In an acting career that spans 25 years, Oscar Isaac has portrayed a Nobel Peace Prize winner, an X-wing pilot, a mutant out to destroy the universe, and Saint Joseph. Oh, and he has voiced the legendary character Gomez Addams in The Addams Family.

Is it any wonder that Vanity Fair labelled him the 'best actor of his generation'?

In the not-too-distant future, Isaac will step into the boots of cult video game hero Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid movie, and he'll also play a professional gambler in Paul Schrader's upcoming flick The Card Counter.

Featuring alongside Tiffany Haddish and Willem Dafoe, Isaac plays a gambler with an edge on those around him in that he can count cards – a very useful skill for a number of casino games such as blackjack and poker. However, a chance meeting with an old college friend hell-bent on revenge sends Isaac's character down a different path as he seeks redemption and a sense of closure.

Set for release in November, The Card Counter is set to be one of the standout movies of the fall. However, if you can't wait that long, now is as good a time as any to dip into the 42-year-old's impressive back catalogue. Here's the best of Isaac's on-screen work so far.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Okay, so it's not everybody's cup of tea, but J.J. Abrams' reawakening of the Star Wars franchise was met with some critical acclaim – it boasts a score of 7.8 on IMDB and 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Featuring screen newcomers John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, The Force Awakens brings together Rey and Finn – as well as Han Solo and Chewbacca – on a rollicking adventure as they attempt to find the now near-mythical Luke Skywalker.

Of course, life is rarely that straightforward, and so they must track down the lightsabre-wielding warrior amidst an almighty battle between The Resistance and the First Order.

Isaac is along for the ride as Poe Dameron, the X-wing pilot, and this is a role that he would reprise in the rest of the trilogy – Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The Force Awakensmade over $2bn at the worldwide box office, making it the most commercially successful movie of Isaac's career to date.

Ex Machina

Isaac earned himself a handy niche in sci-fi films in 2014, and before taking the plunge in Star Wars, he featured in this clever tale from the mind of Alex Garland.

Ex Machina is another silver-screen warning as to what happens if we give AI and androids too much power – what are the consequences for mankind?

In this case, the beautiful but deadly Ava – played by Alicia Vikander – is able to win over Isaac's character, the tech company CEO Nathan Bateman, and his employee, played by Domhnall Gleeson, with potentially devastating results.

A winner of an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, the movie was also nominated for a stack of BAFTAs and is perhaps one of the most thought-provoking takes on the 'AI gone rogue' niche.

Balibo

While a fairly little-known work worldwide, in many ways, 2009's Balibo represents Isaac's ascent into the big time.

Loosely based on a true story, Balibo tells the tale of a war journalist, Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia), who finds himself travelling to the tiny country of East Timor in the midst of an invasion from Indonesian forces.

There, he is told of five Australian reporters who have gone missing, and East sets about uncovering the truth alongside José Ramos-Horta – played by Isaac.

A political thriller with real heart and guts, Balibo may have drawn some criticism for its perceived historical inaccuracies, but if you can put that to one side, you will be rewarded with a movie that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Inside Llewyn Davis

As of August 2021, Inside Llewyn Davis remains Isaac's tour-de-force performance – earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

What a fillip it must be for an actor to get the call-up from the Coen Brothers to star in their next project, and that was the case here for Isaac as he took on the role of wandering folk singer Llewyn Davis as he seeks to navigate the music scene in 1960s New York.

This is your classic rags-to-riches, X Factor-style ascent story – though, no spoilers, it does take some unusual paths to take the viewer to the satisfying ending (or is it?).

From the mean streets of Greenwich Village to the music halls of Chicago, Inside Llewyn Davis is a journey both in terms of geography and of the mind for the melancholic title character, and it's a joy to take it with him.

Arguably the finest outing of Isaac's career, if you're feeling emotional at the moment, then this might not be the movie for you – otherwise, dive in and you will be rewarded.

A Most Violent Year

The title of this J.C. Chandor-penned movie sums it up neatly – 1981 was, statistically, the most violent year in New York's modern history.

Gangs, mobsters, drugs, robberies and impoverishment all washed up together to create a startling backdrop to A Most Violent Year, which stars Isaac as an immigrant businessman looking to expand his oil empire in the Big Apple.

However, with corruption widespread even at governmental level, Isaac is forced to question his own moral compass as he looks to fulfil the American dream while protecting his family – including his wife, played by Jessica Chastain – and his employees from the horrors on the streets.

Loved by critics and nominated for a raft of awards, A Most Violent Year tanked at the bank office, losing some $8m on production costs – however, it has been rumored that a sequel is in the works. But who cares about box office takings anyway? This is a fantastic film with Isaac once again on stellar form.