These days, it seems some of the most gifted and consistently interesting actors come straight from the WWE. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena are practically household names at this point in their respective careers, and David Bautista isn’t far off. Maybe it’s because they already know how to act because of where they got their start, or maybe it’s because they have some sort of gift — either way, one thing is for sure: Dave Bautista will soon join the ranks of Johnson and Cena. Known best for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bautista has managed to work his way into multiple franchises over the course of just a few years. He has nowhere to go but up, with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and a few other exciting projects on his horizon. Based on what he’s done so far, Bautista is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining actors of the 2010s.
Blade Runner 2049
From visionary director Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 jumps forward a few decades after the events of Ridley Scott’s cult classic Blade Runner. Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling deliver stellar performances, but it’s Dave Bautista who provides the footing for one of the most memorable sequences in the film. It shows what he’s capable of as a serious actor, and it proves to be the best thing he’s done so far.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
While Bautista has shown up as Drax in three Marvel movies so far, his part in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 is the best possible version of the character yet. Drax was a scene-stealer in the first film, sure, but pairing him with Pom Klementieff’s character Mantis results in some of the funniest material in any Marvel movie. It’s all Bautista, and it’s top-of-the-line stuff.
Hotel Artemis
One of the most underrated movies of 2018, Drew Pearce’s Hotel Artemis plays out over the course of a single night in a secret hospital for LA criminals in the near future. Jodie Foster and Sterling K. Brown are the stars, but Dave Bautista as the big and intimidating nurse is what sticks in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll. It’s delightful.
Spectre
Any tough guy’s dream is to become a henchman in a James Bond movie. Dave Bautista got to fulfill this dream in 2015’s Spectre, playing a goon named Hinx. It might not be the best Daniel Craig Bond movie, but Dave Bautista (once again) proves to be a scene-stealer, elevating any movie he’s in by a few inches.
Avengers: Infinity War
Once again playing Drax, Bautista is responsible for most of the funniest sequences in Avengers: Infinity War. The movie is uneven in tone because of the sheer size of its ensemble cast, but it never feels clunky when Bautista is on-screen. His character has been reduced to a 2D caricature at this point, but it’s no matter — he’s as funny as can be.
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