Michael Fᴀssbender has enjoyed an extraordinary career, bridging decades of storytelling. Unfortunately, his productivity generally declined in the 2020s. After the critically panned X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), the actor stepped away from Hollywood for several years. He instead took time to focus on his career as a professional racer. Consequently, he did not star in a single movie between 2020 and 2022. This was a natural decision during the pandemic, as Hollywood faced hardship during that period. Still, there was no evidence that Fᴀssbender would have the chance to return due to insurance issues.
Fᴀssbender did not stay away forever, thankfully. The actor returned to the screen in 2023 for The Killer and Next Goal Wins and also starred in Kneecap in 2024. These movies have been coming slowly compared to the rest of Fᴀssbender’s career. He was previously capable of starring in three films in one calendar year. Now, he appears in only one or two each year, which now includes a new niche in the industry. Rather than appearing in epic superhero movies, he has leaned towards espionage thrillers, and his latest may just be his best.
Black Bag Is Already A Critical Darling
It Is Fᴀssbender’s Best-Reviewed Performance
Fᴀssbender has officially set a new Rotten Tomatoes record with his latest spy movie, Black Bag. He stars as George Woodhouse, an intelligence officer sent to investigate a mᴀssive intelligence threat. Unfortunately, Woodhouse quickly discovers that his wife (Cate Blanchett) is a potential suspect after being given a list of five names. With the film now out in theaters, ScreenRant‘s Mae Abdulbaki called Black Bag “suspenseful without needing high-octane action sequences” that remains “fun yet debonair“.
Black Bag reportedly had a $50 million budget.
The thriller may be stumbling financially with its $6 million weekend, but it still offered an extraordinary achievement for Fᴀssbender, thanks to its Rotten Tomatoes score. The movie has earned a 97% Tomatometer score, the best rating in Fᴀssbender’s career so far. The 97% score surpᴀsses 12 Years a Slave (2013), Kneecap (2024), and even the acclaimed Band of Brothers. On the other hand, the Popcornmeter score has not been quite as explosive, as it currently sits at the 75% mark. Check out the chart below, which compares Fᴀssbender’s top movies and shows:
|
тιтle |
Tomatometer Score |
Popcornmeter Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Black Bag (2025) |
97% |
75% |
|
Kneecap (2024) |
96% |
95% |
|
12 Years a Slave (2013) |
95% |
90% |
|
The Shadow of Violence (2019) |
94% |
68% |
|
Band of Brothers |
94% |
97% |
Our Take On Black Bag’s Critical Success
Fᴀssbender Just Keeps Upping The Ante
Fᴀssbender has starred in a litany of incredible movies throughout his career. He made his film debut in 300 (2007) and starred in Inglourious Basterds (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), and the sci-fi horror Prometheus (2012). These movies proved to have a lasting impact and spanned through numerous genres, but they were all surpᴀssed by Fᴀssbender’s latest work. If Black Bag could stand out so prominently against the rest of his movies and shows, then it is truly worth watching.
Critics generally praised the complex writing, the depth behind the mystery, and Fᴀssbender’s performance. The few negative reviewers argue that it has a painfully slow pace. Interestingly enough, the positive reviews agree. Most claim that the trickling pace is part of what makes it so fascinating. Audiences have been more critical, arguing that the story was confusing and uninteresting. Regardless of the individual responses, it is impossible to deny that Black Bag has earned a positive reputation. That only makes me more excited about future Fᴀssbender projects.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
