This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of Daniel Day-Lewis Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
42
8
There Will Be Blood
R
42
8

There Will Be Blood is a period drama film which tells the story of Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oil prospector and his relentless struggle to become the most powerful oil tycoon. For this, he even starts to manipulate his adopted son.

Role:
Daniel Plainview
Starring:
Martin Stringer, Matthew Braden Stringer, Jacob Stringer, Joseph Mussey
Directed By:
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
2. Gandhi (1982)
21
6
Gandhi
PG
21
6

Based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the movie begins in South Africa when a young Gandhi is thrown out of the train for travelling in the first class compartment despite having tickets for it. He begins a nonviolent protest campaign and later uses it in India’s fight for independence. 

Directed By:
3. In the Name of the Father (1993)
21
6
In the Name of the Father
R
21
6

This biographical film depicts the story of Gerry Conlon who, along with his father and relatives, was wrongly convicted of orchestrating the 1974 Guildford pub bombings. After meeting the real perpetrator of the crime, he learns that the police suppressed information to cover their blunder and begins a campaign with solicitor Gareth Peirce to clear his family's name.

Role:
Gerry Conlon
Starring:
Emma Thompson, Corin Redgrave, Paul O'Grady, Alison Crosbie, Philip King, Nye Heron
Directed By:
Jim Sheridan
4. My Left Foot (1989)
15
3
My Left Foot
R
15
3
Role:
Christy Brown
Starring:
Cyril Cusack, Brenda Fricker, Alison Whelan, Kirsten Sheridan
Directed By:
Jim Sheridan
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
5. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
20
6
The Last of the Mohicans
R
20
6

This epic historical drama is set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and follows the life of a British Army Major after he moves to New York state to serve under a new colonel. The film was a success at the box office when it released.

Role:
Hawkeye (Nathaniel Poe)
Starring:
Jared Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Jodhi May, Russell Means
Directed By:
6. Gangs of New York (2002)
31
10
Gangs of New York
R
31
10

Set in the New York slums in 1863, the movie Gangs of New York explores a violent Catholic-Protestant feud and an Irish immigrant protest that take place simultaneously. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards.

Role:
Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting
Directed By:
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
7. Phantom Thread (2017)
15
5
Phantom Thread
R
15
5

Phantom Thread is a romantic drama film which takes us to London in the 1950s. It tells the story of a dressmaker named Reynolds, whose life is disrupted by a young strong-willed woman.  He starts developing a liking for her, and she soon becomes his muse and lover.

Role:
Reynolds Woodcock
Starring:
Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps, Julie Vollono, Sue Clark
Directed By:
8. Lincoln (2012)
20
9
Lincoln
PG-13
20
9

Steven Spielberg's Lincoln takes you back in time to watch the making of a historic moment as the US President gets the House of Representatives to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution which abolished slavery.

Role:
Abraham Lincoln
Directed By:
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
9. The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
12
3
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
R
12
3

A successful Czech doctor who is also a womanizer falls for a woman named Tereza. However, she wants him to be monogamous and stay loyal only to her.  Shortly after, the Soviet invasion occurs, which further disrupts their lives.

Role:
Tomas
Starring:
Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Derek de Lint, Erland Josephson
Directed By:
Philip Kaufman
11. A Room with a View (1985)
10
3
A Room with a View
10
3

A Room with a View is a romantic drama film, which tells the story of Lucy, who during her trip to Florence, meets and shares a brief romance with a young man named George. However, after she returns to her home in England, she gets engaged to a man named Cecil. However, shortly after, George unexpectedly appears in her life again. 

Starring:
Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Denholm Elliott, Julian Sands
Directed By:
James Ivory
12. The Bounty (1984)
9
3
The Bounty
PG
9
3

The Bounty is an adventure action drama film which tells us the story of Captain William Bligh, whose crew is fed up of his harsh discipline. This leads to a mutiny between them. Later, eventually the Captain faces a court martial, to explain the events that led to this.

Role:
John Fryer
Starring:
Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Liam Neeson, Edward Fox
Directed By:
Roger Donaldson
13. The Boxer (1997)
9
3
The Boxer
R
9
3

Young Danny Flynn is released from prison after serving fourteen years. He attempts to settle down, and rebuild his life in his old Belfast neighborhood. 

Role:
Danny Flynn
Starring:
Emily Watson, Daragh Donnelly, Frank Coughlan, Sean Kearns
Directed By:
Jim Sheridan
14. The Crucible (1996)
10
4
The Crucible
PG-13
10
4

The Crucible is a historical drama film, which tells the story of John Proctor, a married man, who decides to break off his affair with his young lover, Abigail Williams. She leads other local girls in an occult rite to wish death upon Elizabeth, Proctor’s wife, but when the ritual is discovered, the girls try to frame Elizabeth for witchcraft. 

Role:
John Proctor
Starring:
Paul Scofield, Winona Ryder, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison
Directed By:
Nicholas Hytner
15. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
9
3
My Beautiful Laundrette
R
9
3

This 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frear explores the complex relationship between members of the Pakistani and English communities. The film also showcases the romance between Omar, a young Pakistani man living in London, and his childhood friend, Johnny.

Role:
Johnny (as Daniel Day Lewis)
Starring:
Persis Khambatta, Richard Graham, Winston Graham, Dudley Thomas
Directed By:
16. The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
8
3
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
R
8
3

The Ballad of Jack and Rose is a drama film which tells the story of Jack, an environmentalist with a heart condition, who is living with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. When he invites his girlfriend and her sons to live with them on the island, his daughter Rose is quite upset.

Role:
Jack Slavin
Starring:
Camilla Belle, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Susanna Thompson
Directed By:
17. Thank You, P.G. Wodehouse (1981)
5
3
Thank You, P.G. Wodehouse
5
3
Role:
Psmith
Starring:
Ballard Berkeley, Michael Aldridge, Jonathan Cecil, James Bree
Directed By:
Brian Morgan
18. Nine (2009)
7
4
Nine
PG-13
7
4

Guido Contini, the gifted Italian film director, has only few days before he starts his new ambitious venture, but he doesn’t have a story for it yet. With his personal and professional life in chaos, he escapes to a resort and desperately tries to find an inspiration from his relationships with various women…..his wife, his mistress, his agent, his muse and mother.

Role:
Guido Contini
Starring:
Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sandro Dori
Directed By:
Rob Marshall
19. Artemis 81 (1981)
4
4
Artemis 81
4
4
Starring:
Dan O'Herlihy, Anthony Steel, Hywel Bennett, Dinah Stabb
Directed By:
Alastair Reid
20. Nanou (1986)
6
4
Nanou
6
4
Starring:
Imogen Stubbs, Jean-Philippe Écoffey, Christophe Lindon, Valentine Pelka
Directed By:
Conny Templeman
21. Eversmile, New Jersey (1989)
4
4
Eversmile, New Jersey
PG
4
4
Role:
Dr. Fergus O'Connell
Starring:
Mirjana Jokovic, Gabriela Acher, Julio De Grazia, Ignacio Quirós
Directed By:
Carlos Sorin
22. Abby Singer (2003)
5
3
Abby Singer
5
3
Starring:
Robert Redford, Ryan R. Williams, Gloria Smith, Clint J. Palmer
Directed By:
Ryan R. Williams
23. Stars and Bars (1988)
4
3
Stars and Bars
R
4
3
Role:
Henderson Dores (as Daniel Day Lewis)
Starring:
Harry Dean Stanton, Keith David, Laurie Metcalf, Joan Cusack, Steven Alexander Wright, David Strathairn
Directed By:
Pat O'Connor

TV Shows

Shoestring
16
5
Shoestring
16
5
Starring:
Phyllis Logan, Christopher Biggins, Michael Medwin, Doran Godwin, Trevor Eve
Directed By:
My Brother Jonathan
9
3
My Brother Jonathan
9
3
Role:
Jonathan Dakers (5 episodes, 1985)
Starring:
Catherine Schell, Barbara Kellerman, Caroline Bliss, Helen Ryan
BBC Play of the Month
10
4
BBC Play of the Month
10
4
Starring:
Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Ian McKellen, Vincent Price, Pam Ferris, Tom Conti, Joss Ackland
Directed By:
Cedric Messina, Rudolph Cartier, John Gorrie, Waris Hussein, Alan Cooke
BBC2 Playhouse
8
4
BBC2 Playhouse
8
4
Starring:
Deborah Kerr, Helen Mirren, Donald Pleasence, Claudine Auger, Ian Richardson, Desmond Llewelyn, Liam Neeson
Directed By:

Special Appearance/Cameo

Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
11
5
Sunday Bloody Sunday
R
11
5

Sunday Bloody Sunday is a drama film which tells the story of a bisexual artist named Bob Elkin, who begins a polyamorous relationship with a divorced woman named Alex Greville, and a middle-aged doctor named Daniel Hirsh.

Role:
Child Vandal (uncredited)
Starring:
Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Britton
Directed By:
John Schlesinger

Daniel Day-Lewis Awards

Academy Awards
Lincoln Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2013
There Will Be Blood Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2008
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown Best Actor in a Leading Role 1990
Golden Globe Awards
Lincoln Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama 2013
There Will Be Blood Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama 2008
BAFTA Awards
Lincoln Best Leading Actor 2013
There Will Be Blood Best Leading Actor 2008
Gangs of New York Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2003
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown Best Actor 1990