The 10 Most Underrated Bryan Cranston Movies, Ranked (from Least to Most Underrated)

I’m a huge Bryan Cranston fan, and people often only think of his TV work, but his film career is *so* much more! He’s not just been in leading roles; he’s consistently delivered amazing performances, even in smaller parts, and his voice work is fantastic too. He’s worked with some really talented directors on all kinds of movies – dramas, thrillers, animated films, even stories based on real life. It’s a shame some of those films didn’t get the recognition they deserved when they came out, because he was brilliant in them.

As a huge film fan, I’ve been revisiting Bryan Cranston’s work, and I’ve put together a list of ten movies that really highlight his versatility. You’ll find everything from gritty crime stories and thoughtful biographies to charming animated adventures and clever heists. I’ve ranked them simply from 10 to 1, and for each one, I’ve included details about his role, who he worked with, and a little bit about how it stands out in his filmography. It’s a great way to appreciate the breadth of his talent!

‘Cold Comes the Night’ (2013)

Directed by Tze Chun, this thrilling crime story features Bryan Cranston as Topo, an aging gangster with failing eyesight. He forces Alice Eve’s character, a motel owner down on her luck, to help him recover money from a failed transaction. With Logan Marshall-Green also starring, the film centers around a dilapidated roadside motel that becomes ground zero for stolen cash and betrayals.

As a film buff, I found it interesting that this movie was a collaboration between Syncopated Films and Scion Films. It actually hit North American screens through Stage 6 Films and Samuel Goldwyn Films. What really struck me was the way it was filmed – mostly up in upstate New York, and they really leaned into the darkness. They used real locations and low lighting to create this incredibly tense, nighttime feel, which totally worked for the story.

‘Wakefield’ (2016)

Robin Swicord wrote and directed “Wakefield,” a film based on an E.L. Doctorow story. It stars Bryan Cranston as Howard Wakefield, a New York City lawyer who, after a difficult time in his life, secretly moves into his attic and watches his family. Jennifer Garner plays his wife, Diana. The movie uses Howard’s thoughts, narrated throughout the film, to show how he slowly becomes more and more isolated.

The movie first showed at several film festivals before being released in the US by IFC Films. It was filmed mainly in and around New York City, and relied heavily on Bryan Cranston’s acting to drive the story, often using single settings for extended scenes.

‘Godzilla’ (2014)

Gareth Edwards directs this new take on the monster movie, starring Bryan Cranston as Joe Brody, an engineer who begins investigating a disaster at a power plant – an event that kicks off the film’s main storyline. The cast also includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, and Juliette Binoche. The film features huge, impressive scenes and brings classic monster elements to life with modern visual effects.

Legendary Pictures produced the film, which Warner Bros. then released, starting a new interconnected cinematic universe focused on monsters. The movie earned over $500 million globally and achieved its impressive visuals – including massive city destruction and realistic monster scenes – by combining real-world sets and effects with digital technology.

‘The One and Only Ivan’ (2020)

This heartwarming story follows Mack, a circus owner played by Bryan Cranston, and Ivan, a kind gorilla who performs at the mall. The film combines real actors with stunning computer-animated animals, and features the voices of Sam Rockwell as Ivan, alongside Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, and Helen Mirren. It’s based on the popular book by K. A. Applegate, which explores themes of animal care and finding where you belong.

This movie, made by Walt Disney Pictures, uses advanced performance-capture technology. It premiered on Disney+ and features incredibly realistic animal characters blended seamlessly with real-life sets. The film’s stunning visual effects and digital artistry were highly praised and received awards recognition.

‘Jerry & Marge Go Large’ (2022)

Bryan Cranston stars as Jerry Selbee, a retired factory worker who, along with his wife Marge (played by Annette Bening), discovers a clever way to win a local lottery. This heartwarming, true story shows how the couple uses their winnings to help improve their small town and support important community projects.

The movie, directed by David Frankel, is inspired by a popular article written by Jason Fagone. It was made by Paramount Players and Levantine Films and first appeared on Paramount+. While the story is set in New England, it was actually filmed in Georgia.

‘Last Flag Flying’ (2017)

Directed by Richard Linklater and co-written with Darryl Ponicsan, this film is a dramatic road trip starring Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, and Laurence Fishburne as three friends who served in Vietnam. They reconnect and hit the road together after a loss in one of their families. Based on Ponicsan’s novel, the movie revisits the world of his earlier film, ‘The Last Detail,’ and follows the changing relationship between the three men as they travel through various locations like military bases and small-town diners.

Amazon Studios funded the film, and most of the shooting took place in Pennsylvania. It first screened at the New York Film Festival, and then had a limited release in select theaters before becoming available on streaming platforms in major cities across the U.S.

‘The Infiltrator’ (2016)

Bryan Cranston plays Robert Mazur, a U.S. Customs agent who goes undercover in this crime thriller directed by Brad Furman. The movie follows Mazur as he creates a fake identity to infiltrate money-laundering operations connected to the Medellín Cartel. Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, and Benjamin Bratt also star as fellow agents and individuals involved in the investigation.

The film, inspired by Mazur’s life story, was produced by Good Films and Broad Green Pictures. Filming took place in both Florida and the UK to convincingly portray financial settings in America and other countries. It was released in theaters across North America and in certain international markets.

‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ (2016)

The latest Kung Fu Panda movie brings back Jack Black as Po, and introduces Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, Po’s birth father. Li Shan reveals a hidden panda village and brings Po back to his roots. Alongside Black, the voice cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and J.K. Simmons, who plays the new villain, Kai. The film also adds to the Kung Fu Panda story with exciting new settings and action sequences.

This animated film was a collaboration between American studio DreamWorks Animation and Oriental DreamWorks in China. Production involved teams working across both countries on everything from the story to the final animation and lighting. When it was released globally in various formats, it became a huge hit in China, earning a place among the country’s top-grossing animated movies.

‘Trumbo’ (2015)

Bryan Cranston stars as screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in this film directed by Jay Roach. It tells the true story of the Hollywood blacklist and how Trumbo continued to write under different names. The movie features a strong cast including Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Goodman, and Louis C.K., and explores the complicated world of studio filmmaking during that time, including union talks and secret writing arrangements.

The film, based on Bruce Cook’s biography, first appeared at several film festivals before being released in the U.S. by Bleecker Street. Bryan Cranston earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance, and the filmmakers authentically recreated the look of the era by filming on studio backlots and real locations.

‘Isle of Dogs’ (2018)

Wes Anderson’s animated film features Bryan Cranston as Chief, a dog who teams up with a band of outcast canines to help a young boy find his missing pet. The movie boasts a stellar voice cast including Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and Greta Gerwig. Set in the made-up Japanese city of Megasaki, the film is visually striking, using detailed miniature sets, carefully animated fur, and unique action scenes.

The film, a collaboration between Indian Paintbrush and American Empirical Pictures and distributed by Fox Searchlight, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, earning its director a Silver Bear award. The animation was primarily done at 3 Mills Studios in London, using thousands of uniquely made puppets and detailed sets to create its special look.

If you’ve seen any of these, share which one surprised you most in the comments!

2025-09-24 02:46