Jeremy Renner, the sure shot archer from avengers, made a good name for himself playing the role of Hawkeye in the Marvel Avengers franchise. But the actor has made a name for himself doing other marvelous films as well, giving the viewers and his fans a lot more to offer than just one superhero role. It’s often forgotten that he started out as more of a character actor, with intense performances in smaller films, often playing unstable characters.

Here are a five of Jeremy Renner’s non-Marvel movies that proves that it’s not just Marvel that showcases him as a great actor:

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Dahmer (2002)

Making his breakthrough into the industry, Jeremy Renner plays a role in the movie where he portrays Jeffery Dahmer, the notorious serial killer. Renner had a convincing, glassy eyed portrayal in David Jacobson’s psychological crime horror that earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

His work paid off big time as this was the performance that convinced Kathryn Bigelow to cast him in the ‘The Hurt Locker’

Neo Ned (2005)

In this film, Jeremy Renner is given the role of a white supremacist who falls in love after meeting a young black woman in a psychiatric hospital. The woman in the movie, however, believes the fact that she is the reincarnation of Hitler himself.

Though it might have sounded absurd, the film was a complete success and Renner won the Palm Beach international film festival’s Best Actor award for his captivating performance for enabling audiences to sympathise with an easily dislikable and difficult character.

North Country (2005)

North Country is based around the first successful sexual harassment case in the United States. Renner played the important role of Bobby Sharp in the entire film. His character was that of a mine worker who targets female staff members and people whom he considers as a person having a kind despicable character.

Also in this film Jeremy Renner gets a chance to showcase his singing talent as well.

The Hurt Locker (2008)

This was the film that was given to him after the successful run of Dahmer. Here Renner is best known for his leading role as Sgt. William James in Bigelow’s Iraq war drama. Even though this wasn’t the first time he was doing a military role since he had already played such a role in his movie ‘28 Weeks Later’, but the intensity of the role was certainly miles apart.

For his efforts, Renner received the best actor nomination from the Academy awards, Bafta awards, the Independent Spirit awards and from the Screen Actors Guild as well.

The Town (2010)

This film was one of those film that the actor went to lengths to make ends meet and create and understand the perfect persona for the character in the film.

Renner plays as a troubled criminal in this crime drama that was directed and starred by Ben Affleck. Renner tried to get inside the mind of a tough guy again for his roles so that it makes him relatable during the film.

He prepared for the role by visiting prisons and drinking beer with ex-cons and picked up another Oscar nomination for the trouble.