Christoph Waltz’s Best Roles

Christoph Waltz is a celebrated Austrian-German actor who captivated the world with his remarkable talent and magnetic screen presence. After a long and successful career in European television and film, he became an international superstar in his fifties, thanks to his unforgettable performances in major Hollywood films. His ability to portray characters who are both incredibly charming and utterly terrifying has become his signature, making him one of the most compelling actors working today.

Waltz possesses a unique skill for delivering complex dialogue with a mixture of wit, intellect, and subtle menace. He can switch from being polite and humorous to deeply unsettling in an instant, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. This talent has led to him creating some of the most memorable heroes and villains in recent cinema history, showcasing a range that continues to impress viewers around the globe.

‘The Three Musketeers’ (2011)

In this action-adventure film, Christoph Waltz portrays the infamous Cardinal Richelieu. As the chief minister to the young King Louis XIII of France, his character is a man of immense political power and ambition. He presents a pious and loyal exterior while secretly plotting to undermine the king and provoke a war with England.

Richelieu is the story’s main antagonist, using his cunning and influence to manipulate court politics for his own gain. He employs the treacherous Milady de Winter to carry out his schemes and consistently finds himself at odds with the heroic Musketeers. His portrayal is one of calculated intelligence and aristocratic villainy.

‘The Zero Theorem’ (2013)

Waltz takes on the lead role of Qohen Leth, an eccentric and reclusive computer programmer living in a chaotic, futuristic London. His character is plagued by existential dread and spends his days waiting for a mysterious phone call that he believes will reveal the meaning of his life. He works for a powerful corporation known as Mancom.

Qohen is assigned the difficult task of solving the “Zero Theorem,” a complex mathematical formula intended to prove that everything amounts to nothing. As he works in the solitude of his derelict chapel home, his isolated world is disrupted by a series of strange visitors who challenge his perceptions of reality and purpose.

‘The Legend of Tarzan’ (2016)

In this adventure film, Waltz plays the villainous Captain Léon Rom, a corrupt Belgian envoy in the Congo. His character is a ruthless agent of King Leopold, sent on a mission to secure a massive diamond fortune to save his country from bankruptcy.

To get the diamonds, he makes a deal with a tribal chief who wants revenge on Tarzan. Rom’s plan is to lure Tarzan back to the Congo and capture him for the chief. He is a cruel and impeccably dressed antagonist who embodies the evils of colonialism and greed.

‘Horrible Bosses 2’ (2014)

Waltz joins the comedy sequel as Bert Hanson, a slick and powerful investor. He is the wealthy father of the main antagonist, Rex Hanson. Bert initially appears to be a dream business partner for the film’s three protagonists, who have invented a new showerhead product.

However, Bert quickly reveals his ruthless nature by canceling their order at the last minute and stealing their invention to produce it himself. This act of corporate sabotage pushes the main characters to their breaking point, leading them to devise a clumsy kidnapping plot targeting Bert’s son to regain control of their company.

‘The Consultant’ (2023)

In this dark comedy thriller series, Christoph Waltz stars as Regus Patoff. He is a mysterious and unnerving consultant who suddenly appears at a mobile gaming company called CompWare following the brutal death of its young CEO. His purpose is to improve the business, but his methods are anything but conventional.

Patoff immediately imposes a series of bizarre and demanding rules on the employees, creating an atmosphere of intense paranoia and fear. The character is an enigmatic and unsettling figure whose true identity and motives remain a mystery, forcing two employees to uncover the truth about who he is and what he wants.

‘Spectre’ (2015)

Waltz steps into the iconic role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, one of the most famous antagonists in the James Bond franchise. He is the shadowy leader of the massive criminal organization SPECTRE and is revealed to be the mastermind behind the villains from the previous films.

This iteration of Blofeld has a personal connection to Bond’s past, adding a new layer to their rivalry. His character’s goal is to establish a global surveillance network called “Nine Eyes,” which would give his organization unprecedented power. He orchestrates events from the background, serving as a menacing and brilliant puppeteer.

‘Water for Elephants’ (2011)

In this period drama, Waltz plays August Rosenbluth, the charismatic but deeply troubled ringmaster of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. He is a skilled showman who runs the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth with an iron fist, demanding perfection from his performers.

Beneath his charming exterior, August is a paranoid and violent man, particularly towards his wife Marlena, the star equestrian performer. His character becomes increasingly abusive and dangerous when he suspects Marlena is having an affair with the circus’s new veterinarian, creating a tense and volatile love triangle.

‘Big Eyes’ (2014)

Waltz portrays Walter Keane, a man who achieved massive fame in the 1950s and 60s for his paintings of children with large eyes. The film chronicles his rise to fame and the massive commercial success of his art, which he turned into a profitable empire of prints and merchandise.

The central story of the film reveals a shocking secret, that Walter was not the artist at all. His shy and talented wife, Margaret, was the one who created all the paintings. Walter’s character is a charming but manipulative fraud who took credit for his wife’s work for years, forcing her into a long and difficult battle to reclaim her identity.

‘Carnage’ (2011)

In this dark comedy, Waltz plays Alan Cowan, a pragmatic and cynical corporate lawyer. The entire film takes place in a single afternoon in a Brooklyn apartment, where Alan and his wife meet with another couple. The purpose of their meeting is to have a civilized discussion about a playground fight between their respective sons.

What begins as a polite and cordial conversation quickly unravels as the four parents begin to bicker. Alan’s character is constantly distracted by work calls, showing a dismissive attitude that fuels the escalating tension. The film exposes the petty and childish behavior lurking beneath the veneer of adult respectability.

‘Alita: Battle Angel’ (2019)

Waltz portrays Dr. Dyson Ido, a brilliant and kind-hearted cyber-physician in the futuristic Iron City. He spends his days providing medical care and creating advanced prosthetics for the city’s inhabitants. One day, while scavenging for parts, he discovers the core of a discarded cyborg.

Ido rebuilds the cyborg, names her Alita, and becomes a loving and protective father figure to her. He is aware of her incredible fighting abilities but tries to shield her from a past he knows is filled with violence. His character is a moral anchor in the story, torn between protecting Alita and letting her discover her true destiny.

‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

Waltz reprises his role as the formidable villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. At the beginning of the film, he is securely imprisoned in a high-security facility, having been captured by James Bond in the previous movie. Despite being locked away, his influence and network are still a threat.

Bond is brought in to interrogate Blofeld, who is the only person to have met with a dangerous new adversary. The tense reunion between the two rivals is a key moment in the film. Blofeld’s character plays a crucial but ultimately tragic role in the new villain’s devastating plan.

‘Most Dangerous Game’ (2020–2023)

In this thriller series, Waltz stars as Miles Sellars, the impeccably dressed and articulate CEO of the Tiros Corporation. His company offers a unique and morbid service to individuals who are desperate for money and have nothing left to lose. He presents himself as a benefactor offering a solution.

The premise of his business is to stage a high-stakes hunt where a human being is the prey. The person who volunteers for the hunt gets a massive payout for their family if they can survive for 24 hours while being pursued by wealthy clients. Miles is the calm and philosophical orchestrator of this deadly game.

‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)

In this stop-motion animated film, Waltz lends his voice to the character of Count Volpe. He is a cunning and down-on-his-luck carnival showman who tours Italy with his monkey sidekick. When he discovers Pinocchio, a magical puppet who can walk and talk without strings, he sees a golden opportunity.

Count Volpe manipulates the naive Pinocchio, promising him fame and fortune as the star of his show. He tricks the puppet into signing a binding contract, effectively enslaving him for his own profit. His character represents the exploitative and greedy forces of the world that try to corrupt Pinocchio’s innocence.

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

This is the role that brought Christoph Waltz international fame. He plays SS Colonel Hans Landa, a brilliant, multilingual, and utterly ruthless Nazi officer in occupied France. Known as the “Jew Hunter,” he is renowned for his chilling ability to locate people hiding from the regime.

Landa is a master of psychological warfare, using his polite and charming demeanor to disarm his victims before striking. He is not driven by ideology but by pure opportunism and a love for his own cleverness. His opening scene, where he interrogates a French farmer, is a masterclass in building tension and is considered one of the great scenes in modern film.

‘Django Unchained’ (2012)

In another highly acclaimed performance, Waltz plays Dr. King Schultz, a charismatic German bounty hunter in the American South before the Civil War. He travels under the guise of an itinerant dentist and possesses a strong moral compass that sets him apart from the brutal world he inhabits.

Schultz buys the freedom of a slave named Django to help him identify a group of wanted criminals. After their successful mission, he takes Django under his wing, training him to be a bounty hunter. The two form a powerful partnership, and Schultz eventually agrees to help Django on a dangerous quest to rescue his wife from a cruel plantation owner.

Tell us which Christoph Waltz performance you think is his best in the comments below.