---
name: "Dave Bautista"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/dave-bautista"
fi1m_id: "dave-bautista"
imdb_id: "nm1176985"
tmdb_id: 543530
wikidata_id: "Q44158"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 January 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-22T03:18:12.073683+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Dave Bautista

## Identity

Dave Bautista

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dave-bautista
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** dave-bautista
- **IMDb ID:** nm1176985
- **TMDB ID:** 543530
- **Wikidata ID:** Q44158
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Bautista, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44158, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1176985/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/543530

Actor. Born 18 January 1969 in Washington, D.C., USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 January 1969, Washington, D.C., USA
- **Active:** 2014–present
- **Also known as:** Batista, Dave Batista, Deacon Batista, David Bautista, Leviathan, The Animal, David Micheal Bautista Jr., The Animal Unleashed, The Evolution Animal, Demon of the Deep
- **Frequently works with:** [Kevin Feige](https://film.one/person/kevin-feige.md), [Chris Pratt](https://film.one/person/chris-pratt.md), [James Gunn](https://film.one/person/james-gunn.md), [Zoe Saldaña](https://film.one/person/zoe-saldana.md), [Bradley Cooper](https://film.one/person/bradley-cooper.md), [Daniel Craig](https://film.one/person/daniel-craig.md), [Denis Villeneuve](https://film.one/person/denis-villeneuve.md), [Vin Diesel](https://film.one/person/vin-diesel.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 14 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 74 (6), 2020s 71 (8)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 73 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 9, Adventure 9, Science Fiction 8, Comedy 3, Crime 2, Drama 2
- **Screen time:** 32 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $10,484m across 13 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Bautista, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44158, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1176985/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/543530

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Guardians of the Galaxy*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md) (80), [*Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3.md) (71), [*The Last Showgirl*](https://film.one/film/the-last-showgirl.md) (68), [*Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md) (64), [*Thor: Love and Thunder*](https://film.one/film/thor-love-and-thunder.md) (55)
- **HBO Max:** [*Dune: Part Two*](https://film.one/film/dune-part-two.md) (84), [*Dune*](https://film.one/film/dune.md) (76)
- **Apple TV:** [*Blade Runner 2049*](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md) (83), [*Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender*](https://film.one/film/avatar-aang-the-last-airbender.md) (64)
- **Netflix:** [*Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery*](https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Dave Bautista

> Dave Bautista makes ridiculous characters funny by taking them seriously, and gives physically threatening men an insecurity worth watching. We rate him most when the writing makes use of more than his size.

In *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), Drax behaves as though the conversation would improve if everyone else took it as seriously as he does. Bautista gives the absurdity no special acknowledgement, which makes him the comic surprise of an already argumentative ensemble. We laughed hardest at his solemnity: he seems determined to maintain his standards while the others carry on around him. James Gunn gives that seriousness room to work, and Bautista never needs to signal that he knows how ridiculous it is.

Drax was his breakthrough after professional wrestling, but the more interesting development is the dramatic work alongside the franchise parts. Sapper Morton in *Blade Runner 2049* (2017) was an early dramatic step. Duke Cody in *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* (2022) kept him in ensemble comedy beyond Drax. These choices are encouraging because they leave him something to play besides the biggest man present. The deadpan delivery matters as much as the imposing build.

Gunn still makes good use of him in *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), particularly opposite Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Her exhausted patience gives Drax's cheerful literalism somebody to wear down, and the two are reliable company when the plot stalls. The film is loud and overlong, with a sagging middle, and their scenes cannot make that disappear. There is a limit to how often an ensemble can be sent off to be foolish while the story waits, even when the actors make the diversion enjoyable.

Denis Villeneuve gives him a different problem as Rabban in *Dune* (2021) and *Dune: Part Two* (2024): making a physically dominant man insecure. The second film allows more vulnerability alongside the threat, and that is a worthwhile use of an actor so readily cast as a brute. We are more interested in what Rabban is afraid of than in another demonstration of his strength, because fear gives Bautista something specific to play. That does not make the dramatic work inherently more valuable than the comedy. Start with the first *Guardians of the Galaxy*; there is enough pleasure in Drax's solemnity to forgive the clutter.

## Biography

Dave Bautista is an American actor and retired professional wrestler. Born in Washington, D.C., he began wrestling in 1999 and rose to prominence in WWE as Batista between 2002 and 2019, winning multiple world championships before retiring after WrestleMania 35.

He transitioned to acting with early roles before his breakthrough as Drax the Destroyer in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014). He reprised the part in *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017), *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), *Avengers: Endgame* (2019), *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022) and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023). Other film credits include *Spectre* (2015), *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), *Dune* (2021) and *Dune: Part Two* (2024) as Beast Rabban.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (14)

- *Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Tagah (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-aang-the-last-airbender.md)
- *The Naked Gun* (2025), Fi1m 77, as Dave Bautista — [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun.md)
- *Dune: Part Two* (2024), Fi1m 84, as Beast Rabban — [page](https://film.one/film/dune-part-two.md)
- *The Last Showgirl* (2024), Fi1m 68, as Eddie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-showgirl.md)
- *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), Fi1m 71, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3.md)
- *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* (2022), Fi1m 72, as Duke Cody — [page](https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md)
- *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022), Fi1m 55, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/thor-love-and-thunder.md)
- *Dune* (2021), Fi1m 76, as Beast Rabban Harkonnen — [page](https://film.one/film/dune.md)
- *Avengers: Endgame* (2019), Fi1m 79, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-endgame.md)
- *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), Fi1m 77, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-infinity-war.md)
- *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), Fi1m 83, as Sapper Morton — [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md)
- *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017), Fi1m 64, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md)
- *Spectre* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Hinx — [page](https://film.one/film/spectre.md)
- *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Drax — [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md)

## Complete filmography (182)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Alpha Gang* (2026), as Alpha Two
- *Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender* (2026), as Tagah (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/avatar-aang-the-last-airbender.md)
- *The Wrecking Crew* (2026), as James Hale · Producer
- *Trap House* (2025), as Ray Seale · Producer
- *Afterburn* (2025), as Jake · Producer
- *The Naked Gun* (2025), as Dave Bautista — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun.md)
- *In the Lost Lands* (2025), as Boyce · Producer
- *The Last Showgirl* (2024), as Eddie — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-showgirl.md)
- *The Killer's Game* (2024), as Joe Flood · Executive Producer
- *My Spy The Eternal City* (2024), as J.J. · Producer
- *Parachute* (2024), as Bryce
- *Dune: Part Two* (2024), as Beast Rabban — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dune-part-two.md)
- *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023), as Drax — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3.md)
- *Knock at the Cabin* (2023), as Leonard
- *The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special* (2022), as Drax
- *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* (2022), as Duke Cody — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md)
- *WWE This Is Awesome* (2022), series, as Batista
- *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022), as Drax — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/thor-love-and-thunder.md)
- *John Cena's Greatest Rivalries* (2022), as Batista
- *Mek Raya* (2022), Actor
- *Army of Thieves* (2021), as Scott Ward (uncredited)
- *Dune* (2021), as Beast Rabban Harkonnen — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/dune.md)
- *Army of the Dead* (2021), as Scott Ward
- *Marvel Studios Legends* (2021), series, as Drax the Destroyer (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Meeting the Undertaker* (2020), Actor
- *Home Movie: The Princess Bride* (2020), series, as Fezzik
- *The Firefly Funhouse Match* (2020), as Batista (archive footage)
- *Ruthless Aggression* (2020), series, as Batista
- *My Spy* (2020), as J.J. · Producer
- *See* (2019), series, as Edo Voss
- *Stuber* (2019), as Vic Manning
- *Escape Plan: The Extractors* (2019), as Trent DeRosa
- *Avengers: Endgame* (2019), as Drax — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-endgame.md)
- *Dark Side of the Ring* (2019), series, as Batista (archive footage)
- *WWE WrestleMania 35* (2019), as Batista
- *What We Do in the Shadows* (2019), series, as Garrett the Vampire
- *Master Z: Ip Man Legacy* (2018), as Davidson · Producer
- *WWE Untold* (2018), series, Actor
- *Final Score* (2018), as Michael Knox · Producer
- *Hotel Artemis* (2018), as Everest
- *Escape Plan 2: Hades* (2018), as Trent DeRosa
- *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), as Drax — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-infinity-war.md)
- *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), as Sapper Morton — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md)
- *2048: Nowhere to Run* (2017), as Sapper Morton
- *Bushwick* (2017), as Stupe
- *Room 104* (2017), series, as Raw Dog Avalanche
- *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* (2017), as Drax — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2.md)
- *WWE: Best of the 2000's* (2017), as Batista
- *The Warriors Gate* (2016), as Arun
- *Randy Orton: RKO Outta Nowhere* (2016), as Batista
- *Kickboxer: Vengeance* (2016), as Tong Po
- *Marauders* (2016), as Stockwell
- *Heist* (2015), as Cox
- *Spectre* (2015), as Hinx — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/spectre.md)
- *L.A. Slasher* (2015), as The Drug Dealer #1
- *Daniel Bryan: Just Say Yes! Yes! Yes!* (2015), as Batista
- *The Destruction of The Shield* (2015), as Batista
- *WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 3* (2014), as Batista
- *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), as Drax — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md)
- *WWE Payback 2014* (2014), as Batista
- *Undertaker: The Streak 21-1* (2014), as Batista
- *WWE Extreme Rules 2014* (2014), as Batista
- *Daniel Bryan: Journey to WrestleMania 30* (2014), as Batista
- *WWE WrestleMania XXX* (2014), as Batista
- *Wrestlemania Rewind* (2014), series, as Batista
- *WWE Elimination Chamber 2014* (2014), as Batista
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2014* (2014), as Batista
- *Riddick* (2013), as Diaz
- *The Man with the Iron Fists* (2012), as Brass Body
- *The Rock vs. John Cena: Once in a Lifetime* (2012), as Batista
- *WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak* (2012), as Batista
- *WWE: Rey Mysterio - The Life of a Masked Man* (2012), as Batista
- *The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption* (2012), as Argomael
- *WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009* (2012), as Batista (archive footage)
- *WWE: The Big Show - A Giant's World* (2011), as Batista
- *Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator* (2011), as Batista (archive footage)
- *House of the Rising Sun* (2011), as Ray
- *The Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century* (2011), as Batista
- *The John Cena Experience* (2011), as Batista (archive footage)
- *WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time* (2010), as Batista
- *WWE: Satan's Prison - The Anthology of the Elimination Chamber* (2010), as Batista
- *My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done* (2010), as Officer · San Diego Police Department S.W.A.T Team
- *WWE: The Undertaker's Deadliest Matches* (2010), as Batista
- *WWE Over the Limit 2010* (2010), as Batista
- *WWE Extreme Rules 2010* (2010), as Batista
- *WWE Wrestlemania XXVI* (2010), as Batista
- *Wrong Side of Town* (2010), as Big Ronnie 'B.R.' · Stunts
- *WWE Elimination Chamber 2010* (2010), as Batista
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2010* (2010), as Batista
- *The History of the World Heavyweight Championship* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE TLC: Tables Ladders & Chairs 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Survivor Series 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Bragging Rights 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *Batista - I Walk Alone* (2009), as Batista
- *Batista - I Walk Alone* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Hell in a Cell 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XXXVI* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Extreme Rules 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Judgment Day 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Backlash 2009* (2009), as Batista
- *WWE Tribute to the Troops 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Armageddon 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Survivor Series 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE: Viva La Raza - The Legacy of Eddie Guerrero* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE: Hell in a Cell - The Greatest Hell in a Cell Matches of All Time* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Cyber Sunday 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE No Mercy 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Unforgiven 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE SummerSlam 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE The Great American Bash 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Night of Champions 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE: Triple H: The King of Kings - There is Only One* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE One Night Stand 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Backlash 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE WrestleMania XXIV* (2008), as Batista
- *The Undertaker: 15-0* (2008), Actor
- *WWE No Way Out 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2008* (2008), as Batista
- *WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Armageddon 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE RAW 15th Anniversary* (2007), Actor
- *WWE Survivor Series 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Cyber Sunday 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE No Mercy 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *Chuck* (2007), series, as T.I. — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *WWE Unforgiven 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE SummerSlam 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE The Great American Bash 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Vengeance: Night of Champions 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE One Night Stand 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Judgment Day 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Backlash 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE WrestleMania 23* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE No Way Out 2007* (2007), as Batista · Stunts
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2007* (2007), as Batista
- *WWE Armageddon 2006* (2006), as Batista
- *WWE Survivor Series 2006* (2006), as Batista
- *WWE No Mercy 2006* (2006), as Batista
- *WWE SummerSlam 2006* (2006), as Batista
- *WWE The Great American Bash 2006* (2006), as Batista
- *WWE ECW* (2006), series, as Batista (archive footage), Batista
- *Relative Strangers* (2006), as Wrestler (uncredited)
- *WWE Armageddon 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Survivor Series 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE No Mercy 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE SummerSlam 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE The Great American Bash 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Vengeance 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Backlash 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE WrestleMania 21* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE No Way Out 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE New Year's Revolution 2005* (2005), as Batista
- *WWE Survivor Series 2004* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE Unforgiven 2004* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE SummerSlam 2004* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE Vengeance 2004* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE WrestleMania XX* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2004* (2004), as Batista
- *WWE Armageddon 2003* (2003), as Batista
- *WWE No Way Out 2003* (2003), as Batista (Appearance)
- *WWE Royal Rumble 2003* (2003), as Batista
- *WWE Armageddon 2002* (2002), as Batista
- *WWE Global Warning* (2002), as Deacon Batista
- *WWE Velocity* (2002), series, as Deacon Batista
- *WWE Judgment Day 2002* (2002), as Deacon Batista
- *Smallville* (2001), series, as Aldar — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)
- *OVW Christmas Chaos* (2001), as Leviathan
- *WXW Rage TV* (1996), series, Actor
- *WWE Saturday Night's Main Event* (1985), series, as Batista
- *Dogtown*, Actor
- *Ally*, as (voice)
- *Universe's Most Wanted*, Actor
- *God of War*, series, as Kratos
- *Grendel*, as Beowulf
- *Unleashed*, as Producer
- *Untitled FBI Wedding Sting Film*, as Producer
- *Highlander*, as Kurgan
- *Dreadnought*, as Producer
- *The Romantic*, Actor
- *Road House 2*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Dave Bautista as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)](https://film.one/media/title/305/still-9095063bc6fd.jpg) Dave Bautista as Drax in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014) — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)](https://film.one/media/title/1908/still-031aac82ffcb.jpg) Dave Bautista as Drax in *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023) — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-886e9a309d63.jpg) Dave Bautista — Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Batista_in_March_2019.jpg/1280px-Batista_in_March_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dave Bautista in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-1b5d2d2d16a7.png) Dave Bautista in 2023 — Mortal Kombat, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Dave_Bautista_2023.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-b273cd566bff.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-c46d7ea4fd50.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-2c33e74829fb.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-d3ddcdaaca67.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-d70839868435.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB
- ![Dave Bautista](https://film.one/media/person/11940/gallery-12d91b78e9f5.jpg) Dave Bautista — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/dave-bautista