Andrew Garfield's 10 most soul-baring performances, ranked

Andrew Garfield is one of those actors who don’t just play a character, he becomes them. Whether he's playing a tortured soul, a passionate artist, or a quiet observer - he has this incredible way of pulling you in emotionally. He doesn’t rely on loud drama or flashy monologues to get your attention. Instead, his magic lies in the subtle pain in his eyes, the quiet cracks in his voice, and the vulnerability he brings to every role.

Over the years, he’s transformed into everything – from real-life heroes to fictional underdogs. And every time, he’s managed to leave a part of his soul on screen. That’s what makes watching Andrew Garfield so special - he’s not afraid to go deep, to be raw, to be messy. So, let’s take a heartfelt dive into his most soul-baring performances, ranked not by box office numbers or awards, but by how much they made us feel.

So get ready to tear up, reflect, and maybe even fall in love with Andrew Garfield all over again!

Disclaimer: The article is based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

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Andrew Garfield's 10 most soul-baring performances, ranked

10) The Social Network (2010)

Let’s start with the role that really put him on the map. Playing Eduardo Saverin, Facebook’s overlooked co-founder, Garfield gave us heartbreak in a hoodie. The betrayal he faces isn’t just business, it’s personal. Watching him go from a loyal best friend to a man slowly realizing he’s being cut out of his own dream is quietly devastating. And boy was that final confrontation with Jesse Eisenberg iconic! You could feel the hurt, the disbelief, the humiliation - and it all felt so real!

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9) Under the Silver Lake (2018)

This film might’ve confused some, but Andrew Garfield’s performance was hauntingly offbeat in the best way. He plays a slacker drifting through a surreal Los Angeles in search of a missing woman.

The weirdness of the movie works because Garfield commits to it completely - you see his loneliness, his growing paranoia, and that deep longing for connection under all the madness. It's like watching a man slowly unravel while trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t want to make sense.

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8) Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

War movies are full of brave men doing brave things, but Desmond Doss was a different kind of hero - and Andrew Garfield brought him to life with such humility. He played a medic who refused to carry a weapon, yet ended up saving dozens of lives in battle.

There’s a quiet strength in the way Garfield portrayed Desmond’s faith and conviction. The way he breaks down after saving soldiers, not out of fear, but out of empathy...it’s absolutely gut-wrenching!

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7) The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

It’s not easy playing a controversial figure like Jim Bakker - but Andrew Garfield managed to make him feel human, not just a caricature. His chemistry with Jessica Chastain was electric, but more importantly, he showed us a man crumbling under pressure. The fake smiles, the teary breakdowns, the desperation to hold onto power and love - it all felt painfully honest. Even when you didn’t agree with Jim, Garfield made you understand him.

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6) Boy A (2007)

This was one of his earliest lead roles, and you could already tell Garfield was something special. He played a young man released from prison after committing a terrible crime as a child- now trying to live a normal life. The performance is incredibly tender - you constantly feel his guilt, his fear of being found out, and his desperate hope for redemption. It’s heartbreaking because you want him to be okay, even when his past won’t let him.

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5) 99 Homes (2014)

This one hit close to home for anyone who’s ever faced financial struggle. Andrew Garfield plays a man who loses his home during the 2008 housing crisis and ends up working for the very system that ruined him.

The moral conflict in his eyes is everything - he’s torn between feeding his family and staying true to his values. You see his soul slowly chipping away, and that makes the ending even more powerful. It's a quiet, burning kind of rage that never fully explodes - but stays with you long after.

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4) Never Let Me Go (2010)

You know a performance is soul-baring when it leaves you feeling hollow in the best or even worst way. Garfield plays a young man raised for a tragic purpose, trying to cling onto whatever time he has left. His love, his heartbreak, his innocent hope - it’s all so pure. There’s one particular scene where he breaks down in the car, and it’s just raw, guttural emotion. No words, just pain - and it’s impossible to forget!

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3) tick, tick… BOOM! (2021)

This was Andrew Garfield at his most explosive and most tender. Playing Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent - he sang, danced, laughed, and broke our hearts. You could feel the urgency in his voice, and the desperate need to create something meaningful before time runs out. Every song felt like a diary entry, every scene felt like a personal confession. Even if you didn’t know who Larson was, Garfield made you care. You believed in his dreams, as well as his doubts.

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2) Silence (2016)

This performance was a slow burn, but wow, did it cut deep. Garfield played a Jesuit priest searching for his mentor in 17th-century Japan - and what followed was a journey of faith, doubt, and despair. He spends large parts of the movie in silence, but his eyes do all the talking. You watch his faith slowly unravel under the weight of suffering. It’s not showy, it’s not loud - it’s internal and haunting. A spiritual crisis captured so beautifully, it almost feels sacred.

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1) Angels in America (Stage – 2017)

Okay, technically this was a stage performance (later released for audiences to watch), but it would be criminal not to include it. Garfield played Prior Walter, a man diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s, dealing with abandonment, death, and divine visions.

He was ferocious and fragile at the same time. One minute he’s screaming at angels, the next he’s whispering goodbye to love. It’s a performance so raw, so emotionally exposed - you almost feel like you shouldn’t be watching, but you can’t look away. It was Andrew Garfield completely laid bare, and easily his most soul-baring performance ever!

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Whether he’s playing a war hero, a broken lover, or a man chasing meaning in chaos, Andrew Garfield always gives us his full heart. That’s exactly what makes his performances unforgettable - they’re not just acted, they’re lived. And we, the audience, are lucky enough to feel every moment of it!