Timothy Olyphant’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Timothy Olyphant’s best movies and TV shows showcase a career filled with beloved projects from the Emmy-nominated actor. The American actor got his start in the professional acting world in the mid-90s, eventually finding high-profile roles in movies like Scream 2 and Go. His early bad-boy image has now morphed into more heroic roles in television shows, and more recently he has shown off his comedic skills. While he has become best-known for playing Western characters, Olyphant’s range is much more than that.

Working alongside acclaimed filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh, Olyphant continues to balance his leading man roles with his work as a character actor in some exciting projects. While he has had some memorable guest-starring roles on shows like The Mandalorian and The Office, Olyphant’s best roles allow him to show his talents in more in-depth characters, ranging from flawed heroes to entertaining villains to hilarious comedic leads.

10

The Girl Next Door (2004)

As Kelly

The Girl Next Door

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The Girl Next Door

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The Girl Next Door (2004) is a coming-of-age romantic comedy directed by Luke Greenfield. The film stars Emile Hirsch as Matthew Kidman, a high school senior who falls for his new neighbor Danielle, played by Elisha Cuthbert. Their budding relationship takes a turn when Matthew discovers Danielle’s past as a porn star, leading to a series of comical and poignant events that challenge his understanding of love and life.

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Release Date

April 9, 2004

Runtime

1h 49m

Cast

Elisha Cuthbert
, Emile Hirsch
, Timothy Olyphant

While Timothy Olyphant is likely better remembered for his heroic roles in movies and television, he has been quite successful in playing the villain at times. One of the best examples and one of his most underrated performances is in the teen R-rated comedy The Girl Next Door. Emile Hirsch stars in the film as a bright albeit inexperienced high schooler who falls for the beautiful girl who moves in next door, played by Elisha Cuthbert. However, as they form a relationship, he finds out she is a former adult film star.

Olyphant is almost too charismatic and fun in the role as he becomes the most interesting character.

Olyphant injects a terrific sleazy energy into the movie as Kelly, Cuthbert’s former manager who comes looking to bring her back to the business. Olyphant is almost too charismatic and fun in the role as he becomes the most interesting character. However, the teen comedy has earned a cult status for its fun take on Risky Business as well as Cuthbert’s underrated performance.

9

Scream 2 (1997)

As Mickey

scream 2

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8/10

Scream 2

r
Horror

Scream 2 is the follow-up to Wes Craven’s meta film Scream and was released a year after the original. In the sequel, Sidney (Neve Campbell) moves to college but can’t escape her legacy as a survivor of Ghostface. Things become even more complicated for Sidney and her friends when a new Ghostface haunts her campus.

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Release Date

December 12, 1997

Runtime

120minutes

Cast

Neve Campbell
, Courteney Cox
, Timothy Olyphant

Director

Wes Craven

Timothy Olyphant not only had the chance to step into one of the most iconic horror movie franchises of all time, but he also has the honor of being one of the few actors to play Ghostface in the Scream series. Scream 2 picks up after the events of the original movie with Sidney Prescott now in college as a film based on the original murders debuts. The renewed interest in the case becomes deadly as a copycat Ghostface emerges to hunt down Sidney and her friends.

This climactic scene allows Olyphant to have some fun in the role, chewing the scenery as the deranged villain.

Olyphant plays one of Sidney’s college friends, Mickey, who is a rather forgettable character until he is revealed to be one of the killers. This climactic scene allows Olyphant to have some fun in the role, chewing the scenery as the deranged villain. While it lacks the freshness and cleverness of the first movie, Scream 2 is a solid sequel with some genuine shocks and iconic set pieces, like the opening movie theater sequence.

8

Full Circle (2023)

As Derek Browne

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Full Circle

CrimeDramaMystery

Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon partner to create Full Circle, a Max limited series that centers on a failed kidnapping attempt. As the investigation into the attempted kidnapping progresses, seemingly unrelated characters and cultures take center stage as the hidden secrets within the heart of New York City begin to reveal the hidden connections between them.

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Release Date

July 13, 2023

Cast

Zazie Beetz
, Claire Danes
, Jim Gaffigan
, Jharrel Jerome
, Timothy Olyphant
, CCH Pounder
, Dennis Quaid

Seasons

1

Showrunner

Ed Soloman

Timothy Olyphant returned to television to work for an iconic filmmaker, appearing in Steven Soderbergh’s limited crime series Full Circle. The show stars Olyphant and Claire Danes as an affluent New York City family who receive a call that their son has been kidnapped and is being held for a ransom. However, when their son returns home safely, they realize that another boy has mistakenly been taken and the family’s actions reveal dark secrets about their past they have tried to keep hidden.

Olyphant is excellent as Derek Browne, the patriarch of the family. He initially plays the role with the cool calmness he pulls off so well in other roles, but becomes an anxious and desperate man when things start to unravel. The series makes for a gripping noir movie with a terrific cast that also includes Dennis Quaid and Zazie Beetz.

7

Go (1999)

As Todd Gaines

01149398_poster_w780.jpg

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Go

R
CrimeComedyThriller

Go is a 1999 film following Ronna, a grocery store clerk who impulsively decides to sell drugs on Christmas Eve amidst unexpected encounters. This fast-paced narrative intertwines the stories of Ronna, her co-worker Simon, and actors Adam and Zack, who are implicated in an undercover narcotics operation.

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Release Date

April 9, 1999

Runtime

98 minutes

Cast

Sarah Polley
, Timothy Olyphant
, Katie Holmes
, Desmond Askew
, Jay Mohr
, Scott Wolf
, Taye Diggs
, William Fichtner
, Nathan Bexton
, Breckin Meyer
, James Duval
, J.E. Freeman
, Jimmy Shubert
, Jane Krakowski
, Melissa McCarthy
, Robert Peters
, Suzanne Krull
, Jay Paulson
, Katharine Towne
, Nikki Fritz
, Tane McClure
, Courtland Mead
, Josh Paddock
, Manu Intiraymi
, Natasha Melnick

Director

Doug Liman

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In one of his earliest breakout roles, Timothy Olyphant was a standout in a cast of young up-and-coming actors. From Doug Liman, Go is a chaotic and hugely entertaining movie that follows various characters through their misadventures following a drug deal. The movie follows different perspectives that range from surreal to hilarious to dangerous. Olyphant gets to show his bad-boy side as Todd Gaines, the threatening yet alluring drug dealer.

Go features a strong cast that includes Katie Holmes, Taye Diggs, and Sarah Polley, bringing the wild journey to life with fun characters. Olyphant steals the show as the initial villain who later becomes the love interest to Holmes’ character. It is a funny and fast-paced ride that stands out as a quintessential 90s movie for the younger generation and also showcases Liman as a truly entertaining filmmaker.

6

Fargo (2020)

As US Marshal Dick “Deafy” Wickware

Fargo Season 5 Poster Cropped

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9/10

Fargo

AnthologyCrimeDramaComedyThriller

Fargo is a Black Comedy Crime Drama television series that is based on the film of the same name, which was originally created by the Coen Brothers. The TV adaptation was developed by Noah Hawley and follows an anthology format for each of its seasons, taking place in a different time period or location within the “Fargo” universe. So far, the series has seen big-name stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, and Kirsten Dunst.

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Release Date

April 15, 2014

Cast

Billy Bob Thornton
, Allison Tolman
, Martin Freeman
, Kirsten Dunst
, Patrick Wilson
, Jesse Plemons
, Ewan McGregor
, Carrie Coon
, Chris Rock
, Jessie Buckley
, Jason Schwartzman
, Juno Temple
, Jon Hamm

Seasons

5

Showrunner

Noah Hawley

While Timothy Olyphant is set to appear in Noah Hawley’s much-anticipated Alien: Earth series, the two have already successfully collaborated on the fourth season of Fargo. Chris Rock and Jason Schwartzman lead the season that takes viewers further back in time than any previous Fargo tale. In the 1940s, an Italian crime family and a Black crime family see their long-held truce beginning to crumble, leading to violence and mayhem in the streets of Kansas City.

Alongside cast members like Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, and Jack Huston, Olyphant steals the show.

Olyphant has a great supporting role that allows him to step into the lawman role once again as US Marshal Dick “Deafy” Wickware. While Deafy sees himself as a righteous and honorable man, he is the darkest lawman Olyphant has played to date, with his monologue about his past treatment of Italian criminals particularly chilling. Alongside cast members like Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, and Jack Huston, Olyphant steals the show. Though often seen as one of the weaker seasons of Fargo, it is still a gripping, quirky, and violent crime saga from beginning to end.

5

The Crazies (2010)

As Sheriff David Dutten

the crazies

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The Crazies

pg-13
HorrorThriller

The Crazies is a 2010 horror film that acts as a remake to the 1973 movie of the same name. In the remake, a young couple must fight for their lives after a toxic virus infects their small farming town and turns its citizens into violent killers. Radha Mitchell and Timothy Olyphant lead the film alongside Danielle Panabaker and Joe Anderson.

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Release Date

February 23, 2010

Runtime

101 minutes

Cast

Timothy Olyphant
, Radha Mitchell
, Joe Anderson
, Danielle Panabaker

Director

Breck Eisner

A remake of the lesser-known George A. Romero movie, The Crazies is a sorely underrated horror flick from the 2010s with a stellar heroic performance from Olyphant in the lead role. He plays David, the sheriff of a small town that begins to experience an outbreak that turns the affected people into emotionless and violent killers. However, with the government trying to contain the spread, David and his wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell), find that those in charge are willing to kill anyone in order to ensure the disease doesn’t reach a wider population.

The film is an intense ride with some excellent horror movie set pieces, but there are also brief moments of dark humor that make it feel unique. The idea that the government is as big of a threat as the mindless killers is also an unsettling twist. Olyphant is also able to bring a quiet everyman hero performance to the movie, grounding some of the more outlandish elements.

4

Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)

As Joel Hammond

Santa Clarita Diet Poster

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Santa Clarita Diet

ComedyHorror

Joel and Sheila Hammond live a typical life as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California, but all that changes when Sheila becomes a zombie and starts craving human flesh. This horror comedy stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant and lasted for a total of three seasons before being canceled in April 2019.

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Release Date

February 3, 2017

Cast

Timothy Olyphant
, Drew Barrymore

Seasons

3

Showrunner

Victor Fresco

While The Crazies wasn’t technically a zombie movie, Timothy Olyphant did manage to get into the genre while also delivering his best comedic performance to date. Santa Clarita Diet stars Olyphant and Drew Barrymore as Joel and Sheila, a married realtor couple in California who find themselves dealing with more than just typical domestic issues when Sheila dies and comes back to life with a craving for human meat. She and Joel then set out to find evil people who they can feed to Sheila while also attempting to maintain a normal suburban life.

He and Barrymore have wonderful chemistry in this underrated Netflix original series that ended too soon.

Santa Clarita Diet is certainly a gruesome and gory show, but it is also completely silly, never taking itself seriously. Olyphant seems to, especially by having fun embracing his goofy side as the laidback family man who is slowly falling apart from the stress of their new situation. He and Barrymore have wonderful chemistry in this underrated Netflix original series that ended too soon.

3

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

As Jim Stacy

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9.5/10

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

R
ComedyDrama

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, which takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton, the former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. Both struggle to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore, but Rick soon realizes he’s the next-door neighbor of the infamous Sharon Tate.

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Release Date

July 26, 2019

Runtime

159 minutes

Cast

Tim Roth
, Margot Robbie
, Mike Moh
, Timothy Olyphant
, Al Pacino
, Kurt Russell
, Leonardo DiCaprio
, Dakota Fanning
, James Marsden
, Brad Pitt
, Luke Perry
, Bruce Dern
, Scoot McNairy
, Michael Madsen
, Margaret Qualley
, Emile Hirsch

Director

Quentin Tarantino

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Timothy Olyphant got to star alongside some of the biggest names in acting while also stepping into the engrossing world of Quentin Tarantino’s filmmaking in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Set in 1969, the movie follows fading TV hero Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his best friend/stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they navigate the changing landscape of Hollywood while also living next door to Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie).

Olyphant plays one of several real-life characters in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as Jim Stacy, star of the little-known Western series Lancer, which Dalton guest stars on. The film is a surprisingly touching love letter to this era in television and moviemaking while also adding some surprising elements related to the Manson Family. It makes for a fascinating and hugely entertaining look into the past with Tarantino as the guide.

2

Deadwood (2004-2006)

As Seth Bullock

Deadwood TV Series Poster

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9.3/10

Deadwood

DramaWestern

Deadwood is a western drama series created for HBO by David Milch. The series takes place in Deadwood, South Dakota, where corruption runs rampant in the gold-mining era as the settlement existed outside the U.S. territory expansion following the Civil War. As the town was the site of a major gold find, it continues to attract people from all walks of life – especially opportunistic criminals.

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Release Date

March 21, 2004

Cast

Timothy Olyphant
, Ian McShane
, Molly Parker
, Jim Beaver
, Brad Dourif
, John Hawkes
, Paula Malcomson
, Leon Rippy
, William Sanderson
, Robin Weigert

Seasons

3

Showrunner

David Milch

The role that started Timothy Olyphant’s introduction into the Western genre also happens to be one of HBO’s greatest shows of all time. Deadwood is a historical fiction series that takes a look at the last lawless town in America where a variety of characters came to seek their fortunes in a place where gold was being discovered across the various claims. The series had a large ensemble, but most of the story was focused on the noble but hot-tempered sheriff Seth Bullock (Olyphant) and the scheming saloon owner Al Swearengen (Ian McShane).

While McShane has the flashier role with long, brilliant monologues, Olyphant is excellent as Bullock, the flawed hero of the story. Olyphant perfectly plays this man who has seething rage at any display of injustice which sometimes blinds him to the wiser course of action. The series is filled with complex and interesting characters that make it more than just another Western show.

1

Justified (2010-2015)

As Raylan Givens

Justified TV Poster

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10/10

Justified

CrimeActionDrama

Based on the fictional stories by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a neo-Western crime drama following the adventures of Old West lawman Marshal Raylan Givens, who is reassigned to his home county in Kentucky after a controversial shooting.

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Release Date

March 16, 2010

Cast

Jere Burns
, Erica Tazel
, Timothy Olyphant
, Nick Searcy
, Jacob Pitts
, Walton Goggins
, Natalie Zea
, Joelle Carter

Seasons

6

Showrunner

Timothy Olyphant

Timothy Olyphant found the role he was born to play as Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens in Justified. Based on the character created by Elmore Leonard, Raylan is a lawman who looks and acts like he just stepped out of the Old West yet operates in the modern world. After gunning down a mobster in broad daylight, Raylan is sent to the Marshal’s office in Kentucky where he grew up. There, he contends with the local criminal element, which includes his former friend turning outlaw, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).

Justified expertly brings Leonard’s crackling writing to life on the screen with this sharp and grounded crime series that keeps the thrills coming but also has time for a sense of humor. Olyphant is particularly funny, delivering the tough-guy one-liners while also being willing to show Raylan as a fool at times. However, the highlight of the ultra-cool series is the chemistry between Olyphant and Goggins, with the show becoming electrified whenever they share the screen.