The 10 Most Underrated Antonio Banderas Movies, Ranked (from Least to Most Underrated)

Antonio Banderas has excelled in many different roles, from complex characters in Spanish films by director Pedro Almodóvar to leading roles in big-budget Hollywood action movies. He moves easily between these types of projects. While he’s known for his blockbuster films, many of his other strong performances in lesser-known films – often directed by unique filmmakers or featuring interesting stories – deserve more attention.

I’m excited to share ten standout projects, and I’ve tried to make it easy to figure out what to watch. For each film, I’ve included details like who directed it, what the movie is about, where it falls in Antonio Banderas’ career, and any interesting facts about how it was made or awards it received. Hopefully, this helps you pick your next movie night choice!

‘Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever’ (2002)

This fast-paced thriller stars Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu as a retired FBI agent pulled back into a secret conflict. He gets caught up in a battle over a stolen piece of technology and a dangerous enemy agent. Filmed in Canada, the movie features realistic explosions and stunts, with action sequences inspired by classic ‘gun-fu’ films and impressive large-scale destruction.

The film, directed by Wych Kaosayananda (known as Kaos), began with a unique story and later led to the creation of several video games featuring the same characters and general storyline. Antonio Banderas plays a detective haunted by his past, which fuels his relentless pursuit of the target, and the story unfolds through a mix of surveillance, betrayals, and intense city gunfights.

‘Automata’ (2014)

This sci-fi drama takes place in the near future, after solar storms have harmed the Earth. It follows a robotics insurance investigator who looks into cases where androids seem to be changing themselves in ways they weren’t originally programmed to do. The story explores familiar questions about robots – like what rules they should follow, how they can unexpectedly evolve, and who is responsible when things go wrong – all while unraveling a central mystery.

Filmed primarily in Bulgaria and Spain, the movie features realistic robot designs and gritty, authentic industrial settings to make its futuristic ideas feel believable. Antonio Banderas was also a producer, helping to shape the film as a thought-provoking science fiction story that focuses on detective work, how companies are run, and the impact of robots on jobs.

‘Assassins’ (1995)

This suspenseful thriller centers on an experienced hitman who finds himself hunted by a rising, eager assassin. The story unfolds through constant surveillance, jumping between temporary hideouts, transportation centers, and secret communications. The filmmakers refined the script extensively, focusing on the intricate skills of the trade – like using secret drop-off points, disposable phones, and techniques to evade being followed.

Richard Donner directed this film, which stars Antonio Banderas alongside Sylvester Stallone. A key part of the story is a heist centered around valuable financial information. While some digital effects were used, the filmmakers mostly relied on real-life stunts, practical effects like wires, and building tension through the action and setting – often inside tight spaces and on wet, rainy streets.

‘The 13th Warrior’ (1999)

This action-packed historical adventure, inspired by Michael Crichton’s novel, centers on an exiled diplomat who joins a group of Norse warriors. He becomes their interpreter and helps them strategize against a strange enemy. The story highlights how language and understanding different cultures are key to survival and working together, as the main character quickly learns to communicate and fit in with his new companions.

The movie was filmed on location in British Columbia and featured incredibly detailed costumes – everything from chainmail and furs to props made by hand. Filming often took place at night and involved creating foggy, realistic battle scenes. The music and overall visual style combined influences from both the Middle East and Scandinavia, mirroring the main character’s changing place within the story.

‘Four Rooms’ (1995)

This movie is an anthology-a collection of short films-all taking place in one hotel on New Year’s Eve. Four different directors each created a segment, and Antonio Banderas stars in one as a well-dressed guest whose hotel room quickly descends into mayhem. The story is connected by a bellhop who deals with increasingly urgent problems on each floor, with some recurring items and visual jokes tying everything together.

The filming was carefully planned to flow seamlessly through the hotel’s different areas-lobbies, elevators, and penthouse-while allowing each director to create their own unique visual style. Antonio Banderas’s section uses balanced imagery, quick camera movements, and precise dialogue delivery, cleverly utilizing the suite’s design to create dramatic entrances, exits, and reveal characters from specific viewpoints.

‘Evita’ (1996)

This musical tells the story of Eva Perón’s rise to power through songs and performances. Antonio Banderas plays Che, a character who acts as both a storyteller and observer, leading the audience through key moments in her life and career. He uses repeating musical themes and contrasting melodies, and often directly addresses the audience to set the scene.

Alan Parker’s film was shot in Argentina, the UK, and Hungary, using large crowds, detailed costumes, and stand-in locations for famous buildings. The filmmakers carefully synced the camera work with the singing and music, and included historical footage to provide context for the story.

‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ (1990)

This darkly funny and romantic crime story centers on a man recently released from a psychiatric facility who kidnaps an actor hoping to make him fall in love. The film blends the tense situation of the kidnapping with a witty look at the world of low-budget filmmaking. By moving between film sets, apartments, and hospital rooms, the story explores how power shifts between the kidnapper and his captive.

Pedro Almodóvar’s film is visually striking, using vibrant colors, meaningful objects, and familiar music to reveal what characters are thinking and feeling. Javier Banderas’s performance relies on subtle habits, sudden shifts in how he speaks, and deliberate movements that connect with the details of the sets-like bathroom items, makeup, and studio equipment-resulting in a carefully planned and visually engaging experience, especially within the film’s indoor spaces.

‘Law of Desire’ (1987)

This dramatic story follows a film director caught in a complicated love triangle, leading to jealousy, deception through forged letters, and ultimately, legal trouble. The film cleverly mixes scenes from movie rehearsals, stage productions, and the director’s home life to explore themes of who owns a story, personal identity, and the impact of our choices when work and personal life become intertwined.

This film, another collaboration with director Pedro Almodóvar, continues to explore themes the director is known for: the creative process itself driving the story, close relationships between siblings, and the use of Catholic imagery in a modern context. Javier Banderas’s character is involved in a police investigation with lots of travel and secret meetings. The story unfolds through details like typed pages, phone calls, and old recordings, which reveal what motivates him.

‘Pain and Glory’ (2019)

As a film buff, I’d describe this movie as a really personal look into the life of an older director who’s hit a wall with his work. It’s about him trying to get his creative spark back by looking back at his past – old friends, the things that first inspired him, and projects he never quite finished. The film cleverly weaves together scenes of his everyday life – doctor’s visits, work on his house – with flashbacks and the process of him creating something new. It’s a beautiful way to show how memories can unlock creativity.

The film uses costumes, set design, and music to reflect the character’s emotional and physical state. Details like fabrics, artwork, and even the arrangement of books subtly show his well-being. Antonio Banderas’s performance complements the film’s self-aware style, which features scenes of readings, rehearsals, and screenings, highlighting how the creative process and physical challenges connect with the art of filmmaking.

‘The Skin I Live In’ (2011)

This suspenseful thriller follows a talented surgeon who’s secretly experimenting with artificial skin, using a single person as his test subject. The story is revealed through flashbacks and shifting identities, gradually connecting events that take place in a hidden lab, a remote mansion, and various other locations into a cohesive timeline.

Pedro Almodóvar’s film uses a very precise visual style – clean, reflective sets and close-up shots – to create a sense of control and hidden truths. The costumes, artwork, and repeating images of keys, masks, and stitching hint at changes in power and what characters know. The way the film is edited deliberately reveals information slowly, making you see earlier scenes in a new light.

Let us know in the comments which Antonio Banderas performances you think deserve more attention, and suggest any other movies we should consider!

2025-09-26 05:46