Perhaps the most iconic actor named Christian who rose to fame in the 1980s as a child actor before finding success in adult roles later would beChristian Bale, but the runner-up is surely the similarly greatChristian Slater. His filmography has been somewhat inconsistent, sure, but he has a unique charm and presence as an actor, and he’s been well-cast across a fairly wide assortment of genres over the decades.
The following focuses only on his film performances, soMr. Robotwill be missing here (but he’s great in that show, so consider it being mentioned here an honorable mention of sorts).These movies showcase Slater at his best, and are also well-made or, at the very least, interesting films. They’re ranked below, beginning with some more niche titles and ending with the stone-cold classics Slater’s been in.
10’The Legend of Billie Jean' (1985)
Director: Matthew Robbins
To start with something of acult movie (maybe a little B-grade, too),The Legend of Billie Jeanisn’t one of the most widely acclaimed Christian Slater movies, but it has its charms for something a little niche. It’s also worth mentioning because it was Slater’s feature film debut, and he plays the sibling ofHelen Slater’s character,but they’re not actually related in real life. Coincidences are fun.
The Legend of Billie Jeanalso has nothing to do with theMichael Jacksonsong of the same name, and is about a dispute between youngsters that spirals out of control, and sees the aforementioned pair of siblings clash with the law. It’s got the kind of energy and rebellious attitude you’d want out of a youth-focused film of this era, and it gets the job done as a down-and-dirty action/drama flick.
The Legend of Billie Jean
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9’The Contender' (2000)
Director: Rod Lurie
2024 is an election year in the U.S., and it’s unlikely to be a total coincidence thatfilms likeCivil WarandThe Apprenticeare coming out during such a year. Similarly,The Contendercame out in 2000, another election year, and had a plot that involved the president having to select another vice president after his passes away, with a senator named Laine Hanson finding her life dramatically impacted after she’s selected for the position.
It’s a film with an impressive cast, of which Christian Slater is ultimately a fairly small part, given the likes ofGary Oldman,Joan Allen, andJeff Bridgesare also inThe Contender(the latter two getting Oscar nominations). It’s a film distinctly of its time, and partly inspired by the infamous Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, butstill holds uppretty well as a political drama/thriller.
The Contender
8’The Wife' (2017)
Director: Björn Runge
WhileThe Wifemight not be the most riveting thing in the world, it doessatisfy quite well as a straightforward drama, and is ultimately a great showcase for the lead actors involved.Glenn Closeshines the brightest of the bunch, and gets the film’s best material to work with, but co-starsJonathan Pryceand Christian Slater are also more than solid.
The premise here involves the husband of a married couple traveling to Stockholm to accept a Nobel Prize for Literature, and various things that happen – or don’t happen – that lead to his wife having doubts about her continued support of him.It’s a subtle kind of movie, but the acting is all strong and there is a quietness to the drama that can be compelling, so long as you’re attentive and okay with a somewhat methodical pace.
7’Tucker: The Man and His Dream' (1988)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
ThoughFrancis Ford Coppolahas made some of themost iconic and acclaimed movies of all time, a good deal of his filmography remains unexplored by most. Digging beyondThe Godfather(s),Apocalypse Now, andThe Conversation, you do eventually get to lesser-known titles likeTucker: The Man and His Dream, withthis 1988 film being refreshingly straightforward and generally endearing.
The optimism of the title is reflected well by the central character,Preston Tucker, who has aspirations of designing what he feels is a perfect automobile, though his dream is made harder to achieve thanks to industry tycoons.Tucker: The Man and His Dreamworks as an underdog story, and it’s an ode to creativity and passion; something Coppola can likely relate to, as a filmmaker. And two cast members here were also inThe Contender, alongside Christian Slater: Jeff Bridges (who plays Tucker) and Joan Allen (who plays his wife, Vera).
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Tucker: The Man and His Dream: In post-war America, visionary engineer Preston Tucker attempts to revolutionize the automobile industry with a groundbreaking car design. Facing intense opposition from established automotive giants and grappling with his own ambitious vision, Tucker’s pursuit of innovation challenges the entrenched power structures of the time.
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6’Interview with the Vampire' (1994)
Director: Neil Jordan
A semi-classic gothic horror moviethat now might have been eclipsed by a TV show of the same name,Interview with the Vampirecould well be a contender for the best-cast movie of the 1990s. Slater’s here in a small role (playing the interviewer, effectively), and is joined by the likes ofTom Cruise,Brad Pitt,Antonio Banderas,Thandiwe Newton, andKirsten Dunst(the latter in one of her earliest roles).
Thanks to the framing device of that titular interview,Interview with the Vampireismostly made up of flashbacks that paint a portrait of a long, oftentimes difficult, and relatively gruesome life lived by a – you guessed it – vampire. It’s a little campy at times, but the theatricality generally works. It’s a heightened and bold film; not necessarily perfect, but it’s definitely entertaining and well-made.
Interview with the Vampire
5’Nymphomaniac' (2013)
Director: Lars von Trier
A brutal, downbeat, sexually explicit, and lengthy two-part film,Nymphomaniacis understandably a hard sell, and certainly not for everyone. It seesfilmmakerLars von Trierat his most provocative and close to his most nihilistic, with the two halves ofNymphomaniaccovering the dramatic – and ultimately tragic – life story of a woman named Joe, who’s addicted to sex.
Slater appears as Joe’s father (he’s not given any other name), and is slightly more of a presence inNymphomaniac Vol. 1, versusVol. 2. Vol. 1 is probably the stronger half overall, because the wayVol. 2eventually ends isstrange and unsatisfying, even by von Trier’s standards. Still, those who don’t mind arthouse films and don’t mind being confronted might come away impressed byNymphomaniac. There’s little else out there like it, that’s for sure.
Nymphomaniac Volume I
4’Pump Up the Volume' (1990)
Director: Allan Moyle
There’s a lot to be said aboutPump Up the Volumeregardingthe ways it was ahead of its time. It does revolve around radio, in the sense that Christian Slater plays a teenager who becomes a popular underground pirate DJ, but some of the darker themes it ends up touching on (and its exploration of loneliness and wanting to belong) make it remain relevant during the internet age.
That’s also to say thatPump Up the Volumehas built up more recognition as the years have gone along, and it’s revealed itself to be surprisingly forward-thinking. It alsocould well be the most underrated film Christian Slater’s ever played the lead role in, and can potentially be paired – in some ways – with another soon-to-be-mentioned film of his from 1989.
Pump Up the Volume
Mark Hunter, a lonely high school student, uses his shortwave radio to moonlight as the popular pirate DJ “Hard Harry.” When his show gets blamed for a teen committing suicide, the students clash with high school faculty and the authorities.
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3’The Name of the Rose' (1986)
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Though it was released a year afterThe Legend of Billie Jean,The Name of the Rosecould be seen as Christian Slater’s actual breakout role, because the consensus around this one’s a good deal more positive. It pairsSean Connerywith Slater, the former playing a Franciscan monk and the latter playing his novice, with both working together to uncover a conspiracy that might be behind the murder of several monks at a monastery.
It’s a murder-mystery movie, as a result, but it has an unexpected tone/feel to it, andthe unique setting for this genre (plus the fact it’s set during the 14th century) also helps.The Name of the Roseunfolds slowly but surely, and looks spectacular throughout,with the performances by Conneryand Slater also being up there with the very best that either’s ever given.
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2’True Romance' (1993)
Director: Tony Scott
True Romancehas adynamite script courtesy ofQuentin Tarantino, reliablybold direction fromTony Scott, and an incredible cast headed by Christian Slater andPatricia Arquette. The number of well-known supporting players here is truly staggering, givenTrue Romancealso featuresDennis Hopper,Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt,Christopher Walken,Samuel L. Jackson, andJames Gandolfini, among others.
The plot is simple but thoroughly engaging, being about two young lovers who go on the run after stealing cocaine from some very powerful (and subsequently not too happy) criminals.True Romancesuccessfullyblends romance (obviously), crime, action, and thriller genres, all while being very stylishand undoubtedly packed to the brim with memorable scenes and standout performances. Some of the big names in the cast are only on-screen for a limited time, but all manage to shine regardless.
True Romance
1’Heathers' (1989)
Director: Michael Lehmann
Perhaps one of thebest satirical dark comedies ever made,Heathershas lost none of its power to shock, unnerve, and entertain in the 30+ years since it first came out. Christian Slater had been in some well-regarded movies before this point, butHeathersstill felt like something of a breakout role for him (even more so thanThe Name of the Rose). The same goes forWinona Ryder;Heatherswasn’t her first big movie, but it was one of her first great ones.
Narratively,Heatherstakes high school drama and rivalries between teenage girls and pushes things to murderous extremes, with Slater’s character – the charismatic but disturbed J.D – being behind much of the escalation. It’s certainly not a nice movie, nor a particularly optimistic one, but it has a timeless sort of attitude and an easy-to-respect determination to push boundaries and mine humor from difficult subjects/ideas.
