Gerard Butler as John Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Gerard Butler as John Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

Gerard Butler is the king of the sequels!

He's helped created popular franchises from film's like 'Olympus Has Fallen', 'Den of Thieves', and 'How to Train Your Dragon,' with an upcoming sequel for  'Law Abiding Citizen' and a follow up to 'Plane' in the works.

Plane
Plane
"Survive together or die alone."
69
Audience
75
Review
Release Jan 13, 2023Runtime 1h 47mBudget $25M

In his latest sequel, 'Greenland 2: Migration', which is a follow up to 2020's 'Greenland', opens in theaters on January 9th.

In honor of the new remake, Moviefone has compiled a list of the 25 best Gerard Butler movies of all-time, including his latest.

Let's begin!

Related Article: Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. Talk 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'


25. 'Gamer' (2009)

Gerard Butler in 'Gamer'. Photo: Lionsgate.
Gerard Butler in 'Gamer'. Photo: Lionsgate.

Mind-control technology has taken society by a storm, a multiplayer on-line game called "Slayers" allows players to control human prisoners in mass-scale. Simon (Logan Lerman) controls Kable (Butler), the online champion of the game. Kable's ultimate challenge becomes regaining his identity and independence by defeating the game's mastermind (Michael C. Hall).

Gamer
Gamer
"In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live."
57
Audience
Release Sep 4, 2009Runtime 1h 35mBudget $50M

24. 'Hunter Killer' (2018)

Captain Glass (Butler) of the USS Arkansas discovers that a coup d'état is taking place in Russia, so he and his crew join an elite group working on the ground to prevent a war.

Hunter Killer
Hunter Killer
"Courage runs deep."
69
Audience
Release Oct 26, 2018Runtime 2h 1mBudget $40M

23. 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life' (2003)

Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) ventures to an underwater temple in search of the mythological Pandora's Box but, after securing it, it is promptly stolen by the villainous leader of a Chinese crime syndicate. Lara must recover the box before the syndicate's evil mastermind (Ciarán Hinds) uses it to construct a weapon of catastrophic capabilities.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
"The lady returns."
58
Audience
Release Jul 21, 2003Runtime 1h 57mBudget $95M

22. 'Reign of Fire' (2002)

In post-apocalyptic England, an American volunteer (Matthew McConaughey) and a British survivor (Christian Bale) team up to fight off a brood of fire-breathing dragons seeking to return to global dominance after centuries of rest underground. The Brit -- leading a clan of survivors to hunt down the King of the Dragons -- has much at stake: His mother was killed by a dragon, but his love (Izabella Scorupco) is still alive.

Reign of Fire
Reign of Fire
"They're extremely intelligent. Highly evolved. And they don't like sharing the planet."
62
Audience
Release Jul 12, 2002Runtime 1h 41mBudget $60M

21. 'Timeline' (2003)

A group of archaeological students (Butler, Paul Walker, and Frances O'Connor) become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor (Billy Connolly). The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.

Timeline
Timeline
"They had to travel into the past to save the future"
57
Audience
Release Nov 26, 2003Runtime 1h 55mBudget $80M

20. 'Greenland 2: Migration' (2026)

(L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
(L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

Having found the safety of the Greenland bunker after the comet Clarke decimated the Earth, the Garrity family ( Butler, Morena Baccarin and Roman Griffin Davis) must now risk everything to embark on a perilous journey across the wasteland of Europe to find a new home.

Greenland 2: Migration
Greenland 2: Migration
"Hope is uncharted territory."
64
Audience
77
Review
Release Jan 9, 2026Runtime 1h 38mBudget $90M

19. 'The Bounty Hunter' (2010)

A revered bounty hunter's (Butler) latest gig is rather satisfying, as his bail-skipper is his ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston), who has no intention of getting nabbed without a fight.

The Bounty Hunter
The Bounty Hunter
"It's a Job. It Isn't Personal. Well, Maybe a Little..."
59
Audience
Release Mar 19, 2010Runtime 1h 50mBudget $40M

18. 'The Phantom of the Opera' (2004)

Deformed since birth, a bitter man known only as the Phantom (Butler) lives in the sewers underneath the Paris Opera House. He falls in love with the obscure chorus singer Christine (Emmy Rossum), and privately tutors her while terrorizing the rest of the opera house and demanding Christine be given lead roles. Things get worse when Christine meets back up with her childhood acquaintance Raoul (Patrick Wilson) and the two fall in love.

The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
"Let the fantasy begin."
73
Audience
Release Dec 22, 2004Runtime 2h 21mBudget $70M

17. 'Greenland' (2020)

John Garrity (Butler), his estranged wife (Morena Baccarin) and their young son embark on a perilous journey to find sanctuary as a planet-killing comet hurtles toward Earth. Amid terrifying accounts of cities getting leveled, the Garritys experience the best and worst in humanity. As the countdown to the global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.

Greenland
Greenland
"It's the end of the world as we know it."
71
Audience
Release Dec 18, 2020Runtime 2hBudget $34M

16. 'Angel Has Fallen' (2019)

After a treacherous attack, Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler) is charged with attempting to assassinate President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman). Chased by his own colleagues and the FBI (Jada Pinkett Smith), Banning begins a race against the clock to clear his name.

Angel Has Fallen
Angel Has Fallen
"Loyalty is under fire."
66
Audience
Release Aug 23, 2019Runtime 2h 2mBudget $40M

15. 'Machine Gun Preacher' (2011)

Gerard Butler in 'Machine Gun Preacher'. Photo: Relativity Media.
Gerard Butler in 'Machine Gun Preacher'. Photo: Relativity Media.

The true story of Sam Childers (Butler), a former drug-dealing biker who finds God and became a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who've been kidnapped and pressed into duty as soldiers.

Machine Gun Preacher
Machine Gun Preacher
"Hope is the greatest weapon of all"
67
Audience
Release Sep 23, 2011Runtime 2h 9mBudget $30M

14. 'Copshop' (2021)

On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist (Frank Grillo) devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station. However, when the hit man (Butler) turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop (Alexis Louder) finds herself caught in the crosshairs.

Copshop
Copshop
"Someone's gotta take the hit."
63
Audience
Release Sep 17, 2021Runtime 1h 48mBudget $43.5M

13. 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' (2014)

Five years have passed since Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless (Randy Thom) united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons -- and a mysterious dragon rider who turns out to be Hiccup's mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett). Hiccup and Toothless then find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago (Djimon Hounsou).

How to Train Your Dragon 2
How to Train Your Dragon 2
"Training is over. The adventure begins."
77
Audience
Release Jun 13, 2014Runtime 1h 42mBudget $145M

12. 'Coriolanus' (2012)

Caius Martius, aka Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), is an arrogant and fearsome general who has built a career on protecting Rome from its enemies. Pushed by his ambitious mother (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the position of consul, Coriolanus is at odds with the masses and unpopular with certain colleagues. When a riot results in his expulsion from Rome, Coriolanus seeks out his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Butler). Together, the pair vow to destroy the great city.

Coriolanus
Coriolanus
"Nature teaches beasts to know their friends."
58
Audience
Release Jan 19, 2012Runtime 2h 3mBudget $7.7M

11. 'Chasing Mavericks' (2012)

Surfer Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.

Chasing Mavericks
Chasing Mavericks
"Legends start somewhere."
70
Audience
Release Oct 26, 2012Runtime 1h 56m

10. 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2025)

Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon', written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon', written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames) stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon
"The legend is real."
79
Audience
75
Review
Release Jun 13, 2025Runtime 2h 5mBudget $150M

9. 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' (2025)

Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (O'Shea Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
"The score isn't settled."
66
Audience
70
Review
Release Jan 10, 2025Runtime 2h 24mBudget $40M

8. 'London Has Fallen' (2016)

In London for the Prime Minister's funeral, Mike Banning (Butler) discovers a plot to assassinate all the attending world leaders.

London Has Fallen
London Has Fallen
"The world's leaders have assembled. So have their enemies."
62
Audience
Release Mar 4, 2016Runtime 1h 39mBudget $60M

7. 'RocknRolla' (2008)

When a Russian mobster (Karel Roden) sets up a real estate scam that generates millions of pounds, various members of London's criminal underworld pursue their share of the fortune. Various shady characters, including Mr One-Two (Butler), Stella the accountant (Thandiwe Newton), and Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), a druggie rock-star, try to claim their slice.

RocknRolla
RocknRolla
"A story of sex, thugs and rock 'n roll."
70
Audience
Release Oct 30, 2008Runtime 1h 54mBudget $18M

6. 'Plane' (2023)

After a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, a fearless pilot (Butler) finds himself between the agendas of multiple militias planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.

Plane
Plane
"Survive together or die alone."
69
Audience
75
Review
Release Jan 13, 2023Runtime 1h 47mBudget $25M

5. '300' (2007)

Gerard Butler in '300'. Photo: Warner Bros.
Gerard Butler in '300'. Photo: Warner Bros.

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel and directed by Zack Snyder, '300' is very loosely based the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta (Butler) led his army against the advancing Persians; the battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians, and helped usher in the world's first democracy.

300
300
"Prepare for glory!"
72
Audience
Release Mar 9, 2007Runtime 1h 57mBudget $65M

4. 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Jay Baruchel) faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless (Randy Thom) – much to the chagrin of his warrior father (Butler).

How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon
"What started as fire and fury will become friendship."
79
Audience
Release Mar 26, 2010Runtime 1h 38mBudget $165M

3. 'Olympus Has Fallen' (2013)

When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.

Olympus Has Fallen
Olympus Has Fallen
"When our flag falls our nation will rise."
64
Audience
Release Mar 22, 2013Runtime 2hBudget $70M

2. 'Law Abiding Citizen' (2009)

A frustrated man (Butler) decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney (Jamie Foxx) and others involved in the deal.

Law Abiding Citizen
Law Abiding Citizen
"Justice at any cost."
74
Audience
Release Oct 15, 2009Runtime 1h 49mBudget $53M

1. 'Den of Thieves' (2018)

(L to R) Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler in 'Den of Thieves'. Photo: STXfilms.
(L to R) Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler in 'Den of Thieves'. Photo: STXfilms.

A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.

Den of Thieves
Den of Thieves
"Cops without limits. Thieves without fear."
69
Audience
Release Jan 19, 2018Runtime 2h 20mBudget $30M