The Batman, Saltburn, and Barry Keoghan's best movies ranked

2. The Killing of a Sacred Deer

We've made it to Keoghan's two best movies, which are almost equal in quality to me. They're both so fantastic! In the number two place is Yorgos Lanthimos' 2017 psychological thriller The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Keoghan stars opposite Colin Farrell as a 16-year-old named Martin with troubled intentions.

Farrell plays a surgeon named Steven who begins spending time with Martin after accidentally killing his father during a failed operation. Steven invites Martin into his own home to spend time with his family and starts to become a father figure to him. But Martin wants more than just a mentor or friend. The pacing and suspense in The Killing of a Sacred Deer are masterly executed throughout the movie as you wonder what Martin will do next — as well as how Steven and his family will react.

The whole cast of The Killing of a Sacred Deer is very strong, also featuring Nicole Kidman as Steven's wife Anna, Sunny Suljic as their son Bob, Raffey Cassidy as their daughter Kim, and Alicia Silverstone as Martin's mom.

Keoghan gives an unforgettable performance here, and it's no surprise this movie put him on the map. He's incredibly eerie, unpredictable, and somehow still very compelling. His portrayal earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Male at the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Where to watch: Stream on Netflix or on Paramount+