As one of the most iconic actors in pop culture media, Mark Hamill has made quite a name for himself. Not only is he the iconic hero, Luke Skywalker, but Hamill is also the voice of many classic characters in animation. Over the years, he has been a part of all sorts of diverse projects, with some obviously being more successful than others.
However, some of Hamill’s best work often goes unrecognized. To honor the actor and look at his best films, here is our list of Mark Hamill’s 10 best movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (89%)
As one of Hamill’s lesser-known projects, Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (2014) served as a sequel to the popular 2003 film, Elf. While the cast is drastically different in this case, Hamill is still featured as part of the new ensemble, lending his voice talents in a very good way. As an animated feature, the film saw a limited release in theaters before making its way to NBC. Like some other films on this list, Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas has a much higher critic score than it does an audience score. Regardless of the difference, there is no denying that Hamill’s talents as a voice actor can shine through even the roughest script.
A Fuller Life (90%)
Inspired by the works of her father, Samantha Fuller made a documentary from her father’s memoirs that were narrated by several big names and known associates of film icon, Sam Fuller. Titled, A Fuller Life (2013) the film features narration from people like Jessica Beal, James Franco, and Joe Dante. Among those big names is none other than Mark Hamill.
Like many others in the industry at the time, Hamill worked closely with Fuller during the film The Big Red One (1980) and the film covers some of his experiences during the initial filming. Overall, any lover of film or film history would easily appreciate this documentary, as well as any fan of Mark’s.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (90%)
Aside from his role as Luke Skywalker, Hamill is often highly praised for his role as the Joker. Though Hamill has not portrayed the character in live-action (although he did appear as a villain on The Flash), his years of work as the voice of the iconic villain is easily one of the most celebrated interpretations of the character. In 2000, Hamill had the chance to play the character in a feature-length movie, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Seeing Hamill return to the role once again was a very welcome experience for fans who grew up with Batman: The Animated Series. Hamill expertly captures the charisma and creepiness that is often associated with the Joker, despite only serving as the character’s voice. Likewise, Hamill’s Joker laugh is easily one of the most memorable that the character has ever had.
The Big Red One (90%)
As mentioned previously, Hamill worked with director Sam Fuller on The Big Red One that was released in 1980. The film itself follows the story of a group of soldiers as they fight to survive in Africa during WWII. While Hamill isn’t the lead in this film, he still does a great job in what is widely considered to be a great War Movie.
Furthermore, considering how it was one of his first major roles in a film after Star Wars, seeing Hamill in a different role was a very welcome experience.
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (91%)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) was met with a very positive critical reception, but drastically mixed audience reviews. As the franchise’s second main installment under Disney’s ownership, The Last Jedi caused a pretty divisive rift between fans. However, it is the first time that audiences have seen Luke Skywalker hold a significant role on the big screen since Return of the Jedi in 1983. While some people weren’t fans of the way Luke’s character had been written, there’s no denying that Hamill’s performance was a welcome one. Seeing the actor in one of his most iconic roles brought a lot of nostalgia to the film and really developed him as a character. No matter what people thought of the film, there’s no denying that Mark Hamill did a phenomenal job.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (93%)
Released just 2 years before the Last Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) sees the Star Wars franchise return to its former glory. While some criticized it for being too similar to A New Hope, most fans welcomed the new cast as they collaborated with the old, taking the story in all-new directions. Though Hamill is hardly in the movie, critics have still deemed it one of his best.
However, the film really does do a fantastic job of withholding the former protagonist until the very end, building the suspense and saving his backstory for the next installment. Despite being an incredibly small role in the film, the final scene is easily one of the most iconic sequences in any Star Wars movie, all thanks to Mark.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (93%)
Of course, Star Wars Episode Four: A New Hope is easily one of Hamill’s best roles. Though also the actor’s first major role in a motion picture, the young Mark Hamill was successfully able to captivate audiences worldwide and also play a major part in launching one of the largest modern franchises. Simply put, without this film, there is no Star Wars. This classic science fantasy adventure inspired millions and is so ingrained in pop culture today, that it is hard to picture Hamill as anyone else.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (95%)
Often regarded as the best film in the franchise, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) sees Hamill as Luke Skywalker as he continues his journey to learn about The Force and fight against the evil Galactic Empire. Not much needs to be said about the plot of the movie, as so many have seen it that to do so would be redundant. Aside from that, Hamill gets a chance to act in a bit more dynamic way in this film.
With far greater stakes and dramatic reveals, Luke’s character experiences far more in this film in comparison to the first. Because of this, Hamill is further able to display his skill as an actor, really driving home certain scenes and making it easy to see how the film is rated so high.
Castle In The Sky (96%)
For as many Studio Ghibli movies that are out there, Castle in the Sky (1986) is easily one of the highest-rated. In this movie, Mark Hamill plays the villain, Colonel Muska. Though he is certainly known for voicing other characters, Hamill still delivers one of his best performances in Castle in the Sky. Hamill is such a talented voice actor, that his voice isn’t even recognizable in most of his works, including this one. Hamill, alongside many other talented actors and a great script, easily help make Castle in the Sky one of the best Ghibli movies, even to this day.
Robot Chicken: Star Wars (100%)
Surprisingly, of all creative projects that Mark Hamill has been a part of, none are rated higher on Rotten Tomatoes than Robot Chicken: Star Wars. Though originally a short that aired on TV, it was later collected and released as any other TV movie, making it qualify as a film according to Rotten Tomatoes. Likewise, Hamill himself isn’t even in a whole lot of it, appearing as the voice of Luke Skywalker for only a single sketch. While it may seem really unfair to hold the film in this regard, it does have a perfect score according to critics on the website. While the Robot Chicken: Star Wars sketches are rather humorous, it is still surprising that they are rated so high.
