Heath Ledger Once Opened up About the Movie That Meant the Most to Him

Heath Ledger was a transformation artist whose career spanned from lighthearted swashbuckling adventures to complex, arthouse biopics. His extraordinary range earned him an Academy Award nomination at just 26 for his soul-stirring work in Brokeback Mountain.

He later achieved legendary status with a Best Supporting Actor win in 2009. That win, for his haunting and iconic portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, was a bittersweet milestone as it was awarded posthumously.

The Perth native first made a name for himself in Australian independent cinema before moving to the United States in the late 1990s. His big break came quickly when he landed the lead in the 1999 teen hit 10 Things I Hate About You, a role that transformed him into a household name and launched a career that went from strength to strength.

Despite his prolific output, Ledger often shared that his deep passion for film wasn’t something he was born into, as his parents were quite strict about what he was allowed to watch.

There was, however, one specific film that managed to pass the family’s scrutiny and left an indelible mark on the young actor. In a 2007 interview, Ledger revealed that his favorite movie of all time was the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. He admitted that he had watched the film at least ten times during his childhood and held a deep appreciation for the sheer wonder it provided.

Ledger explained that because it was the only movie his parents permitted him to see as a young boy, it became his primary window into the power of storytelling. He was captivated by the transportive nature of the medium, stating simply that he adored the sense of magic it created. This love for the fantastical eventually came full circle in his own work, particularly in his final performance in Terry Gilliam’s 2009 fantasy epic, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

While Ledger did not live to see the further expansion of the Oz franchise, the world he loved so much continues to grow in his absence. Following the 2013 prequel Oz the Great and Powerful.

The land of Oz is currently experiencing a massive resurgence in popular culture. Most notably, the two-part cinematic adaptation of the musical Wicked has taken the world by storm, with the second installment, Wicked: For Good, recently dominating the global box office in late 2025.

The legacy of the late actor also remains a central point of interest for fans and film historians alike. The 2017 documentary I Am Heath Ledger provided an intimate look at his life through his own personal lens, featuring never-before-seen footage he filmed himself. Even years after his passing, his influence is felt throughout the industry.

His daughter, Matilda Ledger, is now carrying forward the family name as she enters adulthood. Ledger’s work continues to be the gold standard for character immersion, and his favorite childhood film serves as a poignant reminder of where that artistic spark first began.

Which performance of Heath Ledger’s do you think best captured the “magic” of cinema that he loved so much? Share your thoughts in the comments!