Summary

Henry Cavill shines as one of Hollywood’s powerful and versatile action stars, embodying iconic characters from Superman to Geralt of Rivia.
Cavill’s characters showcase diverse forms of power, from superhuman abilities to intellect and influence over others.
Whether playing heroes or villains, Cavill proves that power can come in different forms and be used for justice or chaos.

Henry Cavill has solidified himself as one of Hollywood’s most popular and recognizable action stars. From the Kryptonian Superman to monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, Cavill not only tends to star in action films and television series, but has also played many powerful characters. In the DC Extended Universe, superpowers are an integral part of the character he plays, and as he seeks to use his powers to enact justice in an unjust world.

Some of Cavill’s other characters also have superhuman abilities and superior physical strength, which makes them more powerful in others. In other cases, Cavill’s characters are powerful because of the influence they can wield over others, or in how they are able to outmaneuver their opponents through their unparalleled intellect. In Cavill’s action movies and in other projects, he has proven that there is more than one way to be powerful, and that it can be about more than battle prowess and physical strength.

10 Agent Argylle

Argylle (2024)

In the world of Elly Conway’s novels, Agent Argylle is the brave protagonist who resourcefully overcomes any obstacle in his path and always saves the day. In reality, Elly seems to be the real Argylle (Rachel Kylle), whose true memories and abilities were suppressed after being captured and brainwashed by her enemies. The real power belongs to Rachel once she rediscovers who she is, with the fictional Argylle mostly existing to remind her of her true self.

This becomes more convoluted with the actual real Argylle showing up at Rachel’s reading of her final novel during Argylle‘s ending. The full story and extent of the real Argylle’s power remains to be seen, but for now remains a mystery. Based on what is known about Argylle, though, he cannot hold a candle to many of Cavill’s other characters, although that may change if the real Argylle is fleshed out further in potential sequels and spinoffs.

9 Napoleon Solo

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Cavill’s Napoleon Solo is a World War II veteran who became involved with the post-war black market. Instead of this being the end of him, the talents he used in his illegal dealings led him to the employ of the CIA, a position that grants him a certain degree of power in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Solo does not have the superpowers that other Cavill characters possess, but he is quite intuitive, charming, and inventive, all of which enable him to be successful.

Alongside Illya Kuryakin, Solo takes on Nazi sympathizers, who are attempting to create a nuclear weapon. With his various talents and his partner, Solo is able to stop these kinds of enemies, but he would be severely outmatched against many of the opponents that Cavill’s other characters face. Solo’s power only works in a world with espionage and traditional warfare, and not against the monsters and supervillains other Cavill characters have proven themselves against.

8 Gus March-Phillips

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Gustavus March-Phillips was a real-life individual, and was powerful enough to inspire the character of James Bond in Ian Fleming’s writings. Operation Postmaster, a secretive mission to sabotage Axis supply lines, was carried out under Gus’ command. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare heavily dramatizes the true story of Operation Postmaster, but in the real and fictional versions of these stories, Gus’ leadership, resourcefulness, and bravery prove vital in the mission’s success.

Under these kinds of circumstances, Gus could be a powerful individual willing to take risks to achieve the desired result of his mission. Outside the context of war, Cavill’s version of Gus does not have a great deal of power, especially when compared to other characters Cavill has portrayed. The real Gus initially bringing Bond to life is a point in his favor, although this influence has little to do with the fictional Gus, who came many decades after Bond was first created.

7 August Walker

Mission Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Cavill tends to play heroic characters, but he proved he can also excel at playing the villain through the role of August Walker in Mission Impossible – Fallout. Walker successfully infiltrated the CIA, becoming trusted within the government organization while secretly working for the Apostles. He is a formidable opponent for Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, which, as seen throughout the Mission Impossible series, is a difficult feat considering Ethan’s experience and many skills.

Despite what Walker is able to achieve, being the villain in this case means he is ultimately defeated by Ethan. Failing to succeed in his mission, no matter how sinister it is in this case, automatically makes Walker weaker than other Cavill characters who are ultimately successful in their aims. Cavill is just as adept at playing a villain as he is at playing a hero, and in this case, the villainous Walker cannot surpass the heroes because of how his story ends.

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6 Sherlock Holmes

Enola Holmes (2020) & Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

Enola Holmes‘ Sherlock Holmes may not have superpowers or unparalleled physical strength, but Sherlock is a renowned and famous detective able to take on and solve cases that are a mystery to everyone else. Only his sister, Enola, and Enola Holmes 2‘s Moriarty can rival his intuition and ability to see meaningful patterns where others see nothing at all. Beyond his intelligence, Sherlock wields influence because of his impressive reputation, and is able to attract high-profile clients.

Enola Holmes 3 is slated to begin production in 2025.

While Cavill’s Sherlock is influential in his area of expertise and in the cases he solves, his influence, and therefore his power, is limited outside this context. This makes him weaker than some of Cavill’s other characters, who remain powerful regardless of the environment they find themselves in. Sherlock’s arena is extensive enough that he is powerful more often than not in his daily life, although that may be further challenged by Moriarty in Enola Holmes 3.

5 Charles Brandon

The Tudors (2007-2010)

The Tudors‘ Charles Brandon is more powerful in the political realm than any other character Cavill has played. Charles held many prominent titles as a close ally and member of King Henry VIII’s inner circle, and maintained a powerful influence that few of the monarch’s closest companions were able to sustain. Henry VIII famously killed several of his wives, but Charles was able to remain well-liked and trusted by him, a powerful feat in itself.

Charles’ political power only reaches so far, though, as he cannot supersede the will of Henry VIII and generally obeys the king’s orders. If he had to face Cavill’s characters, who have superpowers, Charles’ political power probably would not be that useful, and he would be easily bested by them. There are limits to what he can achieve, both in The Tudors and in a hypothetical match against Cavill’s more powerful characters.

4 The Cavillrine

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

While Cavill only has a cameo as one of the many variants of Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, enough was seen to assert him as one of Cavill’s most powerful characters. Similar to other Wolverines, including the titular one played by Hugh Jackman, the Cavillrine has retractable adamantium claws and superior physical strength that sends Deadpool hurtling through a pillar when he is punched. The Cavillrine quickly proved to be more powerful than Deadpool.

Since he has the adamantium claws and superior physical strength, he likely possesses other Wolverine abilities, such as the character’s regenerative healing.

He was not swayed by Deadpool’s words and made it clear that he did not want to go with the Merc with a Mouth. This demonstrates mental strength as Deadpool’s fast-talking sometimes gets inside the heads of those listening to him, but the Cavillrine was not swayed by this. Since he has the adamantium claws and superior physical strength, he likely possesses other Wolverine abilities, such as the character’s regenerative healing.

3 Theseus

Immortals (2011)

When Immortals begins, Theseus is a mortal human soldier and an outcast in his society. That changes when Theseus is chosen by the Greek gods to stop King Hyperion and his minions from unleashing the Titans incarcerated below Mount Tartarus. By the end of Immortals, Theseus not only defeats Hyperion and his forces, thereby preventing their dastardly plan from coming to fruition, but ascends to Mount Olympus itself and becomes a legend.

Theseus’ physical strength and battle prowess elevate his power over many of Cavill’s other characters. Only a warrior of Theseus’ caliber could be victorious over Hyperion and the vicious Minotaur, known in this story as the Beast. Being chosen by the gods, going to Mount Olympus itself, and becoming an enduring legend puts Theseus in a class of his own that makes him more powerful than most of Cavill’s characters, with only two others able to rival him.

2 Geralt Of Rivia

The Witcher (2019-Present)

From a young age, Geralt of Rivia was trained in the art of killing humans and monsters, skills that are required of every Witcher. Compared to other Witchers, Geralt became the most powerful of them all, largely due to his body being mutated and thus granting him superhuman abilities. He has superior strength, agility, sight, and speed, making him a true force to be reckoned with in The Witcher‘s fantastical world.

Liam Hemsworth has been recast as Geralt for The Witcher season 4.

Few are as gifted with weapons as Geralt is, giving him a mastery over the weapons he wields, and an advantage over those he faces. He is still an expert fighter without weapons, though, using hand-to-hand combat on many occasions to best his enemies, and proving that his body is a weapon all on its own. Geralt stands tall among the most powerful characters Cavill has portrayed, but there is one character even more powerful than Geralt.

The Witcher

Adventure
Drama
Action
Fantasy

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Based on the novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and the video games, The Witcher follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. “Ciri” Cirilla is the Princess of Cintra, who has magical abilities and whose fate has been linked to Geralt’s. Yennefer of Vengerberg, a sorceress who trains to become a mage before deserting her duties and going solo, is also a main character in the Netflix series. The show’s storylines are intertwined but told throughout different timelines, all of which eventually catch up to Ciri’s, whose timeline of events is the most recent. Set on the Continent where men, monsters, and elves exist together, the characters all have separate journeys, though their destinies bring them into each others’ orbits.

Release DateDecember 20, 2019
WritersLauren Schmidt Hissrich
CastTom Canton , Maciej Musial , Björn Hlynur Haraldsson , Anna Shaffer , MyAnna Buring , Lars Mikkelsen , Royce Pierreson , Eamon Farren , Wilson Radjou-Pujalte , Joey Batey , Jodhi May , Therica Wilson-Read , Anya Chalotra , Mimi Ndiweni , Henry Cavill , Freya Allan , Adam Levy , Amit Shah , Liam Hemsworth , Laurence Fishburne
Seasons4
DirectorsLauren Schmidt Hissrich
ShowrunnerLauren Schmidt Hissrich

1 Superman/Clark Kent

Man Of Steel (2013), Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), & Black Adam (2022)

Between his flight, heat and X-ray vision, superhuman strength and speed, and with his only weakness being kryptonite, Superman is easily Cavill’s most powerful character. Whether working alone or with fellow superheroes, Cavill’s Superman defeats the formidable likes of General Zod, Doomsday, and Steppenwolf. If he had chosen to do so, Superman could have destroyed human civilization with no one able to oppose him, but choosing not to do this and use his abilities for good is a different kind of power in itself.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Zack Snyder’s Justice League did tease a future where Darkseid had control over Superman, which proved to be apocalyptic, and a greater threat than anything DC’s heroes had ever faced before, although this story will likely never be completed due to DC’s creative overhaul. As Clark Kent, he demonstrates a different kind of power as a kind, brave, and insightful journalist working for the Daily Planet. While Henry Cavill will play more powerful characters throughout his career, none will be able to surpass the power of Superman/Clark Kent.