Eric Bana Movies and TV Shows: Full List by Year

Actors who transition from niche comedy to blockbuster action without losing their edge are rare. Eric Bana is one of them—building his career on Australian television before landing in Hollywood’s heaviest hitters, from Ang Lee’s Hulk to Spielberg’s Munich. This guide walks through his complete filmography with Rotten Tomatoes scores, so you know exactly where to start.

Known For: Hulk, Troy, Black Hawk Down · Recent Film: Force of Nature (2024) · Upcoming: Untamed (2025) · Voice Role: Finding Nemo · TV Appearances: Full list on TV Guide

What is Eric Bana famous for?

Eric Bana is famous for seamlessly moving from Australian television comedy into Hollywood’s most demanding roles. He’s best known for playing Bruce Banner in Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003), Hector in Troy (2004), and Norm “Hoot” Gibson in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down (2001). His career spans three decades with 30+ film credits.

Breakout roles

Bana’s path to Hollywood wasn’t typical. After building a following as a stand-up comedian in Australia, he transitioned to television with Full Frontal (1993-1996), appearing in 66 episodes (Wikipedia). His film debut came in The Castle (1997), a low-budget Australian comedy that became a cult hit.

The turning point arrived with Chopper (2000), where Bana delivered a transformative performance as real-life criminal Mark “Chopper” Read. The role earned him the AACTA Award for Best Actor (Wikipedia)—Australia’s highest film honor—and caught the attention of international casting directors.

Hollywood transition

Ridley Scott cast Bana as Special Forces soldier Norm “Hoot” Gibson in Black Hawk Down (2001), marking his first Hollywood role. The success led to Ang Lee casting him as Bruce Banner in Hulk (2003), a role that required extensive physical transformation.

What is Eric Bana’s most famous role?

Eric Bana’s most famous role is Bruce Banner in Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003). The film required him to undergo years of bodybuilding and dialogue training while delivering a nuanced performance that grounded the experimental superhero film. Bana portrayed both Banner and his alter ego, earning praise for his layered interpretation despite the film’s mixed reception.

Hulk as Bruce Banner

The Hulk role was physically and emotionally demanding. Bana trained extensively for months to match the physique of a character who transforms into a giant green rage monster. His interpretation emphasized Banner’s internal conflict, making the character more human than previous adaptations.

Other iconic parts

Beyond Hulk, several roles stand out in Bana’s career. As Hector in Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy (2004), he brought humanity to the tragic Trojan prince. In Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005), he led a film about retaliation and justice following the 1972 Olympic massacre.

Bana’s range extends to voice work. He voiced Anchor in Pixar’s Finding Nemo (2003), a film that earned a 99% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and remains his highest-rated project. He later voiced Monterey Jack in Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and Chaz in Back to the Outback (2021).

What was Eric Bana’s first acting role?

Eric Bana’s first television role was as a cast member of Full Frontal, an Australian sketch comedy series that aired from 1993 to 1996. He appeared in all 66 episodes of the show (Wikipedia) while simultaneously developing his stand-up comedy career.

Early TV work

Before Full Frontal, Bana worked as a stand-up comedian, building the improvisational skills that would define his screen presence. His work on the comedy series led directly to hosting opportunities, including The Eric Bana Show Live (1997), which ran for 8 episodes with Bana also serving as writer (Wikipedia).

First film

The Castle (1997) marked Bana’s feature film debut, with the actor playing Con Petropoulous in director Seth Lundell’s comedy about a family fighting eminent domain. The film was made on a modest budget but became one of Australia’s most-watched domestic films of the decade, establishing Bana as a rising talent.

What is Eric Bana’s best reviewed film?

Eric Bana’s best reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes is Finding Nemo (2003), which holds a 99% critic score. The animated Pixar feature stars Bana as Anchor, a territorial great white shark who befriends marine fish. The film achieved near-universal acclaim from critics and remains one of Pixar’s most beloved works.

Rotten Tomatoes scores

Looking at his complete filmography, Bana’s highest-rated projects include:

• Finding Nemo (2003) – 99% (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Mary and Max (2009) – 96%
• Memoir of a Snail (2024) – 95%
• The Dry (2021) – 90% (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Star Trek (2009) – 94%

His lowest-rated films include Special Correspondents (2016) at 16% and Deliver Us From Evil (2014) at 29%. The Dry’s 90% score is particularly notable because Rotten Tomatoes Editorial called it “a slow-burning crime drama anchored by a solid central performance from Eric Bana” (Rotten Tomatoes).

Critic favorites

The critical consensus reveals a pattern: Bana performs best in character-driven dramas and animated films rather than broad comedies. His Australian projects—The Dry, Chopper, Romulus My Father—consistently outperform his Hollywood comedies on review aggregator sites.

Eric Bana movies and TV shows in order

Eric Bana’s filmography spans from 1997 to 2026 across 30+ films. His work includes Australian dramas, Hollywood blockbusters, animated features, and television miniseries. Here’s a chronological look at his major credits.

Chronological film list

Bana’s film journey began with Australian productions before Hollywood called:

• The Castle (1997) – Con Petropoulous (Wikipedia)
• Chopper (2000) – Mark “Chopper” Read
• Black Hawk Down (2001) – Norm “Hoot” Gibson
• Hulk (2003) – Bruce Banner/Hulk
• Troy (2004) – Hector
• Munich (2005) – Avner
• Romulus, My Father (2007) – Romulus (also associate producer)
• Star Trek (2009) – Nero (94% on RT)
• Mary and Max (2009) – Voice role (96% on RT)
• Hanna (2011) – Erik (71% on RT)
• Lone Survivor (2013) – Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen (75% on RT)
• Deliver Us From Evil (2014) – Ralph Sarchie (29% on RT)
• Paper Planes (2014) – Executive producer (85% on RT)
• The Finest Hours (2016) – Daniel Cluff (64% on RT)
• Special Correspondents (2016) – Frank Bonneville (16% on RT)
• The Secret Scripture (2016) – Dr. William Grene (68% on RT)
• King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) – Uther Pendragon
• The Dry (2021) – Aaron Falk, also producer (90% on RT)
• Back to the Outback (2021) – Chaz voice (81% on RT)
• Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) – Monterey Jack voice (81% on RT)
• Blueback (2022) – Mad Macka, exec producer (71% on RT)
• Memoir of a Snail (2024) – James the Magistrate voice (95% on RT)
• A Sacrifice (2024) – Ben Monroe, exec producer (24% on RT)
• Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (2024) – Falk, producer (66% on RT)
• Apex (2026) – Tommy (65% on RT)

TV credits

Bana’s television work is more limited but includes significant projects:

• Full Frontal (1993-1996) – 66 episodes, TV debut
• The Eric Bana Show Live (1997) – 8 episodes, writer
• Dirty John (2018) – Title role in USA Network miniseries (Wikipedia)

Recent and upcoming

Bana has shifted focus toward Australian productions in recent years. The Dry became the 15th biggest Australian film ever at the local box office (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial). He followed it with Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (2024) and continues producing through his production company.

The pattern is clear: Eric Bana delivers his most compelling work in character-driven dramas and animation, consistently drawing critical praise when the material matches his stoic, layered performance style. His recent return to Australian cinema with The Dry confirms this—the film ranks among his highest-rated work and became a significant domestic hit. For viewers deciding where to start, his Rotten Tomatoes track record offers a reliable guide: animation and Australian dramas score highest, while his comedy and action projects show more mixed results. Bana’s career choices reveal an actor who prioritizes strong roles and quality productions over volume or star power, and that selectivity shows in his output.

Related reading: Cast of The Wild Robot · Cast of A Quiet Place Day One

Eric Bana’s versatile roles have drawn global interest, including the detailed Swedish film list that catalogs his complete filmography much like this yearly guide.

Frequently asked questions