Mythology offers some of the most enduring and rich stories when it comes to epic storytelling. And at the top of the pantheon of mythical figures sits Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology. Throughout Hollywood history, many stars have tried their hands at playing this powerful deity, with varying degrees of success.
Having said that, it makes sense that we should honor the actors who gorgeously portrayed Zeus on screen. Since he is the undisputed leader of Mount Olympus, it is about time he had his own list. Those who have portrayed Zeus on screen have done so with a certain stoicism that is more in line with ancient Greek depictions.
Here are six actors who have truly nailed it as Zeus on the big screen.
1. Luke Evans in Immortals (2011)
Greek mythology is adapted in a very elegant way in Immortals, where Theseus (Henry Cavill) serves as the main character. In contrast to other mythology movies, this one is largely unfocused because it draws inspiration from a wide variety of mythological tales. Though the story does not support it, there are many excellent visual depictions of the gods.
Luke Evans portrays Zeus in Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s 2011 fantasy action film. He gives the gods instructions not to get involved in mortal matters unless the Titans are at stake. The actor may have been too young for the role at the time, despite the fact that the film does a very amazing job of visually portraying Zeus.
2. Laurence Olivier in Clash of the Titans (1981)
Clash of the Titans, another classic Ray Harryhausen film, is regarded as one of the best Greek mythology adaptations. The narrative centers on Perseus’ mission to rescue Andromeda, the princess. As a young child, Perseus—the bastard son of Zeus—was banished from his family. However, in order to finish his quest now that he is back, he must fight Medusa and the Kraken.
Ray Harryhausen’s film featured the well-known English thespian as Zeus, long before Disney and Liam Neeson made the role famous. Laurence Olivier, who played Zeus in the first Clash of the Titans, left audiences with a remarkable portrayal that gave the character a sense of strength and knowledge.
The way that Olivier portrayed Zeus as a strict but loving father figure gave the character more nuance and served to ground the mythical realm of Greek mythology.
3. Liam Neeson in Clash of the Titans (2010)
You know it is serious business when Liam Neeson commands the release of a massive amphibian monstrosity like in the Clash of the Titans remake—not just because of his enormous beard, either.
Although Neeson’s portrayal of Zeus in the Clash of the Titans remake is not as beloved as the original, he still has a great performance. The plot of Louis Leterrier’s 2010 flick, the sequel, deviates from the Perseus story to describe the demise of the gods following the release of the Titan Cronos.
In the first flick, Neeson delivers the famous line “release the Kraken”, and in the second movie (Wrath of the Titans), he gets to play an exciting action scene. Even in the second movie, when he is shackled in Tartarus, his presence is felt for the duration of both movies. Zeus plays a crucial part in both movies, and it is difficult to see someone else in the role.
4. Sergi Constance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
The shared DC universe that director Zack Snyder envisioned was greatly expanded upon in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Compared to the 2017 theatrical version, his film went into greater detail, most notably by showing an old battle against Darkseid (Ray Porter). Zeus, the most powerful Greek god, is among the many gods that appear in the epic flashback sequence of the movie, along with more action involving the Amazonians and Atlanteans.
Even though the God of Thunder plays a supporting role in the story, he nonetheless establishes his eternal presence alongside his offspring, Artemis (Aurore Lauzeral) and Ares (David Thewliss). Zeus unleashes a devastating lightning bolt during the celestial battle, and the other old gods deal heavy damage to Darkseid. The King of Mount Olympus, played by bodybuilder Sergi Constance, was undoubtedly a major factor in the victory over the formidable DC villain.
5. Russell Crowe in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Even though the MCU has blended gods, aliens, superheroes, and common people in a hazy, at best, way, the franchise has never really focused on heavenly characters.
Still, Marvel provides us with a Greek god to go along with the Norse and Egyptian ones in their tradition of playful irreverence. Zeus has a well-groomed beard, and you could easily overlook it because of Russell Crowe’s other unusually bizarre accent. The finest curls forming around his chin are the most appealing features. Given how messy his hair was, you can only imagine the number of hours Crowe’s assistants spent styling his hair.
Crowe made his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder. From the brief trailer to the film’s footage, it appears that he is basking in Mount Olympus’ praise.
6. Niall MacGinnis in Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Finally, let us just say that having a great beard is not just for the well-groomed—we are now moving on to the larger ones. Around twenty years before Laurence Olivier, Niall MacGinnis gave us gorgeous hair and a beard in the role of Zeus that is just shaggy enough without being overly unkempt. Despite its initial disappointment at the box office, the film was praised highly by critics and went on to become a cult classic.
Zeus, depicted in this movie as having a beleaguered disinterest in any mortal toils, is not interested in painstakingly sculpting his appearance. It covers his cheeks and neck before falling in a long tuft from his chin. Not exactly styled, but does it really matter? MacGinnis is the legitimate owner of this incredible mess…
