(Photo by Mark Tille/©Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Sam Rockwell Movies Ranked by Tomatometer
Moon celebrates its 15th anniversary!
We’re ranking the films of Sam Rockwell by Tomatometer! A prolific actor, we start the guide with his Certified Fresh films, including two from his breakthrough 1999 year: The Green Mile (as psychotic inmate Wild Bill) and Galaxy Quest, where he played pragmatic panicker Guy Fleegman. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Matchstick Men continued to grow his stature, heading into the lead on hidden gems-lists fixture Moon, and a spot in the MCU as Iron Man 2‘s Justin Hammer. Rockwell’s also been in some of the more interesting, quirky, and abrasive wide releases of the past two decades, including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Seven Psychopaths, Jojo Rabbit, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
93%
Critics Consensus: Frost/Nixon is weighty and eloquent; a cross between a boxing match and a ballet with Oscar worthy performances.
Synopsis: In 1977, three years after the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency, Richard Nixon selects British TV personality David Frost to conduct a one-on-one, exclusive... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall
Directed By: Ron Howard
90%
Critics Consensus: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri deftly balances black comedy against searing drama -- and draws unforgettable performances from its veteran cast along the way.
Synopsis: After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Lucas Hedges
Directed By: Martin McDonagh
90%
Critics Consensus: Boosted by Sam Rockwell's intense performance, Moon is a compelling work of science-fiction, and a promising debut from director Duncan Jones.
Synopsis: Astronaut Sam Bell's (Sam Rockwell) three-year shift at a lunar mine is finally coming to an end, and he's looking forward to his reunion with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Dominique McElligott, Kaya Scodelario, Benedict Wong
Directed By: Duncan Jones
90%
Critics Consensus: Intelligent and humorous satire with an excellent cast -- no previous Trekkie knowledge needed to enjoy this one.
Synopsis: The stars of a 1970s sci-fi show -- now scraping a living through re-runs and sci-fi conventions are beamed aboard an alien spacecraft. Believing the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub
Directed By: Dean Parisot
87%
Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and full of colorful visual appeal, The Bad Guys is good news for audiences seeking options the whole family can enjoy.
Synopsis: In the new action comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on the New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, Awkwafina
Directed By: Pierre Perifel
83%
Critics Consensus: Despite its familiar themes, The Way Way Back makes use of its talented cast, finely tuned script, and an abundance of charm to deliver a funny and satisfying coming-of-age story.
Synopsis: Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward teen who must spend the summer at a beach house with his mother (Toni Collette), her boyfriend, Trent (Steve... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb
82%
Critics Consensus: Seven Psychopaths delivers sly cinematic commentary while serving up a heaping helping of sharp dialogue and gleeful violence.
Synopsis: Boozy writer Marty (Colin Farrell) is a man in search of a screenplay. He has a catchy title but no story to go along with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson
Directed By: Martin McDonagh
82%
Critics Consensus: Breezy and well-acted, Matchstick Men focuses more on the characters than on the con.
Synopsis: Roy (Nicolas Cage), a depressed con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Frank (Sam Rockwell), his partner, find their line of work complicated by the arrival... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman, Bruce Altman
Directed By: Ridley Scott
81%
Critics Consensus: Jojo Rabbit's blend of irreverent humor and serious ideas definitely won't be to everyone's taste -- but either way, this anti-hate satire is audacious to a fault.
Synopsis: Jojo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi
Directed By: Taika Waititi
79%
Critics Consensus: Rockwell is spot-on as Barris, and Clooney directs with entertaining style and flair.
Synopsis: Game show television producer Chuck Barris is at the height of his career. His creation, The Dating Game, is one of the network's top shows,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Julia Roberts
Directed By: George Clooney
78%
Critics Consensus: Though The Green Mile is long, critics say it's an absorbing, emotionally powerful experience.
Synopsis: Paul Edgecomb walked the mile with a variety of cons. He had never encountered someone like John Coffey, a massive black man convicted of brutally... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bonnie Hunt
Directed By: Frank Darabont
77%
Critics Consensus: Richard Jewell simplifies the real-life events that inspired it -- yet still proves that Clint Eastwood remains a skilled filmmaker of admirable economy.
Synopsis: During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell discovers a suspicious backpack under a bench in Centennial Park. With little time to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
76%
Critics Consensus: On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.
Synopsis: Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker
Directed By: Andrew Dominik
72%
Critics Consensus: It isn't quite the breath of fresh air that Iron Man was, but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot.
Synopsis: With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from all sides to share his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson
Directed By: Jon Favreau
75%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Tom (Joe Mantegna) is a hardened assassin with an eager but boorish apprentice, Jerry (Sam Rockwell). While waiting in a coffee shop for orders to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joe Mantegna, Sam Rockwell, Maury Chaykin, Ted Danson
Directed By: Saul Rubinek
72%
Critics Consensus: A fun follow-up for fans of the original, Trolls World Tour offers a second helping of colorful animation, infectious energy, and sing-along songs.
Synopsis: Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden
Directed By: Walt Dohrn
72%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Kentucky snobs (Christopher McDonald, Kathleen Quinlan) discourage their 10-year-old daughter's fascination with a working-class laborer (Sam Rockwell).
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Christopher McDonald, Kathleen Quinlan, Bruce McGill
Directed By: John Duigan
72%
Critics Consensus: An uncertain approach to the story's darker themes undermines its emotional stakes, but The One and Only Ivan offers heartwarming entertainment for younger viewers.
Synopsis: A gorilla tries to piece together its past and escape captivity with help from an elephant.
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Bryan Cranston, Brooklynn Prince
Directed By: Thea Sharrock
67%
Critics Consensus: Less compelling -- and more manipulative -- than it should be, Conviction benefits from its compelling true story and a pair of solid performances from Swank and Rockwell.
Synopsis: When her older brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in 1983, Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) vows to get... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo
Directed By: Tony Goldwyn
68%
Critics Consensus: Mixing tongue-in-cheek cheesecake with glossy action set pieces, Charlie's Angels is slick and resonably fun despite its lack of originality.
Synopsis: A trio of elite private investigators armed with the latest in high-tech tools, high-performance vehicles, martial arts techniques and an array of disguises unleash their... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Bill Murray
Directed By: McG
67%
Critics Consensus: Heist didn't cover any new ground, but the cast and Mamet's expertise with witty banter make it worthwhile.
Synopsis: Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) has a job he loves. He's a thief. His job goes sour when he gets caught on security camera tape. His... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: David Mamet
68%
Critics Consensus: With fine acting and considerable emotional depth, Snow Angels aptly captures the highs, and especially the lows of human relationships.
Synopsis: Waitress Annie (Kate Beckinsale) has separated from her suicidal alcoholic husband, Glenn (Sam Rockwell). Glenn has become an evangelical Christian, but his erratic attempts at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Jeannetta Arnette
Directed By: David Gordon Green
66%
Critics Consensus: Faultless production and shining performances display the Bard's talent propitiously.
Synopsis: This version of the renowned comedic play finds the world of humans intersecting with the realm of magic. The lovely Hermia (Anna Friel) is to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci
Directed By: Michael Hoffman
64%
Critics Consensus: Vice takes scattershot aim at its targets, but writer-director Adam McKay hits some satisfying bullseyes -- and Christian Bale's transformation is a sight to behold.
Synopsis: Gov. George W. Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: Adam McKay
64%
Critics Consensus: Laggies may not do as much with its ideas as it could, but it's buoyed by a winsome performance from Kiera Knightley, as well as Lynn Shelton's empathetic direction.
Synopsis: When 28-year-old Megan attends her 10-year high-school reunion, she realizes that very little in her life has changed. An unexpected marriage proposal from her boyfriend... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell, Ellie Kemper
Directed By: Lynn Shelton
64%
Critics Consensus: Digging for Fire finds director/co-writer Joe Swanberg working from a familiar palette, but in ways that suggest he's taking new and exciting strides as a filmmaker.
Synopsis: A house sitter (Jake Johnson) becomes an amateur sleuth after finding a bone and a gun on the property.
Starring: Jake Johnson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Orlando Bloom, Brie Larson
Directed By: Joe Swanberg
61%
Critics Consensus: Though Joshua is ultimately too formulaic, its intelligence and suspenseful buildup heighten the overall creep factor.
Synopsis: Brad (Sam Rockwell) and Abby (Vera Farmiga) Cairn have a seemingly picture-perfect life. Brad is a successful stockbroker, their son, Joshua, is a child prodigy,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Celia Weston, Dallas Roberts
Directed By: George Ratliff
59%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When a business trip ends abruptly, distressed middle-aged electrical engineer Al Fountain (John Turturro) decides to seek out a lake that harbors happy childhood memories.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Turturro, Sam Rockwell, Catherine Keener, Lisa Blount
Directed By: Tom DiCillo
61%
Critics Consensus: A frantic and occasional funny adaptation of Douglas Adams' novel. However, it may have those unfamiliar with the source material scratching their heads.
Synopsis: Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is trying to prevent his house from being bulldozed when his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) whisks him into outer space.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Martin Freeman, Yasiin Bey, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel
Directed By: Garth Jennings
59%
Critics Consensus: Woman Walks Ahead gets some extra mileage out of watchable work from Jessica Chastain and Michael Greyeyes, but uneven pacing and two-dimensional characters undermine their efforts.
Synopsis: A headstrong New York painter embarks on a dangerous journey to meet Sitting Bull but must face off with an Army officer intent on war... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Michael Greyeyes, Ciarán Hinds, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: Susanna White
57%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Sam (Sam Rockwell) and Eddie (Steve Zahn) are just a couple of clueless, untalented singers. But, when they are mistaken for a pair of safecracking... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Paul Giamatti, Michael Schmidt
Directed By: John Hamburg
56%
Critics Consensus: While bolstered by strong performances from Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston, Choke struggles to capture the tone of Chuck Palahniuk's novel.
Synopsis: Destitute, a sex addict (Sam Rockwell) fakes choking in expensive restaurants, whose patrons "save" him, then fund his hospitalized mother's care.
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, Brad William Henke
Directed By: Clark Gregg
55%
Critics Consensus: Contains some funny moments, but it's still a very lightweight comedy.
Synopsis: Five hapless misfits from the hard-luck streets of Cleveland band together to try and pull off the greatest job they've ever heard of. Opportunities like... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Luis Guzmán, Michael Jeter, Patricia Clarkson, Andy Davoli
Directed By: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
51%
Critics Consensus: The Best of Enemies has the best of intentions, but they're derailed by a problematic perspective and a disappointing lack of insight.
Synopsis: The true story of the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader. During... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Nick Searcy
Directed By: Robin Bissell
50%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Hollywood agent Howard Holloway cannot find any real success until he signs Lydia, a talented and troubled 14-year-old with an alcoholic father. Every day he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Clark Gregg, William H. Macy, Amanda Peet
Directed By: Clark Gregg
52%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Increasingly estranged from his own daughter, a boozy busboy (Sam Rockwell) gets a shot at redemption when an old friend (Rob Corddry) hires him to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Shareeka Epps
Directed By: James C. Strouse
47%
Critics Consensus: A calm, charismatic performance from Robert De Niro nearly saves the movie, but ultimately, Everybody's Fine has the look and feel of a stereotypical Christmas dramedy.
Synopsis: Eight months after the death of his wife, Frank Goode looks forward to a reunion with his four adult children. When all of them cancel... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: Kirk Jones
46%
Critics Consensus: It has a bleak sense of atmosphere and a terrific performance by Sam Rockwell, but A Single Shot is undercut by its predictable story and slow pace.
Synopsis: A poacher (Sam Rockwell) becomes the quarry of merciless criminals after he takes the cash he found while hunting in the backwoods.
Starring: Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Ted Levine, Kelly Reilly
Directed By: David M. Rosenthal
47%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Rejected by the girl of his dreams, a writer (Justin Long) creates an online alter ego that makes her fall for him.
Starring: Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage
Directed By: Kat Coiro
45%
Critics Consensus: Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick work well together, but Mr. Right is too much of a tonal jumble to take advantage of their chemistry.
Synopsis: A woman (Anna Kendrick) comes to a crossroad when she finds out that her new beau (Sam Rockwell) is a professional assassin who kills the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone
Directed By: Paco Cabezas
44%
Critics Consensus: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are as dependably appealing as ever, but they're let down by director Jon Favreau's inability to smooth Cowboys & Aliens' jarring tonal shifts.
Synopsis: Bearing a mysterious metal shackle on his wrist, an amnesiac gunslinger wanders into a frontier town called Absolution. He quickly finds that strangers are unwelcome,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: Jon Favreau
33%
Critics Consensus: This contrived heist film strikes gold with Sam Rockwell, but there isn't much else going for Blue Iguana.
Synopsis: Ex-jailbirds Eddie and Paul are on parole and working in a New York diner, and their lives seem to be at a dead end. Then,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Ben Schwartz, Phoebe Fox, Simon Callow
Directed By: Hadi Hajaig
33%
Critics Consensus: Argylle gets some mileage out of its silly, energetic spin on the spy thriller, but ultimately wears out its welcome with a convoluted plot and overlong runtime.
Synopsis: Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World franchise) is Elly Conway, the reclusive author of a series of best-selling espionage novels, whose idea of bliss is a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, John Cena
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn
33%
Critics Consensus: True to its name, Loitering with Intent lingers longer than necessary -- and not with good reason -- as its script crumbles under the weight of mediocrity.
Synopsis: Fledgling screenwriters (Michael Godere, Ivan Martin) retreat to a quiet country manor to work on their script, but a constellation of needy characters produces constant... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Godere, Ivan Martin, Marisa Tomei, Sam Rockwell
Directed By: Adam Rapp
33%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Three brothers (Nathan Forrest Winters, Brian McHugh, Sam Rockwell) are trapped in an old house with three escaped killers wearing clown suits.
Starring: Nathan Forrest Winters, Brian McHugh, Sam Rockwell, Michael Jerome West
Directed By: Victor Salva
29%
Critics Consensus: Paying competent homage without adding anything of real value to the original Poltergeist, this remake proves just as ephemeral (but half as haunting) as its titular spirit.
Synopsis: All seems well for Eric Bowen (Sam Rockwell), wife Amy (Rosemarie DeWitt) and their three children as they move into their new house in the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Catlett, Jane Adams
Directed By: Gil Kenan
29%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A devout biblical archaeologist (Sam Rockwell) treads down a less-than-righteous path when he begins to receive financial support from an evangelical preacher.
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Will Forte, Danny McBride
Directed By: Jared Hess
24%
Critics Consensus: Better Living Through Chemistry proves suburban satire and a talented cast can be mixed together to produce a disappointingly tepid blend.
Synopsis: A pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he has an affair with a trophy wife who enjoys sex, drugs and murder.
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Ben Schwartz
Directed By: Geoff Moore, David Posamentier
22%
Critics Consensus: G-Force features manic action, but fails to come up with interesting characters or an inspired plot.
Synopsis: Armed with the latest high-tech spy gear, a guinea pig named Darwin (Sam Rockwell) and his team of specially trained rodents are often the last... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis, Sam Rockwell, Tracy Morgan
Directed By: Hoyt H. Yeatman Jr.
22%
Critics Consensus: With its recycled plot, misguided gags, and formula performance from Jonah Hill, The Sitter adds up to another disappointing entry from director David Gordon Green.
Synopsis: Noah Griffith (Jonah Hill) is stuck in a rut; he's been kicked out of college, and his self-absorbed girlfriend, Marisa (Ari Graynor), treats him poorly.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jonah Hill, Max Records, Ari Graynor, J.B. Smoove
Directed By: David Gordon Green
20%
Critics Consensus: Unselfconsciously juvenile and overwhelmingly quirky, Gentlemen Broncos offers a lot of potty humor but isn't terribly funny.
Synopsis: A legendary novelist steals a story idea from a teenage loner (Michael Angarano) and, subsequently, makes it into a disastrous movie.
Starring: Michael Angarano, Jennifer Coolidge, Halley Feiffer, Héctor Jiménez
Directed By: Jared Hess
