Since his cinematic career took off in the late 1980s, Sam Rockwell has risen from a gifted character actor into one of the most versatile and exciting leading men in Hollywood. Known for his dramatic range as a performer, Rockwell first specialized in portraying scene-stealing secondary characters in the 1990s in films like The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest. By the tail end of the 2000s, however, the actor had garnered a more prominent place in the film industry, leading to his star-making performances in such films as Moon, Iron Man 2, and Seven Psychopaths.
Since the start of the previous decade, Rockwell has only continued his meteoric rise in pop culture, cementing his place in the industry with his Oscar-winning performance in 2017’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. An actor whose critical popularity has improved over time, Rockwell has proven himself capable of playing every character imaginable, from bullying small-town sheriffs to stranded lunar astronauts suffering from severe bouts of cabin fever.
For proof, look no further than these Sam Rockwell movies.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
The film that made Rockwell a mainstream star, audiences have little reason to wonder why Rockwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. As small-town Southern deputy Jason Dixon, Rockwell appears as a dramatic foil to Frances McDormand’s no-nonsense Mildred, a grieving mother demanding accountability for the lack of progress in her daughter’s murder investigation.
A prejudiced lawman whose gradual redemption forms the narrative crux of Three Billboards, audiences spend as much time hating Dixon as they do admiring his courage, loyalty, and determination to do the right thing.
Moon (2009)
The film that forever proved Rockwell’s capabilities as a prospective leading man, Moon finds Rockwell playing two different iterations of the same character.
Tasked with overseeing a remote mining outpost on the moon, astronaut Sam Bell uncovers a dark secret when he stumbles upon a near-perfect duplicate of himself. Questioning themselves, each other, their corporate employers, and their own memories, Moon displays Rockwell’s incredible adaptability as an actor, the entire film relying on his dual performances as an older and younger Sam.
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Prior to their collaboration on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Rockwell and director Martin McDonagh worked together on the 2012 crime comedy, Seven Psychopaths.
As with their later Oscar-nominated 2017 film, Seven Psychopaths combines McDonagh’s sharp dialogue with Rockwell’s stronger character acting, as seen with Rockwell’s unstable dognapper Billy Bickle. An amateur career criminal who views his entire life as one big Hollywood movie, Billy’s childlike attitude and simplistic notions of friendship make him an endearing, if reckless, character to observe in Seven Psychopaths. It also makes the film a must-view among Sam Rockwell movies.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Though relegated to a supporting role, Rockwell still hands in an otherwise phenomenal performance in 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James. The older brother to aspiring outlaw Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) and a veteran criminal associate of Jesse James (Brad Pitt), Rockwell’s Charley Ford finds himself caught in the middle of the two men’s ongoing feud.
Torn between his familial love for Bob and his near-fraternal relationship to Jesse, Charley agonizes over which character to side with in the film–a decision that leads to regret, depression, and worsening PTSD for Rockwell’s gunslinger.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
One of the earliest Sam Rockwell movies that made him a star came with 2002’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
A fictionalized biopic centered around game show host Chuck Barris (Rockwell), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind dives into Barris’s unsubstantiated claims that he worked for the CIA as a professional assassin.
Despite the ludicrous nature of its premise, Rockwell presents a more grounded portrayal of Barris, focusing on the man’s unremitting paranoia and his desperate need to feel useful (whether as a government-contracted hitman or as a kitschy TV personality).
Matchstick Men (2003)
One of Ridley Scott’s best movies, Matchstick Menuses its heavy focus on con artists to its advantage, creating an elaborate narrative loaded with plot twists throughout.
Playing the character of Frank Mercer, Rockwell appears as the partner-in-crime to Nicolas Cage’s OCD-afflicted Roy Waller. A dexterous con artist whose motivations remain a mystery, Frank’s charming exterior and friendlier attitude mask a more duplicitous side to his character, forcing audiences to wonder where his loyalties lie: with Roy or with himself.
Galaxy Quest (1999)
While Rockwell had appeared in a number of films earlier in the 1990s, Galaxy Quest brought the actor renewed attention from mainstream audiences. A humorous sci-fi spoof of the Star Trek series, the film casts Rockwell in the role of Guy Fleegman, the Galaxy Quest equivalent to a Star Trek red shirt. An overly-ambitious actor who longs to become a full-fledged cast member on the show, Fleegman ranks among the more likable and humorous characters in Rockwell’s vast filmography.
The Green Mile (1999)
Without a doubt the evilest and twisted character Rockwell has ever portrayed The Green Mile, finds the actor in the role of the Great Depression-era criminal William “Wild Bill” Wharton (or “Billy the Kid,” as he likes to call himself). An unstable sociopathic murderer waiting out his last days on death row, Rockwell doesn’t hold back in displaying Wharton’s more repugnant characteristics, from his racial abuse of fellow cellmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) to the sad*stic pride he takes in his crimes.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
In a film characterized by its light-hearted comedy and sobering realism, Rockwell’s role as German Army officer Klenzendorf falls more so into the former category.
An uncaring military captain who faces the repeated wrath of Germany’s bureaucracy, Klenzendorf appears as a paternal mentor of sorts to the impressionable Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis). Though a member of humanity’s most monstrous military faction, Klenzendorf nevertheless sticks by his strict moral code, offering advice, guidance, and protection to individuals victimized by the Axis war effort.
Vice (2018)
One of the more unflattering depictions of a historical politician, Rockwell once again dons his thick Southern accent for the role of U.S. President George W. Bush in 2018’s Vice.
A satirical biopic focusing on the rise of Vice President Cheney (Christian Bale), Rockwell establishes his version of Bush as perhaps the least qualified man for the presidency. A coarse and thick-headed buffoon motivated by his father’s approval than on achieving true power for himself, Rockwell’s portrayal of the 43rd commander-in-chief provides Vice with some of its laugh-out-loud funniest moments.
Lawn Dogs (1997)
One of Rockwell’s first leading performances came with the 1997 drama, Lawn Dogs. A roving indie film that explores the societal reaction to an unorthodox relationship, Lawn Dogs details the friendship between a precocious 10-year-old (Mischa Barton) and a full-grown Kentucky landscape worker (Rockwell).
Demonstrating a kind-natured demeanor and an approachable personality, Rockwell’s Trent maintains some fantastic chemistry with the young Barton, the two actors constructing a meaningful friendship that spans across their rather large age gaps.
See How They Run (2022)
A first-rate whodunit that takes liberal inspiration from the work of Agatha Christie, See How They Run follows the investigation of two London police officers (Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan) as they look into the murder of a loud-mouthed American film director (Adrien Brody). Portraying the world-weary Stoppard, Rockwell’s inspector offers some veteran first-hand knowledge of murder investigations, showing the younger, more eager Ronan the tricks of the trade in their investigation.
Richard Jewell (2019)
Rockwell appeared in a number of engrossing biographical dramas in the 2010s, with 2019’s Richard Jewell serving as one such example.
A dramatized look at the case surrounding the eponymous character (Paul Walter Hauser), Richard Jewell casts Rockwell in the role of the pushy attorney, Watson Bryant Jr. Though struggling to make ends meet in his own business, Rockwell’s Bryant nevertheless takes the time to study Jewell’s complex case, prioritizing his client’s needs in the face of intense government scrutiny.
The Bad Guys (2022)
An exceptional family-friendly animated movie, The Bad Guys employs a wide margin of talented vocal performers in their anthropomorphic animal cast. Standing atop the film’s ensemble, Rockwell voices the character Mr. Wolf, a reformed pickpocket who has grown tired of living under the moniker of a “bad guy.”
Packing plenty of heartfelt emotion in his vocal performance, Rockwell proves able to gauge audiences’ feelings through voice and intonation alone.
The Way, Way Back (2013)
An underrated comedy-drama, The Way, Way Back focuses on a young man’s (Liam James) learning to accept himself, flaws and all. Escaping from the toxic atmosphere of his troubled home life, James’ character finds employment at a run-down water park in England.
Learning some philosophical lessons about life from a spaced-out water park worker (Rockwell), James comes to value himself for his own individual strengths rather than wallowing in endless self-criticism, as his mom’s boyfriend (Steve Carrell) encourages him to do.
Jerry and Tom (1998)
In spite of its innocent-sounding name, Jerry and Tom has nothing to do with the famed cartoon duo. A dark comedy that casts Rockwell and Joe Mantegna, Jerry and Tom follows the two titular characters as they navigate their lives as professional hitmen who moonlight as used car salesmen.
Like HBO’s Barry or Grosse Pointe Blank, the film’s sardonic humor and rapid-fire dialogue makes Jerry and Tom a breathtaking crime film to watch, with Rockwell and Mantegna as effective a pairing as John Travolta and Sam Jackson in Pulp Fiction.
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Another phenomenal film based on a harrowing true story, Frost/Nixon looks at the intense interview series between Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) and British journalist, David Frost (Martin Freeman). Figuring into the film as American reporter Jim Reston, Rockwell pushes Frost to ask some hard-hitting questions out of Nixon.
An unapologetic critic of Nixon’s presidency, Reston’s unwavering crusade against Nixon proves invaluable to Frost’s journalistic efforts, forcing the reporter and politician into several heated exchanges.
Conviction (2010)
An evocative biological legal drama, Conviction follows the efforts of New England resident Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) as she tries to overturn the murder conviction of her brother, Kenny (Rockwell).
While much of the film centers around Swank’s Betty, Rockwell manages to do a fantastic job portraying a jailed man’s descent into depression. Struggling to hold on to any semblance of hope, Rockwell’s Kenny contends with worsening mental anguish as he rots away in prison, mirroring Rockwell’s aggravated performance in Moon one year earlier.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
One of the most underrated villains in the MCU, Rockwell portrays an inept, evil version of Tony Stark in 2010’s Iron Man 2. The foremost business rival to Stark Industries, Rockwell’s Justin Hammer models himself after his corporate counterpart in every way, attempting to achieve the same level of success and popularity as Iron Man himself. A thinly-veiled spoof on billionaire businessmen who possess neither morals nor intelligence, Hammer makes for a fascinating foil to his polar opposite in Tony Stark.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
A stylish adaptation of Douglas Adams’ famed sci-fi comedy novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy combines an all-star cast with plenty of polished CGI to satisfy both fans and casual readers of Adams’ work.
In the film, Rockwell portrays Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Galaxy, who has since left his post to learn the meaning of life in the universe. With his perfect smile, charismatic attitude, and flamboyant personality, Zaphod provides Hitchhiker’s Guide with plenty of comedic relief, living up to the character’s original iteration in Adams’ novels.
