Editing Colin Farrell (section)

===2009–2021: Established actor===
[[File:Colin Farrell by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Farrell at the 2010 [[Tribeca Film Festival]]]]
On 11 January 2009, Farrell won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] for ''In Bruges'', in which he co-starred with Brendan Gleeson. In the same year, he also appeared in [[Terry Gilliam]]'s film ''[[The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus]]'', starring [[Christopher Plummer]] and [[Andrew Garfield]]. Farrell was one of three actors (with [[Johnny Depp]] and [[Jude Law]]), who helped to complete [[Heath Ledger]]'s role when Ledger died before filming ended. They played "Imaginarium" versions of Ledger's character Tony,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/17/terry.gilliam.interview/index.html|title=The making of 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'|website=[[CNN]]|date=18 December 2009|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055947/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/17/terry.gilliam.interview/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> donating their earnings to Ledger's daughter Matilda.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7570056.stm |title=Trio give fees to Ledger's child |work=[[BBC News]] |date=19 August 2008 |access-date=20 September 2013 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061132/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7570056.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Farrell also starred that year in ''[[Triage (film)|Triage]]'', directed by Oscar-winning Bosnian screenwriter and director [[Danis Tanović]], about the life of a war correspondent. He lost 30 pounds for the role.<ref name=VTodd>{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941308/ |title=Triage |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |authorlink=Todd McCarthy |date=4 October 2009 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418163826/https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/triage-2-1200477064/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Farrell's work was described as "dedicated" by ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s [[Todd McCarthy]],<ref name="VTodd" /> and Julian Sancton of [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|''Vanity Fair'']] wrote that the film was "a hell of a lot more insightful than other movies that deal with a similar topic".<ref>{{cite web |first=Julian|last=Sancton|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/09/triage-review-should-i-quit-my-job-to-become-a-war-reporter |title=Triage Review: Should I Quit My Job to Become a War Reporter? |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=13 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114142830/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/09/triage-review-should-i-quit-my-job-to-become-a-war-reporter |archive-date=14 January 2013 }}</ref> However, ''Triage'' was not widely distributed due to the marketing challenges posed by its difficult topics (including [[PTSD]]).<ref name="VTodd" /> That year, Farrell played a supporting role (as Tommy Sweet) in ''[[Crazy Heart]]'' with [[Jeff Bridges]].

Another 2009 release was [[Ondine (film)|''Ondine'']], a fantasy-drama directed by [[Neil Jordan]] starring Farrell as a fisherman with a disabled daughter. Shot in the village of [[Castletownbere]] on Ireland's southwest coast, it featured cinematography by longtime [[Wong Kar-wai]] collaborator [[Christopher Doyle]].<ref name=Todd>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/ondine-2-1200476131/ |title=Movie review: Ondine |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |authorlink=Todd McCarthy |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226042620/https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/ondine-2-1200476131/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Mary Pols of ''Time'' called the role "tailor-made for Farrell", saying that Farrell gave a "beautifully confident performance".<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1994056,00.html |title=Ondine: A Fish-Out-of-Water Fairytale |first=Mary |last=Pols |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=10 June 2010 |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902071612/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1994056,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''Variety'' singled Farrell out, noting that he worked well as an ensemble actor "graciously allowing [child star Alison Barry] to steal every scene she's in".<ref name=Todd/>

The next year, Farrell starred with [[Keira Knightley]] in the [[Crime fiction|crime]] romance ''[[London Boulevard]]''. The film, American [[William Monahan]]'s debut as director after writing screenplays for ''[[The Departed]]'' and ''[[Body of Lies (film)|Body of Lies]]'', was panned by critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=136066 |title=Reviews: London Boulevard |first=Kim |last=Newman |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=16 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116192730/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=136066 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of the ''Guardian'' wrote that the film "uses up all its energy, wit and ideas in the first 20 or so minutes, before collapsing into a flurry of boring violence".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/nov/25/london-boulevard-review |title=Reviews: London Boulevard |first=Peter |last=Bradshaw |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020121030/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/nov/25/london-boulevard-review |url-status=live }}</ref> Leslie Felperin of ''Variety'' described it as "like a fancy, retro-styled pocket watch that someone accidentally broke and tried to reassemble with only a vague idea of clockwork".<ref name=fancy>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/london-boulevard-1117944118/ |title=Film reviews: London Boulevard |first=Leslie |last=Felperin |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=25 September 2010 |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607201240/https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/london-boulevard-1117944118/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Felperin thought the stars' work was frail, with Farrell "mostly taciturn and vacuous."<ref name=fancy/>

[[File:Colin Farrell TIFF 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Farrell at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival]]]]
Farrell starred in the 2011 comedy ''[[Horrible Bosses]]'', directed by [[Seth Gordon]] with [[Jennifer Aniston]], [[Jason Bateman]], [[Charlie Day]], [[Jason Sudeikis]], [[Kevin Spacey]], and his ''Miami Vice'' co-star [[Jamie Foxx]] also in the cast. The film focuses on a trio of employees who plot to murder their tyrannical bosses.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ward |first1=Kate |title=Jamie Foxx joins 'Horrible Bosses,' Starz to air 'Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' (Excess Hollywood) |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/05/13/jamie-foxx-horrible-bosses-starz-michael-jackson-this-is-it/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=25 February 2020 |date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520014945/http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/13/jamie-foxx-horrible-bosses-starz-michael-jackson-this-is-it/ |archive-date=20 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s Mark Kermode wrote that although the film would have benefited from a tighter script, Farrell and Foxx had juicy roles which they "riff with panache".<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Kermode |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/20/cars-2-horrible-bosses-dvd |title=Mark Kermode's DVD round-up: Cars 2; Horrible Bosses; Zookeeper; The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=3 January 2013 |location=London |date=20 November 2011 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020120643/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/20/cars-2-horrible-bosses-dvd |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Phillips of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote that Farrell brought "massive, slobby relish" to his role as Sudeikis' [[cocaine]]-fiend boss.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-jul-08-la-et-horrible-bosses-20110708-66-story.html |title=Movie review: 'Horrible Bosses |date=8 July 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Michael |last=Phillips |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306112639/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/08/entertainment/la-et-horrible-bosses-20110708-66 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Later that year, Farrell played the main antagonist in the ''[[Fright Night (2011 film)|Fright Night]]'' remake,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20160 |title=A Casting Shocker: Colin Farrell Vamps Up for 'Fright Night' |date=11 May 2010 |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916072815/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20160 |url-status=live }}</ref> joining [[Anton Yelchin]], [[David Tennant]] and [[Toni Collette]] in the story of a charismatic [[vampire]] who moves next door to a high-school student and his single mother. The film was released by [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]], with [[Craig Gillespie]] (of ''[[Lars and the Real Girl]]'') directing a script by ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' writer [[Marti Noxon]]. Sukhdev Sandhu of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote that Farrell "proves his comedy credentials once more....utterly seductive as the plushly eyebrowed carpenter-cum-bloodsucker",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8735574/Fright-Night-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8735574/Fright-Night-review.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Fright Night, review |first=Sukhdev |last=Sandhu |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=1 September 2011 |access-date=23 August 2012 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> while ''The New York Times''{{'}} A.O. Scott thought that Farrell played his role with "a wink and a snarl and a feline purr".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/movies/fright-night-directed-by-craig-gillespie-review.html |title=Those Good, Old Vampires and Now They're in 3D |first=A.O. |last=Scott |authorlink=A.O. Scott |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=7 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907082453/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/movies/fright-night-directed-by-craig-gillespie-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Logan Hill of [[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]], on the other hand, was confused by Farrell's performance: "Sure, [it] may not make much sense, but neither do centuries-old vampires living in Nevadan subdivisions. So he goes for it."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/listings/movie/fright-night02/ |title=Review: Fright Night |first=Logan |last=Hill |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030203010/http://nymag.com/listings/movie/fright-night02/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Farrell starred with [[Kate Beckinsale]] in [[Columbia Pictures]]' ''[[Total Recall (2012 film)|Total Recall]]'', a 2012 remake of the [[Total Recall (1990 film)|1990 film]], playing the role originally played by [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. It was filmed from May to September 2011 in Toronto and directed by [[Len Wiseman]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Collura |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/15/colin-farrells-total-recall |title=Colin Farrell's Total Recall |work=[[IGN]] |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226042617/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/15/colin-farrells-total-recall |url-status=live }}</ref> Co-star [[Jessica Biel]] appreciated Farrell's skills, calling him "surprising and exciting. He just has the ability to be trying different things all the time."<ref name=Details3>{{cite news |url=http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201211/colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths?currentPage=3 |title=The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Colin Farrell |work=[[Details (magazine)|Details]] |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019143410/http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201211/colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths?currentPage=3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Roger Ebert and ''The New York Times'' said that although they believed Farrell the better actor, Schwarzenegger in the original was "more of a movie presence and better suited for the role".<ref name="Roger Ebert on Total Recall">{{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/total-recall-2012 |title=Total Recall |first=Roger |last=Ebert |authorlink=Roger Ebert |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=1 August 2012 |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716223413/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/total-recall-2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/movies/movie-review-total-recall-with-colin-farrell.html |title=Even in the Future, It's Not Paranoia if They're Out to Get You |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=25 February 2012 |first=A. O. |last=Scott |authorlink=A.O. Scott |archive-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806010727/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/movies/movie-review-total-recall-with-colin-farrell.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Farrell's second film with [[Martin McDonagh]], ''[[Seven Psychopaths]]'', premiered at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and was released in October 2012. He starred as creatively blocked writer Marty in a [[black comedy]] with [[Sam Rockwell]], [[Woody Harrelson]], and [[Christopher Walken]]. The film broke even at the box office,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sevenpsychopaths.htm |title=Seven Psychopaths (2012) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=17 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035757/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sevenpsychopaths.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> with generally good reviews, including David Rooney of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' writing that Farrell "serves as an excellent foil for Rockwell" and he "is in subdued mode... his performance largely defined by the endless expressivity of his eyebrows."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/seven-psychopaths/review/369669 |title=Seven Psychopaths: Toronto Review |last=Rooney |first=David |date=11 September 2012 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017073237/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/seven-psychopaths/review/369669 |url-status=live }}</ref> That month, Farrell appeared on the cover of the magazine ''[[Details (magazine)|Details]]''.<ref name=Details>{{cite web|url=http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201211/colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths|title=The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Colin Farrell|work=[[Details (magazine)|Details]]|access-date=7 August 2013|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903193059/http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201211/colin-farrell-seven-psychopaths|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2013, Farrell starred in ''Dead Man Down'', a thriller directed by [[Niels Arden Oplev]], appearing alongside [[Terrence Howard]] for the first time since ''Hart's War'' 10 years earlier. [[Noomi Rapace]], star of Oplev's ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009 film)|The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo]]'', starred as a facially scarred woman who blackmails Farrell's character into killing the man who disfigured her in a car crash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101341/|title=Dead Man Down, 2013|website=Internet Movie Database|access-date=30 June 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803144448/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101341/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviews were mixed, with ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine calling the film "a pleasingly intricate double (or is it triple?) revenge plot anchored by excellent acting" and ''The Hollywood Reporter'' saying that "[J.H.] Wyman's script and the measured pace don't lend themselves to the necessary escalating tension that would have resulted in a more rewarding climax."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/dead-man-down/review/425739 |title=Dead Man Down (2013) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Michael |last=Rechtshaffen |access-date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017073237/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/dead-man-down/review/425739 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The New York Times''{{'}} Manohla Dargis called the film a failure, but said of Farrell that "his sensitive, hardworking eyebrows help keep it from becoming a full-bore lampoon."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/movies/dead-man-down-starring-colin-farrell-and-noomi-rapace.html |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |authorlink=Manohla Dargis |title=Dehumanized Souls Packing Noir Weapons |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=7 March 2013 |access-date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226042835/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/movies/dead-man-down-starring-colin-farrell-and-noomi-rapace.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Joe Neumaier of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' also disliked the film, writing that it contained "a lot to roll your eyes over" and that Farrell was "as stoic as a statue".<ref>{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Neumaier |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/movie-review-dead-man-article-1.1282100 |title=Movie review: Dead Man Down |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=7 March 2013 |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-date=4 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704095757/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/movie-review-dead-man-article-1.1282100 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, Farrell starred in a film adaptation of [[Mark Helprin]]'s ''[[Winter's Tale (film)|Winter's Tale]]''. The film was written and directed by [[Akiva Goldsman]] and based on Helprin's [[Winter's Tale (novel)|1983 novel]], and co-starred [[Jessica Brown Findlay]], [[Jennifer Connelly]], [[Russell Crowe]], and [[Will Smith]]. Farrell won the lead role over younger actors [[Garrett Hedlund]], [[Tom Hiddleston]] and [[Aaron Taylor-Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/colin-farrell-offered-lead-in-akiva-goldsmans-winters-tale-opposite-downton-abbey-star-jessica-brown-findlay-20120426 |title=Colin Farrell Offered Lead in Akiva Goldsman's 'Winter's Tale' Opposite 'Downton Abbey' Star Jessica Brown-Findlay |work=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805231025/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/colin-farrell-offered-lead-in-akiva-goldsmans-winters-tale-opposite-downton-abbey-star-jessica-brown-findlay-20120426 |archive-date=5 August 2013 |url-status=dead|first1=Kevin|last1=Jagernauth}}</ref> Although the film generally received negative reviews,<ref name=vvS/> writers such as ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s Stephanie Zacharek had nothing but praise for Farrell. She described him as "an extraordinary appealing actor" who "has always made a terrific bad boy, but ... seems to be settling into some very serious, responsible-adult roles."<ref name=vvS>{{cite news|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2014-02-12/film/winter-s-tale/|title=Winter's Tale Is Pretty and not Much Else|date=11 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|access-date=21 March 2014|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322001006/http://www.villagevoice.com/2014-02-12/film/winter-s-tale/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' agreed, writing that Farrell "holds the movie together" and is part of "the most beautiful [love scene] so far of 2014."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Winter-s-Tale-review-A-different-type-of-tale-5232144.php |title='Winter's Tale' review: A different type of tale, but what? |date=13 February 2014 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |first=Mick |last=LaSalle |authorlink=Mick LaSalle |access-date=21 March 2014 |archive-date=22 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013419/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Winter-s-Tale-review-A-different-type-of-tale-5232144.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Colin Farrell by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Farrell at the 2016 [[San Diego Comic Con]]]]

His role as [[P. L. Travers]]' alcoholic father in ''[[Saving Mr. Banks]]'' received contrasting reviews, with Scott Foundras of ''Variety'' calling it "excellent"<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Scott |last=Foundas |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-saving-mr-banks-1200745274/ |title=Film Review: 'Saving Mr. Banks' |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228080423/http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-saving-mr-banks-1200745274/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Leslie Felperin of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' deeming it "his best work in some time";<ref>{{cite web |first=Leslie |last=Felperin |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/saving-mr-banks/review/649638 |title=Saving Mr. Banks: London Review |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=20 October 2013 |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017073237/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/saving-mr-banks/review/649638 |url-status=live }}</ref> conversely, Peter Bradshaw of ''The Guardian'' described his performance as "bland" and "uninspired",<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Bradshaw |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/20/saving-mr-banks-review |title=Saving Mr Banks: London film festival – first look review |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=20 October 2013 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301221740/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/20/saving-mr-banks-review |url-status=live }}</ref> while Robbie Collin of ''The Daily Telegraph'' found Farrell miscast in the role.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10375018/Saving-Mr-Banks-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10375018/Saving-Mr-Banks-review.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription  |title=Saving Mr. Banks, Review |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=28 November 2013 |first=Robbie |last=Collin}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Farrell starred in [[Liv Ullmann]]'s adaptation of [[August Strindberg]]'s ''[[Miss Julie (2014 film)|Miss Julie]]'' opposite [[Jessica Chastain]] and [[Samantha Morton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/casting-watch-chastain-in-ullmans-miss-julie |title=Casting Watch: Chastain Is 'Miss Julie' with Liv Ullmann at the Helm, Farrell and Morton to Co-Star |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=4 August 2013 |archive-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204000034/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/casting-watch-chastain-in-ullmans-miss-julie |url-status=live }}</ref> His turn as John, the serving man to Chastain's character's father, was described by [[Stephen Holden]] of ''The New York Times'' as the "strongest" of the three performances, though Ullmann's direction was deemed too flat by most reviewers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/movies/miss-julie-stars-jessica-chastain-and-colin-farrell.html|title=Movies: Class Warfare at the Most Intimate Level|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=4 December 2014|first=Stephen|last=Holden|authorlink=Stephen Holden|access-date=6 February 2017|archive-date=14 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314085437/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/movies/miss-julie-stars-jessica-chastain-and-colin-farrell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Farrell starred in the second season of the TV series ''[[True Detective]]'' as Ray Velcoro, alongside [[Vince Vaughn]], [[Taylor Kitsch]], and [[Rachel McAdams]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/11/24/true-detective-cast/|title='True Detective' confirms 3 more cast members|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=24 November 2014|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323155949/https://ew.com/article/2014/11/24/true-detective-cast/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/colin-farrell-talks-about-ray-velcoro-and-true-detective/|title= Colin Farrell talks True Detective|website= [[Seattle Times]]|date= July 2015|accessdate= 20 October 2022|archive-date= 20 October 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221020202616/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/colin-farrell-talks-about-ray-velcoro-and-true-detective/|url-status= live}}</ref> The first two episodes were directed by [[Justin Lin]].<ref name="Season 2">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/09/23/true-detective-season-2-vince-vaughan-colin-farrell/ |title=HBO confirms 'True Detective' season 2 cast: Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell to star |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=James |last=Hibberd |date=23 September 2014 |access-date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323160006/https://ew.com/article/2014/09/23/true-detective-season-2-vince-vaughan-colin-farrell/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked with a dialect coach to adopt a nonstandard Californian accent for his character, which he found challenging.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/videos/a36654/colin-farrell-true-detective-kimmel/|title=Colin Farrell Explains the Difficulty of Playing American on True Detective|last=Schrodt|first=Paul|date=24 July 2015|work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|access-date=6 August 2015|archive-date=28 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728202947/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/videos/a36654/colin-farrell-true-detective-kimmel/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Farrell starred in ''[[The Lobster]]'', a romantic science fiction thriller which was released in 2015 and directed by Greek director [[Yorgos Lanthimos]] in his English-language debut. Its script was awarded the ARTE International Prize for Best CineMart 2013 Project at the 42nd [[Rotterdam International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lanthimos Wins Rotterdam's CineMart Prize|url=http://eu.greekreporter.com/2013/02/01/lanthimos-wins-rotterdams-cinemart-prize/|work=Greek Reporter|date=1 February 2013|access-date=4 February 2014|last1=Onti|first1=Nicky Mariam|archive-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119090824/https://eu.greekreporter.com/2013/02/01/lanthimos-wins-rotterdams-cinemart-prize/|url-status=live}}</ref> Set in a [[dystopian]] near-future in which finding a partner is a matter of life and death, the film tells an unconventional love story. The film also stars [[Rachel Weisz]], [[Ben Whishaw]], [[Olivia Colman]], [[Léa Seydoux]], and [[John C. Reilly]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz to Star in Yorgos Lanthimos' 'The Lobster'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/colin-farrell-rachel-weisz-to-star-in-the-lobster-1201083986/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=3 February 2014|access-date=9 January 2015|first=Leo|last=Barraclough|archive-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917175331/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/colin-farrell-rachel-weisz-to-star-in-the-lobster-1201083986/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Farrell starred in the ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'' spin-off film ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]''; a traced version of a licensed promotional photo of Farrell from the film was subsequently used for the character Nefarian Serpine on the tenth anniversary cover of 2007's ''[[Skulduggery Pleasant (novel)|Skulduggery Pleasant]]'', the first book in the [[Skulduggery Pleasant|series of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |url=https://comicbook.com/2015/08/05/colin-farrell-cast-in-harry-potter-spinoff-fantastic-beasts-and-/ |title=Colin Farrell Cast In Harry Potter Spinoff Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them |publisher=Comicbook.com |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=17 August 2015 |archive-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818113101/http://comicbook.com/2015/08/05/colin-farrell-cast-in-harry-potter-spinoff-fantastic-beasts-and-/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''[[Skulduggery Pleasant (novel)|Skulduggery Pleasant: 10th Anniversary Edition]]'' by [[Derek Landy]], [[Wiktionary:circa|circa]] October 2016.</ref> In 2017, he had leading roles in the films ''[[The Beguiled (2017 film)|The Beguiled]]'', ''[[The Killing of a Sacred Deer]]'', and ''[[Roman J. Israel, Esq.]]'' In 2018, he co-starred in [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]]'s thriller ''[[Widows (2018 film)|Widows]]'', and then starred in [[Tim Burton]]'s 2019 live-action fantasy ''[[Dumbo (2019 film)|Dumbo]]''.