9 John Lithgow movies you must watch as the actor is set to play Dumbledore

John Lithgow is an American actor known for his immense range and acting talent. He has appeared in several movies, on stage, and the small screen. The revered actor has won numerous Emmys, Golden Globes, Tony’s, and nominations at the Oscars.

From starring in Dexter and The Crown on TV to playing a transgender ex-football player in The World According to Garp and delivering powerful performances in Footloose, Love is Strange, and more, Lithgow is among the most diverse actors. The actor will now play the role of the popular character Dumbledore in a Harry Potter series adaptation. Therefore, now is the perfect time to look back and watch nine of the most versatile movies of Lithgow.

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Love is Strange, Kinsey, and other movies of John Lithgow

1. A Civil Action

Directed by Steve Zaillian and starring John Lithgow, John Travolta, and others, this legal drama is based on the book by Jonathan Harr. The movie is about the real-life case of environmental pollution in Woburn, Massachusetts, in the 1980s, that resulted in a high-profile court case.

The movie and the case revolved around a lawsuit that was filed by Anne Anderson in real life after a number of industries began using trichloroethylene, which resulted in a growing number of leukemia and cancer cases amongst the residents of the city.

The movie is a gritty and pulse-pounding courtroom drama, and Travolta plays the role of Jan Schlichtmann, who is a high-profile lawyer and decides to sue the chemical industry after many children in the area die because the environment is polluted by the dangerous substance.

John Lithgow plays the role of Judge Walter J Skinner, who is so focused on maintaining the law that he does not have empathy for the children and the residents who are dying. Lithgow, therefore, delivers a scene-stealing, ruthless performance in the movie. Coupled with director Steven’s piercing direction, the movie is a must-watch.

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2. Kinsey

Starring John Lithgow, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, and others, this biographical drama movie is directed by Bill Condon, who also wrote it. The film is based on the life of Alfred Charles Kinsey, played by Liam Neeson, who revolutionized the taboo industry of sexology. The movie revolves around an interview that Professor Alfred Kinsey delivers, while also being interspersed with flashbacks of his childhood and adulthood.

The real-life person is best known for his work, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, which became one of the most important reports about sexual behavior in humans. The movie also has flashbacks of Kinsey’s family and his colleagues, who were uncomfortable with the nature of his work.

John Lithgow plays the role of Kinsey’s strict father, who does not deem his son’s research as real science. The actor delivers phenomenally as a strict patriarch who has outdated ideas about science. The underrated adult drama poses the questions of modernity versus tradition, and Lithgow captures the arrogance of an older generation, who do not like change.

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3. Love is Strange

Directed by Ira Sachs and starring Alfred Molina, John Lithgow, and others, this romantic drama movie revolves around the life of a gay couple from Manhattan, who get married after 39 years. Alfred Molina plays the role of George, and John Lithgow plays the role of Ben. The movie is a poignant reflection upon how society treats those at the margins.

The movie focuses on the various struggles that the pair have to go through to dream of a life together and get their love accepted. The story is a delicate and heartbreaking portrayal of the separation that George and Ben have to face after George’s homosexuality is revealed and he is fired from his job. Both Lithgow and Molina deliver a searing performance, and their chemistry is natural.

The movie is unique as it is an LGBTQ+ drama about aging people. Lithgow delivers a powerful performance and reveals his incredible acting range.

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4. Interstellar

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and others, this sci-fi epic drama is directed by Christopher Nolan and also features John Lithgow. The movie is a modern classic and was a smash hit upon release. Praised for its direction, performances, plot, and visuals, the film is set in a future where Earth is suffering from blight, and a group of astronauts must travel across intergalactic dimensions in space to search for a new planet and a new home for humans.

While Matthew plays the role of the lead astronaut, Joseph Cooper, John Lithgow plays the role of Donald, who is his father-in-law. Lithgow delivers a sensitive and emotional performance as he tries to keep Joseph’s children together and is the lynchpin to Joseph’s family and his kids. The actor’s sweet and sincere performance once again speaks of his acting range.

The movie is a must-watch as it is set on a vast and epic scale, and has the perfect balance of sci-fi and emotions. The scenes between Joseph and Donald add depth to the movie and present an emotional core.

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5. Terms of Endearment

Directed by James L Brooks and based on the novel by Larry McMurtry, this family tragicomedy movie stars Debra Winger, John Lithgow, Jack Nicholson, and others. The movie is about the relationship between Aurora Greenway, played by Shirley MacLaine, and her daughter, Emma Greenway-Horton, played by Winger.

The movie chronicles the ups and downs of the mother and daughter relationship over a course of 30 years and was a critical and commercial hit. The film received several nominations at the Oscars that year and won in the Best Picture category. The movie is solemn, powerful, full of tearjerking moments, and a must-watch emotional drama.

John Lithgow plays the role of a banker, Sam Burns, who has an affair with Emma. The actor once again proves that even in an ensemble cast, he can steal the scene and prove his acting prowess. Lithgow also received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his understated yet powerful role.

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6. Cliffhanger

Starring Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, and others, this action thriller movie is directed by Renny Harlin. It revolves around a mountain climber, Gabe Walker, played by Sylvester Stallone, who finds himself amidst a deadly adventure when a US treasury plane is robbed while flying through the Rocky Mountains. The movie has jaw-dropping visuals and was a smash hit.

While Stallone plays the hero, John Lithgow plays the role of Eric Qualen, who is the mastermind behind the high-altitude heist and is at loggerheads with Stallone’s character. Lithgow’s chilling performance as the former British military officer made him a quintessential villain in the 1990s.

Cold-hearted and brutal, Litgow delivers a masterclass in portraying the complex villain and sets the tone for the movie, adding much of the suspense and thrill to it. His performance is exciting and ruthless, and the actor not only proves his acting talent but also showcases the depth of emotions and complexity in a character that could have been black and white.

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7. The World According to Garp

Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Robin Williams, Glenn Close, and John Lithgow, this comedy drama is based on the novel of the same name by John Irving and revolves around the life of the character, T.S. Garp, who is played by Robin Williams. The movie is about his life and his ambition to become a writer, while his mother, Jenny, played by Glenn Close, is interested in feminism. The movie was a critical and commercial success, and Williams, Close, and John Lithgow all deliver masterful performances.

Close plays the domineering feminist mother, Jenny, who introduces her son to various mentors. One among them is a transgender person called Roberta Muldoon, played by Lithgow, who becomes an important presence in Garp’s life when his mother passes away.

The movie is emotional and poignant, and Lithgow delivers a scene-stealing and riveting performance as he plays the role of a trans person with dedication. The movie is among his classics, which made him get his first Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Lithgow presents the perfect balance of comedy and drama, one of his most compelling performances.

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8. Conclave

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and others, this political thriller is directed by Edward Berger and is based on a novel by Robert Harris. The movie focuses on Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, who is the organizer of a conclave that decides the next pope after the present pope dies suddenly of a heart attack. However, he finds himself in a religious and political conspiracy as he investigates the secrets of all the main candidates and uncovers the scandals.

The film was a critical and commercial success and received several nominations at the Oscars. John Lithgow plays the role of one of the main candidates in the race to become the next pope, and his character is the moderate, Joseph Tremblay.

The movie is suspenseful and full of twists and turns, and Lithgow delivers a controlled and nuanced performance. The movie is one of the newer films of Lithgow and once again proves that his acting over the years has only improved.

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9. Raising Cain

Directed and written by Brian De Palma and starring John Lithgow, Steven Bauer, and others, this psychological horror and thriller movie revolves around the misdeeds of a child psychologist, Dr Carter Nix, played by Lithgow, who develops a multiple personality disorder after he finds out that his wife is cheating on him.

His alternate personalities include a shy seven-year-old boy, Josh, a middle-aged nanny, Margo, and a violent criminal called Cain. Problems arise when he begins to obsessively study his daughter and loses himself. The movie revolves around Lithgow, and the actor proves why he is so renowned.

Playing various characters in one movie is hard, but John Lithgow delivers with chilling precision. The actor earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor and received universal praise for his portrayal. The movie once again solidified his ability to play a ruthless villain.