Dave Bautista has built an impressive movie career since moving from professional wrestling into acting. Best known for playing Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has gradually established himself as a versatile performer across action, science fiction, comedy, thriller, drama, and fantasy films. His early screen appearances included supporting and cameo roles before major parts in Riddick and Guardians of the Galaxy helped make him a recognizable Hollywood actor. Bautista later appeared in major productions such as Spectre, Blade Runner 2049, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Dune, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. He has also taken on more grounded dramatic roles, including The Last Showgirl, showing that his career extends well beyond action franchises. This complete guide to Dave Bautista movies by year covers his officially released feature-film appearances in chronological order, including notable cameos and voice performances.
2006 — Relative Strangers
Relative Strangers marked one of Dave Bautista’s earliest movie appearances. Directed by Greg Glienna, the 2006 comedy stars Danny DeVito, Kathy Bates, Ron Livingston, and Neve Campbell. Bautista appears briefly as a wrestler in an uncredited cameo rather than as a conventional supporting character. The appearance is notable because it came before his later transition into substantial film roles and represents an early step in his screen career.
2009 — My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
Werner Herzog’s My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done is a crime drama and psychological thriller that premiered at the 2009 Venice Film Festival. Bautista appears as a police officer with the San Diego Police Department’s SWAT team, credited as David Bautista. The film stars Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Udo Kier, and Michael Peña and was produced in part by David Lynch. Although Bautista’s role is small, the film is significant because it placed him in a serious dramatic production before his larger Hollywood breakthrough.
2010 — Wrong Side of Town
Wrong Side of Town is an action film directed by David DeFalco in which Bautista plays Big Ronnie, also known as B.R. The movie follows an ex-Marine who becomes involved in a dangerous confrontation after an attack on his family. Bautista shares the film with fellow action performers including Rob Van Dam and Mark Dacascos. It gave him a much more substantial action role and helped establish the type of physically demanding characters that would become a recurring part of his film career.
2011 — House of the Rising Sun
In House of the Rising Sun, Bautista plays Ray, a character caught up in a crime story involving a former police officer and a stolen fortune. Brian A. Miller directed the action thriller, which features Bautista alongside Amy Smart, Dominic Purcell, and Craig Fairbrass. The movie combines crime, action, and thriller elements and gave Bautista another opportunity to work in a physically driven genre. His role helped continue the gradual move toward larger acting assignments that followed in the next few years.
2011 — The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
Bautista played Argomael in The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, the third installment in the Scorpion King franchise. Directed by Roel Reiné, the fantasy action film stars Victor Webster as Mathayus and features Bostin Christopher, Temuera Morrison, and Ron Perlman. Bautista’s Argomael is one of the film’s imposing warriors, giving him another physically demanding role in a sword-and-sorcery adventure. The movie was released in 2012 in several markets, although it is commonly associated with the 2011 production cycle; for release chronology, it is best treated as a 2012 film.
2012 — The Man with the Iron Fists
The Man with the Iron Fists gave Bautista one of his first widely recognized genre roles. Directed by RZA, the martial arts film stars Russell Crowe, RZA, Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung, and Cung Le, with Bautista playing the formidable Brass Body. Set in nineteenth-century China, the movie combines martial arts action with fantasy, western, and exploitation influences. Bautista’s imposing screen presence made Brass Body one of the film’s memorable physical threats and helped demonstrate his potential beyond wrestling.
2013 — Riddick
Bautista appeared as Diaz in David Twohy’s science-fiction action film Riddick. The movie stars Vin Diesel as the title character and follows Riddick as he attempts to survive on a hostile planet while facing dangerous creatures and mercenaries. Bautista’s Diaz is one of the mercenaries hunting Riddick, putting him directly into the film’s survival-action storyline. Riddick was an important step in Bautista’s career because it placed him in a major studio science-fiction franchise shortly before his Marvel breakthrough.
2014 — Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy transformed Bautista’s movie career when he was cast as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by James Gunn, the science-fiction superhero adventure stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Dave Bautista. Drax is a powerful warrior seeking revenge against Ronan the Accuser, but the character’s literal interpretation of language also gives the film much of its distinctive humor. The movie became a major critical and commercial success and established Bautista as a mainstream Hollywood actor.
2015 — L.A. Slasher
In L.A. Slasher, Bautista has a supporting role as Drug Dealer #1. Martin Owen directed the crime thriller, which explores a mysterious vigilante targeting reality-TV personalities in Los Angeles. The film blends crime, thriller, dark comedy, and satire, giving Bautista a smaller role compared with his increasingly prominent studio appearances. Although it was not as commercially visible as Guardians of the Galaxy, it remains part of his early post-Marvel filmography.
2015 — Spectre
Bautista played the intimidating Mr. Hinx in Sam Mendes’ James Bond film Spectre. Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, the action spy thriller also features Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw. Hinx is a physically imposing assassin who pursues Bond and Madeleine Swann across several locations. The role was a major showcase for Bautista’s physical presence, and his largely dialogue-light performance made Hinx one of the film’s memorable action antagonists.
2015 — Heist
In Scott Mann’s Heist, Bautista plays Jason Cox, one of the criminals involved in an elaborate casino robbery. The action thriller stars Robert De Niro, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Gina Carano, and Bautista and revolves around a desperate father who turns to a casino robbery to save his daughter. Bautista’s role places him firmly within the movie’s criminal ensemble rather than making him the central protagonist. The film added another crime-action credit to his rapidly expanding post-Guardians filmography.
2016 — The Boss
Bautista made an uncredited cameo in the comedy The Boss, directed by Ben Falcone and starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, and Tyler Labine. His appearance is brief and should be considered a cameo rather than a standard supporting role. The movie follows a wealthy businesswoman who loses everything and attempts to rebuild her life by creating a new business. Although small, the appearance showed Bautista experimenting with comedy alongside his established action roles.
2016 — Kickboxer: Vengeance
Bautista played Tong Po, the principal antagonist, in Kickboxer: Vengeance. Directed by John Stockwell, the martial arts film stars Alain Moussi as Kurt Sloane and features Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gina Carano, and Georges St-Pierre. Tong Po is a brutal fighter who becomes the target of Kurt’s quest for revenge after a devastating confrontation. The role allowed Bautista to return to a physically intense martial arts setting and emphasized his intimidating screen presence.
2016 — Marauders
In Steven C. Miller’s action thriller Marauders, Bautista plays Stockwell, a member of a dangerous group connected to a series of violent bank robberies. The film features Bruce Willis, Christopher Meloni, Adrian Grenier, and Johnathon Schaech alongside Bautista. Its story combines crime, action, and mystery as investigators attempt to uncover the identity and motives of the masked robbers. Bautista’s performance fits the film’s hard-edged action style and continued his steady run of supporting genre roles.
2016 — The Warriors Gate
The Warriors Gate, also known as Warrior’s Gate, is a fantasy adventure directed by Matthias Hoene. Bautista plays Arun, a powerful warrior involved in the film’s clash between modern life and a fantastical ancient world. The movie stars Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Uriah Shelton, and Bautista and mixes martial arts with fantasy adventure. His role gave him another opportunity to combine physical performance with a larger-than-life fantasy character.
2017 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Bautista returned as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, again directed by James Gunn. The sequel reunites the Guardians with Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax while introducing new characters including Ego, played by Kurt Russell. Drax remains a powerful fighter but becomes even more important to the movie’s comedy and emotional storytelling, particularly through his interactions with Mantis. The film strengthened Bautista’s association with one of Marvel’s most popular ensemble franchises.
2017 — Blade Runner 2049
Bautista delivered one of his most critically praised dramatic performances in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. He plays Sapper Morton, a replicant living a quiet life who becomes connected to the movie’s central mystery. The science-fiction neo-noir stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, and Jared Leto. Though Bautista appears for a relatively short portion of the film, his performance as the thoughtful and physically imposing Sapper demonstrated that he could bring depth and restraint to dramatic material.
2017 — Bushwick
In Bushwick, Bautista plays Stupe, a former military man who helps Lucy, played by Brittany Snow, navigate a violent conflict across Brooklyn. Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion directed the action thriller, which uses the fictional outbreak of civil conflict as the backdrop for its survival story. Bautista’s character becomes a protector and guide as the two attempt to reach safety. The film gave him a more grounded action role outside the major franchise productions dominating his career at the time.
2018 — Avengers: Infinity War
Bautista reprised his role as Drax in Avengers: Infinity War, the massive Marvel crossover directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Drax joins the Guardians as they become involved in the Avengers’ battle against Thanos, played by Josh Brolin. The film combines superhero action, science fiction, fantasy, and dramatic ensemble storytelling on an unprecedented scale. Bautista’s performance retained Drax’s comedic personality while placing the character inside the franchise’s increasingly serious conflict.
2018 — Hotel Artemis
Bautista played Everest in Hotel Artemis, a futuristic crime thriller directed by Drew Pearce. The movie stars Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, and Charlie Day, with Bautista portraying the hotel’s heavily armed nurse and security figure. Set in a secret hospital for criminals, the film mixes action, science fiction, crime, and dark comedy. Everest gave Bautista a more controlled and surprisingly compassionate character, showing another side of his acting abilities.
2018 — Escape Plan 2: Hades
In Escape Plan 2: Hades, Bautista plays Trent DeRosa, an ally of Sylvester Stallone’s character Ray Breslin. Directed by Steven C. Miller, the prison-action sequel centers on a high-tech facility designed to make escape virtually impossible. Bautista brings his physical strength and action experience to the role as the team attempts to rescue a trapped member. The film expanded his presence in the Escape Plan franchise and led directly into his involvement in the third installment.
2018 — Final Score
Bautista stars as former military man Michael Knox in Final Score, an action thriller directed by Scott Mann. The story takes place during a football match at a London stadium, where Knox must rescue his niece and stop a terrorist plot. The cast includes Pierce Brosnan, Ray Stevenson, Alexandra Dinu, and Bautista in the leading role. The movie gave him one of his clearest opportunities to headline a conventional action film rather than serve as part of an ensemble.
2018 — Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy
In Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, Bautista plays Owen Davidson, a powerful antagonist operating in Hong Kong’s criminal underworld. Directed by martial arts legend Yuen Woo-ping, the film stars Zhang Jin, Dave Bautista, Michelle Yeoh, and Tony Jaa. The action-crime movie follows Cheung Tin-chi after his defeat and withdrawal from martial arts before he becomes involved in another dangerous conflict. Bautista’s performance made strong use of his physicality while placing him opposite experienced martial arts performers.
2019 — Avengers: Endgame
Bautista returned as Drax in Avengers: Endgame, the concluding chapter of Marvel’s first major Avengers saga. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film brings together Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and numerous other Marvel characters. Drax participates in the Avengers’ attempt to undo the devastation caused by Thanos and restore those who disappeared. The movie became one of the defining commercial and cultural events of modern superhero cinema, further cementing Bautista’s place in the MCU.
2019 — Escape Plan: The Extractors
Escape Plan: The Extractors continues Bautista’s role as Trent DeRosa in the third film of the Escape Plan series. John Herzfeld directed the action thriller, which again stars Sylvester Stallone alongside Bautista and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The story involves a kidnapping and a dangerous private prison, leading the characters into another rescue mission. Bautista’s expanded presence reflects the action-oriented roles that became a regular part of his filmography during this period.
2019 — Stuber
In the action comedy Stuber, Bautista plays Los Angeles police detective Victor “Vic” Manning, who forces a mild-mannered rideshare driver into helping him track down a dangerous criminal. Directed by Michael Dowse, the film pairs Bautista with Kumail Nanjiani and also features Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, and Betty Gilpin. The movie combines buddy-comedy conventions with police action and gives Bautista considerably more room for humor. Stuber was an important demonstration that he could carry comedic material as well as action-heavy roles.
2020 — My Spy
Bautista stars as JJ, a hardened CIA operative, in the family action comedy My Spy. Directed by Peter Segal, the film pairs Bautista with Chloe Coleman, who plays a young girl that discovers his undercover activities and eventually forces him into an unlikely friendship. The movie blends espionage, comedy, family entertainment, and action while allowing Bautista to explore a softer and more comedic side. It was released in 2020 after its original theatrical plans were changed, becoming another notable lead role in his film career.
2021 — Army of the Dead
Bautista took the lead role of Scott Ward in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead. The action-horror film follows a group of mercenaries who enter a quarantined Las Vegas overrun by zombies to recover a large amount of money. Bautista’s Scott is a former soldier dealing with personal trauma while attempting to reconnect with his daughter. The Netflix film gave him a major dramatic action role and allowed him to combine emotional character work with large-scale zombie spectacle.
2021 — Dune
Bautista joined Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction epic Dune as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, commonly known as the Beast Rabban. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jason Momoa. Rabban is a brutal member of House Harkonnen and plays an important role in the political and military conflict surrounding Arrakis. The film was widely acclaimed and became another major franchise achievement for Bautista following his work in Marvel and Blade Runner 2049.
2022 — Thor: Love and Thunder
Bautista returned as Drax in Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi. The Marvel superhero comedy stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, and the Guardians of the Galaxy cast. Drax and the other Guardians appear near the beginning of the film before Thor’s storyline takes center stage. Although his appearance is smaller than in the main Guardians films, it continued his MCU run as one of the franchise’s most recognizable comedic characters.
2022 — Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Bautista played Duke Cody in Rian Johnson’s mystery comedy Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The film stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc alongside Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Kate Hudson. Duke is a loud, confident online personality and former men’s lifestyle streamer whose presence becomes important to the mystery at the center of the story. The role allowed Bautista to move away from conventional action characters and deliver a satirical supporting performance.
2023 — Knock at the Cabin
Bautista took on one of his most serious dramatic roles as Leonard in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller Knock at the Cabin. The movie follows a family vacation interrupted by four armed strangers who claim that the world will end unless the family makes an unimaginable sacrifice. Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Rupert Grint co-star alongside Bautista. His portrayal of Leonard was particularly notable because the character required restraint, vulnerability, and emotional complexity rather than simply physical intimidation.
2023 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Bautista made his final major MCU appearance as Drax in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film reunites Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Bautista for a story centered heavily on Rocket’s past and the Guardians’ effort to save him. Drax remains an important member of the team, combining his strength and combat ability with the literal-minded humor that defined his character. The film was especially significant for Bautista because he had confirmed that it would be his final appearance as Drax.
2023 — The Boy and the Heron
Bautista provided the voice of the Parakeet King in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy The Boy and the Heron. The film was produced by Studio Ghibli and features a Japanese and English-language voice cast, with Bautista participating in the English dub. His performance is a voice role rather than a live-action appearance, making it distinct from most of his filmography. The acclaimed fantasy follows a young boy who enters a mysterious world filled with supernatural creatures and became one of Miyazaki’s most celebrated later works.
2023 — Parachute
Parachute is a drama directed by Brittany Snow in her feature directorial debut, with Bautista appearing as Bryce. The film stars Courtney Eaton and Thomas Mann and focuses on a young woman dealing with body-image issues and recovery after leaving rehabilitation. Bautista’s role is a supporting appearance rather than a major action performance, giving him another opportunity to work in an intimate dramatic setting. The movie premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival before receiving a wider release in 2024.
2024 — Dune: Part Two
Bautista reprised his role as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two. The science-fiction epic continues Paul Atreides’ journey on Arrakis and expands the conflict between House Atreides, the Fremen, and the Harkonnens. Bautista’s Rabban remains a violent and ruthless figure, though the sequel gives greater attention to the political and military consequences of his family’s actions. The film was a major critical and commercial success and further strengthened Bautista’s reputation in prestigious science-fiction productions.
2024 — My Spy: The Eternal City
Bautista returned as CIA operative JJ in My Spy: The Eternal City, the sequel to My Spy. Directed by Peter Segal, the action comedy again pairs Bautista with Chloe Coleman and expands the story to an international setting involving Italy. JJ finds himself navigating another dangerous mission while also dealing with the challenges of his relationship with his young partner. The sequel continued the family-friendly action-comedy formula of the original film while giving Bautista another leading role.
2024 — The Killer’s Game
In The Killer’s Game, Bautista plays Joe Flood, an elite hitman who discovers that he has a terminal illness and decides to put a contract on himself. Directed by J. J. Perry, the action comedy also features Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff, Scott Adkins, and Ben Kingsley. Joe soon discovers that the situation is far more complicated than expected when other assassins begin pursuing him. The film gave Bautista another central action-comedy role while reuniting him with several performers from the action genre.
2024 — The Last Showgirl
Bautista plays Eddie, the stage manager of the long-running Las Vegas revue in Gia Coppola’s drama The Last Showgirl. The film stars Pamela Anderson as Shelly, a veteran showgirl facing the closure of the production that has defined much of her life, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd. Bautista’s supporting performance is notably quieter and more grounded than many of his action roles. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and received significant attention for its performances and character-driven storytelling.
2025 — In the Lost Lands
Bautista stars as Boyce in In the Lost Lands, a fantasy adventure directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Based on stories by George R. R. Martin, the film pairs Bautista with Milla Jovovich in a dangerous world of magic, monsters, and competing forces. Boyce is a powerful figure who becomes involved in the central quest through the mysterious Lost Lands. The movie allowed Bautista to return to large-scale fantasy storytelling while also taking a producer role on the project.
2025 — Afterburn
In the science-fiction action film Afterburn, Bautista plays Jake, one of the central characters in a post-apocalyptic story. Directed by J. J. Perry, the movie also features Samuel L. Jackson and Olga Kurylenko. The film is set in a world affected by a massive solar event and follows characters navigating the dangerous aftermath. Bautista’s involvement continued his run of leading roles in action and science-fiction productions.
2025 — The Naked Gun
Bautista appears as himself in the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson. His appearance is a comedic cameo rather than a conventional character role, and the movie uses his real-world persona as part of its self-aware humor. The film follows Frank Drebin Jr. as he investigates a criminal conspiracy while maintaining the absurd style of the original franchise. Bautista’s cameo is therefore best classified as a guest appearance rather than a standard acting role.
2025 — Trap House
Bautista stars as DEA agent Ray Seale in Michael Dowse’s action thriller Trap House. The movie follows Ray and fellow DEA agent Andre Washburn, played by Bobby Cannavale, after a raid goes wrong and a cartel becomes a threat to their families. Ray’s teenage son becomes involved in a dangerous scheme to rob cartel stash houses, creating a conflict between the agents and their own children. The film combines action, crime, family drama, and dark humor and was released in 2025.
2026 — The Wrecking Crew
Bautista stars opposite Jason Momoa in The Wrecking Crew, a buddy-cop action comedy directed by Ángel Manuel Soto. Bautista plays James Hale, while Momoa plays a contrasting character as the two become involved in an investigation connected to their family history. The cast also includes Claes Bang, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Frankie Adams, Stephen Root, and Morena Baccarin. The film premiered in New York in January 2026 and was released on Prime Video on January 28, making it Bautista’s latest released live-action feature film as of August 2026.
2026 — Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender
Bautista provides the voice of Tagah in the animated feature Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. The film is based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe and follows Aang and his friends as they confront a new threat while working to preserve the Air Nomad culture. Bautista voices one of the film’s antagonistic characters, marking another major animated voice role after The Boy and the Heron. The film premiered globally on Paramount+ on July 25, 2026, making it an officially released addition to Bautista’s filmography rather than an upcoming project.
Conclusion
Dave Bautista’s movie career has developed from brief appearances and physically demanding action roles into one of the more varied filmographies among former professional wrestlers. His breakthrough as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy established him as a major franchise performer, while films such as Blade Runner 2049, Hotel Artemis, Dune, Knock at the Cabin, and The Last Showgirl demonstrated his ability to take on very different types of characters. He has also successfully moved between superhero films, science fiction, crime thrillers, martial arts movies, family comedies, animation, and serious drama. From his earliest credited and cameo appearances to his latest 2026 releases, Dave Bautista movies by year show a steady evolution from action-oriented performer to increasingly versatile actor.
