10 Underrated Sam Rockwell Movies, Ranked
Between winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, playing a Marvel Cinematic Universe villain, and appearing in some of the most acclaimed films of the past two decades, Sam Rockwell is one of the most accomplished actors of his generation. Rockwell is regarded as a “character actor” because of his versatility. Between biopics, comedies, comic book films, dramas, and even animated films, Rockwell has appeared in films within almost every genre.
Although Rockwell’s greatest performances have earned him significant acclaim, his filmography is so extensive that some of his best work is underappreciated. While he has appeared in modern classics like Moon and Jojo Rabbit, Rockwell has also given memorable performances in many cult hits, independent dramas, and films that have been otherwise forgotten. Here are the ten most underrated Sam Rockwell movies, ranked.
10 'Lawn Dogs' (1997)
Directed by John Duigan
A curious independent dramedy from director John Duigan, Lawn Dogs centers on the relationship between the lawn care worker Trent Burns (Rockwell) and the wealthy child Devon Stockard (Mischa Burton), who lives in a gated community with her family. Although they exist on different sides of the class divide, Burns and Devon form a friendship, discovering that they have more in common with each other than they initially expected.
While not an “eat the rich” movie, Lawn Dogs is able to analyze the wealth disparity in a creative way by evoking sympathy for Rockwell’s character. Despite the playful friendship at the center of the story, Burns’ struggles to earn respect from his wealthy employers is treated with gravity. It’s an underrated role that proved that Rockwell could add a sense of tragedy to a film that otherwise operates as a comedy.
9 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind' (2002)
Directed by George Clooney
In addition to being one of the best actors of his generation, George Clooney proved himself to be an excellent filmmaker with his 2002 directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. The film gave Rockwell one of his best roles as Chuck Barris, a game show host that claimed that he was employed by the CIA.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was a great showcase for Rockwell’s abilities because the film rests on his performance to craft the right tone. It’s never entirely clear what elements of Barris’ accounts are accurate, and how much is based on his imagination; the film also does a great job at corresponding humorous moments with very disturbing ones. Without Rockwell’s ability to balance these seemingly conflicting elements, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind would not be nearly as successful of a satire as it is.
Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002)
RAn adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impresario Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), in which he purports to have been a C.I.A. hitman.
Release Date January 24, 2003 Director George Clooney Cast Sam Rockwell , George Clooney , Julia Roberts , Drew Barrymore , Rutger Hauer Runtime 113 Minutes8 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (2005)
Directed by Garth Jennings
Although Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the most acclaimed science fiction media franchises of all-time, it never spawned a recurring film series adaptation. Garth Jennings’ 2005 film The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy adapted the first novel in the series, and explored the friendship between the hapless human Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) and his extraterrestrial companion Ford Prefect (Mos Def).
While The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy doesn’t quite capture the same comedic energy of the novel, Rockwell’s performance as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the wacky President of the Galaxy, is unquestionably one of the film’s highlights. It’s an underrated performance on Rockwell’s part because hemanaged toelevate mediocre material. It’s unfortunate that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy never generated a franchise, as Rockwell clearly could have been given more to do with Zaphod in potential sequels.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
PGMere seconds before the Earth is to be demolished by an alien construction crew, journeyman Arthur Dent is swept off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher penning a new edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
Release Date April 29, 2005 Director Garth Jennings Cast Bill Bailey , Martin Freeman , Yasiin Bey , Sam Rockwell , Zooey Deschanel , Bill Nighy Runtime 109 minutes7 'Cowboys & Aliens' (2011)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Although the title itself sounds like a parody, Jon Favreau’s 2011 comic book film Cowboys & Aliens is just as bad as it sounds. The strange western/science fiction hybrid centers on the amnesiac criminal Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) as he teams up with the intimidating cattle baron Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) to find a group of local civilians that have been abducted by aliens.
Cowboys & Aliens should have been a lot more fun than it actually is, but Rockwell was the only one who seemed to understand what the tone should have been. His performance as “Doc,” the town’s saloon owner and medical practitioner, feels like he belongs in both a western and science fiction film. Although the rest of the film’s cast struggle to belong to both genres, Rockwell’s performance has the consistency that Cowboys & Aliens really needed.
Cowboys & Aliens
PG-13 Release Date July 29, 2011 Director Jon Favreau Cast Daniel Craig , Abigail Spencer , Buck Taylor , Matthew Taylor , Cooper Taylor , Clancy Brown Runtime 119 minutes6 'Seven Psychopaths' (2012)
Directed by Martin McDonagh
Prior to their Academy Award collaboration on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Rockwell and writer/director Martin McDonagh teamed up for the 2012 dark comedy Seven Psychopaths. The film centers on the alcoholic writer Marty (Colin Farrell), who attempts to work on the screenplay for a new film. Rockwell appears as Marty’s best friend Billy Bickle, an actor who has writing ambitions of his own. Billy forces Marty to get into increasingly dangerous situations as he attempts to get their life to sync up with his imagined story.
While Seven Psychopaths ranks as one of McDonagh’s weaker films, Rockwell’s comedic performance elevates the film. He captures the pretentious nature of actors without ever feeling obnoxious, and develops compelling banter with Farrell. Although Seven Psychopaths has received more praise for the performances by Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and Tom Waits, Rockwell’s work should not be underappreciated.
Seven Psychopaths
RA struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.
Release Date October 12, 2012 Director Martin McDonagh Cast Michael Pitt , Michael Stuhlbarg , Sam Rockwell , Colin Farrell , Abbie Cornish , Christopher Walken Runtime 1095 'The Way Way Back' (2015)
Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
The Way Way Back is an underrated coming-of-age dramedy from director Nat Faxon and Jim Rash that depicts the joys and challenges of childhood in equal measure. The film follows the lonely teenager Duncan (Liam James) as he spends his summer vacation in Massachusetts with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette) and her pretentious boyfriend Trent (Steve Carrell). Although Duncan often comes into conflict with Trent, he finds a surprising mentor in the town’s water park operator Owen (Rockwell).
The Way Way Back does a great job at showing how Duncan matures over time, and how Owen inspires him to take responsibility for himself. Rockwell is a great cinematic mentor because he shows how Owen’s idiosyncratic personality appeals to Duncan, and why his advice is so resonant. Owen is able to give Duncan some tough advice on how to deal with his difficult situation at home.
The Way Way Back
PG-13 Release Date January 21, 2013 Director Nat Faxon , Jim Rash Cast Steve Carell , Toni Collette , Allison Janney , AnnaSophia Robb , Sam Rockwell , Maya Rudolph , Liam James , Rob Corddry , Amanda Peet Runtime 1034 'Mr. Right' (2015)
Directed by Paco Cabezas
Mr. Right is a much different take on the hitman movie genre than one might expect. The film follows the ex-mercenary Francis Munch (Rockwell), who forms a romance with the woman Martha McKay (Anna Kendrick). Francis now believes that he has a greater calling in life, and decides to hunt down and kill the employers that once hired him. By finding people that would want to employ a hitman and eliminating them, Francis believes that he is enacting justice.
While Mr. Right is one of the more obscure titles in Rockwell’s filmography, it shows his talents as a lead performer. The film coasts on the chemistry between Rockwell and Kendrick, whose interactions feel taken out of a classic romantic comedy. Mr. Right would have struggled to balance its ambitions as a comedy, romance film, and action-thriller if it wasn’t for the dynamic performance from Rockwell.
Mr. Right
R Release Date February 29, 2016 Director Paco Cabezas Cast Sam Rockwell , Anna Kendrick , Tim Roth , James Ransone , Anson Mount , Michael Eklund Runtime 903 'Digging for Fire' (2015)
Directed by Joe Swanberg
Director Joe Swanberg is one of the key figures within the “mumblecore” movement, a subgenre of independent cinema that focuses on improvisational dialogue and realistic scenarios. Swanberg’s 2015 mumblecore dramedy Digging for Fire centers on the gym teacher Tim (Jake Johnson in one of his best performances) and his wife Lee (Rosemarie Dewitt) as they hold a gathering of friends in their backyard. Tim begins to become obsessed with a mysterious gun and bone that he finds, and is determined to identify their origins.
While there’s not much that differentiates Digging For Fire from other mumblecore indies, Rockwell gives the most memorable performance in the film. He co-stars as Ray, one of Tim’s friends who becomes increasingly confused by his behavior. Rockwell’s performance is so compelling that it suggests Digging For Fire would have worked better if Ray was the main character.
2 'Richard Jewell' (2019)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Although director Clint Eastwood has been accused of making too many films based on true stories, the 2019 drama Richard Jewell represents one of his stronger efforts in recent years. The film follows the titular security guard (Paul Walter Hauser), who saves the lives of innocent civilians during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite initially being praised as a hero, Jewell is falsely accused of planting the explosive devices, and defended by the lawyer Watson Bryant (Rockwell).
Rockwell turns Bryant into an empathetic character because he is the only one that treats Jewell with respect. Bryant doesn’t understand why so many people are quick to judge Jewell in the aftermath of the bombing, and considers him to be a hero. While a majority of the praise that Richard Jewell received was for Hauser’s performance, Rockwell’s understated role is equally deserving of praise.
Richard Jewell
R
Security guard Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI leaks to the media that he is a suspect in the case.
1 'See How They Run' (2022)
Directed by Tom George
While there have been many films inspired by the work of the mystery author Agatha Christie, the 2022 mystery film See How They Run uses Christie's life as a source of inspiration. The film follows the cranky Inspector Stoppard (Rockwell) and the energetic police officer Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan in a great comedic performance) as they investigate a murder on the set of a film adaptation of Christie's novel The Mousetrap.
See How They Run does a great job at keeping the audience guessing as to who the real murderer is, and Rockwell’s comedic performance embodies the film’s satire. See How They Run features cliches that are common within mystery films, so having a tongue-in-cheek performance from Rockwell was essential in crafting the right tone. While it’s hard not to compare See How They Run to the Knives Out franchise because of their similar subjects, Rockwell gives a performance that is worthy of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc.
See How They Run
pg-13 Release Date September 9, 2022 Director Tom George Cast Saoirse Ronan , Sam Rockwell , Adrien Brody Runtime 98minutesncG1vNJzZmibn6G5qrDEq2Wcp51kwKK5jKumnKOnmrmtedSnm56qopbBprCMpqavoZWoerOtzaScnWc%3D