Mike Faist’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Starting off his career in theatre, Mike Faist has begun to make a name for himself in Hollywood, appearing in some impressive movies and TV shows over the years. His first feature film debut was in the 2012 coming-of-age drama, The Unspeakable Act, and he has been steadily securing roles since then. These include the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story and the Zendaya-led love triangle in Challengers, gaining incredible experience with some of the best directors in the business.

On television, Mike Faist played the lead role in Panic in 2021, and has been cast as the co-lead of the TV adaptation of East of Eden, based on the monumental novel by John Steinbeck. Aside from being an incredible actor in film and television, Faist’s work on stage is especially impressive, with a Tony nomination for his performance as Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen. A diverse, powerful performer, Mike Faist is a rising star in Hollywood.

10

The Atlantic City Story (2020)

Mike Faist as Arthur

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The Atlantic City Story

DramaCrime

Release Date

April 30, 2020

Runtime

97 minutes

Director

Henry Butash

Producers

Javier Gonzalez, David Von Roehm

Cast

  • Headshot Of Jessica Hecht In The Broadway Opening Night

    Jessica Hecht

    Jane

  • Headshot Of Mike Faist

    Mike Faist

    Arthur

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gary Wilmes

    Gary

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The Atlantic City Story, released in 2020, follows an unhappily married woman who escapes to Atlantic City for a weekend. There, she encounters a young gambler and becomes captivated by his spontaneous lifestyle. Their chance meeting leads to the development of an unexpected bond and budding romance.

Character(s)

Jane, Arthur, Gary, Beverly, Charlotte, Kelly

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The Atlantic City Story revolves around an unhappy married woman who runs away from home and finds herself in Atlantic City. Once there, she meets a young gambler whom she feels instantly drawn to. Over the course of the film, a relationship blossoms between them. The Atlantic City Story is a quiet, contemplative film that really explores the depth between the two main characters, always keeping them the focus of the narrative.

Mike Faist is really great in the movie, playing the gambler Arthur. He is a young, down-on-his-luck guy and Mike Faist is able to make him feel like such a real, tangible person with a stellar performance from start to finish. His chemistry with Jessica Hecht is impressive, and also important, given that the entire film revolves around their two characters, making it work as good as it does.

9

Panic (2021)

Mike Faist as Dodge Mason

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Panic

DramaAdventureThriller

Release Date

May 28, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Directors

Jamie Travis

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jessica Sula

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Olivia Welch

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Ray Nicholson

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Panic is a 2021 mini-series released exclusively on Prime Video. Panic revolves around graduating seniors who compete in a series of deadly games that test their deepest fears to win cash. The game is a yearly ritual in the rural town of Carp, Texas, but this year’s games take the danger and fear to a whole other level.

Seasons

1

Story By

Jamie Travis

Streaming Service(s)

Amazon Prime Video

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Panic was the first television series that Mike Faist had a main role in. Released on Amazon Prime Video, this teen drama miniseries was written and created by Lauren Oliver, and was adapted from her novel of the same name. Panic is a pretty solid entry into the teen genre, featuring a group of 23 high school graduates who attempt to complete dangerous tasks for the chance to win a significant amount of money. Preposterous in all the right ways, Panic is a good time.

Mike Faist plays Dodge Mason in Panic, the new guy to town who decides to participate in the competition. He is also the primary love interest for Jessica Shula’s Natalie, and the two of them have great chemistry in the series. As the rules of the competition change and things begin to become intense, Faist delivers with his performance, capturing the harrowing feeling of trying to complete the challenges.

8

I Can I Will I Did (2017)

Mike Faist as Ben

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I Can I Will I Did

Not Rated
Drama

Release Date

April 28, 2017

Runtime

113 minutes

Director

Nadine Truong

Cast

  • Headshot Of Mike Faist

    Mike Faist

    Ben

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Ik Jo Kang

    Grandmaster Kang

  • Headshot Of Selenis Leyva

    Selenis Leyva

    Maria

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I Can I Will I Did: This drama follows a bullied adolescent, fostered throughout his life, who discovers renewed hope and purpose through the mentorship of a Tae Kwon Do master and his paraplegic granddaughter. Released in 2017, the film explores themes of resilience and personal growth.

Character(s)

Ben, Grandmaster Kang, Maria, Adrienne, Dorian, Lily

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Released in 2017, I Can I Will I Did is about a bullied young man who finds hope with the help of a taekwondo master after bouncing around from foster home to foster home. It’s a touching little indie film that explores resiliency and about finding a place that you feel like you belong to. It’s impossible not to get a bit emotional while watching it, given the sometimes heartbreaking moments alongside the scenes of pure joy.

The Grand Master in the film is Grand Master Ik Jo Kang, an eight-degree blackbelt in taekwondo, who helped write the screenplay for it.

Mike Faist plays the main character Ben in the film, utilizing his immense talent to craft a performance that is both vulnerable and strong. Ben is a sad, angry young man who just needs someone to let him know that it will be alright and that he can overcome both himself and the adversity he faces, and Mike Faist perfectly captures that longing Ben feels for those things.

7

Wildling (2018)

Mike Faist as Lawrence

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Wildling

HorrorFantasyThrillerDrama

Release Date

April 13, 2018

Runtime

92 minutes

Director

Fritz Böhm

Writers

Florian Eder

Producers

Liv Tyler, Trudie Styler, Celine Rattray, Marco Henry, Ken Hirsh, Lee Stobby, Timothy Christian, Charlotte Ubben, Sven Nuri, Hardy Justice, Nic Marshall, Christopher S Burke, Rab Butler, Steven Kemler

Cast

  • headshot Of Liv Tyler

    Liv Tyler

    Ellen Cooper

  • Headshot Of Bel Powley

    Bel Powley

    Anna

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Collin Kelly-Sordelet

    Ray Cooper

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Wildling: Released in 2018, Wildling stars Bel Powley as Anna, a young woman who is freed from captivity and ventures into the outside world. The film explores her journey of self-discovery and the complex boundary between truth and illusion, as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her past.

Character(s)

Ellen Cooper, Anna, Ray Cooper, Daddy, Wolf Man, Roger Fowler, Jen, Little Anna, Very Little Anna, Lawrence, Hugo, Dr. Rooney, Doctor, Track Girl, Nurse, Hunter #1, Hunter #2, Hunter #3, Newscaster (voice), Teenage Girl #1, Teenage Girl #2, The Wildling, Girl with carriage, Hospital Receptionist

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Telling the story of a young woman who was taught to fear the outside world after being held captive in her attic throughout her childhood by her “father”, Wilding is an effective horror fantasy film with some great performances. Not content with throwing jumpscares at viewers, Wildling builds up the tension throughout, sitting in the atmosphere it creates, and it is better off for it, with some truly bone-chilling moments throughout. Exploring feminist themes, the movie is a poignant look at a dark story.

Mike Faist delivers a strong performance in Wildling, playing Lawrence, a bully who picks on the little brother of Liv Tyler’s Ellen. His biggest scene in the film can be hard to watch, as he attempts to assault Ana, the main character, before she rips his throat out with her teeth. It’s one of the film’s gnarliest deaths, and a wild ending for Faist’s incredibly unpleasant character.

6

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2017)

Mike Faist as Glenn Lawrence

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Law & Order Special Victims Unit

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

TV-14
CrimeDramaMystery

Release Date

September 20, 1999

Showrunner

Robert Palm, David J. Bruke, Neal Baer, Warren Leight, Rick Eid, Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano

Directors

David Platt, Jean de Segonzac, Peter Leto, Alex Chapple

Writers

Dick Wolf

Franchise(s)

Law and Order

Cast

  • Headshot of Christopher Meloni

    Christopher Meloni

  • Headshot Of Mariska Hargitay

    Mariska Hargitay

  • Headshot Of Richard Belzer

    Richard Belzer

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit centers on the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, a specialized team of detectives who investigate and solve cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Under the leadership of Captain Olivia Benson, the unit deals with complex and sensitive crimes, balancing empathy for victims with the pursuit of justice.

Main Genre

Crime

Creator(s)

Dick Wolf

Seasons

26

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu, Peacock, Netflix

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a landmark procedural that ranks fourth for total episodes of a scripted television series. Focusing on the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes, and crimes against women and children, SVU is a powerful series that sheds light on some truly awful situations. The series first premiered in 1999 and has run for 26 seasons, a monumental achievement.

The Law & Order SVU cast of season 7 over an image of Benson and Stabler from season 22 tinted green

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Every Law & Order: SVU Season, Ranked

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has produced 24 complete seasons since 1999, but the quality of the show hasn’t always been consistent.

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a great series for one-and-done performances, and that is true for Mike Faist, who plays Glenn Lawrence in season 19, episode 5, “Complicated”. This episode is pretty wild as it revolves around Glenn murdering his sister in a fit of rage, and then, 10 years later, he and his father have a young woman pretend to be the sister, which garners national media attention. Despite only appearing in one episode, Faist is great in it, perfectly nailing what is expected of the villain for an SVU episode.

5

The Grief Of Others (2015)

Mike Faist as Gordie Joiner

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The Grief of Others

Drama

Release Date

August 26, 2015

Runtime

103 minutes

Writers

Patrick Wang

Producers

Matt Miller

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Trevor St. John

    John Ryrie

  • Headshot Of Wendy Moniz In The PaleyFest LA 2023: 'Yellowstone' at the Dolby Theatre.

    Wendy Moniz

    Ricky Ryrie

  • Headshot Of Oona Laurence

    Oona Laurence

    Biscuit Ryrie

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The Grief of Others follows the Ryrie family as they navigate the aftermath of their newborn’s death, each coping with their sorrow in isolation. This drama explores the family’s dynamics, as the parents and their children, Biscuit and Paul, confront their grief amid life’s challenges, culminating in an unexpected encounter.

Character(s)

John Ryrie, Ricky Ryrie, Biscuit Ryrie, Paul Ryrie, Jessica Safransky, Gordie Joiner, Madeleine Berkowitz, Salesperson, Ms. Nuñez, Radiologist, Young Paul Ryrie

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Telling the story of the Ryrie family who lost their newborn just 57 hours after the birth, The Grief of Others is a powerful exploration of love, grief, and understanding the loneliness and sadness in other people. A quiet film overall, The Grief of Others shows a lot of restraint with the narrative, choosing to explore the tender, happy, and sad moments between the characters and their interactions.

Mike Faist plays Gordie Joiner in The Grief of Others, a young man who is alone, shy and sensitive. His performance as the character is remarkable, and although he doesn’t have a ton of screen time, he is important to the film overall, as he is going through his own grief as an orphan following the recent passing of his father. As the only main character not part of the Ryrie family, Gordie plays a significant role in showing them his own grief among their own.

4

Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game (2023)

Mike Faist as Roger Sharpe

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Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game

BiographyComedyDrama

Release Date

March 17, 2023

Runtime

95 Minutes

Director

Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg

Writers

Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg

Cast

  • Headshot Of Mike Faist

    Mike Faist

    Roger Sharpe

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Crystal Reed

    Ellen

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Dennis Boutsikaris

    Mr. Sharpe

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Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game is a biographical film that chronicles the true story of Roger Sharpe, the man credited with reviving the popularity of pinball machines in the United States. Set in the 1970s, the film captures Sharpe’s legal battle to overturn New York City’s 30-year ban on pinball, highlighting his passion for the game and his influential role in its cultural resurgence.

Main Genre

Biography

Character(s)

Roger Sharpe, Ellen, Mr. Sharpe, Seth, Jimmy, Jack Haber, Mayor La Guardia, Harry Coulianos, Judy, Sam Gensberg, Danny Frank, Deborah, Wendell, Alvin Gottlieb, Chairman Warner, Gloria, Irving Holzman, Pamela, Perky Mom, Sam Stern, The Guy, Waitress, Harry Williams, Epstein, Ben Chikofsky, Blonde Councilwoman, Glasses Councilwoman, Woman at Pinball Tourney, Herb Jones, Interviewer, Josh Sharpe

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Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is a fun little movie, telling the story of Roger Sharpe, a journalist and “pinball wizard” who helped overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball in 1975. Never really exploring anything too complex, the movie is just an enjoyable, charming experience, with strong performances and a pretty laid-back atmosphere throughout. It’s also a great watch to learn a little bit about the history of pinball.

Mike Faist stars as Roger Sharpe and is simply phenomenal in the movie, bringing to life such an interesting person on the big screen. Sporting an impressive mustache, Faist perfectly captured Roger Sharpe, showing all of his quirks and characteristics that made him the perfect person to help overturn the frankly absurd ban New York had on the game. At a glance, the character might not seem too complex, but there is a lot of depth to him by the end of the movie.

3

The Bikeriders (2024)

Mike Faist as Danny Lyon

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The Bike Riders Movie Poster Showing Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy With a Motorcycle Gang

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The Bikeriders

R
DramaCrime

Release Date

June 21, 2024

Runtime

116 Minutes

Director

Jeff Nichols

Writers

Jeff Nichols

Cast

  • Headshot Of Jodie Comer In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Jodie Comer

  • Headshot Of Austin Butler In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Austin Butler

  • Headshot Of Tom Hardy In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Tom Hardy

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The Bikeriders tells the story of a 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Through the eyes of Kathy, played by Jodie Comer, the film explores the club’s evolution from a group of local outsiders to a dangerous gang.

Main Genre

Drama

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Featuring an impressive cast that includes Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Michael Shannon, The Bikeriders is a great film that explores masculinity, loyalty, and identity within motorcycle culture. It’s a gritty, beautiful-looking film with some truly knockout performances, and perfectly executes its 1960 and ’70s setting, creating a film that feels timeless. While the story might be a bit conventional, its simplicity helps to elevate everything else around it.

The Bikeriders is a great film that explores masculinity, loyalty, and identity within motorcycle culture.

Alongside the rest of the stellar cast, Mike Faist is really great as Danny Lyon, a photographer whose real-life photo book, The Bikeriders, inspired the making of the film. Lyon doesn’t have a huge role in the film, as The Bikeriders focuses on the people in his book, but his importance is obvious, as without Lyon, the film would not exist. Still, it seems impossible for Faist to give anything less than a great performance.

2

Challengers (2024)

Mike Faist as Art Donaldson

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Challengers

R
ComedyDramaRomanceSports

Release Date

April 26, 2024

Runtime

131 Minutes

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Writers

Justin Kuritzkes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Zendaya In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios' 'Challengers'

    Zendaya

    Tashi Donaldson

  • Headshot Of Mike Faist

    Mike Faist

    Art Donaldson

  • Headshot Of Josh O'Connor

    Josh O’Connor

    Patrick Zweig

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Challengers follows tennis player-turned-coach Tashi as she transforms her husband Art into a Grand Slam champion. To revitalize his career, she enters him in a lower-tier tournament where he confronts his past, facing both his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.

Main Genre

Drama

Character(s)

Tashi Donaldson, Art Donaldson, Patrick Zweig, Umpire (New Rochelle Final), Art’s Physiotherapist, Art’s Security Guard, Tashi’s Mother, Line Judge (New Rochelle Final), TV Sports Commentator (Atlanta 2019), Lily, Leo Du Marier, Woman With Headset (Atlanta 2019), Motel Front Desk Clerk, Motel Husband, New Rochelle Parking Lot Guard, USTA Official / Line Judge US Open Jr., Y. Kucera (US Open Jr. Player), T. Svoboda (US Open Jr. Player), A. Mueller (US Open Jr. Player), Tashi’s Father, Grosu, Finn Larsen, Player (New Rochelle Locker Room), Helen (Patrick’s Date), Art’s Teammate (Stanford), Umpire (Stanford Match), Art’s Trainer (Ohio 2011), Art’s Fan, Puppeteer

Studio(s)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pascal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Amazon MGM Studios

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Challengers is a sexy sports drama starring Zendaya alongside Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, following their love triangle over the course of 13 years, against the backdrop of professional tennis. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Challengers was one of the best movies of 2024, featuring a career-best performance from Zendaya, and electric chemistry between all three of the movie’s leads as they explore envy, lost potential, and lust, making tennis surprisingly even more exciting than one might think.

Challengers Art and Patrick final match

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Why Art & Patrick Hug At The End Of Challengers

Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers left the big question of who won the match, but the most important and meaningful part of the ending is the hug.

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All three leads in Challengers give stellar performances, including Faist as Art Donaldson, a professional tennis player who ends up marrying Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan. He is the former best friend of O’Connor’s Patrick Sweig, the third side of the triangle. Art’s relationship with tennis, Tashi, and Patrick is complicated and, given that all three characters are incredibly complex, Faist’s performance has a lot of depth, making it one of the best performances of his career.

1

West Side Story (2021)

Mike Faist as Riff

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West Side Story

PG-13
DramaCrimeMusical

Release Date

December 10, 2021

Runtime

156 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Tony Kushner

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Mike Iveson

  • Headshot Of Ansel Elgort

    Ansel Elgort

  • Headshot Of Ariana DeBose

    Ariana DeBose

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Based on the 1957 Broadway musical, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is the second feature-length film to adapt the musical for the big screen. Starring Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort, the film tells the story of the forbidden love between a young couple on opposite sides of a conflict between two rival gangs in 1950s New York City.

Budget

$100 million

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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The 1961 adaptation of West Side Story is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, which put a lot of pressure on Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake to be fantastic. Fortunately, Spielberg is one of the best directors of all time and his West Side Story is a remarkable film, carving out its own identity alongside the musical giant. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, while Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita. It’s one of the best modern musicals ever made.

Mike Faist fits right in with the rest of the cast, playing Riff, the leader of the Jets. He is superb in the role, being one of the movies’ big standouts alongside DeBose. There is a lot more to the character than what might be seen on the surface, and Mike Faist really digs into Riff as a person, crafting a nuanced portrayal that might just be the best performance of his entire career at this point.

Headshot Of Mike Faist

Mike Faist

Birthdate

January 5, 1992

Birthplace

Gahanna, Ohio, USA