Ewan McGregor Movies In Order-one Role Changes Everything
Here is a comprehensive chronological list of Ewan McGregor's major movies from his debut in 1994 through upcoming 2026 releases, covering over 60 films where he starred or had significant roles. This ordered timeline highlights his evolution from indie darling in Shallow Grave (1995) to blockbuster icon in the Star Wars prequels and versatile performer in Oscar-nominated dramas.
Early Career Films (1994-1999)
Ewan McGregor's breakthrough came with gritty British cinema in the mid-1990s, where he honed his raw intensity in films grossing modest but critically acclaimed sums. His debut in Family Style (1994) was a short, but Shallow Grave (1995) launched him, earning £200,000 at the UK box office on a £773,000 budget.
- 1994: Family Style - Supporting role in TV movie.
- 1995: Shallow Grave - Alex Law, thriller that put Scottish cinema on the map.
- 1996: Brassed Off - Andy, brass band drama with 88% Rotten Tomatoes score.
- 1996: Trainspotting - Mark "Rent-boy" Renton, iconic role grossing $64 million worldwide.
- 1996: Emma - Frank Churchill, Jane Austen adaptation.
- 1996: The Pillow Book - Jerome, erotic art film at Cannes.
- 1997: A Life Less Ordinary - Robert Lewis, romantic comedy with 41% RT rating.
- 1998: Nightwatch - Martin Bells, remake thriller.
- 1998: Velvet Goldmine - Curt Wild, glam rock biopic inspired by Bowie, 63% RT.
- 1998: Little Voice - Billy, musical drama with Michael Caine.
- 1999: Eye of the Beholder - Stephen Wilson, spy thriller.
- 1999: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - Obi-Wan Kenobi, debut in franchise earning $1.027 billion.
2000s Blockbuster Era
In the 2000s, McGregor balanced Hollywood spectacles with intimate roles, amassing over $4 billion in cumulative box office from Star Wars alone. Moulin Rouge! (2001) earned him a Golden Globe and $179 million worldwide, showcasing his singing prowess.
- 2001: Black Hawk Down - Grimes, Ridley Scott war epic, 76% RT, $173 million gross.
- 2001: Moulin Rouge! - Christian, Baz Luhrmann musical masterpiece.
- 2002: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones - Obi-Wan Kenobi, $653 million earner.
- 2003: Young Adam - Joe Taylor, erotic thriller at Cannes.
- 2003: Big Fish - Young Edward Bloom, Tim Burton fantasy, 75% RT.
- 2003: Down with Love - Catcher Block, retro rom-com.
- 2005: The Island - Lincoln Six-Echo, sci-fi thriller grossing $163 million.
- 2005: Stay - Dr. Sam Foster, psychological drama.
- 2005: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - Obi-Wan Kenobi, $868 million box office.
- 2006: Scenes of a Sexual Nature - Billy, anthology film.
- 2006: Miss Potter - Norman Warne, Beatrix Potter biopic, 80% RT.
- 2006: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker - Ian Rider, spy adaptation.
- 2007: Cassandra's Dream - Ian Blaine, Woody Allen drama.
- 2008: Deception - Jonathan McQuarrie, thriller with Ewan Wahlberg.
- 2008: Incendiary - Jasper Black, post-7/7 London terror drama.
- 2009: I Love You Phillip Morris - Phillip Morris, true-story comedy, 73% RT.
- 2009: The Men Who Stare at Goats - Bob Wilton, satirical war comedy, $69 million gross.
- 2009: Angels & Demons - Camerlengo Patrick McKenna, Dan Brown sequel, $485 million.
- 2009: Amelia - Gene Vidal, aviator biopic.
| Year | Film | Role | Global Gross (USD) | RT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Christian | $179M | 76% |
| 2002 | Attack of the Clones | Obi-Wan | $653M | 65% |
| 2005 | Revenge of the Sith | Obi-Wan | $868M | 80% |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | Camerlengo | $485M | 36% |
The table above illustrates how franchise films dominated his 2000s earnings, contributing 75% of his decade's total box office.
2010s Versatility Peak
The 2010s saw McGregor pivot to character-driven roles, including voice work and prestige dramas, with 22 films averaging 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Beginners (2010) earned him a Golden Globe nomination, while T2 Trainspotting (2017) reunited him with Boyle for $38 million worldwide.
- 2010: Beginners - Oliver, indie drama, 95% RT.
- 2010: Jackboots on Whitehall - Chris, animated satire.
- 2010: Nanny McPhee Returns - Rory Green, family comedy.
- 2010: The Ghost Writer - The Ghost, Roman Polanski thriller, 84% RT.
- 2011: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Dr. Alfred Jones, whimsical romance.
- 2011: Perfect Sense - Michael, sci-fi romance.
- 2011: Haywire - Kenneth, Soderbergh action.
- 2011: The Impossible (2012 release) - Henry, tsunami survival, $198 million gross.
- 2012: Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) - Elmont, fantasy adventure.
- 2013: August: Osage County - Bill Fordham, ensemble drama.
- 2014: Son of a Gun - Brendan Lynch, prison thriller.
- 2014: A Million Ways to Die in the West - Cowboy cameo.
- 2015: Last Days in the Desert - Jesus, meditative drama.
- 2015: Mortdecai - Alistair Martland, comedy flop at 12% RT.
- 2015: Humpback Whales - Narrator, documentary 100% RT.
- 2016: American Pastoral - Seymour "Swede" Levov, Eikost adaptation.
- 2016: Our Kind of Traitor - Perry, le Carre spy thriller.
- 2016: Miles Ahead - Dave Braden, Miles Davis biopic.
- 2016: Jane Got a Gun - John Bishop, Western drama.
- 2017: T2 Trainspotting - Renton, sequel 21 years later.
- 2017: Beauty and the Beast - Lumiere, live-action Disney, $1.264 billion.
- 2018: Christopher Robin - Adult Christopher Robin, $184 million gross.
"Renton's return in T2 was like coming home-raw, real, and relevant." - Ewan McGregor, 2017 Trainspotting sequel interview.
2020s and Recent Hits
Post-2020, McGregor embraced streaming and indies amid pandemic shifts, with 12 projects including Disney+ series tie-ins. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) scored 96% RT and a Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Films like Birds of Prey (2020) added $205 million to his tally.
| Year | Title | Role | RT Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Birds of Prey | Roman Sionis | 78% | DC villain debut. |
| 2019 | Doctor Sleep | Dan Torrance | 77% | Shining sequel. |
| 2021 | The Birthday Cake | Father Kelly | 0% | Indie drama. |
| 2022 | Raymond & Ray | Raymond | 82% | Dark comedy. |
| 2022 | Pinocchio | Cricket | 96% | Oscar winner. |
| 2023 | Mother, Couch | David | 40% | Exec producer. |
| 2023 | Bleeding Love | Lead | 57% | Exec producer. |
| 2023 | Speed is Expensive | Narrator | 75% | Motorcycle doc. |
| 2025 | The Land of Sometimes | Voice | TBD | Animated. |
| 2026 | The End of Oak Street | Actor | TBD | Upcoming drama. |
- 2020: Birds of Prey - Black Mask, Harley Quinn spin-off.
- 2019: Doctor Sleep - Dan Torrance, horror sequel.
- 2021: The Birthday Cake - Priest role in mob tale.
- 2022: Raymond & Ray - Half-brother dramedy with Ethan Hawke.
- 2022: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio - Sebastian J. Cricket, stop-motion triumph.
- 2023: Bleeding Love - Father in addiction drama, exec produced.
- 2023: Mother, Couch - David, family psychodrama.
- 2023: Speed is Expensive - Narrator for Vincent motorcycle history.
- 2025: The Land of Sometimes - Voice role in fantasy animation.
- 2026: The End of Oak Street - Lead in upcoming indie.
By May 2026, McGregor's filmography boasts 70+ credits, with total box office exceeding $6.5 billion, per aggregated data from Box Office Mojo equivalents. His versatility-from Jedi master to musical lover-defines a career where one role, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, grossed more than his first decade combined.
Career Stats Overview
Across 30+ years, Ewan McGregor averages 2.3 films annually, with 45% RT certified fresh ratings. Blockbusters comprise 60% of earnings ($3.9B), indies 40% of acclaim, including 2 Golden Globes and 4 Oscar nods via supporting roles.
McGregor's journey reflects Hollywood's indie-to-franchise arc, with Trainspotting (1996) as pivot-its £18 million profit funded dreams, per producer Andrew Macdonald. Future projects like End of Oak Street promise more depth.
Full Chronological Master List
This exhaustive table compiles all verified credits, sourced from IMDb and Fandango databases as of 2026. Excludes TV-only like Halston or Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Shallow Grave | Alex Law | Danny Boyle |
| 1996 | Trainspotting | Renton | Danny Boyle |
| 1999 | Phantom Menace | Obi-Wan | George Lucas |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Christian | Baz Luhrmann |
| 2002 | Attack of the Clones | Obi-Wan | George Lucas |
| 2005 | Revenge of the Sith | Obi-Wan | George Lucas |
| 2017 | T2 Trainspotting | Renton | Danny Boyle |
| 2017 | Beauty and the Beast | Lumiere | Bill Condon |
| 2019 | Doctor Sleep | Dan Torrance | Mike Flanagan |
| 2022 | Pinocchio | Cricket | Guillermo del Toro |
| 2023 | Bleeding Love | Lead | Joe Stanton |
- Key Milestone: 1996-2005 Star Wars trilogy cemented stardom.
- Versatility Peak: 2010s with 22 diverse roles.
- Recent: 2020s focus on family, narration, production.
One role-Renton in Trainspotting-changed everything, launching a career blending art and commerce, with 2026's End of Oak Street poised for awards.
Helpful tips and tricks for Ewan Mcgregor Movies In Order One Role Changes Everything
How did Trainspotting change his career?
Trainspotting (1996), directed by Danny Boyle, skyrocketed Ewan McGregor to fame with its £47.7 million global box office on a £1.5 million budget, making it the highest-grossing British film of the 1990s until Harry Potter.
What is his highest-grossing film?
Beauty and the Beast (2017) is Ewan McGregor's top earner at $1.264 billion globally, voicing Lumiere in the highest-grossing live-action fairy tale remake.
Which role earned Oscar buzz?
McGregor's portrayal of Dan Torrance in Doctor Sleep (2019) garnered acclaim, with 77% RT and nominations for Best Actor precursors, building on The Shining legacy.
Has he won any Oscars?
No competitive Oscars yet, but Pinocchio (2022) won Best Animated Feature as voice actor, and Moulin Rouge! brought Globe wins.
What's his most underrated film?
Beginners (2010) at 95% RT is often cited as underrated, exploring father-son bonds with Christopher Plummer, grossing $5.8 million on intimacy.