5 Michael Fassbender Movies Streaming on Netflix

Michael Fassbender is one of my faves. A real top-notch, really fantastic actor. He has that innate intensity — I mean, look at that smolder — and he deftly goes from dramas to comedies to period pieces. Also, I enjoy looking at him because he's got a pretty great face. He's utterly watchable, and he's one of those actors who you can rely on to give good performances. So what better way to celebrate his birthday this week than to watch one of his movies? Here's a round-up of his films on Netflix, from why-was-this-film-even-made (worst) to more-muttonchops-please (best)!

Centurion
Magnet Releasing

Centurion

This film is basically a really poor man’s 300, which, by the way, Michael Fassbender is also in. As much as I like to see everyone in Party City’s take on old timey Roman soldier uniforms, enough is enough: even Fassbender’s mad skills can’t turn this film around. Let’s never talk about this one again.

Watch it here.

Fish Tank
Criterion

Fish Tank

Michael Fassbender is a total babe/real creep in this movie, where he encourages his girlfriend’s daughter to pursue her passion in dance while also flirting with said teenager. The film itself is haunting, depressing, and so, so good — but again, he is a creepy dude macking on his girlfriend’s teenage daughter, so.

Watch it here.

Inglourious Basterds
The Weinstein Company

Inglourious Basterds

Listen, I’m all about Quentin Tarantino. I’m also all about Inglourious Basterds, which is absolutely a film that deserves to be called a delightful romp. But Michael Fassbender is cumulatively in approximately seven minutes of this film, and although those seven minutes are heaven for me, it is otherwise a great waste of that face and his skills. A real travesty.

Watch it here.

Frank
Magnolia Pictures

Frank

This one is in turns brilliant and dark. But here’s the thing: Fassbender plays an eccentric/loopy musician with talent to spare, and you can’t even see his face for the majority of the film. Instead you see a papier-mâché head bobbing around, and hear what sounds vaguely like his voice. To be fair, there’s a lot more of him present in this film than in Inglorious Bastards and the charm just rolls off him from underneath the mask: it’s an impressive show of charisma and fragility without the use of his face as an instrument. Also, his arms are nice and make a few appearances.

Watch it here.

Jane Eyre
Focus Features

Jane Eyre

Finally a starring role worth Fassy’s while! Nobody has ever made muttonchops look as sensual as Fassbender’s Rochester in Cary Fukunaga’s adaptation of Jane Eyre. I wasn’t a Charlotte Bronte fan before I saw this movie . . . and I admittedly still am not, but the passion, vigor, and general aloofness he brings to this role figuratively take my breath away. I’m actually convinced he goes blind at the end of the movie because his reflection is too much for him to bear.

Watch it here.