Hayden Christensen is getting a lot of buzz since his reprisal of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader in the upcoming series, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka. Christensen’s role as Anakin Skywalker shot him to fame in the early ’00s, and since then, viewers weren’t sure if he would return for the role or not.
But Hayden Christensen has been in many great movies between and after the shooting of Star Wars. Here are some of his best non-Star Wars roles, according to film fans over on Ranker.
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New York, I Love You (2009)
New York, I Love You follows the journeys of several different characters as they navigate love and life in New York. Hayden Christensen teams up again with Rachel Bilson and plays Ben, a pickpocket who is instantly attracted to Bilson’s character Molly. Ben ends up in competition with Molly’s married lover for her affections.
Hayden plays the young, charming con man. He’s street smart and witty, and his character is able to elevate the confrontation between himself and Andy Garcia’s character in a remarkable way. Together, they play a slick game of who is the better con-man, making it an entertaining exchange to watch.
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Hayden Christensen plays Jake Hill Conley in The Virgin Suicides. He stars alongside Kirsten Dunst in one of her best movies as well as Josh Hartnett in this drama about a group of young boys who are interested in five sisters. The sisters live a sheltered life, under the strict rules of their parents, but some are more willing to break the rules than others.
Hayden plays a very small role in this drama. The movie’s main focus is on the Lisbon girls and very effectively captures teenage life in the 1970s. This is an intriguing film about the loss of innocence and a group of boys who get caught up in trying to get to know them.
Factory Girl (2006)
In Factory Girl, the main character is trying to make it big in New York. There she meets Andy Warhol, who promises to make her a star. She also meets Hayden Christensen’s character, a musician, also trying to navigate life in the big city and make a name for himself.
Hayden’s character is known only as the Musician, and he has a large role in the bio-drama. He plays the boyfriend of Edie Sedgwick, but through the makeup and costumes, viewers can clearly see he’s supposed to portray Bob Dylan. The film succeeds in capturing the uncertainty and downfall of Edie’s life, and Hayden does well in his role as the Musician.
Harrison Bergeron (1995)
In the Kurt Vonnegut short story adaptation, Hayden Christensen plays Eric. Alongside lead Sean Astin, this is a fairly small role in a movie about a man who is smarter than his peers and resists the effects of ‘handicapping’ to make every one of equal intelligence.
Hayden Christensen plays a small role in this sci-fi drama. He plays the younger brother of Harrison Bergeron before he rose to fame. This film stays true to the original short story while sticking with the base concept and delivering its own take.
Virgin Territory (2007)
Hayden Christensen plays Lorenzo in Virgin Territory, written and directed by David Leland. In 14th century Italy, where the Black Plague ravages the city, Lorenzo finds himself a refugee in the countryside. To pass the time, he and other refugees engage in adventure and lusty relationships.
As Lorenzo, Hayden has a larger role in this movie as the love interest of a noble girl. He plays side by side with Mischa Barton and portrays his part as a womanizer well. Though not one of the best period dramas of the 2000s, Virgin Territory is a good period piece with surprising cinematography and adequate acting.
Takers (2010)
In this star-studded film, Hayden Christensen plays A.J. who is a part of a bank-robbing team along with Idris Elba, T.I., Chris Brown, and Paul Walker. When T.I.’s character convinces them to rob an armored vehicle, the team gets closer and closer to apprehension by a determined detective.
Hayden Christensen plays the demolition expert of the group, who’s good at what he does and helpful in a fight. He has a relatively small role compared to the rest of the cast, but his few action scenes are some of the best highlights of the film.
Jumper (2008)
In Jumper, Hayden Christensen plays David Rice, the main protagonist, who can transport himself anywhere he wants in the blink of an eye. He ends up getting caught in a war between hunters and his own kind and is forced to run, with Samuel L. Jackson’s character chasing him.
Hayden Christensen plays the role of an effective and convincing hero, even if his character comes off as an aloof traveler. This is an impressive sci-fi movie with excellent special effects that can be attributed to director Doug Liman.
Awake (2007)
Hayden Christensen plays a young, wealthy man undergoing open-heart surgery. Trusting his best friend when he says he’ll do the surgery, Hayden’s character, Clay, agrees. Then, in the middle of his procedure, he wakes up from the anesthetic and discovers his surgeons are trying to kill him.
In this large role, Hayden Christensen plays the main protagonist. He handles the voice-over and psychic conversations well, where his character visualizes leaving his body. With plot twists and suspense, this movie gets the viewers involved and invested in the characters.
Shattered Glass (2003)
In this film, Hayden Christensen teams up with Rosario Dawson in the true story about Stephen Glass. He was a D.C. journalist and staff writer for The New Republic, who fabricated half of his published articles. He quickly gained traction, but his secret didn’t stay hidden forever, and his life and career comes crashing down around him.
Christensen plays Stephen Glass in a dramatic role about taking ambition too far. Hayden perfectly plays Glass’s faux insecurities against the editor-in-chief, played by Peter Sarsgaard. Shattered Glass is considered one of the best movies about the newspaper industry, and saw Christensen gain critical acclaim for his role.
Life As A House (2001)
Hayden Christensen plays Sam Monroe, the teenage son of George Monroe in this film about rebuilding relationships and a family home. When his father is diagnosed with cancer, Sam stays with him over the summer and helps him work on their house.
Hayden’s character brings excitement to the film as he navigates trying to rebuild a relationship with his dying father. Critics call it a star-making performance by Christensen, where he brings a young and confused teenager to life effortlessly.