Eight years ago, Taboo emerged on the scene as a well-reviewed but underrated crime drama wrapped in the exquisite package of a gritty period piece. It was created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy, and Chips Hardy (Tom’s father). Set in 1814 London, the show focuses on commerce and political corruption of the day — with Hardy in the lead role of of James Keziah Delaney. It has a phenomenal supporting cast, including Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones), Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters), Franka Potente (The Conjuring 2), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean), Leo Bill (Alice in Wonderland), and Tom Hollander (Pride and Prejudice).
Despite strong reviews and a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Taboo only aired for one season, but producers have been talking about a second season since 2023. No firm details have been released yet, but in the meantime there is no shortage of Tom Hardy shows and movies to keep you busy. The Mad Max: Fury Road star has appeared in a variety of thrillers, period pieces, and psychological dramas over the years that will entertain any kind of Taboo fan.
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‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
This star-studded HBO miniseries is a who’s-who of up-and-coming talent. Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the show follows a Parachute Infantry Regiment known as “Easy” Company across Europe during World War II. The series remains beloved and respected by viewers to this day, with an unprecedented 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes over 20 years after its release. The ensemble cast features some famous faces from the time, as well as burgeoning stars who got their start acting in the miniseries. This includes James McAvoy, Stephen Graham, Colin Hanks, Andrew Scott, Simon Pegg, and yes, of course, Tom Hardy. He appears in two episodes as Private First Class John A. Janovec, a replacement assigned to the unit.
The Star’s Debut Role
While Band of Brothers might not match Taboo‘s tone, it is an exceptional piece of television with a tremendous amount of heart. It’s not always easy to watch, but it’s a moving episodic journey. Viewers will also enjoy seeing Hard in his first on-screen credit.
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‘Lawless’ (2012)
Based on the 2008 novel The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, Lawless is a story of bootlegging in early 1930s America. Hardy, Shia LaBeouf (Megalopolis) and Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer) star as the Bondurant brothers, who come under attack when a lawman (played by Guy Pearce) targets their moonshine business. It was adapted for the screen by musician Nick Cave, who also helped to score the film.
Strong Looks and Good Acting
Overall, reviews are mixed. Lawless isn’t a perfect film, but it’s well-shot and well-acted. Hardy looks excellent in a knit sweater and a rugged cowboy hat. Roger Ebert only gave the movie 2.5 stars, and the movie has more appreciation from viewers than it does from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. “There isn’t much dimension to these proceedings…but it’s such a well-made picture that one can hardly protest…” Brian Eggert writes for Deep Focus Review. He goes on to refer to the film as “compelling drama, with a mild history lesson thrown in for good measure.”
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‘The Drop’ (2014)
In The Drop, Hardy stars as a bartender whose life becomes complicated after his mob-run bar gets robbed. The movie is directed by Belgian director Michaël R. Roskam (Bullhead), with a script by acclaimed author Dennis Lehane (who also wrote the short story on which the film is based). The supporting cast includes Prometheus star Noomi Rapace and The Sopranos icon James Gandolfini in what would be the actor’s last film role before his death.
A Satisfying Crime Drama
The Drop has 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and really gives Hardy an opportunity to shine. It’s a satisfying crime drama with solid performances all around. “There is a whole lot of Hardy going on,” wrote Susan Wloszczyna for RogerEbert.com, “and The Drop is at its best when we can observe how the actor slowly peels away the layers from his character in a finely calibrated performance that builds to a satisfying full reveal in the final act.”
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‘The Revenant’ (2015)
Hardy received an Oscar nomination for his turn as John S. Fitzgerald, a fur trapper who leaves wounded wilderness guide Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) after killing Glass’s son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck). The Revenant is a juggernaut of a film, with career-defining performances and $135 million budget. It has a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes and received a dozen Academy Award nominations, of which it won three.
Studying the Ruthless Villain
Hardy’s character work in this survival movie is captivating. “[He] makes a coolly unnerving villain whose ruthlessness lies in his gift for bullying persuasion as well as his brute strength,” writes Justin Chang for Variety. Fitzgerald is indeed a brutal character and the actor’s performance might be one of the best in his career.
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‘Legend’ (2015)
In this stylish drama, Hardy pulls double duty playing legendary crime boss twins Ron Kray and Reggie Kray against the backdrop of 1960s London nightlife. The movie is based on real events, drawing its source material from a biography titled The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins by John Pearson. It’s written and directed by Brian Helgeland (42) with a supporting cast that includes Emily Browning (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events), David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers), and Paul Bettany (WandaVision).
A Dynamic Double-Performance
Hardy plays Ron and Reggie deftly, transforming his demeanor and mannerisms to showcase the individual nature of each character. The film as a whole has received mixed reviews, but critics agree that Hardy’s performances are top tier. Hardy was initially offered the role of Reggie, but the director convinced him to take on both brothers. In The Guardian, Mark Kermode describes it as “a dual role to which he [Hardy] brings the same commitment – physical, intellectual, emotional – as Jeremy Irons essaying both Mantle brothers in David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers. The result is a striking portrait.”
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‘Dunkirk’ (2017)
Christopher Nolan has a reputation for developing ongoing working relationships with actors, featuring his favorites in multiple films across his career. Hardy has appeared in three Nolan films, the most recent of which was the epic war drama, Dunkirk. Hardy plays Spitfire pilot named Farrier, who is heavily based on real-life World War II fighter pilot Alan Deere.
Incredible Work With an Ensemble Cast
Fans won’t see Hardy getting nearly as much screen time in this movie, but he’s hardly the only one to watch. Hardy rounds out a star-studded ensemble that features Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Aneurin Barnard (The Goldfinch), James D’Arcy (Oppenheimer), Barry Keoghan (Saltburn), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Kenneth Branagh (A Haunting in Venice), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Fionn Whitehead (Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), and even singer Harry Styles in his film debut. The movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won three of them. The cast was nominated for Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
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‘Peaky Blinders’ (2014-2022)
Peaky Blinders is a must-watch for any Taboo fan. Set in England, the series explores the inner workings of a gang headed by war hero Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) following the end of World War I. It ran for six seasons and there is currently a Peaky Blinders movie in the works, with director Tom Harper and creator Steven Knight at the helm.
Introducing Alfred “Alfie” Solomons
Hardy enters Peaky Blinders during season two as Alfred “Alfie” Solomons, the leader of a criminal gang that Shelby hopes to recruit to his side. Den of Geek critic Tom French calls Hardy’s performance “intense – brilliantly so” and goes on to write: “Solomons is immediately engaging, coming across as eccentric, sadistic and damaged all at once. The performance evokes elements of Hardy roles of the past, and the character fits seamlessly into the world of Peaky Blinders.”
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‘Mobland’ (2025)
One of Hardy’s latest projects is the fast-paced television series Mobland, which premiered on Paramount+ on Mar. 30, 2025. It functions as a standalone project set in the world of Ray Donovan, a crime series that ran for seven seasons on Showtime between 2013 and 2020. In Mobland, Hardy stars as a fixer named Harry Da Souza. He works for the Harrigan crime family, carefully ensuring the safety of the family and its financial assets. The show was created by Ronan Bennett (Top Boy) and costars Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), and Helen Mirren (The Queen).
Portraying A ‘Reasonable’ Gangster
Hardy decided to go against type with Mobland, explaining to Parade that he wanted to play a tough guy that was more “reasonable” than some of his previous roles. “Obviously, you get to see Harry doing some very unreasonable stuff,” said Hardy. “But for the most part, I think he’s a sort of invisible person. That was what attracted me to playing Harry.” For viewers looking to see Hardy in a different kind of role with that familiar grit and intensity, Mobland is the ticket.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
