Hugh Jackman Shares the Two Films That Changed His Career Forever

Hugh Jackman has shown he can do it all. He can sing show tunes in a tuxedo and also fight villains with Wolverine’s claws. While he’s best known for Wolverine, his career also includes big hits like Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman, and The Prestige.

Jackman has said he often looks to movies for inspiration on how to really live a role. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, he talked about two films that completely changed the way he sees acting and storytelling.

The first film he mentioned was the 1978 Vietnam War drama The Deer Hunter, starring Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Jackman said he saw it for the first time when he was just fifteen and was blown away. “It really blew my mind,” he said, “It showed me that acting could go so deep and be more than just entertainment.” The movie’s emotional depth and the way it portrayed trauma made him realize how powerful film could be.

The second movie that shaped him was the 1981 adventure classic Raiders of the Lost Ark. Jackman was about eleven or twelve when he first watched Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.

He remembered being completely swept away by the sense of adventure. “I told my brother I didn’t know movies could make me feel like this,” he said. For young Jackman, it wasn’t just a fun story—it felt real and exciting. He especially loved how the film balanced humor with thrilling action.

Even now, Jackman keeps that same energy alive in his work. In January, he starred in the musical drama Song Sung Blue, playing Mike Sardina, one-half of a Neil Diamond tribute duo alongside Kate Hudson. He looked almost unrecognizable with long hair for the role.

This summer, Jackman will appear in A24’s The Death of Robin Hood. The movie is a darker, more realistic take on the legendary outlaw. He plays an older, battle-worn Robin Hood who is looking for redemption after a life of violence.

Jackman is also lending his voice to the comedy The Sheep Detectives, coming out on February 26. The film follows a flock of sheep trying to solve the murder of their shepherd and includes Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun in the cast. On top of all that, Jackman is performing his one-man show From New York, With Love at Radio City Music Hall.

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