Eric Dane is a veteran actor in Hollywood who has appeared in more than 43 movies.
The actor started his career working on the TV series Saved by the Bell in 1991.
During the initial days of his career, he played the role of ally to the main character.
But with time, he started portraying the roles of villains.
So far, the actor has won 4 awards, including the prestigious Satellite Award.
Today, we are going to discuss his 10 top movies.
Disclaimer: The movies discussed in this list are a personal choice, and viewers’ choices might vary according to their taste.
So now, without further ado, let’s discuss these movies in detail.
10. Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 1995 |
| Cast | Glenn Close, Judy Davis, Jan Rubes |
| Director | Jeff Bleckner |
| Genre | Biography, Drama |
| Awards | 6 |
Fans mightn’t realize, but Eric Dane has been active in this industry since the late 1990s.
One of the first movies that helped him become known in the industry was Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story.
This movie revolves around the true story of Colonel Margarethe and her fight against discrimination in the military.
It is one of the first movies to showcase the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the armed forces.
Eric Dane portrayed Mike’s role in this project. He is an ally to the Colonel.
The brilliant actor perfectly embodied the role of a friend, giving the movie a much-needed touch of authenticity.
His performance in this movie teaches us the value of having friends in the battle of life.
9. Marley & Me (2008)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2008 |
| Cast | Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane |
| Director | David Frankel |
| Genre | Drama, Family |
| Awards | 2 |
Back in 2008, Eric played a supportive role of Sebastian in the Jeniffer Aniston featured movie Marley & Me.
The plot of this movie focuses on the life of a young couple who lost their Labrador.
And there is their Labrador retriever, Marley. The trouble Marley causes forms the basic plot of this movie.
It perfectly showcases the joy and challenges of marriage and family life.
In addition, it explores themes of love, loyalty, and the passage of time. Every now and then, a movie cuts you deep by exploring topics like grief and acceptance.
Eric’s role as Sebastian provides much-needed solace in the couple’s lives. His portrayal of the role is so convincing that you miss your friends whenever he is on screen interacting with the couple.
But that’s not it; by the end of the movie, you will feel emotional for his character. To understand the full depth of his character, you need to watch this movie today.
8. Burlesque (2010)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2010 |
| Cast | Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming |
| Director | Steve Antin |
| Genre | Drama, Music, Musical |
| Awards | 0 |
You guys might be amazed to know that Eric Dane has also played a part in musicals.
In 2010, he played the role of Marcus in the 2010 musical Burlesque.
This musical focuses on the story of a small-town girl’s journey to stardom in a glamorous club. Along the way, she welcomes many relationships and also faces tough rivalries.
It mainly explores the themes of empowerment, friendship, and perseverance. In addition to its awesome musical score, it manages to take you to a different world with its dazzling music and awesome dance performances.
Eric looks charming in this movie, which adds depth to his character.
His personality is different from that of the main characters in this movie, which adds tension to the other characters.
7. Grey Lady (2017)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2017 |
| Cast | Eric Dane, Natalie Zea, Amy Madigan |
| Director | John Shea |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Mystery |
| Awards | 0 |
Okay, I’m going to be honest here: I only added this movie to this list because it is the only movie in which Eric Dane appears in the lead role.
Besides that, the whole movie is abysmal. It had a promising storyline, though.
The story starts with a Boston detective trying to solve murder cases. While going through the case, he lands in his hometown, Nantucket.
During its runtime, it also tries to delve into paranormal activities but fails miserably.
It tried to connect multiple storylines, which only confused the audience.
Furthermore, during the first half of the film, Eric Dane tries to save the film, but his acting falls apart in the second half.
His portrayal as Doyle lacked charisma and failed to elevate the character beyond cliches.
All in all, this movie is a perfect example of how a movie that tries to cover multiple themes can sometimes fail miserably.
6. The Last Ship (2014-2018)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2014 |
| Cast | Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin, Charles Parnell |
| Director | Steven Kane, Hank Steinberg |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Sci-fi |
| Awards | 1 |
Yes, Eric Dane failed miserably in his first movie in a lead role. But when he was offered a lead role in the TV series The Last Ship, his performance was way off the charts.
First, let’s discuss its storyline.
The story of the whole series revolves around the search for a cure to a deadly virus that has devastated humanity.
Its unique storytelling raises moral and ethical questions that remind us of real-life events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the show’s quality dropped last season, the cast still did an excellent job keeping everyone intrigued.
Dane played the commanding role of Captain Tom Chandler in this series.
Everything he did in this show was top-notch, from his dialogue delivery to his silent act in emotional scenes.
In fact, during last season, when everyone’s performance degraded, he single-handedly elevated the show’s quality.
5. Grey’s Anatomy (2006-2021)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2005 |
| Cast | Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr. |
| Director | Shonda Rhimes, Michelle Lirtzman |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Awards | 88 |
Grey’s Anatomy is one of the shows that truly cemented Eric’s position in the industry.
This show made him a household name. He went on to appear in 138 episodes as Dr. Mark Sloan.
Due to his awesome portrayal, the fans nicknamed him McSteamy.
If you aren’t familiar with this show, let me describe its storyline briefly.
Grey’s Anatomy follows the lives of surgical interns, residents, and physicians at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. It revolves around the personal and professional challenges of the hospital staff.
Eric made his first appearance in season 2, episode 18 of the show. From the moment he appeared on screen, he was praised for his charismatic charm and magnetic presence.
Dane’s dynamic interactions with other characters, including his complicated history with Derek Shepherd and his deep connection with Lexie Grey, add depth and intrigue to the series.
However, his character dies in season 17, episode 10.
Many Grey’s Anatomy fans still miss his presence in the show.
4. The Ravine (2021)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2021 |
| Cast | Eric Dane, Teri Polo, Leslie Uggams |
| Director | Keoni Waxman |
| Genre | Mystery, Thriller |
| Awards | 12 |
After bidding goodbye to Grey’s Anatomy, the brilliant actor went on to play Danny in the movie The Ravine.
Ravine was an entertaining movie to watch in 2021. It revolved around the themes of crime and betrayal.
In the movie’s second half, the themes delve into the journey of redemption and spirituality.
Some of the viewers found it to be surprising and unsettling.
But the honest truth is that during the second half of the show, it focuses excessively on religious themes.
Now, let’s talk a little about Eric Dane’s part in the movie.
Dane is highlighted as the central to the plot. He is torn between his past actions and the possibility of redemption.
Viewers can easily feel his character’s pain during his complex interactions with other characters in the movie.
3. Reedeming Love (2022)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2022 |
| Cast | Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis, Eric Dane |
| Director | D.J. Caruso |
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Western |
| Awards | 1 |
Eric Dane has somehow cracked a code to play the villainous role masterfully.
In the 2022 film Redeeming Love, he plays the Duke, a role that everyone loves to hate.
But first, let’s discuss a little about its storyline.
Redeeming Love has a gripping and emotionally charged storyline that focuses on the themes of love, redemption, and perseverance.
Angela and Michael are the main protagonists of the show. The contrast between Angela’s troubled past and Michael’s unwavering faith forms the basic plotline of the movie.
However, the main highlight of the show was the Duke, played by Eric Dane.
Duke’s intentions are frightening, and due to this ill behavior, everyone loves to hate Duke.
At times, Eric’s intense performance also manages to foreshadow the main protagonists.
2. Euphoria (2019-2022)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2019 |
| Cast | Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi |
| Director | Sam Levinson |
| Genre | Drama |
| Awards | 43 |
Have you ever wondered how Eric earned his title as Masterful Villian?
Well, look no further, see the series Euphoria and then you will realize how awesome Eric looks as a villain.
Eric portrays a gay character in Euphoria. His character, Cal, is filled with inner conflicts and suppressed emotions.
And Eric perfectly understood his character’s intentions and delivered one heck of a performance.
During Cal’s breakdown monologue, he perfectly conveyed Cal’s desires and intentions in the series.
Furthermore, he used symbolic gestures, such as drunken actions and revealing monologues, to emphasize Cal’s deeper layers on the screen.
Many fans of Euphoria believed that Eric deserved an Emmy for his role.
Now, if you ask me, he did deserve an Emmy for this role.
1. Americana (2023)
| IMDb | |
| Release Date | 2023 |
| Cast | Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Eric Dane |
| Director | Tony Tost |
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Crime |
| Awards | 0 |
Last but not least, let’s discuss his role in the Sydney Sweeney featured movie Americana.
The movie focuses mainly on a series of interconnected events driven by the pursuit of the ghost shirt and the conflicts between various characters.
It brings the knowledge of valuable Native American artifacts to the limelight.
The plot builds tension as characters chase after the artifact, leading to unexpected alliances and confrontations in a rural American setting.
Eric Dane’s portrayal of Dillon can be noted for its intensity and unpredictability, adding layers to the character’s motivations and actions.
Dane’s role as the antagonist anchors the storyline, providing a formidable obstacle for the other characters and driving the conflict forward.
Some Honorable Mentions
| S.N | Name Of The Movie | Roles Played |
| 1 | Bad Boys Ride or Die (2024) | McGrath |
| 2 | American Carnage (2022) | Eddie |
| 3 | Open Water 2:Adrift (2006) | Dan |
| 4 | X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) | Multiple Man |
| 5 | Feast (2005) | Hero |
