Stephen Lang was one of those actors you instantly recognized, but couldn’t quite place the name. That all changed with the 2009 film Avatar, which significantly boosted his career. His character, Col. Miles Quaritch, has continued to appear in the Avatar franchise, and this ongoing success has been a huge benefit to his work. But was his best work done after Avatar, or were there great roles earlier in his career? The answer is both – he had strong performances both before and after the film.
This list showcases the best and most notable films from Stephen Lang’s career, ranging from Westerns to gripping gangster movies. While you can expect to see Avatar included, it isn’t necessarily his best work.
7) Gettysburg
Think Avatar: Fire and Ash is a lengthy movie? Well, the film Gettysburg actually held the record for the longest theatrical release – it ran for a full 254 minutes! That’s even longer than the classic Gone with the Wind, which is about 15 minutes shorter.
Lang portrays Major General George Pickett, a key commander under Robert E. Lee (played by Martin Sheen). Pickett’s division drives the central conflict in the film’s final act. While the movie sometimes feels overdone, it’s considerably better than the later prequel, Gods and Generals, which also featured Lang but lacked the same strong narrative structure.
6) Public Enemies
Although Johnny Depp faced career challenges recently, 2009 was a particularly successful year for him. Like his previous work in films such as Donnie Brasco and Black Mass, he truly excelled in gangster roles.
In the John Dillinger movie, Lang plays Charles Winstead, the FBI agent second-in-command to Melvin Purvis. While it’s not a huge role, Lang effectively conveys his character’s strong belief that the notorious Dillinger needs to be stopped.
Stream Public Enemies on Starz.
5) Sisu: Road to Revenge
The movie Avatar really boosted Lang’s career, establishing him as a highly requested actor for villainous roles, and he’s remained popular for those types of parts ever since.
Take, for example, Lang’s performance as Yeagor Draganov in Sisu: Road to Revenge, a fantastic follow-up to a truly compelling revenge story. While Jorma Tommila still leads the film, Lang delivers a strong performance as the villain.
4) The Avatar Franchise
While Avatar might not be as strong in terms of storytelling and filmmaking quality when compared to films like Sisu and Public Enemies, its impact on the film industry was huge. It significantly pushed the boundaries of special effects, and it brought Sam Lang far more attention than any of his earlier work.
Stephen Lang rightfully earned praise for playing Col. Miles Quaritch. While the first film didn’t give him much opportunity to showcase his skills, his later scenes with Spider clearly demonstrate his impressive range as an actor. He excels at playing villains, but he’s equally capable of portraying vulnerability and warmth alongside his intimidating presence.
Stream Avatar on Disney+.
3) Don’t Breathe
Don’t Breathe feels similar to The People Under the Stairs, but stripped down to its core intensity and without the over-the-top elements or social commentary. It’s easily the strongest film yet from director Fede Álvarez, who’s been gaining recognition since his work on Avatar.
Some argue this is the actor’s best performance yet. He portrays a deeply unlikeable character, but for most of the film, he presents someone who is simply blind and defending his home from intruders. We sympathize with him at first, but that feeling gradually fades.
Stream Don’t Breathe on Hulu.
2) Manhunter
Although Lang doesn’t appear much in Manhunter, he delivers what is widely considered the most powerful performance of his career in the short time he’s on screen.
Lang takes on the role originally played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Red Dragon, portraying the conceited tabloid reporter, Feddy Lounds. Lounds’s relentless pursuit of a story ultimately leads to his death when he’s abducted by the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, who taunts him with the question, “Do you see?” while revealing the gruesome details of his crimes.
Stream Manhunter for free on Kanopy.
1) Tombstone
In Tombstone, Lang, even with a smaller part, manages to make a big impact in every scene he’s in. Similar to his work in Manhunter, his character is essential to how the story unfolds.
Ike Clanton, played by Lang, is constantly causing trouble for Wyatt Earp and his friends, making threats he never acts on. He’s the one Earp warns to tell the cowboy gang leader, Curly Bill Brocius, that their days are numbered. Tombstone is a truly classic film and widely considered Lang’s best performance – it’s the ultimate Western you can watch again and again.
Stream Tombstone on fuboTV.
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2026-01-17 03:14