Jeremy Renner may be known to fans as Hawkeye from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his acting power is not only limited to comic book movies but also across all genres. He has been in drama, action, fantasy, and even comedy.
Renner’s tragic accident early this year held him back from pursuing his passion projects, though the actor is slowly recovering, and his constant updates on his social media accounts have given fans hope that he will soon make more films. In the meantime, here is a list of Renner’s best works that aren’t related to Hawkeye:
5. The Hurt Locker
There is nothing like winning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and Jeremy Renner did that with The Hurt Locker. He portrayed Sergeant William James and fully embodied the character like he was born to play it. Renner’s acting performance here exudes in a way that is natural despite it being far different from his usual movie roles.
4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
The Hawkeye star joined forces with Tom Cruise in his long-enduring Mission: Impossible franchise and portrayed William Brandt, an IMF analyst who teams up with Ethan Hunt to save the world from a nuclear threat. He also reprised the role in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
3. Kill the Messenger
Jeremy Renner proved in this film that he deserves to be the central figure, too. Most fans see him portray characters on the sidelines, but not in this one. He starred as Gary Webb, a real-life journalist who investigated and discovered the Central Intelligence Agency’s awareness of the smuggling business happening in the United States. His emotional range explicitly showed fans what paranoia and anxiety do to a person.
2. S.W.A.T.
Going back to the small roles, Renner did quite a fantastic job in S.W.A.T. despite his small exposure. He stole the spotlight as Brian Gamble, an ex-S.W.A.T team member who was terminated because of an accident while doing his job. In the film, he is a ruthless police officer, who turns out to be the villain in the end. His presence in the movie was indeed unforgettable.
1. Wind River
Starring alongside Marvel co-star Elizabeth Olsen, Renner plays a wildlife service agent who discovers a dead body on a Native American Reservation in Wyoming. The neo-Western crime film helmed by Taylor Sheridan is brimming with emotions, mainly on grief. Of course, his chemistry with Olsen never fades, even when they are not playing Hawkeye and Wanda Maximoff from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
