Timothy Spall is an acclaimed English actor whose career has stretched across British independent cinema, major Hollywood productions, period dramas, comedies, thrillers, and fantasy films. He first appeared on screen in the late 1970s and gradually became one of Britain’s most recognizable character actors, working with filmmakers including Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Tim Burton, and Edward Zwick. Spall is particularly known for his collaborations with Mike Leigh, including Life Is Sweet, Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy, All or Nothing, and Mr. Turner. International audiences also know him as Peter Pettigrew, or Wormtail, in the Harry Potter series, while his portrayal of J. M. W. Turner in Mr. Turner earned him the Best Actor prize at Cannes. His later film work has included Denial, The Party, Spencer, Wicked Little Letters, Rich Flu, and Goodbye June. This chronological guide to Timothy Spall movies by year covers his released feature-film appearances, while identifying voice, archive, television, and other non-standard work separately where necessary.
1979 — Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia (1979) was one of Timothy Spall’s earliest feature-film appearances, with the actor credited as the Projectionist. Directed by Franc Roddam, the British drama is based on The Who’s 1973 rock opera album and follows a young Mod caught in a world of youth culture, music, rivalry, and social unrest. Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Sting, and Ray Winstone lead the cast. Although Spall’s role was small, the film became an important early British screen credit in his career.
1982 — The Missionary
Spall appeared as Parswell in The Missionary (1982), a British period comedy directed by Richard Loncraine. Michael Palin stars as an Anglican missionary who returns to Victorian London and becomes involved in an increasingly complicated attempt to raise money for his work. Maggie Smith, Trevor Howard, and Denholm Elliott are among the principal cast members. The film provided Spall with an early opportunity to work in a polished period comedy.
1982 — Remembrance
In Remembrance (1982), Spall played Douglas in a British drama directed by Colin Gregg. The film focuses on working-class characters and relationships in Liverpool and was adapted from a stage play by Arnold Wesker. Spall’s appearance came during the formative period of his screen career, before his later collaborations with major British directors. The movie is one of his lesser-known early feature credits.
1985 — The Bride
Spall played Paulus in The Bride (1985), a gothic science-fiction horror film directed by Franc Roddam. The movie reimagines Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein story, with Sting as Baron Charles Frankenstein and Jennifer Beals as the woman created for him. The film combines horror, romance, and period fantasy and gave Spall an early supporting role in an internationally cast production.
1985 — Dutch Girls
Dutch Girls (1985) is a British comedy-drama directed by Giles Foster, with Spall playing Lyndon Baines Jellicoe. The story follows a group of young British men who travel to the Netherlands for a school sporting event and become caught up in romance and youthful rivalry. Spall’s character is part of the ensemble surrounding the central group. The film is notable as another early example of his work in British comedy and drama.
1986 — Gothic
Spall portrayed the poet and physician Dr. John William Polidori in Gothic (1986), directed by Ken Russell. The horror drama fictionalizes the famous 1816 gathering at Villa Diodati involving Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Polidori. Gabriel Byrne, Julian Sands, Natasha Richardson, and Myriam Cyr also star in the highly stylized production. Spall’s performance places him within one of the more distinctive films of his early career.
1987 — Body Contact
In Body Contact (1987), Spall played Paul in a British drama directed by John Duigan. The film explores relationships and emotional complications surrounding its central characters, with a more intimate focus than many of Spall’s later mainstream productions. It belongs to the period when he was building a reputation through varied supporting performances.
1988 — Dream Demon
Spall appeared as Peck in Dream Demon (1988), a British supernatural horror film directed by Harley Cokeliss. The story follows a young woman whose dreams and waking life become increasingly entangled with disturbing supernatural experiences. The movie combines psychological horror with surreal imagery and gothic atmosphere. Spall’s supporting role is among his early appearances in genre cinema.
1988 — To Kill a Priest
In To Kill a Priest (1988), Spall played Igor in Agnieszka Holland’s political drama. The film is inspired by the murder of Polish priest Jerzy Popiełuszko and stars Christopher Lambert, Ed Harris, and Timothy Spall among its international cast. Set against the political tensions of communist-era Poland, the movie examines faith, state power, and resistance. It gave Spall a supporting part in a serious historical drama.
1989 — Crusoe
Spall played Reverend Milne in Crusoe (1989), a British adventure drama directed by Caleb Deschanel. Based loosely on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the film follows a shipwrecked man struggling to survive on a remote island. Aidan Quinn plays the title character, with Ade Sapara and Oliver Reed also appearing. Spall’s role is a supporting one in this literary adventure adaptation.
1990 — White Hunter Black Heart
Spall played Hodkins, a bush pilot, in Clint Eastwood’s White Hunter Black Heart (1990). The drama is a fictionalized account of filmmaker John Huston’s experiences while preparing to make The African Queen, with Eastwood playing the director-like central character. The movie combines Hollywood history, adventure, and character drama. Spall’s supporting role places him within the story’s filmmaking expedition.
1990 — The Sheltering Sky
Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Sheltering Sky (1990) featured Spall as Eric Lyle. Adapted from Paul Bowles’s novel, the romantic drama follows an American couple travelling through North Africa while their relationship gradually becomes strained by isolation and uncertainty. Debra Winger and John Malkovich star, with Bertolucci emphasizing atmosphere and existential themes. Spall’s part is a supporting role within the travelers’ wider circle.
1990 — 1871
Spall appeared as Ramborde in 1871 (1990), a historical drama directed by Ken McMullen. Set during the Paris Commune, the film examines the political upheaval and violent conflict that followed the establishment of the revolutionary government. The production takes a serious historical approach rather than presenting the events as conventional action cinema. It remains one of the more unusual political-history projects in Spall’s filmography.
1990 — Life Is Sweet
Spall played the memorable character Aubrey in Mike Leigh’s Life Is Sweet (1990), a British comedy-drama about an ordinary North London family. Aubrey is an eccentric chef whose restaurant ambitions provide some of the film’s funniest and most awkward moments. Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks, and Claire Skinner also star. The film began Spall’s long and significant creative association with Leigh.
1996 — Secrets & Lies
In Secrets & Lies (1996), Spall played Maurice Purley, a photographer dealing with complicated family relationships. Mike Leigh directed the acclaimed drama, which centers on a woman who discovers the daughter she gave up for adoption years earlier. Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Phyllis Logan, and Spall form the central ensemble. The film earned major international recognition, while Spall received a BAFTA nomination for his performance.
1996 — Hamlet
Spall played Rosencrantz in Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (1996), a lavish feature adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Branagh directed and starred as Hamlet, with Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Richard Attenborough, and Julie Christie among the cast. The film presents Shakespeare’s complete text in a large-scale period production. Spall’s Rosencrantz is one of the supporting courtiers drawn into Hamlet’s increasingly dangerous world.
1998 — Still Crazy
Spall played David “Beano” Baggot in Still Crazy (1998), a British musical comedy directed by Brian Gibson. The film follows a fictional 1970s rock band that reunites decades after breaking up and attempts to revive its career. Bill Nighy, Stephen Rea, Bruce Robinson, and Juliet Aubrey co-star. Spall’s Beano is the band’s eccentric keyboard player and contributes significantly to the movie’s ensemble humor.
1998 — The Wisdom of Crocodiles
Also released as Immortality, The Wisdom of Crocodiles (1998) featured Spall as Inspector Healey. Directed by Po-Chih Leong, the romantic thriller stars Jude Law as a mysterious man whose relationships with women are connected to a series of unexplained deaths. The film mixes supernatural elements with crime and psychological drama. Spall’s detective character helps provide a police perspective on the increasingly mysterious events.
1999 — Topsy-Turvy
Spall played theatre performer Richard Temple in Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy (1999). The richly detailed period musical drama recreates the world surrounding W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as they develop The Mikado, with Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner leading the cast. Spall’s Temple is a veteran performer whose confidence is threatened when his part becomes uncertain. The film received major critical recognition, and Spall earned another BAFTA nomination.
2000 — Love’s Labour’s Lost
In Kenneth Branagh’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000), Spall played Don Armado. The musical romantic comedy adapts Shakespeare’s play while incorporating songs from the early twentieth-century popular-music tradition. Branagh, Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone, and Emily Mortimer are among the cast. Spall’s flamboyant comic performance fits the film’s deliberately theatrical style.
2000 — Vatel
Spall portrayed Jean Hérault de Gourville in Roland Joffé’s Vatel (2000), a French period drama centered on the celebrated chef François Vatel. Gérard Depardieu plays Vatel, with Uma Thurman and Julian Sands also starring. The film recreates the extravagant court of Louis XIV and the preparations for a spectacular royal banquet. Spall’s role places him among the historical figures surrounding the central chef.
2000 — Chicken Run
Spall provided the voice of Nick the rat in Aardman’s Chicken Run (2000), a stop-motion animated comedy directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park. The story follows a group of chickens trying to escape from a farm before their owners turn them into pies. Spall’s Nick is a streetwise rat who becomes an important ally to Ginger and the other chickens. The film became one of the most successful British animated features of its period.
2001 — The Old Man Who Read Love Stories
Spall played Mayor Luis Agalla in The Old Man Who Read Love Stories (2001), directed by Rolf de Heer. Adapted from Luis Sepúlveda’s novel, the drama follows an elderly man living in the Amazon whose knowledge of the jungle becomes important when a dangerous animal is blamed for a death. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Antonio Bolívar, while Spall appears in a supporting role. The film combines adventure, environmental themes, and reflective drama.
2001 — Lucky Break
In Lucky Break (2001), Spall played Cliff Gumbell in a British prison comedy directed by Peter Cattaneo. The film follows inmates who devise a plan to stage a musical production as part of an elaborate escape scheme. James Nesbitt, Olivia Williams, Bill Nighy, and Spall lead the ensemble. His performance contributes to the film’s mixture of prison comedy and musical entertainment.
2001 — Vanilla Sky
Spall appeared as Thomas Tipp in Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky (2001), a psychological science-fiction thriller starring Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz. The story follows a wealthy publisher whose seemingly perfect life changes after a traumatic accident, leading him into increasingly uncertain experiences involving memory and reality. Spall’s character is connected to the mysterious events surrounding Cruise’s David Aames. The film is an English-language remake of Alejandro Amenábar’s Open Your Eyes.
2001 — Intimacy
In Patrice Chéreau’s Intimacy (2001), Spall played Andy in an adult romantic drama about two people who meet regularly for anonymous sexual encounters. Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox play the central couple, while Spall appears in the wider network of relationships surrounding them. The film explores loneliness, marriage, desire, and emotional detachment. Its mature subject matter and European arthouse approach distinguish it from Spall’s more mainstream work.
2001 — Rock Star
Spall played Mats, the road manager of fictional heavy-metal band Steel Dragon, in Rock Star (2001). Directed by Stephen Herek, the musical comedy-drama stars Mark Wahlberg as a tribute-band singer who unexpectedly becomes the lead vocalist of the real band he idolizes. Jennifer Aniston and Dominic West also feature in the cast. Spall’s role gives him another opportunity to work within a music-centered ensemble after Still Crazy.
2002 — All or Nothing
Spall took the lead role of Phil in Mike Leigh’s All or Nothing (2002), a British drama about working-class families living in South London. Phil is a minicab driver whose marriage to Penny, played by Lesley Manville, has become emotionally distant. The film focuses on ordinary domestic pressures rather than a conventional plot-driven narrative. It became another important collaboration between Spall and Leigh.
2002 — Nicholas Nickleby
Spall played Charles Cheeryble in Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Douglas McGrath’s period comedy-drama adaptation of Charles Dickens’s novel. Charlie Hunnam plays Nicholas, with Nathan Lane, Jim Broadbent, Christopher Plummer, Anne Hathaway, and Romola Garai also starring. Spall’s Cheeryble is one of the kindly brothers who help the young protagonist after his family falls into hardship. The film combines Dickensian drama, humor, and adventure in a large ensemble production.
2003 — The Last Samurai
Spall played Simon Graham in Edward Zwick’s The Last Samurai (2003), an epic historical action drama starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. Graham is a British interpreter who accompanies Cruise’s Captain Nathan Algren to Japan and becomes familiar with the samurai culture at the center of the story. The film explores the clash between traditional samurai life and Japan’s rapid modernization during the nineteenth century. Spall’s performance provides humor and warmth within the large-scale historical adventure.
2004 — Gettin’ Square
Spall played Darren “Dabba” Barrington in the Australian crime comedy Gettin’ Square (2004), directed by Jonathan Teplitzky. The film follows former criminals attempting to rebuild their lives while old habits and criminal connections continue to interfere. David Wenham, Sam Worthington, and Timothy Spall lead the cast. Spall’s role combines comedy with the rougher tone of an Australian crime story.
2004 — Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
In Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Spall played Mr. Poe, the well-meaning but ineffective banker responsible for the Baudelaire children’s affairs. Directed by Brad Silberling, the fantasy comedy stars Jim Carrey as the sinister Count Olaf, with Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, and Kara Hoffman and Shelby Hoffman as the Baudelaire children. The story combines dark humor, gothic production design, and adventure. Spall’s Mr. Poe serves as one of the adults repeatedly failing to recognize Olaf’s schemes.
2004 — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Spall made his first major appearance as Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The fantasy adventure introduces Pettigrew’s connection to Sirius Black and the history surrounding Harry’s parents. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, and Alan Rickman headline the film. The role became one of Spall’s most recognizable international performances and eventually extended across the series.
2005 — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Spall returned as Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell. Harry is unexpectedly entered into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament while Voldemort’s forces begin moving toward his return. Pettigrew remains closely connected to Voldemort and plays a significant part in the dark events surrounding the tournament’s conclusion. The film expanded Spall’s role within one of the decade’s largest fantasy franchises.
2005 — Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Spall portrayed executioner Albert Pierrepoint in Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (2005), a British historical drama directed by Adrian Shergold. The film examines the life and work of the famous British executioner, including his role in carrying out postwar executions. Spall leads the film with a restrained performance that focuses on the personal consequences of Pierrepoint’s profession. The feature was also released under the title The Last Hangman.
2007 — Death Defying Acts
Spall played Sugarman in Death Defying Acts (2007), a period drama directed by Gillian Armstrong. Guy Pearce stars as illusionist Harry Houdini, who becomes involved with a Scottish family claiming to possess supernatural abilities. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Saoirse Ronan also star in the story, which combines romance, mystery, and historical fiction. Spall’s character is part of the deception and intrigue surrounding Houdini’s search for genuine communication with the dead.
2007 — Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Spall reprised Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), although his appearance is brief. Directed by David Yates, the film follows Harry’s growing opposition to the Ministry of Magic and Dolores Umbridge’s control of Hogwarts. The story also introduces Dumbledore’s Army and the escalating conflict between Harry and Voldemort. Pettigrew remains part of the wider network supporting Voldemort.
2007 — Enchanted
In Disney’s Enchanted (2007), Spall played Nathaniel, the henchman of the villainous Queen Narissa. Directed by Kevin Lima, the fantasy musical comedy sends an animated fairy-tale princess into modern New York City, where she encounters real-world versions of romance and family life. Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Susan Sarandon star. Spall’s Nathaniel provides much of the film’s comic villainy while attempting to stop the princess from finding happiness.
2007 — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Spall portrayed Beadle Bamford in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). The gothic musical stars Johnny Depp as the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, with the story centered on murder and revenge in Victorian London. Beadle is a corrupt authority figure who helps sustain Judge Turpin’s power. The film combines dark horror, musical theatre, and Burton’s distinctive visual style.
2008 — Appaloosa
Spall played Phil Olson in Appaloosa (2008), a Western directed by Ed Harris. Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons star in the story of two lawmen hired to protect a frontier town from a powerful rancher. Spall’s Olson is connected to the dangerous local power structure. The film marked one of Spall’s relatively rare appearances in a traditional American Western.
2009 — The Damned United
Spall portrayed Peter Taylor in The Damned United (2009), directed by Tom Hooper. The sports drama focuses on Brian Clough’s brief and turbulent period managing Leeds United in the 1970s, with Michael Sheen playing Clough. Taylor, played by Spall, is Clough’s longtime friend and coaching partner. The film blends football history with character drama and became one of Spall’s notable British sports-related performances.
2009 — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Spall made another brief appearance as Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), the sixth film in the series. Directed by David Yates, the story follows Harry and Dumbledore as they investigate Voldemort’s past and the secrets behind his immortality. Pettigrew remains among Voldemort’s followers during the growing conflict. Spall’s appearance continues the character’s recurring connection to the darker side of the wizarding story.
2009 — Heartless
In the psychological horror film Heartless (2009), Spall played George Morgan. Directed by Philip Ridley, the film stars Jim Sturgess as a young photographer whose life becomes increasingly entangled with violence and a mysterious supernatural figure. Spall’s character is part of the disturbing world surrounding the protagonist. The movie combines urban fantasy, psychological horror, and dark drama.
2009 — Desert Flower
Spall played Terry Donaldson in Desert Flower (2009), a biographical drama directed by Sherry Hormann. The film tells the story of Waris Dirie, a Somali woman who becomes an international model and campaigner against female genital mutilation. Liya Kebede plays Dirie, with Spall appearing in a supporting role connected to her new life in London. The film combines biographical drama with an account of Dirie’s activism.
2009 — From Time to Time
In From Time to Time (2009), Spall played Boggis in a British period fantasy directed by Julian Fellowes. The story follows a young boy who discovers that he can communicate across time while staying at an old country house. Maggie Smith, Alex Etel, Timothy Spall, and Christopher Lee are among the ensemble cast. The film blends family adventure, supernatural mystery, and historical drama.
2010 — Alice in Wonderland
Spall provided the voice of Bayard the Bloodhound in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010). The fantasy adventure combines live action with digital animation as Alice returns to the magical world of Underland and becomes involved in its conflict with the Red Queen. Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway lead the cast. Spall’s contribution is a voice performance rather than a conventional on-camera role.
2010 — Wake Wood
Spall played Arthur in Wake Wood (2010), a supernatural horror film directed by David Keating. The story follows a grieving couple who are offered a mysterious opportunity to spend a limited amount of time with their deceased child. Spall’s character becomes involved in the dark community ritual at the heart of the film. It is one of his more overtly horror-focused feature roles.
2010 — Jackboots on Whitehall
Spall voiced Winston Churchill in the stop-motion war comedy Jackboots on Whitehall (2010). Directed by Edward and Rory McHenry, the film imagines an alternate-history Britain invaded by Nazi Germany and follows a group of characters attempting to resist the occupation. The deliberately exaggerated style combines military satire, action, and comedy. Spall’s Churchill is a voice performance rather than a physical screen role.
2010 — Reuniting the Rubins
Spall starred as Lenny Rubin in Reuniting the Rubins (2010), a British family comedy-drama directed by Yoav Factor. Lenny is an anxious lawyer who attempts to bring his scattered siblings together for their mother’s birthday. The reunion exposes old disagreements and unresolved family problems. The film gave Spall a leading contemporary role outside his better-known historical and fantasy work.
2010 — The King’s Speech
Spall played Winston Churchill in The King’s Speech (2010), directed by Tom Hooper. The historical drama follows King George VI, played by Colin Firth, as he works with speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, to overcome his stammer. Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush also lead the celebrated ensemble. Spall’s Churchill is a supporting historical figure within the political world surrounding the King.
2010 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Spall returned as Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010), the first half of the franchise’s final adaptation. Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave Hogwarts to search for Voldemort’s Horcruxes while the wizarding world comes under increasingly brutal control. Pettigrew remains aligned with Voldemort and appears during the darker phase of the conflict. The film was another major international release in Spall’s fantasy-film career.
2011 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Spall is associated with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) as Peter Pettigrew, although the final film’s use of the character is very limited and includes material connected to the earlier production. Directed by David Yates, the film culminates in the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry’s final confrontation with Voldemort. The movie completed the main Harry Potter storyline after eight theatrical releases. For filmography purposes, Spall’s appearance is best treated as a brief/non-standard continuation of his Pettigrew role rather than a substantial new performance.
2011 — My Angel
My Angel (2011), also released as Christmas Angel, is a British Christmas drama in which Spall played Mr. Lambert. Written and directed by Stephen Cookson, the story follows a young boy who searches for an angel after his mother suffers a serious accident. Brenda Blethyn, Celia Imrie, Mel Smith, and Joseph Phillips also star. Although the production was made as a film, its later UK release was primarily through home entertainment, so it is best distinguished from Spall’s conventional theatrical releases.
2012 — Assassin’s Bullet
Spall played Dr. Aaron Kahn in Assassin’s Bullet (2012), a crime thriller directed by Isaac Florentine. The film follows an FBI agent investigating a mysterious assassin targeting criminals who have escaped prosecution. Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland lead the cast alongside Spall. It represents one of the actor’s appearances in a straightforward contemporary thriller.
2012 — Comes a Bright Day
In Comes a Bright Day (2012), Spall played Charlie in a British romantic comedy-drama directed by Simon Aboud. The story begins when a jewelry-store robbery brings an unexpected group of people together and develops into a romantic and character-driven story. Craig Roberts, Imogen Poots, and Kevin McKidd are among the principal cast. Spall’s role forms part of the ensemble surrounding the film’s central relationship.
2012 — Upside Down
Spall played Bob Boruchowitz in Upside Down (2012), a science-fiction romance directed by Juan Solanas. Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst star as lovers living on two worlds with opposing gravitational forces. The film uses its unusual visual premise to explore class divisions, physical separation, and forbidden love. Spall’s character is connected to the corporate and scientific world surrounding the protagonists.
2012 — The Rise
In The Rise (2012), Spall played Detective Inspector West in a British crime drama directed by Rowan Athale. The film follows a group of former criminals planning a major robbery after one of their friends is released from prison. Luke Treadaway and Matthew Lewis lead the cast, with Spall appearing as the police figure pursuing the criminals. The movie combines heist elements with a gritty revenge story.
2012 — Ginger & Rosa
Spall portrayed Mark in Sally Potter’s Ginger & Rosa (2012), a coming-of-age drama set in London during the early 1960s. Elle Fanning stars as Ginger, a teenager whose friendship with Rosa becomes strained as political fears and family problems enter their lives. Spall plays Ginger’s father, whose unconventional relationships affect the family. The film combines personal drama with the wider anxiety surrounding the nuclear age.
2012 — Love Bite
Spall played Sid, a werewolf hunter, in the horror comedy Love Bite (2012), directed by Andy De Emmony. The story follows a group of teenagers whose summer holiday is disrupted by the discovery that a werewolf may be living among them. Ed Speleers, Jessica Szohr, and Luke Pasqualino lead the young cast. Spall’s eccentric hunter adds a comic element to the film’s horror premise.
2013 — The Love Punch
Spall played Jerry in The Love Punch (2013), a British romantic comedy heist film written and directed by Joel Hopkins. Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson play divorced former spouses who reunite after their retirement savings are stolen and decide to recover the money themselves. Spall appears alongside Celia Imrie and the main cast as part of the film’s comic ensemble. The movie combines mature romance with an international caper storyline.
2014 — Mr. Turner
Spall gave one of his most celebrated performances as painter J. M. W. Turner in Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner (2014). The period biographical drama explores the later life, relationships, artistic work, and eccentric personality of the celebrated British landscape painter. Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson, and Joshua McGuire also feature in the cast. Spall won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for the performance, making the film a major milestone in his career.
2015 — Sucker
Spall played the conman known as The Professor in the Australian comedy Sucker (2015), directed by Ben Chessell. The story follows teenager Lawrence after he fails his exams and meets an experienced conman who takes him on a road trip and teaches him the tricks of deception. John Luc and Lily Sullivan star alongside Spall. The film was adapted from Lawrence Leung’s stage production and gave Spall a central role in an independent comedy.
2016 — Alice Through the Looking Glass
Spall returned as the voice of Bayard the Bloodhound in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), James Bobin’s fantasy sequel to Alice in Wonderland. The story follows Alice as she travels back into Underland and attempts to help the Mad Hatter while encountering the past of the fantastical characters. Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway reprise their major roles. Spall’s contribution is again a voice performance rather than a live-action appearance.
2016 — Away
Spall starred as Joseph in Away (2016), a British drama directed by David Blair. The film follows a grieving widower whose life intersects with that of a troubled young woman, creating an unexpected friendship. Juno Temple co-stars as the younger woman whose circumstances bring the two characters together. The intimate drama gave Spall another leading role in a small-scale contemporary production.
2016 — The Journey
In The Journey (2016), Spall played Democratic Unionist politician Ian Paisley in a fictionalized account of an encounter between Paisley and Sinn Féin politician Martin McGuinness. Colm Meaney plays McGuinness in the historical political drama, which was directed by Nick Hamm. The film imagines the two men sharing a car journey during the Northern Ireland peace process. Spall’s performance anchors one side of the film’s two-hander structure.
2016 — Denial
Spall portrayed David Irving in Denial (2016), a courtroom drama directed by Mick Jackson. Based on the legal dispute involving historian Deborah Lipstadt, the film focuses on a British libel case in which Irving sued Lipstadt after she described him as a Holocaust denier. Rachel Weisz plays Lipstadt, with Tom Wilkinson and Andrew Scott also starring. Spall’s role places him at the center of the film’s historical and legal conflict.
2016 — Stanley a Man of Variety
Spall took on numerous characters in Stanley a Man of Variety (2016), a British comedy directed by Stephen Cookson. The film follows a lifelong film enthusiast who becomes obsessed with classic British cinema and adopts the identities of famous performers. Spall’s unusual multi-character performance includes impersonations and characters inspired by figures from British entertainment history. The project showcases his ability to move between broad comedy and character acting.
2017 — The Party
Spall played Bill in Sally Potter’s The Party (2017), a black comedy set largely during a single gathering at a London home. The film follows a group of friends whose celebration gradually falls apart as personal secrets and political disagreements surface. Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, and Emily Mortimer co-star. Spall’s Bill is at the center of several of the evening’s emotional and comic confrontations.
2017 — The Changeover
In The Changeover (2017), Spall played Carmody Braque, a mysterious supernatural figure in a young-adult fantasy thriller directed by Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie. The story follows a teenage girl who discovers that her family is being threatened by a supernatural presence. Spall’s character is central to the film’s darker supernatural elements. The movie gave him another genre role after his earlier work in horror and fantasy.
2017 — Finding Your Feet
Spall played Charlie in Finding Your Feet (2017), a British romantic comedy directed by Richard Loncraine. Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall, and Joanna Lumley star in a story about a recently retired woman who discovers a new social life after joining a community dance group. Charlie becomes part of the romantic and friendship dynamics that develop among the older characters. The film combines gentle comedy with themes of reinvention and later-life relationships.
2018 — Early Man
Spall provided the voice of Chief Bobnar in Early Man (2018), the prehistoric stop-motion comedy from Aardman directed by Nick Park. The story follows a Stone Age tribe whose peaceful existence is threatened by a technologically advanced Bronze Age civilization. Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, and Spall are among the voice cast. His role made Early Man another animated feature in his filmography.
2019 — The Corrupted
Spall played property developer Clifford Cullen in The Corrupted (2019), a British crime thriller directed by Ron Scalpello. Sam Claflin stars as an ex-convict trying to rebuild his life while becoming caught in a network of organized crime, corruption, and property development. Spall’s character represents the powerful interests behind the criminal scheme. The film combines crime drama with a contemporary story about London’s redevelopment and corruption.
2019 — Mrs Lowry & Son
Spall portrayed artist L. S. Lowry in Mrs Lowry & Son (2019), directed by Adrian Noble. The film focuses on Lowry’s complicated relationship with his domineering mother, played by Vanessa Redgrave, while exploring his development as an artist. Set largely around their home in Lancashire, the drama is more intimate than a conventional cradle-to-grave biopic. Spall’s performance forms the center of the film’s exploration of Lowry’s family and artistic life.
2020 — Grizzly II: Revenge
Grizzly II: Revenge is an unusual entry in Spall’s filmography because the movie was shot in the 1980s but was not officially released until 2020. Spall has an early, uncredited role in the creature-feature production, which centers on a giant bear threatening people at a music festival. The film was eventually completed and released decades after its original production, making its history very different from Spall’s other feature credits. Because of its eventual official release, it is relevant to a comprehensive chronological filmography, but its role should be regarded as an early non-standard credit.
2020 — It Snows in Benidorm
Spall starred as Peter Riordan in It Snows in Benidorm (2020), a British-Spanish drama directed by Isabel Coixet. Peter is a solitary bank employee who travels to Benidorm after an unexpected change in his life and begins investigating the disappearance of his brother. The film combines mystery, romance, and character drama against the unusual backdrop of the Spanish resort city. Spall’s central performance carries much of the film’s reflective tone.
2021 — The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica
Spall played architect Alfred Rott in The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica (2021), directed by Daniel Graham. The film follows Rott as he travels to Corsica to work on a major architectural project and becomes involved in the strange world surrounding an elderly client. Peter Stormare also stars in the independent drama. The film combines character comedy, drama, and an eccentric portrait of an unusual professional relationship.
2021 — The Last Bus
In The Last Bus (2021), Spall played Tom Harper, a widower who travels across Britain on local buses to fulfil a promise connected to his late wife. Directed by Gillies MacKinnon, the gentle road movie follows Tom as he revisits places from his past while encountering strangers along the way. The film is built around Spall’s central performance and explores grief, memory, and personal renewal. It became one of his most prominent later-life leading roles.
2021 — Spencer
Spall played Major Alistair Gregory in Pablo Larraín’s Spencer (2021), a psychological drama focused on Princess Diana during a Christmas holiday with the royal family. Kristen Stewart stars as Diana, with the story presenting a fictionalized portrait of the emotional pressures surrounding her marriage and royal life. Spall’s character is part of the rigid environment surrounding Diana during the Sandringham period. The film uses stylized drama rather than functioning as a conventional historical biography.
2022 — This Is Christmas
Spall played Ray in This Is Christmas (2022), a British Christmas romantic comedy directed by Chris Foggin. The story follows commuters and passengers whose lives intersect around a train journey during the holiday season. Spall appears within the ensemble cast as the film develops its interconnected stories of friendship, family, and romance. The movie continues his recurring work in warm, character-driven British productions.
2022 — The Pale Blue Eye
Spall portrayed Superintendent Sylvanus Thayer in Scott Cooper’s The Pale Blue Eye (2022), a gothic mystery set at the United States Military Academy in the nineteenth century. Christian Bale plays a detective investigating a series of murders with the help of a young Edgar Allan Poe, played by Harry Melling. The film blends historical fiction, detective mystery, and gothic horror. Spall’s character is part of the military institution where the investigation unfolds.
2023 — Bolan’s Shoes
Spall starred as Jimmy in Bolan’s Shoes (2023), a British drama written and directed by Ian Puleston-Davies. The film follows characters whose lives are connected by childhood trauma, family secrets, and the music of T. Rex and Marc Bolan. Leanne Best and Mark Lewis Jones also star. The feature was released in the UK in September 2023 and combines music history with an emotional family drama.
2023 — Northern Comfort
Spall played Edward in the Icelandic-British comedy Northern Comfort (2023), directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson. The film follows a group of people with a fear of flying who travel to Iceland as part of an unusual therapeutic program. Lydia Leonard, Ella Rumpf, Sverrir Gudnason, and Rob Delaney join Spall in the ensemble. The movie premiered at SXSW in 2023 before later streaming releases, and its darkly comic approach turns travel anxiety into the basis for character comedy.
2023 — Wicked Little Letters
Spall played Edward Swan in Wicked Little Letters, a period black comedy directed by Thea Sharrock. Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley lead the film, which is based on the real-life Littlehampton scandal involving a series of obscene anonymous letters sent to local residents in the 1920s. Spall’s Edward is part of the conservative community caught up in the investigation. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 before its UK theatrical release in February 2024.
2023 — The Heist Before Christmas
Spall played Father Christmas in The Heist Before Christmas (2023), a British Christmas comedy directed by Edward Hall. The Sky film follows a boy who encounters two men dressed as Santa Claus, one of whom is actually a bank robber and the other played by Spall. James Nesbitt co-stars as the criminal Santa, creating the central comic contrast. The film was broadcast on Sky Max in December 2023 and is therefore best identified as a television/streaming feature rather than a conventional theatrical release.
2024 — Rich Flu
Rich Flu is a dystopian thriller directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, with Spall playing Sebastian Snail Sr. The story imagines a deadly disease that initially targets the world’s wealthiest people before spreading through society, creating panic and a collapse of economic systems. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rafe Spall, Lorraine Bracco, and Jonah Hauer-King also star. The film premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in October 2024 and subsequently received theatrical release in Spain in January 2025.
2025 — Goodbye June
Spall plays Bernie, the father of an adult family, in Kate Winslet’s Goodbye June (2025). Winslet makes her feature directorial debut with the family drama, which follows four siblings who reunite at their terminally ill mother’s hospital bedside and confront complicated family relationships. Helen Mirren plays June, with Winslet, Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn also starring. The film premiered in London in December 2025 before a limited theatrical release and its Netflix debut on December 24.
2026 — Hamlet
Spall plays Polonius in Hamlet (2025/2026), Aneil Karia’s contemporary cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Riz Ahmed stars as Hamlet, with Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Art Malik, and Spall among the principal cast. The film relocates the story to modern London while retaining the central themes of revenge, family, betrayal, and political power. It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2025 but received its UK theatrical release on February 6, 2026, making 2026 its relevant general release year for this chronological guide.
Other Non-Standard Screen Credits
Timothy Spall’s broader screen work contains several productions that should not be confused with conventional feature films. The Life Story of Baal (1978), Oliver Twist (1982), Journey’s End (1988), Neville’s Island (1998), The Clandestine Marriage (1998), and My Angel (2011) are associated with television or television-oriented releases rather than standard theatrical features. He has also appeared in short films and provided voice performances in projects such as Chicken Run, Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Jackboots on Whitehall, and Early Man. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, his connection to Peter Pettigrew is limited and should be distinguished from his more substantial appearances in the preceding films.
Conclusion
Timothy Spall’s movie career spans more than four decades and includes British classics, independent dramas, Hollywood blockbusters, period films, horror, comedy, animation, and historical stories. His collaborations with Mike Leigh, particularly Life Is Sweet, Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy, All or Nothing, and Mr. Turner, form an important part of his screen legacy, while his role as Peter Pettigrew introduced him to a huge international audience through the Harry Potter franchise. Later performances in Denial, The Party, Spencer, Wicked Little Letters, Rich Flu, and Goodbye June demonstrate the continued variety of his work. This chronology of Timothy Spall movies by year brings together his released feature-film career while separating voice performances, television productions, archive appearances, and other non-standard credits where appropriate.
