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Hailing from Chester, England, Henry Cavill was first discovered while acting in a high school play at the age of 17. After his first performance, his career took off, and he landed supporting roles in several movies and television shows. During his early and mid-20s, he worked in a series of low-profile films, and in 2011, he was announced as the new Superman in the franchise reboot that genuinely brought him into the global spotlight. His career has continued to soar ever since his superhero role, and he has made millions starring in high-budget and independent movies that critics praise.
From playing one of the most beloved superheroes to portraying a lethal antagonist in a thriller, Henry Cavill has diversified his acting range by choosing challenging roles that push his boundaries. More than just Superman, let’s look at some of his highest-grossing movies.
The Cold Light Of Day (2012)
An action-thriller starring Henry Cavill, Sigourney Weaver, and Bruce Willis, The Cold Light Of Day follows the story of a Wall Street trader who searches for his kidnapped family in Spain. The movie was a moderate success at the box office and earned $25.3 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. According to Collider, the role was crucial for Cavill as it introduced him as a leading action star with his stellar performance.
Whatever Works (2009)
In the actor’s resume, Whatever Works is a lesser-known movie and a comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. With a production budget of $15 million, it raked $35 million in theaters. Henry Cavill played the supporting role of Randy James opposite Evan Rachel Wood’s Melody. He is hired to separate Wood’s character from her much older husband.
The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002)
A historical adventure adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ 1884 novel of the same title, the movie received highly favorable reviews for the plot and performances, making $75.3 million in theaters. Cavill played a supporting role in The Count Of Monte Cristo of Albert Mondego, the son of Edmond Dantès.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E (2015)
Credited as one of his best on-screen performances, The Man from U.N.C.L.E is adapted from the 1964 popular television series. As mentioned by GQ, he portrays the role of a CIA agent, Napoleon Solo, who teams up with Armie Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin to bring down a criminal organization using nuclear weapons. The spy thriller grabbed the audience's attention and grossed $108.5 million worldwide.
Stardust (2007)
Directed by Matthew Vaugh, Stardust is a fantasy film that sees Henry Cavill play another strong supporting role. He portrays the character of Humphrey, the boyfriend of Sienna Miller’s Victoria. The film was on the top ten list at the box office for eight weeks and collected $137 million worldwide.
Immortals (2011)
Henry Cavill’s first notable performance as the lead actor, Immortals, is based on Greek mythology, with the actor playing Theseus, the mortal chosen by Zeus to fight evil. The film has generated a cult following over the years and is considered an underrated movie as it has a gripping tale and managed to earn $211 million.
Justice League (2017)
A follow-up movie to Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Justice League was every DCEU fan’s dream come true as the best superheroes teamed up to defeat Steppenwolf and the Parademons. As Cavill’s Superman had died in the previous film, Henry Cavill was intentionally not a part of the press tour. The film also starred Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. The movie was shot on a $300 million budget and made $658 million in theaters, as noted by Screen Rant.
Man Of Steel (2013)
His most iconic role, Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel, amassed $667.9 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing solo Superman movie ever made. The reboot of the Superman franchise was received with praises, more notably for Cavill’s uncanny portrayal of the DC Superhero. The film starred Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zodd, and Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent.
Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)
One of the best movies in the Mission Impossible series, the sixth movie Fallout, saw Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt go head-to-head with Cavill’s August Walker/John Lark. The movie earned $787.1 million, and Cavill gave one of his best performances as a morally ambiguous antagonist.
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
In one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2016, Zack Snyder pitted Batman and Superman against each other for the first time in a motion picture. Dawn Of Justice also starred Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. The movie was a box office success for teaming the biggest DC superheroes together and garnered $873 million globally, as reported by Deadline.
His other notable movies include Enola Holmes, Tristan & Isolde, and I Capture The Castle. Henry Cavill has also given some acclaimed performances in television shows, including the successful fantasy series The Witcher. He will be next seen reprising his character of Sherlock Holmes in the much-anticipated sequel Enola Holmes 2, set for a Netflix release in 2022.
Sources: Collider, GQ, Screen Rant, Deadline