Despite wrapping up its initial run in 2010, Fox thriller 24 still remains Kiefer Sutherland’s best-known role, earning the actor no shortage of Primetime Emmys and Golden Globes. Alongside his starring turn in political drama Designated Survivor, Sutherland’s no stranger to the small screen and a staple of prestige television. However, some of his most interesting roles have come on the silver screen. From unlikely turns in crime comic capers to standout roles in sci-fi classics, Kiefer Sutherland keeps on surprising. Eager to expand your experience of this action thriller icon beyond his go-to genres? Below, we’ve singled out five of the more interesting acting moments from this Hollywood A-lister.
Melancholia (2011)
Lars von Trier’s take on sci-fi drama is a decidedly downbeat and devastating take on the genre, but 2011’s Melancholia does deliver a memorable turn among a cast including Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Rampling, and John Hurt. A more grounded take on science fiction, Melancholia opens at a wedding reception held at a castle owned by Sutherland’s John, the bride’s brother-in-law. Dunst’s Kristine spots a star growing brighter in the sky, although John reassures her that it’s simply the star Antares at its usual intensity.
Eventually, the star itself vanishes from view entirely, with an approaching rogue planet dubbed “Melancholia” the reason for the unlikely occultation. Rather than confirm a catastrophic collision between the Earth and its approaching visitor, astronomers and amateurs alike insist the two worlds will simply glide past each other gracefully. This comes to pass, but an uncalculated gravitational interaction hauls Melancholia back into Earth’s orbit yet again. This time, there’s no avoiding that a direct impact is on the cards. As Earth’s newest cosmic companion becomes an ever-swelling presence in the sky, those on the ground are forced to consider their own mortality and short-lived place in the universe.
Dead Heat (2002)
Kiefer Sutherland might be more comfortable at home in the action and thriller genres, but this 2002 crime film from Mark Malone delivers the iconic actor with the chance to cut his comedy-drama chops. Sutherland plays Pally LaMarr, a police officer bouncing back from a career-ending heart attack. With Pally pulled into depths of depression, his half-brother Ray and wife Charlotte come up with a ploy to bring some sunshine back into Pally’s life. Leaning on his background as a small-time crook, Ray suggests betting the farm on a racehorse with long-shot odds. Troublesome jockeys, meddlesome mobsters, and the spark of romance provide the LaMarr brothers and Charlotte with plenty to keep them occupied until they deliver on their planned wager.
The film manages to balance the darker side of gambling, while at the same time showing some of its most memorable moments. Although it focuses on horse racing, that doesn’t mean the tension typical of JackpotCity’s live games and those from other casino providers isn’t there as well, adding an extra layer of interest to the movie beyond a plot that is already gripping. It isn’t among the most remembered films of the early 2000s, mainly because it was released straight to DVD, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be remembered.
Flatliners (1990)
Psychological horror and science fiction combine in Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners. Kiefer Sutherland headlines a cast including Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon, with the film following the experiments of five medical students looking to induce near-fatal experiences to discover definitive proof of what might lie beyond death. With the flatlining process quickly nailed down, the tenacious five begin to make even more brazen steps to explore what lies beyond, with each of them experiencing increasingly distressing paranormal experiences.
Sutherland shines as Nelson Wright, one of his first lead roles in a major motion picture. He’d later return to the role in the 2017 version of Flatliners, a quasi-sequel that closely followed the key beats of the original.
A Few Good Men (1992)
If you love nothing more than a high-stakes legal drama, this military-themed classic from the early nineties is definitely worth a look if you’ve not seen it yet. Heavily decorated during awards season, A Few Good Men sees a young and uninterested Navy lawyer played by Tom Cruise defending two Guantanamo Bay-based Marines who have been accused of murdering a colleague.
Pushed by a senior naval colleague to explore the prospect of an illegal order from above being the reason behind the murder, Cruise’s Lieutenant Kaffee takes on Jack Nicholson’s unmoving Colonel Jessup in an epic courtroom drama that rarely falters. Sutherland takes on a fairly central role here, with his First Lieutenant Kendrick being one of the two Marines under scrutiny throughout a 138-minute runtime.
Dark City (1998)
Sutherland would later turn his talents to the neo-noir genre in Alex Proyas’ Dark City, with this subverted thriller setting itself apart from the usual with its many sci-fi elements. The A-list actor takes on the role of Dr. Daniel Schreber, a mysterious scientist who first bursts into the narrative to help central protagonist John Murdoch escape a group of sinister assailants, the Strangers.
Murdoch quickly reveals he’s able to deploy potent psionic powers to deter his pursuers, a skill shared by the Strangers themselves. Sutherland’s Dr. Schreber sits out some of the early stretches of this trippy sci-fi thriller, but later returns to reveal the true alien nature and hive mind capabilities of the Strangers, and how these eerie abilities can be utilised by humans themselves.