Summary
- Major movie stars like Stallone, Costner, and McConaughey have successfully transitioned to TV for complex, satisfying roles.
- Television production values and storytelling have evolved, making TV just as prestigious as major Hollywood films.
- The dynamic and interesting roles on television have attracted acclaimed movie stars like Spacey, Witherspoon, and Pacino.
In times past, the roles of Hollywood movie stars and acclaimed television actors were two entirely separate entities, but in recent years, the lines between the two have begun to blur. Increasingly, major film actors have seen the potential for long-form television to tell complex and dynamic stories that resonate with viewers far more than one-off feature films. For this reason, many of the biggest Hollywood stars have successfully switched to TV and taken to the small screen and proved that these days, television is often just as prestigious as major Hollywood productions.
Some of the biggest movie stars of all time have successfully shifted to television in recent years, as production values have gone up and the best TV shows boasted just as much quality as their cinematic counterparts. Being able to continually play the same character also allowed for more depth and character growth to occur, which often made TV roles more satisfying for actors to play after years of portraying one-off characters. The recent appearance of more Hollywood actors on TV highlighted how the industry has changed, and actors no longer had to choose one medium over the other.
10 Sylvester Stallone
Tulsa King (2022 – Preset)
It would be hard for viewers to believe back in the 1980s that one of the biggest action heroes of all time, Sylvester Stallone, would make the switch to television, but in 2022, this came true as he took a starring role in Tulsa King. With cinematic icons like Rocky Balboa, John Rambo, and Barney Ross to his name, Stallone’s embracement of serialized television was a testament to the star power that TV can now boast. Not unlike his old rival Arnold Schwarzenegger on Netflix’s FUBAR, Stallone embraced his tough persona to play Dwight “The General” Manfredi on Tulsa King.
Tulsa King is a Paramount+ original that stars Stallone opposite his love interest, played by Andrea Savage, and a drug dealing recruit, played by Martin Starr. This enjoyable comedy proved Stallone had not lost any of his innate charisma by making the switch to television, and it was enjoyable to see him have fun with this fish-out-of-water mob story. With echoes of Goodfellas‘ infectious style, Tulsa King is an enjoyable watch.
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Tulsa King is a Paramount+ original TV series starring Sylvester Stallone as Dwight “The General” Manfredi. After being released from prison for murder, The General is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he quickly sets up a new criminal empire. Tulsa King marks Stallone’s first leading role in a TV show.
Cast Sylvester Stallone , Andrea Savage , Garrett Hedlund Release Date November 13, 2022 Seasons 1 Network Paramount Streaming Service(s) Paramount+ , Prime Video Writers Taylor Sheridan Directors Taylor Sheridan Showrunner Terence Winter Expand
Related Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone’s Rivalry Is Now Better On TV Than Their Movies
Although Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have one of the greatest movies rivalries, their TV competition is proving to be even better.
9 Kevin Costner
Yellowstone (2018 – Present)
Another performer who decades before wouldn’t have been seen anywhere near television roles was the Dances with Wolves Best Picture-winning actor and director Kevin Costner. With an illustrious Hollywood career as a leading man, Costner rose to prominence in the 1980s and starred alongside the biggest movie stars of all time in movies like The Untouchables with Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. A movie star in the truest sense of the word, Costner’s successful pivot to television showcased its allure to even the most acclaimed feature film star.
Costner made a major leap into the world of TV with his starring role in the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, an epic Western that allowed him to play a more long-form style character. However, it was Costner’s leading role in Yellowstone that truly solidified his status as a major television star. That’s not to say Costner has given up on movies entirely, as the recent release of the first part of his epic Western sage Horizon has proved.
Yellowstone TV-MAWesternDrama Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5
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Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner and centers on his character John Dutton. Dutton and his family live on a cattle ranch just a few hours away from Yellowstone National Park. The series chronicles the family’s struggle to defend their home from an Indian reservation and land developers. As if their life wasn’t complicated enough, the Duttons also have medical issues, political aspirations, and family secrets stacked against them.
Cast Finn Little , Brecken Merrill , Gil Birmingham , Denim Richards , Ian Bohen , Danny Huston , Kelly Reilly , Forrie J. Smith , Cole Hauser , Kelsey Asbille , Wes Bentley , Jefferson White , Kevin Costner , Luke Grimes , Ryan Bingham Release Date June 20, 2018 Seasons 5 Network Paramount Streaming Service(s) Paramount+ , Peacock Franchise(s) Yellowstone Writers Taylor Sheridan , John Linson Showrunner Taylor Sheridan Creator(s) Taylor Sheridan , John Linson Expand
8 Christian Slater
Mr. Robot (2015 – 2019)
Christian Slater was something of a teen heartthrob in the early part of his career, as he gained several acclaimed roles in movies like Heathers, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and True Romance. As a consistent star since the 1980s, Slater has never been short of work in feature films, which made his shift into television even more interesting. The increased appearance of stars like Slater in the TV landscape highlights how much of the dynamic and interesting roles these days can actually be found on the small screen.
While Slater was never a stranger to television and had early roles in soap operas like All My Children and Ryan’s Hope and even later appeared in several episodes of The West Wing, his true embracement of TV came later. One of Slater’s most notable and acclaimed TV roles was the title character in the hacker series Mr. Robot. Audiences can also look forward to seeing Slater starring opposite Sarah Michelle Geller in the highly anticipated upcoming prequel series Dexter: Original Sin.
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Young computer programmer Elliot struggles with drug abuse, an anti-social disorder, and paranoia, and connects to people by hacking them. When he is approached by a mysterious anarchist calling himself Mr. Robot, he joins a team of hacktivists called fsociety determined to take down the world’s biggest corporations.
Cast Christian Slater , Portia Doubleday , Rami Malek , Jas Anderson , Carly Chaikin , BD Wong , Michael Cristofer Release Date June 24, 2015 Seasons 4 Network USA Streaming Service(s) Prime Video Writers Sam Esmail Directors Sam Esmail Showrunner Sam Esmail Expand
7 Kevin Spacey
House of Cards (2013 – 2018)
Back in the 1990s, Kevin Spacey was among the biggest stars in Hollywood and won not one but two Academy Awards for his supporting role in Se7en and as a leading man in American Beauty. With an ability to play complex and varied roles, Spacey was a true Hollywood star who saw the potential as an early adopter of streaming when he accepted the starring role in the first true Netflix original, House of Cards. With this, Spacey successfully made the switch from movies to television and gained widespread acclaim and accolades.
However, as bright as Spacey’s star had shone, it was also due for a meteoric crash landing back to Earth as a litany of sexual misconduct allegations torpedoed his career in 2017. Spacey faced multiple criminal investigations and was dropped not just from House of Cards but also from his upcoming movies. While Spacey has since attempted to return to movie roles, he has failed to regain anything close to the stature he once merited.
House of Cards (2013) Drama Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6
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Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, House of Cards follows unscrupulous politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he makes ruthless attempts to further his career. When he’s passed over for an appointment as Secretary of State, Underwood decides to get ahead by any means necessary. His talent for manipulation and pragmatism sees him climb the political ladder despite his total lack of moral fiber.
Cast Kevin Spacey , Michel Gill , Robin Wright , Kate Mara , Michael Kelly , Justin Doescher , Derek Cecil , Jayne Atkinson Release Date February 1, 2013 Seasons 6 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Writers Beau Willimon Directors Beau Willimon Showrunner Beau Willimon Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Beau Willimon Expand
6 Matthew McConaughey
True Detective (2014 – Present)
Matthew McConaughey first rose to prominence in Hollywood following his breakout role in Dazed and Confused in 1993, and by the 2000s, he had become a major rom-com leading man. With memorable roles in movies such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, McConaughey was a bankable star even if the parts he played never gave him major critical acclaim. However, this changed following the media-dubbed “McConaissance,” which saw him gain several acclaimed parts and even win an Oscar for his transformative role in Dallas Buyers Club.
With an Academy Award to his name, it was extraordinary that rather than focus entirely on movies, McConaughey actually shifted into television with a universally acclaimed leading role in True Detective in 2014. This impressive switch to television was made even more spectacular as he juggled both TV and film with a leading role in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, also in 2014. In McConaughey’s own words, this later career blossoming was truly “alright, alright, alright.”
True Detective AnthologyMystery Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4
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In this anthology series, each season follows a different detective or set of detectives as they forced to confront some horrific truths about their town and themselves. No matter the setting and characters, each detective must unravel lies and clues to solve the chilling mysteries around them.
Cast Matthew McConaughey , Woody Harrelson , Colin Farrell , Rachel McAdams , Taylor Kitsch , Mahershala Ali , Carmen Ejogo , Michelle Monaghan , Michael Potts , Ray Fisher , Jodie Foster Release Date January 12, 2014 Seasons 4 Network HBO Max Streaming Service(s) Hulu , HBO Max Writers Nic Pizzolatto Directors Cary Fukunaga Showrunner Nic Pizzolatto Where To Watch Max Expand
5 Reese Witherspoon
Big Little Lies (2017 – Present)
The Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon shot to stardom with impressive movie roles in Cruel Intentions, Election, and Legally Blonde. From critically lauded performances in Walk the Line and a later movie comeback with Wild, Witherspoon was no stranger to Hollywood movie success. Although she dipped her toes into the world of TV with guest appearances in series like Friends, it’s in recent years that Whitherspoon has found massive success on television.
Witherspoon’s pivot into television success can also be correlated with her roles as executive producer on several series backed by her production company, Hello Sunshine. These included the smash success Big Little Lies, where Witherspoon co-starred alongside fellow movie stars Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep, as well as the Hulu adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere. Seemingly unstoppable in the realm of TV, Witherspoon also boasts a starring role on The Morning Show opposite Jennifer Aniston.
Big Little Lies TV-MADramaCrimeMystery Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2
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In Monterey, California, five women meet through the elementary school while their children attend. Despite the friendships they form, each of them is harboring secrets, which have the potential to destroy the fragile balance of their lives.
Cast Reese Witherspoon , Nicole Kidman , Zoe Kravitz , Shailene Woodley , Laura Dern , Alexander Skarsgard , Adam Scott , James Tupper , Jeffrey Nordling , Iain Armitage , Kathryn Newton , Meryl Streep Release Date February 19, 2017 Seasons 2 Network HBO Max Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Disney+ Writers David E. Kelley Directors Jean-Marc Vallee , Andrea Arnold Showrunner David E. Kelley Main Genre Crime Expand
4 Steve Buscemi
Boardwalk Empire (2010 – 2014)
As one of the greatest character actors of all time, Steve Buscemi has long been an acclaimed Hollywood actor. With credits in films by filmmaking auteurs such as Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino, and the Coen brothers, Buscemi’s standing as a versatile actor in independent and major Hollywood productions made him a unique talent. With a skill for picking complex and interesting roles, it’s no surprise that the allure of television managed to interest Buscemi as he began to accept significant TV roles during the mid-2000s.
While Buscemi has had small television credits since the 1980s, it was not until he accepted a recurring role as Tony Blundetto on The Sopranos that he really showed off his TV talents. Following this, Buscemi accepted the lead role in the period gangster drama Boardwalk Empire and was directed in the pilot episode by Martin Scorsese. In recent years, Buscemi has balanced his film and TV roles and has had several significant roles on shows like Portlandia, Horace and Pete, and Miracle Workers.
Boardwalk Empire CrimeDrama Where to WatchSeasonAllSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5
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Based on Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s, Boardwalk Empire follows political heavyweight “Nucky” Thompson as he battles mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look to take him on. Now, with the federal government cracking down on bootlegging and other illegal activities, and everyone looking to take over control of the city, Nucky’s lavish lifestyle is in danger of collapsing.
Cast Shea Whigham , Kelly Macdonald , Stephen Graham , Steve Buscemi , Michael Stuhlbarg , Michael Shannon Release Date September 19, 2010 Seasons 5 Streaming Service(s) HBO Max Writers Terence Winter , Nelson Johnson Directors Timothy Van Patten , Allen Coulter Showrunner Terence Winter Main Genre Crime Expand
3 Winona Ryder
Stranger Things (2016 – Present)
Winona Ryder became a notable movie star when she was just a teenager following her debut in Lucas and soon found major success in Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Edward Scissorhands. Before long, Ryder had received Oscar nominations for acclaimed roles in Martin Scorsese’s Age of Innocence and the 1994 version of Little Women. However, following the controversy of her shoplifting arrest in 2001 (via The Independent), Ryder took a break from acting, and although she had further film roles, her successful shift to TV gave her a late-career boost.
The appearance of Ryder on the main cast of Stranger Things was a breath of fresh air, and viewers were delighted to see her in such a complex and interesting role as Joyce Byers. Ryder’s fame from the 1980s added the nostalgia factor of the popular Netflix series, and her incredible performance as the uncompromising and frazzled single mother to a missing son made for incredible viewing. Ryder has continued to play Joyce in every season of Stranger Things, and she was an essential aspect of the series’ incredible success.
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Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King’s works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.
Cast Finn Wolfhard , Joe Keery , Jamie Campbell Bower , Brett Gelman , Caleb McLaughlin , Maya Hawke , David Harbour , Matthew Modine , Priah Ferguson , Gaten Matarazzo , Winona Ryder , Charlie Heaton , Sadie Sink , Millie Bobby Brown , Joseph Quinn , Dacre Montgomery , Natalia Dyer , Noah Schnapp Release Date July 15, 2016 Seasons 4 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Writers Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer , Paul Dichter , Kate Trefry Directors Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer Showrunner Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer Franchise Stranger Things Expand
2 Julia Roberts
Homecoming (2018 – 2020)
As among Hollywood’s most bankable stars whose movies have grossed over $3.9 billion (via The Numbers), Julia Roberts was about as big a movie star as a celebrity could get. The star of some of the biggest rom-coms of the 1990s, like Pretty Woman and My Best Friend’s Wedding, Roberts even boasted an Academy Award for her role in Erin Brockovich. With so many illustrious credits behind her, Roberts’ primary focus for the majority of her career was on feature films, excluding guest TV appearances in shows like Friends.
However, this has changed in recent years, and Roberts, like so many other massive stars, has successfully switched to TV. This began with Roberts leading role in the acclaimed psychological thriller Homecoming, where she played a caseworker at the highly mysterious Homecoming Transitional Support Center. Roberts followed this up in 2022 with another leading TV part in the political thriller Gaslit, showcasing that her pivot to television was not just a one-off event.
1 Al Pacino
Hunters (2020 – 2023)
When it comes to movie stars, it does not get any bigger than Al Pacino. As one of the most acclaimed actors of all time, Pacino made a name for himself alongside other icons of cinema like Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson as titans of the New Hollywood Era who delivered firefly intense performances in challenging and trailblazing crime, drama, and gangster movies like The Godfather and Serpico. However, unlike many of his 1970s contemporaries, Pacino has embraced television in recent years.
Pacino’s TV credits had, until recently, been limited to a leading role on the HBO miniseries Angels in America and some television biographical movies such as Phil Spector. However, in 2020, Pacino truly shifted to television with his leading role as Meyer Offerman on the conspiracy drama Hunters. Pacino starred in Hunters for two seasons, and the show was a fascinating and complex look at Nazi hunters in the United States.
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Set in 1977 New York, Hunters follows Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman), who is recruited by Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) to join a secret organization of Nazi hunters that work to prevent the formation of the Fourth Reich. The Prime Video original series lasted for two seasons and also starred Lena Olin, Josh Radnor, Jerrika Hinton, Carol Kane, Greg Austin, Tiffany Boone, and Louis Ozawa.
Cast logan lerman , Al Pacino , Josh Radnor , Kate Mulvany Release Date February 21, 2020 Seasons 2 Network Amazon Prime Video Streaming Service(s) Amazon Prime Video Writers David Weil Directors David Weil Showrunner David Weil Expand
Sources: The Independent, The Numbers