Top 10 Best Mads Mikkelsen Movies and TV Shows

When Mads Mikkelsen was cast as Hannibal Lecter in the series Hannibal, many thought nobody could match Anthony Hopkins. But Mikkelsen gave the role his own refined, terrifyingly charismatic twist. His Lecter is frighteningly elegant, with a calm, almost hypnotic presence, and many fans consider him the ultimate version of the character.

In this phenomenal Danish film, Mikkelsen plays Martin, a burned-out teacher who starts an experiment with three friends: keeping a constant low level of alcohol in their blood. What begins as a playful adventure becomes a moving portrait of a midlife crisis. It won the Oscar for Best International Feature, and his drunken dance at the end is one of the finest film moments of recent years.

As Le Chiffre, banker to terrorist organizations in Casino Royale, Mikkelsen created one of the most memorable Bond villains ever. His calm, calculating manner and the now-legendary torture scene make him a perfect opponent for Daniel Craig's raw Bond.

In this mercilessly realistic Danish film, Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a kindergarten teacher wrongly accused of abuse. His small, restrained performance makes the role all the more powerful, and the scene in the supermarket where the whole community treats him as a monster is one of the most gripping moments in modern cinema.

This Danish revenge film with a dash of black humor stars Mikkelsen as Markus, a soldier who returns home after his wife dies in a train crash. When he learns it may not have been an accident, he sets out on a ruthless quest for revenge. An emotional and sometimes funny look at trauma, grief and chance.

In the MCU, Mikkelsen played Kaecilius, a rogue sorcerer seeking immortality. A relatively simple villain, but Mikkelsen brings his usual elegance and menace, making him more memorable than many MCU villains.

In this brilliant historical film, Mikkelsen plays Johann Friedrich Struensee, the personal physician of the mentally ill Danish King Christian VII, who begins a secret affair with the queen and becomes one of the most powerful men in Denmark. Tragic, beautifully shot and intense.

In this stylized, hard-hitting action film, Mikkelsen plays Duncan Vizla, a hitman ready to retire but hunted by his former employer. Full of crazy action and brutal fights, proving he can be an ice-cold action hero without losing his charm.

In this hypnotic, minimalist Viking film by Nicolas Winding Refn, Mikkelsen plays One-Eye, a mute warrior with near-supernatural fighting skills. Brutal, slow and unlike most historical films, carried entirely by his body language.

After Johnny Depp's departure, Mikkelsen took over the role of Gellert Grindelwald, bringing his own subtle menace and charm. Many fans found him a worthy successor.