5 Best Mark Strong Movies to Watch After ‘Nine Perfect Strangers'

Nicole Kidman’s Nine Perfect Strangers recently hit Hulu with season 2, and there's no way you have missed that if you are a fan of cringey dark dramas. Kidman’s Masha is surrounded by the new batch of quirky characters, and Mark Strong’s equally enigmatic David Sharpe is one of them.

But this series is definitely not the first time Strong gets all the attention. Before co-starring with Kidman, he appeared in many excellent movies which are highly acclaimed in Hollywood. Here are 5 best of Mark Strong’s best films that show off everything he’s capable of.

1. ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ (2011)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has 84% from critics and 65% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has 7/10.

This is Mark Strong in one of his most quietly devastating roles. As Jim Prideaux, a betrayed spy operating under layers of regret, in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Strong delivers a performance so understated and humane it sneaks up on you.

The film, adapted from John le Carré’s Cold War classic, is a web of mistrust and silence. In a cast full of heavyweights, including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong holds his own without ever raising his voice. It's a masterclass in restraint.

2. ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Zero Dark Thirty has 91% from critics and 80% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Zero Dark Thirty has 7.4/10.

In Kathryn Bigelow’s razor-sharp retelling of the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, Strong plays George, a CIA operative who’s seen too much to be idealistic anymore. He’s intense, calculated, and deeply aware of the moral gray zones his job demands.

Strong doesn’t get the flashiest scenes, but his presence in Zero Dark Thirty keeps the urgency real. He’s the grounding force in an otherwise high-pressure film.

3. ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (2009)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Sherlock Holmes has 70% from critics and 77% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Sherlock Holmes has 7.6/10.

Who doesn’t love a good villain with a god complex? As Lord Blackwood in Sherlock Holmes, Strong fully commits to the theatrics in Guy Ritchie's gritty, stylish take on the popular story.

With a voice like dark velvet and eyes that tell you he knows something you don’t, Strong makes Blackwood a genuinely eerie presence, all without veering into cartoon territory. It’s pure fun, anchored by his classic intensity.

4. ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ (2014)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kingsman: The Secret Service has 75% from critics and 84% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Kingsman: The Secret Service has 7.7/10.

For those who love stylish action with a twist of British charm. This is Strong at his most unexpectedly warm. As Merlin, the brain behind the brawn at the Kingsman agency, he trades villainy for mentorship.

In Kingsman: The Secret Service Strong gives a confident performance that shows off his comedic timing and understated heart. While Colin Firth and Taron Egerton take center stage, Strong’s calm, even practical presence is once again what keeps the chaos from tipping over.

5. ‘Closer to the Moon’ (2013)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Closer to the Moon has 46% from critics and 55% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Closer to the Moon has 6.7/10.

Here’s a hidden gem for the real fans! In this Romanian historical dramedy based on a true story, Strong plays Max Rosenthal, a Jewish resistance fighter staging a fake movie shoot to rob a bank in Communist-era Bucharest. Yes, it’s as bizarre (and brilliant) as it sounds.

Strong carries the film with quiet irony and melancholy, playing a man forced to perform both for survival and revolution. Closer to the Moon presents us one of his most offbeat roles, and one of the most rewarding.