Entertainment
10 Greatest Jacob Elordi Movie Roles
There he goes again! One of the most prominent actors in the industry, Jacob Elordi‘s fame has been rising to new heights (pun intended) after his groundbreaking performances in movies such as Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights this past few months. With his sublime acting skills, Elordi has proven time and again that, with the right amount of growth and hard work, the industry begins taking your work more seriously.
Furthermore, general audiences have also begun to take notice of Elordi’s grand versatility as an actor, more so than when he first soared to fame through his current role as bad boy Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria. He was even nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Frankenstein, but lost it to Sean Penn from One Battle To Another. Furthermore, Collider has analyzed his best roles in the films he has acted in, to share our thoughts on them with fans. Without further ado, from Kissing Booth to Wuthering Heights, let’s take a deep dive into Elordi’s greatest movies.
10
‘The Mortuary Collection’ (2019)
Elordi’s first approach to horror anthology films! The Mortuary Collection is a very underrated movie, but it easily stays ingrained in our minds. The FX effects, the aesthetic, and plot lines of each story told in the movie are well-done. For someone who can’t stand horror movies at all, this is between being too scary and very funny, so it’s a two-way street in my opinion. This movie reminded me a lot of films such as Monster House or Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark.
Elordi actually did quite an adequate job here, honestly. His role is Jake Matthews, a womanizer from the 1960s…basically a prick, if you look closely. By the end of his story, you’ll be glad he, erm, got the ending he did. However, Elordi nailed this role very well, and it showcases his potential as a young actor at the time, since he was around 20 to 21 years old when he filmed this movie.
9
‘The Kissing Booth’ (2018)
Ah, how everyone fell in love with Elordi in the first place (no, it wasn’t Euphoria). Before he became one of the most hated bad boys on TV in the HBO record-breaking series, Elordi broke out in the film industry with his acting in Netflix’s (negatively) famous romantic-comedy The Kissing Booth, based on the books written by Beth Reekles. Elordi has criticized this movie lots of times when asked by interviewers, and it always reminds me of when Robert Pattinson is asked what he thinks about Twilight. At the end of the day, this was a story written on Wattpad before being released as an actual book, so it’s not surprising that not lots of people like it.
Additionally, The Kissing Booth is something that fans still think of very comedically, because, yes, it’s the role that made everyone obsessed with him, but it does have some of the cringest lines ever heard on TV. Here, Elordi portrays bad boy jock, Noah Flynn, who is troubled yet very protective of the main female lead, Elle (Joey King), and brother of Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney). His performance here is somewhat acceptable. I was obsessed with it when it was released back in 2018, but as I grew up and rewatched it a couple more times, it’s understandable that Elordi was still considered just a pretty guy here till his groundbreaking role in Euphoria. But if you are into a bad storyline, cringe-Wattpad-like one-liners, and an insufferable female lead, then this movie is for you.
8
‘2 Hearts’ (2020)
One of Elordi’s cutest yet most emotional roles to date. 2 Hearts is a romance drama film that tugs at your heartstrings, yet makes you cry like there is no tomorrow. This movie is based on a real story about two tear-jerking love stories that happen between different generations, different timelines, yet they get intertwined at the same time. 2 Hearts is a film that makes you rethink life, and that you have to appreciate it more. That’s what it did to me, at least.
Elordi’s performance here was very competent, to say the truth, but emotional at the same time. He makes everyone swoon in his romantic scenes, as his beauty doesn’t go unnoticed. He portrays a 19-year-old student, Chris Gregory, who doesn’t get accepted to the college of his dreams, but his brother does. He is witty, fun, and manages to fall in love with his classmate, Sam (Tiera Skovbye), but suddenly has a brain aneurysm. Simply heartbreaking!
7
‘Deep Water’ (2022)
Elordi’s tentative approach to psychological thriller movies is such a bold move, but it doesn’t go unseen. Deep Water tells the story of a seemingly perfect couple, portrayed by Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, respectively. This movie’s effects and action scenes? Not too bad. However, as a lover of this genre, this movie didn’t give a Criminal Minds level of anxiety. So it was somewhat watchable.
Elordi’s performance is actually passable here. For his first time taking on a role like this, he ensures that his charm and charisma nail the point of what the script tells him to do. His character, Charlie De Lisle, is one of Melinda Van Allen’s (Armas) lovers, fueling the psychosexual rage of Affleck’s character. Don’t fret: Elordi’s screen time in the movie is short-lived but not without giving good results!
6
‘He Went That Way’ (2023)
A secondary approach to the thriller-crime genre for Elordi, He Went That Way is the film in which he is given one of the main lead roles this time. This movie is based on the true story from 1964 of a serial killer, Larry Lee Ranes, who needs a lift and encounters Dave Pitts, an animal trainer. He Went That Way nails the comedic bits that show how the two personalities of the main leads clash.
Elordi’s character is the serial killer, who has been fictionally named Bobby Falls. His micro-expressions and comedic delivery showcase the eccentric self of the killer and are very well done by him. However, this is not a role that is memorable enough in Elordi’s career. Give it a few years, and he could actually become a pioneer of this genre, as we saw a glimpse of that perfect amount of darkness in his role of Nate Jacobs in Euphoria.
5
‘On Swift Horses’ (2025)
Now, onto On Swift Horses. This movie is a wild one, as it gives the audience wonderful clothing and scenarios, leaning perfectly into the aesthetic of living in the chaotic gambling life. Additionally, the emotional and erotic focus in this movie is what makes it a ride that you will get lost in. The whirlwind of secrets and the forbidden love between the secondary male lead and the main female lead is enthralling and quite well-written.
So, let’s focus on the plot of the movie itself. On Swift Horses follows the story of two newlyweds, Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Lee (Will Poulter), as their lives dramatically change with the arrival of Lee’s brother, the charismatic and troublemaker Julius (Jacob Elordi). This causes Muriel to begin gambling on race horse races and begin a spur-of-the-moment romance with Julius, consequently cheating on her husband at the same time. Elordi’s performance was simply breathtaking here; it kept me on my toes. Those eyes…and tempting micro-expressions of his would just keep you enthralled by every project he stars in. And this one is no exception.
4
‘Priscilla’ (2023)
The same thing mentioned in the previous entry goes for Elordi’s performance in this movie. The talent of Elordi in Priscilla is truly unmatched. It’s a rawer, psychologically challenging version of the famous singer Elvis Presley. It’s better than whatever Austin Butler was trying to portray in the other biopic he starred in. Here, things are seen more from the point of view of Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny), Presley’s wife, so we can see the darker side of things in their relationship. And Elordi showcases that excellently!
In this movie, the story follows what we all know about the relationship between Presley and Priscilla, but from a woman’s perspective. Sofia Coppola focuses on how Priscilla felt boxed in a cage after her marriage to Elvis, and it shows how slowly Presley becomes more controlling and dominating, in which Elordi shines spectacularly well (gives Euphoria vibes), especially because of Priscilla’s young age. Elordi creates a spine-chilling side of Presley that makes the audience wonder why he became so big and well-known in the world of music in the first place.
3
‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)
Elordi’s first-ever period-like drama…truly memorable. One of the most controversial movies of 2026, Wuthering Heights is an adaptation of the famous Emily Brontë book, directed by Emerald Fennell. This was the second project on which Fennell and Elordi worked together, and the messiest one, surely. Not because of the different casting per se, but, according to fans of the original material, because of the too-much erotic portrayal and grand lack of depth to the book’s story.
Now, I believe that Elordi and Margot Robbie did an outstanding job in this movie. Despite what critics and the general audience think, Elordi, thanks to his performance in Wuthering Heights, has the potential to be cast as a future Mr. Darcy, if the industry ever considers doing another version of the movie (without counting the Netflix series releasing this fall). Add the romantic value and depth of Elordi’s acting…and you’ve got a great chance of winning an Oscar, just saying! This movie’s aesthetic, scenery, and clothing were phenomenal, which added to the beauty of Elordi and Robbie’s portrayal. An unforgettable film indeed.
2
‘Saltburn’ (2023)
Another wonderful performance of Elordi is Saltburn, directed by Fennell, which marks the first time that she and Elordi have worked together, creating a dark and twisted thriller that is somewhat disturbing yet so varied, taking you on one hell of a ride. The main lead, Barry Keoghan, genuinely gives the creeps with his outstanding performance here, simply terrifying. This movie tells the story of Oliver Quick (Keoghan), a student who won a scholarship to Oxford University, and (intentionally) meets Felix Catton (Elordi). There, Oliver becomes utterly obsessed with Felix, especially his wealth, to the point of insanity.
Additionally, Elordi’s portrayal in Saltburn is completely charming yet deeply emotional. Here, Elordi is a carefree, rich, spoiled young man who goes to stay for the summer at his Saltburn mansion just to have a great time. Elordi’s playful side shines in this role, making it so endearing yet fascinating, even in the most shocking parts, to the point that you will be sad about his tragic ending.
1
‘Frankenstein’ (2025)
And finally…to Elordi’s greatest performance (movie-wise), none other than Netflix’s ground-breaking film Frankenstein, which gave him his first-ever Oscar nomination. Frankenstein is based on the renowned novel written by Mary Shelley, which tells the story of a monstrous creature created by an egotistical yet very brilliant scientist.
Additionally, all the cast does a very great job at portraying their roles in this movie. But let’s be truthful here: Elordi proves here that his acting range has now fully reached its top potential, as his portrayal is exceptional and simply riveting. Elordi masterfully showcases the vulnerability of The Creature, as it feels like you are reading the story all over again. Very popular opinion, but he should have won that Oscar.
- Release Date
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October 17, 2025
- Runtime
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149 Minutes
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