Matt Smith’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Matt Smith movies and TV shows highlight the Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star’s ability to bring an acute level of nuance to even the most complex roles. Born in the UK in 1982, Matt Smith first started his acting career on the stage in 2003. After appearing in plays like The History Boys in theaters in London, Smith landed his first TV role in the BBC fantasy drama The Ruby in the Smoke in 2006. The following year he starred in a leading role in the drama Party Animals, with his film career kicking off in 2010’s Womb.

However, 2010 was a significant year in Matt Smith’s career, not because of his first feature-film appearance, but because he landed the lead role in the legendary sci-fi series Doctor Who as the 11th Doctor. From there, Smith has gone from strength to strength, appearing in franchise blockbusters like Terminator Genisys and Morbius as well as celebrated dramas such as The Forgiven and Office Secrets. The best Matt Smith movies and TV shows reveal his incredible talent when it comes to playing complex characters, and showcase the fact he has one of the most varied filmographies of any actor currently working.

10

Terminator Genisys (2015)

Matt Smith Plays Alex

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4/10

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5.3/10

Terminator Genisys

PG-13

Terminator: Genysis reboots James Cameron’s Terminator franchise by rewriting the events of the original movie. This time, Emilia Clarke’s Sarah Connor already knows why Jai Courtney’s Kyle Reese has been sent back in time, and an older T-800, once again played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, helps them in their quest to prevent an AI uprising.

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Release Date

July 1, 2015

Runtime

2h 6m

Cast

Emilia Clarke
, Jai Courtney
, Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Jason Clarke

Director

Alan Taylor

The Terminator franchise has struggled over the years, with none of the films released after 1991’s T2: Judgment Day living up to the 1984 original. However, 2015’s Terminator Genisys, from director Alan Taylor, was at least innovative and tried to take the franchise in a new director. Matt Smith was integral to this bold step for the franchise, as his character, Alex, was the most advanced Terminator model seen in the series so far.

Matt Smith’s Alex was, in reality, the living embodiment of SkyNet. Smith played the humanoid form taken on by the killer AI that’s responsible for the near-extinction of humanity. Matt Smith somehow manages to make Alex/SkyNet both inhuman and robotic, and at the same time, visibly filled with visceral hate. Like many of the roles in Matt Smith’s best movies, it’s a performance with a nuance so subtle it’s almost easy to miss, balancing seemingly contradictory qualities that perfectly embody his unique talents as an actor.

9

Patient Zero (2018)

Matt Smith Plays Morgan

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Patient Zero

R

Patient Zero is a 2018 horror-thriller film directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky. It stars Matt Smith as Morgan, a man who communicates with zombie-like infected humans to find Patient Zero and a possible cure. Alongside him, Natalie Dormer plays virologist Dr. Gina Rose who aids in the quest. The narrative unfolds in a post-apocalyptic setting where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to a viral pandemic.

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Release Date

September 14, 2018

Runtime

93 Minutes

Cast

Matt Smith
, Natalie Dormer
, John Bradley
, Clive Standen
, Colin McFarlane
, Agyness Deyn
, Stanley Tucci
, James Northcote

Director

Stefan Ruzowitzky

The 2018 sci-fi horror Patient Zero is an interesting example of one of Matt Smith’s best movies, because while his performance as Morgan is incredibly solid, the film itself is arguably underwhelming (as evidenced by its 11% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes). However, while director Stefan Ruzowitzky’s movie may have failed to impress critics and viewers alike, Matt Smith’s appearance is still worthy of recognition when it comes to his film credentials.

Morgan in Patient Zero is one of Matt Smith’s most interesting characters. In a world where the majority of the population has succumbed to a rabies variant that turns them effectively into zombies, Smith’s Morgan contracted the virus without symptoms. However, he is able to communicate with the infected and may hold the key to the cure. Patient Zero is definitely worthwhile viewing for fans of Matt Smith, and his strong performance as Morgan deserved far better than the movie in which the character appeared.

8

The Forgiven (2022)

Matt Smith Plays Richard

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5/10

The Forgiven

R

The Forgiven is a drama film directed by John Michael McDonagh, based on the novel by Lawrence Osborne. The film follows a wealthy couple, David (Ralph Fiennes) and Jo Henninger (Jessica Chastain), whose lives are altered after a tragic accident while on vacation in Morocco. As they confront their actions and the ensuing consequences, they are forced to examine their moral boundaries and responsibilities.

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Release Date

July 1, 2022

Runtime

117 Minutes

Cast

Ralph Fiennes
, Jessica Chastain
, Matt Smith

Director

John Michael McDonagh

The 2021 crime drama The Forgiven, from writer-director John Michael McDonagh, finds Matt Smith as one of a wide ensemble cast that also includes the likes of Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain. The story focuses on a married couple, David (Fiennes) and Jo (Chastain), who accidentally kill a teenager on a trip to Morocco to salvage their relationship. Matt Smith plays Richard Galloway, a friend of the couple who becomes caught up in their crime when David brings the body of the teen they hit with their car to his house.

Richard Galloway is one of the most intriguing characters Matt Smith has played so far. While not much about Richard, a billionaire living a life of hedonism in Morocco, is explored in The Forgiven, there are many hints that his life is full of complexities. Smith does a fantastic job at portraying such a character, his mannerisms always teasing that there’s a sinister history lurking beneath the surface. The Forgiven may not be among the best Matt Smith movies that feature him as a cast lead, but it’s one of the highlights of his filmography regardless.

7

His House (2020)

Matt Smith Plays Mark Essworth

his house poster

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4/10

His House

r

Written and directed by Remi Weekes, His House is a 2020 Thriller and Horror film that stars Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and Matt Smith. The Netflix film revolves around a refugee couple that flees to Britain but ends up losing their daughter in the process. The couple is finally given a home to live in but struggles with assimilating into their new life and starts experiencing a powerful paranormal presence.

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Release Date

January 27, 2020

Runtime

93 minutes

Cast

Sope Dirisu
, Wunmi Mosaku
, Malaika Wakoli-Abigaba
, Matt Smith
, Javier Botet
, Yvonne Campbell

Director

Remi Weekes

The 2020 Netflix horror thriller His House comes from director Remi Weekes, and is an insightful (and terrifying) exploration of the experiences of Sudanese refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. The entire cast give outstanding performances, especially Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu as Bol and Rial, a married couple who fled to the UK to seek a better life. Equally strong is the performance of Matt Smith, who plays their case worker, Mark Essworth.

Mark Essworth is one of Matt Smith’s most nuanced roles to date. His attempts to urge Bol and Rial to integrate with British culture are dripping with thinly-veiled racism and xenophobia. However, he also can’t be said to be an outright antagonist either, as he does try to help Bol and Rial at various points (and is far less prejudiced than many others they meet upon arriving the UK). Still, there’s something quite unsettling about Mark, and Matt Smith’s performance is more than deserving of recognition, securing His House as one of the best movies of his career.

6

Office Secrets (2019)

Matt Smith Plays Martin Bright

Matt Smith in th 2019 drama Office Secrets

The 2019 drama Office Secrets stars Matt Smith alongside Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. It’s one of several examples among the best Matt Smith movies and TV shows that see him playing real-life individuals – in this instance, the British journalist Martin Bright. Bright played a critical role in helping GCHQ analyst and whistleblower Katherine Gun (portrayed by Knightley in Office Secrets).

Directed by Gavin Hood, Office Secrets unravels one of the most intriguing political scandals of the Iraq War. Knightley’s Gun discovers that the U.S. and UK governments had sanctioned espionage operations on diplomats from several UN Security Council member states. The tension for those involved was beyond intense, as their entire careers (and, possibly, lives) were on the line. Matt Smith gives an exemplary performance as Martin Bright, and Office Secrets received many positive reviews from critics.

5

Charlie Says (2018)

Matt Smith Plays Charles Manson

Charlie Says (2018) - Poster

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Charlie Says

R

Charlie Says is a crime drama that examines the Manson Family murders through the perspective of three women who were manipulated by Charles Manson. Directed by Mary Harron, the film stars Hannah Murray, Sosie Bacon, and Marianne Rendón as the women who followed Manson, played by Matt Smith. The narrative explores the psychological grip Manson had over his followers and their eventual path to rehabilitation.

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Release Date

May 17, 2019

Runtime

110 Minutes

Cast

Hannah Murray
, Matt Smith
, Sosie Bacon
, Marianne Rendon
, Merritt Wever
, Suki Waterhouse
, Chace Crawford
, Annabeth Gish
, Kayli Carter
, Grace Van Dien
, Bridger Zadina
, Julia Schlaepfer
, Dayle McLeod
, Morgan Melton
, India Ennenga
, Aria Taylor
, Cameron Gellman
, Christopher Frontiero
, Jeremy Lawson
, James Trevena
, John Gowans
, Dillon Lane
, Bryan Adrian

Director

Mary Harron

Expand

With roles like Prince Philip in The Crown, Matt Smith has proved he’s more than capable of bringing an incredible level of authenticity when playing real-life figures. While his time on The Crown is one of his most widely known, he delivers an equally strong performance in the biographical drama Charlie Says. However, the role he plays in director Mary Shellon’s 2018 movie couldn’t be more different from Prince Philip, as Matt Smith plays infamous cult leader Charles Manson.

Matt Smith’s embodiment of Charles Manson is, in no uncertain terms, chilling. It’s especially uncanny given that, prior to his appearance in Charlie Says, Smith didn’t seem to have any physical similarities to Manson at all. However, once Charlie Says hit screens, critics and viewers were astounded at his transformation. Charlie Says ranks as one of the best Matt Smith movies based on this incredible performance, and few roles he’s taken on display just how talented the Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star truly is quite as clearly.

4

Last Night In Soho (2021)

Matt Smith Plays Jack

Last Night in Soho Movie Poster

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8/10

7.5/10

Last Night in Soho

R

In the acclaimed director  Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Last Night in Soho, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

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Release Date

October 29, 2021

Runtime

116 minutes

Cast

Anya Taylor-Joy
, Lisa McGrillis
, Michael Ajao
, Matt Smith
, Margaret Nolan
, Synnove Karlsen
, Diana Rigg
, Oliver Phelps
, Thomasin McKenzie
, Jessie Mei Li
, Terence Stamp
, Rita Tushingham
, James Phelps

Director

Edgar Wright

The British psychological horror Last Night In Soho comes from the mind of director Edgar Wright, known for many hit movies from the UK including Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Wright is known for managing to draw some incredible performances from his casts, so it’s no surprise that Jack in Last Night In Soho is perhaps the best movie role of Matt Smith’s career so far.

Matt Smith stars alongside Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy in the Last Night In Soho cast. As Jack, Matt Smith shares a considerable amount of screentime with Anya Taylor-Joy in particular, and the pair have an incredible amount of chemistry. Smith brings no shortage of charm to Jack’s character too, which makes the many twists and turns involving his Last Night In Soho character all the more sinister.

3

The Crown (2016-2017)

Matt Smith Plays Prince Philip

The Crown TV Series Netflix

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7/10

10/10

The Crown

TV-MA

The Crown is a Netflix Historical Drama created by Peter Morgan and starring Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton. The series follows the life of ruler Queen Elizabeth II, outlining different points in her life.

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Release Date

November 4, 2016

Number of Episodes

50

Cast

Claire Foy
, Olivia Colman
, Imelda Staunton
, Matt Smith
, Tobias Menzies
, Jonathan Pryce
, Vanessa Kirby
, Helena Bonham Carter
, Lesley Manville
, Victoria Hamilton
, Marion Bailey
, Marcia Warren

Seasons

6

Writers

Peter Morgan

Peter Morgan’s The Crown chronicled the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the former ruler of the United Kingdom. One of the unique aspects of the show was that the cast would change every few seasons to reflect different stages of the Queen’s life. Matt Smith appeared in The Crown seasons 1 and 2 as Pince Philip, the lover and eventual husband of Claire Foy’s Elizabeth.

Matt Smith was exemplary in the role, bringing to Prince Philip a sense of majesty that at no point dehumanized the character or made him impossible to relate to. So strong was his performance that he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Broadcasting Press Guild Award. While he didn’t win, this doesn’t detract from his exemplary portrayal of the real-life husband of Queen Elizabeth II, and The Crown being among the best Matt Smith movies and TV shows is impossible to deny.

2

House Of The Dragon (2022-Present)

Matt Smith Plays Daemon Targaryen

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8/10

81

7.9/10

House of the Dragon

TV-MA

Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

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Release Date

August 21, 2022

Cast

Matt Smith
, Emma D’Arcy
, Olivia Cooke
, Fabien Frankel
, Steve Toussaint
, Rhys Ifans
, Jefferson Hall
, Sonoya Mizuno
, Paddy Considine
, Ryan Corr
, Eve Best
, Gavin Spokes
, Graham McTavish
, Bill Paterson
, Matthew Needham
, David Horovitch

Seasons

4

Story By

George R.R. Martin

Directors

Miguel Sapochnik
, Clare Kilner
, Alan Taylor
, Greg Yaitanes
, Geeta Vasant Patel
, Andrij Parekh

Expand

House of the Dragon, HBO’s prequel to the groundbreaking epic fantasy series Game of Thrones, was one of the most highly anticipated TV shows of the 2020s. The pressure was certainly on for Matt Smith and the rest of the HotD cast, as audiences had high expectations following the strength of the performances of the stars of Game of Thrones. However, all managed to meet or exceed expectations – but none more so than Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen.

Even though his career was already established by the time House of the Dragon aired, Matt Smith has been one of the breakout performances of the series. It’s safe to say that Daemon in HotD is a role that’s breathed new life into Matt Smith’s reputation, elevating him from being a known name to a household one. He steals every scene in which Daemon appears, quickly cementing the Targaryen prince as the most memorable House of the Dragon character.

1

Doctor Who (2010-2014)

Matt Smith Plays The 11th Doctor

doctor who 2005

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24

8.7/10

Doctor Who

TV-PG

An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
 

Release Date

March 26, 2005

Cast

Jodie Whittaker
, Christopher Eccleston
, David Tennant
, Matt Smith
, Peter Capaldi
, Billie Piper
, Karen Gillan
, Catherine Tate
, Jenna Coleman
, Alex Kingston
, John Barrowman
, Tosin Cole
, Arthur Darvill

Character(s)

The Doctor

Creator(s)

Donald Wilson
, Sydney Newman

Seasons

13

Writers

Steven Moffat
, Russell T. Davies

Expand

Of all the best Matt Smith TV shows and movies, it’s his stint as the 11th Doctor on the long-running British sci-fi show Doctor Who that remains both his most iconic role and best performance. While Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon is once again placing Smith’s name in the limelight, the Game of Thrones prequel is still second to Doctor Who when it comes to Smith’s career.

Matt Smith had big shoes to fill when he took over the role of The Doctor, as he was handed the torch by David Tenant, who remains one of the most popular actors to play the titular Time Lord. However, Smith the role his own, becoming just as popular in his own way (as evidenced when Smith’s 11th and Tenant’s 10th Doctors teamed up for the Day of the Doctor special). Matt Smith’s take on The Doctor was awkward but charming, bumbling but intense, and sarcastic yet compassionate. His incarnation of The Doctor remains timeless, just as Doctor Who remains the absolute best Matt Smith movie or TV show.