After roles in a range of solid, if unspectacular, films, Bale quickly found himself in need of another chance at the big-time. It came in the shape of this blood-soaked satirical drama, for which Bale fought off unlikely competition from a post-‘Titanic’ Leonardo DiCaprio.

Bale triumphed as the film’s psychopathic lead - a businessman on the brink of insanity, obsessed with his bulked up appearance, business cards and brutal murder. Bale’s intense, exaggerated performance was not for the faint of heart, but it told Hollywood he was done as a child starand teen sex symbol – Christian Bale the actor was here to stay.