The best Dave Bautista movies span numerous genres and well-known series because of his comparably short acting career, which has already lasted 15 years.
The former heavyweight champion, formerly known as WWE superstar Batista, started acting in 2006, and his first recognized part was in Smallville that same year as Aldar.
Since then, Bautista has been in several TV cameos and has starred in 22 different feature movies.
Bautista has performed various roles, from supporting cast members to main protagonists.
Below is a list of the best Dave Bautista movies.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, and Lee Pace
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Bautista’s first appearance as Drax in the 2014 movie “Guardians of the Galaxy” is still his best performance as the character.
In it, the green-skinned warrior seeks revenge on Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Ronan (Lee Pace) for the death of his family.
Drax discovers a new family in the Guardians as he relentlessly seeks his revenge, and he learns how to trust and cooperate with the diverse group of spacefaring heroes.
The MCU has a history of using Drax largely as comic relief since the original “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which, while using Bautista’s comedic skills, limits the character’s potential.
While Dave Bautista chooses when to show the character’s visceral rage and the deep anguish that drives him, director James Gunn skillfully balances the humor and emotional depth that Drax is capable of.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, and Karen Gillan
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was released three years after its predecessor.
The story revolves around the titular gang as they encounter Ego, the Living World (Kurt Russell), who takes them to his remote world and claims to be Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) father.
The enemies of the Guardians, who have been duped by them far too often, are closing in on them.
One of the biggest sources of humor in the movie is Bautista reprising his role as the increasingly ridiculous Drax.
However, he also forms a strong bond with newcomer Mantis (Pom Klementieff), giving the movie a touching emotional center.
Critics gave Guardians 2 high remarks, agreeing that the movie wasn’t as good as its predecessor but was still a standout in the MCU. This is one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
3. Hotel Artemis (2018)
- Director: Drew Pearce
- Cast: Jodie Foster, Sofia Boutella, Dave Bautista, Sterling K. Brown, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, and Jenny Slate
- IMDb rating: 6.1/10
The 2018 crime movie “Hotel Artemis” is an edgy action movie in the vein of “Bullet Train” or “Smokin’ Aces” that often prioritizes style above content.
In a dystopian, near-future Los Angeles wracked by violent riots, the place bearing its name is a secret hospital visited by criminal types.
The right-hand man and main enforcer of Jean Thomas, the owner of the Hotel Artemis, played by Jodie Foster and Dave Bautista, respectively, is an intimidating guy known as Everest.
Everest may have been a no-nonsense lapdog to Thomas in less talented hands. Still, Bautista injects just enough of his trademark personality to transcend the thankless part.
Although “Hotel Artemis” is mainly forgettable, the ensemble does their best with the material they are given.
Bautista, in particular, delivers terrifying risks and an unexpected heroic turn toward the movie’s ending.
With an amazing ensemble cast, “Hotel Artemis” is a well-executed action movie that allows Bautista to stand out while exuberantly playing off of each of them.
Hotel Artemis is a good addition to the list of the best Dave Bautista movies.
4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Mark Arnold, and Vilma Szécsi
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
It’s amazing how Dave Bautista’s character in “Blade Runner 2049” establishes the tone for the whole movie despite just appearing in the opening sequence and the odd flashback.
In the cyberpunk Los Angeles of the 2017 movie, Bautista portrays Sapper Morton, a renegade replicant who silently toils alone on a protein farm.
The sophisticated replicant K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner chasing non-compliant replicants for the LAPD, disrupts and ultimately ends Morton’s peaceful existence.
The movie’s plot is supposedly launched by K’s meeting with Morton, who assisted in delivering and concealing the first biologically born replicant.
In “Blade Runner 2049,” K’s path is influenced by this cover-up as K finds that this regular operation has wider implications that will fundamentally alter human-replicant relations.
The sadness of a guy who lives alone to avoid being recognized, only to be confronted with his approaching fate in the shape of K, is captured by Bautista’s amazing performance.
Despite his artificial appearance, Morton is undoubtedly the most heartbreaking and humane figure Bautista has ever created.
In an action scene when Morton confronts K, Bautista balances this and Morton’s unbridled rage.
Bautista demonstrates subtle sadness and raw brutality in equal measure while doing so much with so little. This is a great addition to the best Dave Bautista movies list.
5. Stuber (2019)
- Director: Michael Dowse
- Cast: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko Uwais, Betty Gilpin, and Karen Gillan
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
While the 2019 movie “Stuber” may not exactly meet the criteria for a decent cop movie, it does offer engaging performances from its major stars.
Vic Manning, a seasoned police investigator played by Dave Bautista, is grieving the loss of his partner Sara and is now unable to drive while recovering from corrective eye surgery.
Vic must call an Uber after receiving an urgent tip to find Sara’s murderer, which matches him with Stu Prasand, a quiet rideshare driver (Kumail Nanjiani).
Despite the improbable premise, Bautista and Nanjiani make the most of the material and develop a cordial relationship.
Vic begins as the epitome of toxic masculinity, often using violence to solve problems while ignoring his daughter Nicole, but he develops through his unexpected alliance with Stu.
Although “Stuber” has many issues, Bautista and Nanjiani are happily not one of them, which makes viewers wonder what the two might do with a stronger screenplay. This is undoubtedly one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
6. My Spy (2020)
- Director: Peter Segal
- Cast: Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Kristen Schaal, Greg Bryk, Ken Jeong, and Nicola Correia-Damude
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
For professional wrestlers attempting to get into the acting world in feature movies, playing bright kids in an action-comedy almost seems like a rite of passage.
It’s interesting to note that Dave Bautista’s entry into this very niche genre occurred after he had already made a name for himself in Hollywood outside his job as a wrestler with 2020’s “My Spy.”
The Prime Video original film stars Bautista as JJ, a CIA agent handed the most family-friendly assignment of his career. It combines espionage action with kid-friendly humor.
Chloe Coleman, who plays Sophie, persuades JJ to teach her to be a spy after discovering his covert information, demonstrating Bautista and Coleman’s good connection.
Although it elevates “My Spy” beyond other movies that cater to younger viewers, the choice to classify the movie PG-13 as a little too adult for its target demographic hurts the movie.
The movie delivers a respectable blend of Bautista’s action-hero and comedy abilities without reinventing the wheel, and he gives a good enough comic performance.
7. Dune (2021)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, and Dave Bautista
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
The famously difficult sci-fi classic Dune will have another big-screen remake in 2021.
Dune, a movie by Denis Villeneuve, centers on Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man caught up in a conflict over a desert planet’s valuable resources. This is one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
Bautista is a member of a large cast and is portrayed by Glossu Raban, a minor antagonist in a relatively small role.
Unlike the previous adaptation of the book, Dune from 2021 was well-received.
The movie’s production values, directing by Villeneuve, and fidelity to the original material all received high praise.
At the Oscars in 2022, Dune received the most awards, with six nominations.
8. Bushwick (2017)
- Director: Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion
- Cast: Dave Bautista, Brittany Snow, Angelic Zambrana, Jeremie Harris, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Alex Breaux, and Arturo Castro
- IMDb rating: 5.2/10
The 2017 action-thriller “Bushwick,” blends social criticism with brutal violence in a war-torn image of New York City, is one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
As the country’s more conservative regions plot to break away, its militias wage catastrophic assaults on the nation’s major centers.
As Stupe, Bautista teams up with graduate student Brittany Snow to rescue neighborhood residents caught in the crossfire.
With its message of all-out civil war, “Bushwick” ’s central theme may hit a bit too close to home, but the movie doesn’t accomplish much to further these divisive concepts.
Despite the movie’s untapped potential and glaringly low production budget, Bautista does adopt a more vulnerable stance toward his customary tough guy lead character.
Without Bautista’s sincere portrayal as an impromptu mentor as New York descended into civil war, “Bushwick,” a middle-of-the-road action flick, would have been a disposable B-movie.
9. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Dave Bautista, Jeremy Renner, and Don Cheadle
- IMDb rating: 8.4/10
The grandiose 2019 crossover from Marvel’s culmination of a decade’s nonstop narrative was Avengers: Endgame.
The plot follows the titular heroes as they try to save everyone killed off at the end of the last franchise, building to a final confrontation with Thanos.
Drax and the Guardians have far less part in Endgame than in its predecessor.
Only Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) have significant roles, and their characters get some amazing and much-needed character development.
Critics lauded Endgame as a satisfactory finale to the MCU’s first act and gave it unanimous praise. This is one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
10. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dave Bautista.
- IMDb rating: 8.4/10
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Dave Bautista’s breakthrough performance was as Drax the Destroyer. From there, he moved on to several significant MCU ensemble movies.
Drax’s best supporting role outside the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy appears in the 2018 movie “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Even though Drax is only in a few sequences in the intergalactic blockbuster, he steals almost everyone with his deadpan comedy.
“Infinity War” provides a great comic showcase for Drax, from his belief that he is invisible if he is entirely immobile to his banter with Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.).
In “Avengers: Endgame” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Bautista would reprise his Drax character, but “Infinity War” is where he excels. This is undoubtedly one of the best Dave Bautista movies.
11. Knock at the Cabin (2023)
- Director: M. Night Shyamalan
- Cast: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rupert Grint, Abby Quinn, and Kristen Cui
- IMDb rating: 6.1/10
In Bautista’s most recent work, Knock at the Cabin, four unexpected guests show up at a family’s rented vacation home.
The invaders tell the family to select one of their own and gladly sacrifice them if they don’t, the world will end in a final, terrifying manner.
Leonard, a quiet teacher who seems to be the commander of the invaders, is played by Bautista.
Knock at the Cabin garnered mixed to excellent reviews from reviewers, who appreciated Bautista’s performance, despite not being M. Night Shyamalan’s greatest movie.
The actor portrays a guy who has given himself up to his ideals in a quiet but powerful way.
It’s an unsettling but outstanding performance that further proves Bautista’s prowess as a character actor.
12. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, and Leslie Odom Jr.
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
This is undoubtedly one of the best Dave Bautista movies. Even though Dave Bautista and Daniel Craig were a powerful duo in “Spectre,” their on-screen reunion in “Glass Onion” provides them with far more compelling material to collaborate on.
In the “Knives Out” prequel, Bautista plays men’s rights streamer Duke Cody, who can post his ridiculously chauvinist rants online by eccentric millionaire Miles Bron.
On a remote island full of them, Duke is first portrayed as a bit of an arrogant idiot, but he ends up playing a surprise part in the murder mystery that develops.
Early in the movie, Bautista plays Duke with all the arrogant bravado that one would anticipate from a bad-boy Twitch broadcaster. Still, he also hides moments of sensitivity and insight.
In one moment, Duke’s mother (Jackie Hoffman) deflates Duke’s arrogant confidence, and Bautista instantly transforms the character into a pitiful shadow of himself.
Later in the movie, it is revealed that Duke, in one of his more cunningly sly moments, set up his lover Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) to seduce Miles.
Duke is a strong addition to the amusing cast in Bautista’s more-than-capable hands. Filmmaker Rian Johnson delivers finely crafted screenplays.
13. Spectre (2015)
- Director: Sam Mendes
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Ben Whishaw, and Dave Bautista
- IMDb rating: 6.8/10
Throughout the history of the spy movie franchise, James Bond has faced up against several cold-blooded assassins, some of whom have shown feats of superhuman strength and endurance.
With Dave Bautista as the deadly Mister Hinx in the 2015 movie “Spectre,” Daniel Craig’s Bond had his musclebound opponent.
Before the two men have a brutal encounter on a speeding Moroccan train, Hinx follows Bond worldwide while brandishing a huge gun and having steel-tipped fingers.
Hinx is a man of few words, in the style of Bond villains like Oddjob or Jaws, and he only says one phrase in the movie “Spectre.”
Though one would have hoped the character survived their confrontation for one more battle in Craig’s swan song “No Time to Die,” Hinx’s final lengthy fight with Bond is one of the movie’s outstanding scenes.
