this drama. Probably not the best role of the actor but one more that strengthens his game.
