My 6 Favorite Aaron Taylor-Johnson Movies I Think Everyone Should Watch

First look at Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has clearly carved out a distinctive niche in Hollywood, may tell you that he’s just another very handsome actor who’s great at portraying heartthrobs or maybe weird hunter-vigilantes.

But he has also proved that he’s great at serious dramatic roles while not necessarily leaving fun and easy-going roles behind. That’s why I love him and his movies. Here is a list of 6 movies with Aaron Taylor-Johnson that I would recommend to anyone.

1. ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ (2008)

IMDb: 6.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% from critics, 71% from audience

The first ever movie I saw with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and he immediately became my favorite. Yes, he was only 18 there, but he was also playing a hot teenager with a pure heart and soul. The main female character of the movie, a quirky girl named Georgia, hopelessly falls in love with him, and that causes a chain of bad decisions.

However, at the end, Taylor-Johnson’s character Robbie finds it in his heart to forgive her and finally makes her happy with a kiss.

2. ‘Kick-Ass’ (2010)

IMDb: 7.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% from critics, 81% from audience

Two years later, the sweet boy turns into a mega star after becoming a part of Matthew Vaughn's subversive superhero comedy. As Dave Lizewski, an ordinary teenager who decides to become a real-life superhero despite having no special powers, he perfectly captures the character's naivety and growing awareness of real-world consequences.

And Taylor-Johnson’s chemistry with Chloë Grace Moretz's Hit-Girl was one of the best things in the movie, along with the many funny moments.

3. ‘Nowhere Boy’ (2009)

IMDb: 7.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% from critics, 74% from audience

Another early project that I love is this biographical drama about John Lennon's teenage years. In the movie, Taylor-Johnson delivers what many consider his most nuanced dramatic performance. His portrayal of the future Beatles icon captures both the rebellious energy and also vulnerability that would define Lennon's persona.

4. ‘Anna Karenina’ (2012)

IMDb: 6.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 63% from critics, 50% from audience

Wanna see him blonde? Check out Joe Wright's visually spectacular adaptation of Tolstoy's classic novel featuring Taylor-Johnson as Count Alexei Vronsky, the dashing cavalry officer who captures Anna's heart.

While the film received mixed reviews for its theatrical staging approach (I, for example, loved this take), Taylor-Johnson's performance as the passionate but ultimately shallow aristocrat is compelling. Initially, Vronsky is charming and, dare I say, a crush; we all know how that ended.

5. ‘Tenet’ (2020)

IMDb: 7.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% from critics, 76% from audience

Christopher Nolan's time-bending thriller sees Taylor-Johnson in a supporting role as Ives, a military operative crucial to the film's climactic battle sequence.

Tenet isn’t even exactly an “Aaron-Taylor Johnson movie” because of how limited his screen time is, but I still included it because it’s a masterclass in how to make a strong impression in a short time. Because seriously, I didn’t even recognize him until the briefing room scene (and I know for a fact I wasn’t the only one).

6. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

IMDb: 7.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 76% from critics, 82% from audience

Taylor-Johnson's entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver may have been brief, but it was impactful.

His portrayal of the super-speed mutant brings both cockiness and underlying protectiveness, particularly in his relationship with Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda. This was the time Marvel could actually let the character stay a little bit longer: Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver had a great personality and brought a lot of soul into the movie. I loved his jokes and quips way more than, say, Thor’s. How did the MCU not see it coming?..