Actor

Derek Jacobi: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films: 86
on screen: 1965–2025
box office: $813M
nomination: 1
average score: 55

Born: October 22, 1938 (age 87)
Birthplace: Leytonstone, Essex, England
Full name: Derek George Jacobi
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Occupations: Actor
Years active: 1959-present
Spouses: Richard Clifford

Known for

The Best Derek Jacobi Movies

The highest-rated films Derek Jacobi is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The Host (2020) scores highest, at 66. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Derek Jacobi's Career in Numbers

Derek Jacobi's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Derek Jacobi works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Othello (1965) to Verona's Romeo & Juliet (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.

Derek Jacobi Movies by Decade

1960s 1
1970s 6
1980s 11
1990s 9
2000s 22
2010s 18
2020s 10

The 2000s were Derek Jacobi's busiest decade, with 22 films.

Derek Jacobi Movies by Genre

Drama 28
Documentary 9
History 8
Comedy 6
Action 5
Tv movie 4
Animation 3
Adventure 2
Mystery 2
Sci-Fi 2

Drama is the genre Derek Jacobi has worked in most, with 28 films, ahead of documentary (9).

Derek Jacobi Career Milestones

First film: Othello 1965
Biggest box office hit: Gladiator II $462M worldwide
Best-rated film: Tinsel Town Movie Echo Score 66
Newest film: Verona's Romeo & Juliet 2025

86 credits

Derek Jacobi Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Derek Jacobi is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 55. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Derek Jacobi Movies as an Actor

Derek Jacobi in Documentaries & Specials

1 nomination

Derek Jacobi: Awards & Nominations

1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards

45th British Academy Film Awards
- Derek Jacobi: Nominated Best Supporting Actor Dead Again

Biography

Who Is Derek Jacobi?

Derek Jacobi was born in Leytonstone, Essex, England in 1938 and is 87 years old. Credited on films since 1965, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Sir Derek George Jacobi CBE (/ˈdʒækəbi/; born 22 October 1938) is an acclaimed English actor, known for his stage, film, and television roles. He started his professional acting career working alongside Laurence Olivier, being one of the founding members of the National Theatre. Jacobi has numerous stage credits to his name, including prominent Shakespearean roles in productions like Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and King Lear. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for his performances in Cyrano de Bergerac in 1983 and Twelfth Night in 2009. Furthermore, he gained a Tony Award for his portrayal of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing in 1985.

On television, Jacobi famously portrayed Claudius in the BBC series I, Claudius (1976) where he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. His other significant television roles include the ITV drama series Cadfael (1994–1998), the HBO film The Gathering Storm (2002), the sitcom Vicious (2013-2016), BBC's Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020), and the Netflix series The Crown in 2019. His notable filmography includes Othello (1965), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Nanny McPhee (2005), Cinderella (2015), and Murder on the Orient Express (2017). He portrayed Senator Gracchus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) and has numerous awards including a BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Works with

Who Derek Jacobi Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Derek Jacobi shares the most films with. Brian Blessed comes first, with 7 films together, followed by John Gielgud (5).

FAQ

Derek Jacobi: Questions & Answers

How many movies Derek Jacobi has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Derek Jacobi been in?

Derek Jacobi is credited on 86 films, from 1965 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Derek Jacobi's highest-grossing movie?

Gladiator II (2024) is Derek Jacobi's biggest box office hit, with $462M worldwide, ahead of Tomb Raider (2018) ($275M). Across every film with box office figures, Derek Jacobi's movies have made $813M.

Derek Jacobi's biggest hits

What is the best Derek Jacobi movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Derek Jacobi's best-rated film is Tinsel Town (2025) with a score of 66, followed by The Host (2020) (66).

Best Derek Jacobi movies, ranked

Has Derek Jacobi won an Oscar?

Derek Jacobi has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Derek Jacobi has 0 wins from 1 nomination.

How old is Derek Jacobi?

Derek Jacobi is 87 years old, born on October 22, 1938 in Leytonstone, Essex, England.

What is Derek Jacobi's newest movie?

The most recent film on Derek Jacobi's filmography is Tinsel Town (2025).

Who does Derek Jacobi work with most often?

Derek Jacobi shares the most films with Brian Blessed (7 films), John Gielgud (5 films) and Siân Phillips (4 films).

The Best Derek Jacobi Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 86 credits.

See the ranking

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