In recent years, few new actors have stood taller than Jacob Elordi – and not just because he’s 6’5. The human lead of The Dog Stars burst onto the scene in Netflix’s teen romance trilogy The Kissing Booth, and has since found himself blazing one hell of a trail, carving out a career path that’s been as eclectic as it is exciting.
From Euphoria to Deep Water, to Saltburn and Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights, Elordi has been racking up quite the resumé. But there are a few great Elordi performances that might have passed you by – so Empire’s experts have gathered to present a trio of top-tier Jacob Elordi projects that deserve your attention.
Priscilla (2023)
Streaming on: Netflix, MUBI
A huge part of what makes Sofia Coppola’s 2023 Priscilla Presley biopic so compelling is the auteur’s commitment to crafting a portrait of her subject that doesn’t hinge on, glorify, or in any way mythologise Priscilla’s husband. And in a star-making performance that still feels underrated even now, Jacob Elordi brings a real rawness and volatile vulnerability to his interpretation of Elvis Aaron Presley, channelling both The King’s charisma and his more morally murkisome qualities in order to illuminate the darker, more private corners of Elvis’ personality. While Priscilla is, by design, not an Elvis movie by any stretch of the imagination, some could argue that Elordi has actually given us the best — or at least most true-to-life seeming — portrayal of The King on screen yet. Also, this Elordi performance comes with the added bonus of a free “Priscilla, baby” vocal stim… so there’s that, too!
On Swift Horses (2025)
Streaming on: Now TV
While Daniel Minahan’s textured, complex treatment of Shannon Pufahl’s literary tale of queer love and repression in mid-century America may skew a tad formulaic at times, a tad unwieldy at others, its starry young cast — Daisy Edgar Jones, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, Sasha Calle — are all on top form throughout. And nobody impresses more here than — you guessed it! — Jacob Elordi. In a second, very different war-veteran-in-a-2025-released-book-adaptation role, Elordi plays Korean War vet turned drifter Julius, who finds himself falling for Calva’s casino worker Henry, while sparking off-the-charts sexual tension with basically any character he shares screentime with. Again, Elordi’s innate charisma is on full display here, but it’s the sense he’s able to create within that of Julius’ inner turmoil — and his gentle, delicate handling of his character’s heart and innermost desires — that really sticks with you. TL;DR version: On Swift Horses is a safe bet for some peak Elordi drama.
The Narrow Road To The Deep North (2025)
Streaming on: BBC iPlayer
Justin Kurzel’s limited series take on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize winning The Narrow Road To The Deep North is a visceral experience. Visceral in its depiction of the horrors experienced by Australian POWs on the Burma Railway at the height of World War II. Visceral in its encapsulation of a half-century-spanning love story that simultaneously keeps a man together in hell, and denies him any sense of heaven on the other side of it. Visceral in its exploration of survivor’s guilt, of PTSD, and of bone-deep grief. And our anchor as Kurzel takes us into the very heart of darkness here is a never-better Jacob Elordi, who brings pathos in abundance and puts himself through the emotional and physical wringer as Aussie doc Dorrigo Evans. It’s not all doom and gloom, though, folks. There are moments of beauty, of sensuality, of profound humanity throughout that’ll keep you on this road with Elordi to the very end.
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Finished with our runthrough of Jacob Elordi’s essential, lesser-seen performances? Why not dig into our rundown of some of Tom Holland’s best non-Spider-Man roles? Or branch out with the best movies on Netflix UK right now? Heck, you could even go the whole hog and start working through our 100 best movies of all time! Whatever your fancy, Team Empire has you covered.
