10 Best Taylor Kitsch Movies and Shows, Ranked

Taylor Kitsch is an interesting actor. His physically expressive acting nature and willingness to learn new things led Kitsch to becoming a fascinating public personality—he trained with the Navy SEALs, Hotshot firefighters, and various personal trainers, being one himself before his acting career took off. And though we remember Kitsch for his physical roles and good looks, we mustn’t forget he’s also a great and dedicated performer.

Whether it’s a gritty Western show, a stylish romantic thriller, or a sci-fi adventure,Kitsch has the charm and the talent to take us to different worldsand have us believe his every word. Right now, fans can watch him in the seriesThe Terminal List: Dark Wolf, but we might also check out the ten best Taylor Kitsch movies and shows.

10

‘Savages’ (2012)

Savages is a movie you either love or hate; it has a wild plot twist that makes the movie just become ridiculous, but there’s something to enjoy there. Taylor Kitsch andAaron Taylor-Johnson lead the interesting ensemble in thisthriller about drug cartels, romantic triangles, and ruthless businesses. Kitsch holds his own in this movie, and he’s romantic, hypnotic, and ready for action, showing off incredible athleticism and gun-toting skills.

Savagesfollows two best friends—Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL, and Ben (Johnson), a botanist, who grow their own strain of powerful marijuana and become very rich from it. They share a girlfriend, Ophelia (Blake Lively), and plan to live out their lives doing good, buta cartel boss, Miguel “Lado” Arroyo (Benicio del Toro), begins threatening their business. When Lado kidnaps Ophelia, it’s gloves off for Chon and Ben. Savages is successfully sexy—Kitsch and Johnson are both an eyeful and their love affair with Ophelia is steamy and dreamlike. The most memorable part, though, is definitely Kitsch; it’s his movie.

9

’21 Bridges’ (2019)

Image via STXfilms

We’ve also seen plenty of movies where Kitsch steps into the role of a villain, and21 Bridges is one of those. ThoughChadwick Boseman is the lead here, portraying a detective, Kitsch is his target, a criminal with a pretty loose trigger finger.He’s great at portraying these captivating, angry men, and his transformation is always complete, even if a movie is pretty mid.21 Bridges is perfectly fine as an action thriller, but the most adrenaline-packed parts mainly involve Kitsch and his gun-wielding character.

21 Bridges follows a successful NYPD detective, Andre Davis (Boseman). Davis is in pursuit of two robbers, Ray (Kitsch) and Michael (Stephan James), who attempt to steal drugs in Manhattan but get cornered by a police squad.Ray doesn’t hesitate, and he shoots the police squadron, gunning almost everyone down; Davis argues that putting Manhattan on lockdown is the best way to catch the robbers. 21 Bridges is a movie with a very interesting premise, great writing, and even better performances—Boseman is, indeed, the hero of the story, but Kitsch delivers a captivating soldier-turned-criminal.

8

‘John Carter’ (2012)

ThoughJohn Carterwas a flop all around, Kitsch said he was very proud of the movie, adding that box office numbers don’t validate him as a person or an actor. This is an approach we can see in many of his features—he dedicates himself no matter the outcome.John Carter isn’t bad, either; it’s got great world-building, beautiful visual style, and a killer soundtrack. It’s a decent, rewatchable sci-fi adventure and Kitsch stars as the eponymous Carter.

John Carterwas based on the novelA Princess of Mars byEdgar Rice Burroughs, and follows the Confederate soldier, John Carter, who finds a hidden treasure in a cave while running from the Apaches. Among the treasures, he finds a medallion that serves as a transporter to Mars, a planet which is, to its residents, known as Barsoom. Carter finds himself a heroic figure on Barsoom, and transforms into a honorable warrior while there.Kitsch is a brilliant leading man here, and we’re able to enjoy the movie because of his portrayal; he’s charismatic, physical, and confident, embodying the aura of a leader.

7

‘The Terminal List’ (2022)

Image via Prime Video

The Terminal List is a pretty underrated action series, but it’s good. It’s an intense action/conspiracy thriller, and currently, we can also watch Kitsch in the show’s prequel series,Dark Wolf. Though the lead in the show isChris Pratt, Kitsch isthe standout from the moment he appears; this is also proven by the fact his character now has an entire spin-off series. Pratt leads formidably, but his best scenes are with Kitsch, when they bounce off each other in conversation and perform action scenes in unison.

The Terminal List follows James Reece (Pratt), Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy SEALs; he returns home after a failed covert mission in which most of his team dies. However, when Reece returns, he realizes he’s being hunted, suspecting that his mission caused some gripes. His family gets involved, andReece asks his old friend, CIA Operative Ben Edwards (Kitsch), to help him get to the bottom of things. Watching Kitsch in this role islike watching him in his natural state, as he’s most often portrayed soldiers of some sort.

6

‘American Primeval’ (2025)

Image via Netflix

One of the grittiest Western shows you’ll see,American Primevalisan underrated gem in the genre that is great because of its ensemble cast, but even better in all the moments we get to see Taylor Kitsch. He’s similar to most of his characters because here, too,he is a brooding type who prefers to enjoy life on his own terms. He guides the show through his character and turns out to be one of its emotional cores—despite being introduced as a loner. This is the most recent collaboration between Kitsch andPeter Berg.

American Primeval follows different groups of people in the Old West, from a woman, her son, and their guide to members of the LDS church anda trading post founder. Isaac Reed (Kitsch) becomes a guide to Sara (Betty Gilpin), and her son, who are trying to get to a remote town. Reed reluctantly agrees to take them,not because he’d rather be alone and unbothered, but because he knows the landscape. Reed is dedicated, brave, and savvy, and he’s one with the elements, and his upbringing among the Shoshone made him into a survivalist with heart and grit. American Primeval is a tough watch, but ultimately very enjoyable; the chemistry between Kitsch and Gilpin is also wonderful.

5

‘Lone Survivor’ (2013)

Image via Universal Pictures

Another collaboration between Bergand Kitsch was onLone Survivor, a war drama based on the non-fiction book of the same name. The movie (and the book) describes the unsuccessful Navy SEAL operation, when four SEAL members formed a team to track the Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah.Mark Wahlberg portrays the lead, and Kitsch plays one of the men in the detail, Michael Murphy. Murphy is a real-life character, like the other three men, and his name wasn’t changed for Lone Survivor.

Lone Survivor is set in 2005, and follows a Navy SEAL detail consisting of four men: Marcus Luttrell (Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), and Matthew Axelson (Ben Foster). The foursome tracks and monitors a Taliban warlord, Ahmad Shah, but the mission doesn’t go as smoothly as expected. If you can guess by the movie’s name, only one of the men survives inthis harrowing war drama. Kitsch is great as Murphy, and the preparation for the role helped him embody the soldier by also befriending the real-life Marcus Luttrell, who he’s still friends with to this day.

4

‘Only the Brave’ (2017)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Away from the Navy SEAL training camps and weapon-wielding, and into the world of firefighting—Kitsch portrayed one of the Hotshot firefighters from the Prescott Fire Department, also known as Granite Mountain Hotshots, inOnly the Brave. The movie follows the real events that took place in Yarnell Hill in 2013, when a massive fire took 19 out of 20 of the firefighters’ lives. Theactors trained hard in preparation for the film, withJoseph Kosinski, the director and a former firefighter volunteer, training with them.

Only the Bravefollows the Prescott Fire Department and their chief, Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin). Marsh successfully predicts the behavior of wildfires and enlists his department for Hotshot training—certified, elite firefighters who respond to large, high-priority fires across the country.The Prescott Fire Department becomes the first hotshot department in their area, but when a massive fire breaks out in Yarnell Hill, none of them are aware they won’t be returning home. Kitsch plays Chris MacKenzie in one of his most human, heartfelt performances; though this movie is a tearjerker, you’ll enjoy the bravery of the characters and their arcs.

3

‘Waco’ (2018)

Image via Paramount 

A game-changer in Taylor Kitsch’s career,Waco, is his unexpected and absolutely brilliant portrayal of a controversial personality who shook a community to its core. It’s the story of David Koresh, a cult leader whose religious faction, the Branch Davidians, engaged in a standoff with the police in Waco, Texas, for 51 days. This six-episode miniseries is led by Kitsch in one of his finest and most nuanced performances, and he’s joined by a line-up of great actors, likeMichael Shannon, Andrea Riseborough, and Julia Garner, among others.

Waco is set during the 51 days of the standoff between two factions representing the law (ATF and the FBI) and the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh.The show investigates and dramatizes events before and during the standoff, showing them from different points of view.Kitsch is eerie and menacing, but also charismatic and layered as Koresh; his portrayal of the notorious cult leader was deemed “sympathetic,” but ultimately garnered lots of praise.

2

‘The Normal Heart’ (2014)

Image via HBO

Ryan Murphy‘s movieThe Normal Heart was based on Larry Kramer’s play of the same name from 1985. It followsNed Weeks (Mark Ruffalo), an openly gay writer based in NYC, who turns into an avidactivist and gay rights group founder during the HIV/AIDS crisis that struck New York in the 1980s. Ned Weeks is the alter ego ofLarry Kramer, and most of the characters arebased on real people, though most of their names were changed for the movie. Kitsch portrays Bruce Niles, who was based onPaul Popham, one of the founders of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.

The Normal Heart follows a group of friends: Ned Weeks (Rufallo), as the lead, Bruce Niles (Kitsch), Craig Donner (Jonathan Groff), and Mickey Marcus (Joe Mantello). Though looking in good health, Craig starts feeling weak, and a doctor who examines him, Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts),concludes he’s not the first gay man with the same symptoms. Dr. Brookner begins raising awareness within the gay community, while Weeks and Niles become more active in their fight against the health crisis. Kitsch is moving and complex as Niles, and though imperfect, viewers become attached to him quickly. This is one of Kitsch’s most moving and respected performances.

1

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006–2011)

Image via NBC

Friday Night Lights defined Taylor Kitsch’s career, and we must stop pretending it isn’t so. This brilliant sports drama ran for five years—five seasons, 76 episodes—and it was based on the book of investigative journalism written byH.G. “Buzz” Bissinger. The book was meant to be about the preparations of a high school football team in Odessa, Texas, butturned out to be a powerful dive into the dynamics and intricacies of a small-town community. Kitsch plays one of the teenage characters, Tim Riggins, and though he’s not a part of the main story, Riggins was oftendeemed a fan-favorite, a complex and unforgettable character.

Friday Night Lights is set in Odessa, Texas, and follows the Dillon Panthers, their new head coach, Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), his wife Tami (Connie Britton), and the Panthers’ players, such as Jason Street (Scott Porter), Tim Riggins (Kitsch), and Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford).Friday Night Lights had an interesting filming schedule, where the cameras often followed the actors without particular guidance; the realistic portrayal and immersive acting of the cast helped cement it as one of the best shows of the 2000s.