Michael Caine’s Best Movie Role Pitted Him Against Laurence Olivier

There were reports back in 2021 that Michael Caine, then 88 years old, had been considering retirement. He appeared to walk back those claims, but then 2023 came around and Oppenheimer was released - notable for being the first Christopher Nolan movie since 2002's Insomnia to not feature Caine in a supporting or cameo role. Then, later in 2023, reports once again broke about the now 90-year-old Caine considering retirement, and the man himself has confirmed it this time. It's a little bittersweet, but with his lengthy and remarkable career, no one will deny Michael Caine's more than earned his retirement. He had his earliest film roles back in the 1950s and found greater success by the time the 1960s came around, becoming beloved for his screen presence, charisma, ability to shine across different genres, iconic voice, and tendency to considerably elevate what could otherwise be average or even subpar movies. And when Michael Caine was properly utilized in a great movie, classic titles were born, with perhaps the best of the best being the 1972 mystery/thriller/comedy Sleuth.