Summary
- Glen Powell started with small roles, but has now proven his versatility in various genres and characters.
- From action to comedy, Powell shines in both live-action and voice acting roles, showcasing his range.
- While known for his later successes, Powell’s early roles in shows like CSI: Miami and films like Spy Kids 3-D helped shape his career.
Like any actor who started working at a young age, Glen Powell has had many small parts in unexpected movies and TV shows. Before Powell gave his best movie performances, he did bit parts on network TV shows and elevated cameos in blockbusters, just like any other actor looking to break into the business. It didn’t take long for Powell to begin getting typecast as the boyfriend or the handsome guy at a party, but he’s transcended this pigeonholing ever since. If his diverse portfolio tells audiences and filmmakers anything, it’s that he’s capable of adapting to any role.
His other recent films,
Anyone But You
and
Hit Man
, prove that Powell isn’t just an action star or a romantic leading man; he’s a little bit of everything.
Thanks to Powell and the excellent creative team behind it, the Twisters movie was a box-office success similar to classic summer blockbusters of the decades past. This achievement comes on the heels of Powell being part of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which broke one billion dollars at the worldwide box office. His other recent films, Anyone But You and Hit Man, prove that Powell isn’t just an action star or a romantic leading man; he’s a little bit of everything. There’s no doubt that audiences will see a lot more of Powell in the coming years.
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Related Every Upcoming Glen Powell Movies After Twisters
Glen Powell has proven himself in movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, so what’s next for the actor?
10 The Great Debaters (2007)
As Harvard Debarter #1
The Great Debaters (2007) PG-13Drama
The Great Debaters is a biographical drama film based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team. Set in the 1930s, the film follows the team’s journey to the national championships, led by coach Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, who also directed the film.
Director Denzel Washington Release Date December 25, 2007 Studio(s) Marshall Production , The Weinstein Company , Harpo Films Cast Denzel Whitaker , Denzel Washington , Nate Parker , Jurnee Smollett , Forest Whitaker Runtime 126 Minutes
Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, the film The Great Debaters loosely adapts the true story of the Wiley College debate team. The movie takes place in the 1930s and sees the team members who attend the historically Black college hone their skills and rise through the ranks of collegiate debating. They face intense discrimination from the white teams they compete against, but eventually make it to the final round and compete against Harvard in the national debate championship.
Powell gives his all to the role and transforms himself into an entitled college student of the past.
It’s there that Powell appears as one of the Harvard debaters who competes against the Wiley team. It’s interesting to see Powell in a period piece, as many of his recent projects take place in the contemporary era. Additionally, it’s an unlikable role, as the audience is actively rooting against Harvard and the systems of white supremacy that have been harming the protagonists throughout the film. However, Powell gives his all to the role and transforms himself into an entitled college student of the past.
9 CSI: Miami (2002–2012)
As Logan Crawford
CSI: Miami Drama
CSI: Miami is a police procedural drama that aired for 10 seasons from 2002-2012 on CBS. The first spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the series features a group of detectives working for the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigations. David Caruso, Emily Procter, and Adam Rodriguez star on the show.
Cast David Caruso , Emily Procter Release Date September 23, 2002 Seasons 10 Network CBS Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Paramount+ , Apple TV+
CSI: Miami was the first spinoff in the CSI universe after CSI: Crime Scene Investigation became a breakout hit in the crime procedural genre. It’s extremely common for shows like CSI, Law & Order, and other long-running procedural dramas to have episodes that feature an actor who would go on to achieve great fame. The same is true for Powell, who guest stars in CSI: Miami season 7, episode 12, “Head Case.” He plays Logan Crawford, the only surviving member of a family that was murdered.
“Head Case” isn’t the most terrifying or mind-bending episode of CSI: Miami, as the killer is motivated by money, and Logan is only a witness to the crime by happenstance. Logan is in the military, which links to Powell’s later performance in Top Gun: Maverick. He’s a recurring witness that the CSI team calls in for questioning a few times. However, beyond his time at the precinct, Powell doesn’t do much in the episode.
8 Into The West (2005)
As Jackson Wheeler
Into the West TV-14AdventureDramaWestern
An epic tale of two figures during the American colonization of the west, one white and the other Native American. Jacob Wheeler leaves his dull life behind to strike out west, while Loved By the Buffalo faces his destiny to try to fight a prophecy that his people will be wiped out by the settlers. Jacob marries Loved By the Buffalo’s sister Thunder Heart Woman, uniting the two families while around them relations between the two races crumble.
Cast Irene Bedard , Gil Birmingham , Rachael Leigh Cook , Skeet Ulrich , Will Patton , Josh Brolin Release Date June 10, 2005 Seasons 1
It chronicles how the expansion to the West changed the shape of the land and the budding country.
Stephen Spielberg is behind the 2005 Western miniseries Into the West, which predates the popularity of Yellowstone and its resurgence of stories of the American West in the 1800s. The story follows a family of Indigenous Americans and a white settler family throughout the early to late 1800s. It chronicles how the expansion to the West changed the shape of the land and the budding country. Throughout the six episodes of the series, an enormous ensemble cast is featured, with many smaller roles for actors.
Powell is in the episode “Hell on Wheels” as Jackson Wheeler, one of the sons of the Wheeler family who helps his father create railroad towns and move further West. Much of the episode is dedicated to the creation of rail lines across the country and the labor that was put into this innovation. Powell’s Jackson is a less important member of the family and serves as a background character more than anything. However, it’s roles like Powell’s that help flesh out the world to make it feel real and lived in.
7 NCIS (2003–Present)
As Marine Sergeant Evan Westcott
NCIS CrimeDrama Where to Watch
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NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team, which includes NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has now graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent who specializes in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. The naïve Jimmy Palmer is assisting the team, who graduated from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner and now runs the morgue; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky’s former graduate assistant. Overseeing operations is NCIS Director Leon Vance, an intelligent, highly trained agent who can always be counted on to shake up the status quo. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
Cast sean murray , Wilmer Valderrama , Katrina Law , Brian Dietzen , david mccallum , Mark Harmon , Rocky Carroll , Gary Cole , Joe Spano Release Date September 23, 2003 Seasons 20 Network CBS Franchise(s) NCIS Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario Creator(s) Donald P. Bellisario , Don McGill Expand
Powell has Navy roots in both Top Gun: Maverick and NCIS, as he played Marine Sergeant Evan Westcott in a two-part episode on the Naval crime show. This was a step up for Powell, as it was a multi-episode arc, which is rare for guest stars on procedurals like NCIS. However, in NCIS season 10, episodes 6 and 7, “Shell Shock,” Powell stands out as a support system for the main guest stars of the episode.
It’s interesting to see how many times Powell has been cast as a military official in crime dramas, as this character is similar to the role he played in CSI: Miami. Evan Westcott is brought into the episode because his brother is being investigated. Powell has the difficult job of keeping a level head and standing by his brother in the face of the evidence. The way he plays off his co-stars and NCIS veterans is an indicator of the good things to come for Powell.
6 Scream Queens (2015–2016)
As Chad Radwell
Scream Queens Horror Where to Watch
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A dark satirical comedy-horror series, Scream Queens follows a college sorority group at Wallace University where an unsolved murder case is resurrected following a string of new murders. When the school’s mascot, the Red Devil, begins murdering sorority members, the girls fight against the potential closure of their home while trying to stay alive.
Cast Emma Roberts , Abigail Breslin , Jamie Lee Curtis , Skyler Samuels Release Date September 22, 2015 Seasons 2 Network FOX Directors Ryan Murphy Showrunner Ryan Murphy Expand
It’s a shame that more people haven’t watched Powell in Scream Queens, as Ryan Murphy’s short-lived and underrated horror TV series was chilling and hilarious. Chad Radwell, his character in Scream Queens, demonstrates both Powell’s self-awareness and the types of projects he enjoys taking on. Chad is a caricature of the stereotypical white fraternity bro found on college campuses across America, and Scream Queens puts a satirical and biting spin on this facet of masculinity.
Though
Scream Queens
only ran for two seasons, it remains a cult classic and is great to revisit for fans of Powell and horror-buffs.
Seeing Powell flex his comedic muscles is always enjoyable, and even as he’s been cast in purely action-fueled or romantic roles, Powell retains his sense of humor. Though Scream Queens only ran for two seasons, it remains a cult classic and is great to revisit for fans of Powell and horror-buffs. Watching Chad’s character subvert audience expectations surrounding his archetype and seeing Powell lean into the outlandish aspects of his role is fun until the very end.
5 Rizzoli & Isles (2010–2016)
As Graham Randall
Rizzoli & Isles (2010) TV-14CrimeDramaMystery
Rizzoli & Isles follows Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles as they solve various complex crimes. Starring Angie Harmon as Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Isles, the series delves into their professional partnership and personal lives.
Cast Angie Harmon , Sasha Alexander , Jordan Bridges , Bruce McGill , Lorraine Bracco , lee thompson young , Idara Victor , Brian Goodman Release Date July 12, 2010 Seasons 7 Creator(s) Janet Tamaro
Rizzoli & Isles immediately stood out among the competition. This was because not only was it an interesting twist on the classic crime procedural, but it also centered on two women as the protagonists. This is a big deal in the crime drama world, as the stories of men are typically centered in detective and crime-solving narratives. However, they have plenty of male co-stars and guest stars, including a young Powell. Though he has little screen time since he plays the murder victim, it’s a typical role for an actor early in their career.
Powell got his foot in the door early in Rizzoli & Isles season 2, episode 10, “Remember Me,” an episode that was important in the longer arc about the serial killer Charles Hoyt. Powell’s character, Graham Randall, is an inmate in the same prison as Hoyt, and Hoyt makes a deal with Rizzoli to help her catch the killer. It’s a dangerous game, and it’s clear that Hoyt has much more in store for Rizzoli than she realizes.
4 Stuck In Love (2012)
As Good Looking Frat Guy
Stuck in Love RComedyDocumentaryDrama Where to Watch
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Director Josh Boone Release Date June 14, 2013 Cast Greg Kinnear , Jennifer Connelly , Lily Collins , Kristen Bell , logan lerman , Nat Wolff Runtime 96 minutes
As Good Looking Frat Guy, Powell’s role in
Stuck in Love
was a precursor to Chad in
Scream Queens
.
The classic coming-of-age dramedy Stuck in Love features a star-studded cast, and Powell stands his ground in his scene with Lily Collins. Though her character, Samantha, is a force of nature and tells Powell exactly what she wants from him, he plays this intimidation and interest with an air of quiet confidence. As Good Looking Frat Guy, Powell’s role in Stuck in Love was a precursor to Chad in Scream Queens. The archetype that he poked fun at in the TV show is what he embodies in the film.
Stuck in Love is about falling in love during every phase of life and focuses on the fact that there’s always growing up to do, no matter how old you are. The performances are easily the best part of Stuck in Love, as the story sticks closely to the formula of a typically independent rom-com. However, this allowed Powell to dip his toe into a genre that would come to define much of his early success. In rom-coms like Set It Up and Anyone But You, he got to step into the role of leading man.
3 Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020–2022)
As Dave
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Sci-FiAdventureAction
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous is a 3D-animated series set in the same universe as the Jurassic Park movies, taking place during Isla Nublar’s dinosaur breakout, which happened in 2015’s Jurassic World. First released on Netflix in 2020, the series features Paul-Mikél Williams, Sean Giambrone, Kausar Mohammed, Jenna Ortega, Ryan Potter, and Raini Rodriguez on its main cast, with supporting roles and guest appearances by Jameela Jamil, Stephanie Beatriz, Glen Powell, Haley Joel Osment, and Bill Nye.
Cast Jenna Ortega , Sean Giambrone , Ryan Potter Release Date September 22, 2020 Seasons 5 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Franchise(s) Jurassic Park Directors Steven Spielberg Showrunner Steven Spielberg Expand
Not only does Powell shine in his live-action roles, but he’s been a force of nature in his vocal performance as well. While his popularity is making his voice more distinctive, the Powell audiences know and love slips away to become Dave, a counselor at the titular camp. Since he isn’t one of the children at the camp, Dave doesn’t get to have as much fun or get into hijinx, but he’s one of the more lighthearted adults at camp. Though it isn’t the largest role, Powell still makes the most of it.
While most older viewers likely haven’t seen Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, it’s a solid iteration of the Jurassic World franchise, and Dave is a fun character to watch. The success of the animated series and its spinoff shows how much more is left to mine from the Jurassic World universe. However, for Powell, there’s no shortage of opportunities in voice-acting, as he’s played Kwyatt in Rick and Morty and Trent in All Hail King Julian.
2 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
As Trader #1
The Dark Knight Rises 13+ActionSuperheroDramaThrillerCrime Sci-Fi Where to Watch
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The Dark Knight Rises is the final chapter in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, with Christian Bale donning the cape and cowl once more to save Gotham City from certain destruction. Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Batman has left the public eye after taking the fall for the crimes committed by a twisted Harvey Dent. However, he is called back into action when a mysterious villain named Bane arrives to bring disorder to Gotham, forcing him to confront deeper, darker recesses of his past to be able to face a challenge he may not be ready for.
Director Christopher Nolan Release Date August 16, 2012 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Cast Christian Bale , Anne Hathaway , Michael Caine , Gary Oldman Runtime 2h 45m Franchise(s) Batman Expand
Though Powell’s small cameo in the film can’t truly be considered a performance, it does hint at his later action chops.
Of all the movies in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises is typically considered the weakest, as it lacks the driving conflict of the first two. There’s no question that The Dark Knight is the best of the series thanks to Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker, but The Dark Knight Rises does have its fair share of great performances and Easter eggs. Though Powell’s small cameo in the film can’t truly be considered a performance, it does hint at his later action chops.
He appears when Bane infiltrates the Gotham Stock Exchange and ousts Bruce Wayne from Wayne Enterprises, and Powell is one of the traders he threatens. Though it’s not a particularly heroic role, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would stand up to Bane in that situation. Looking at the trajectory of Powell’s career, it’s more likely that he would take on the role of Batman today rather than a market trader only featured in a single scene.
1 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
As Long-fingered Boy
Spy Kids 3D: Game Over PGActionAdventureComedyFamilySci-Fi Where to Watch
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Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date July 25, 2003 Cast Antonio Banderas , Carla Gugino , Alexa Vega , Daryl Sabara , Ricardo Montalban , Holland Taylor Runtime 84 minutes
The third Spy Kids movie, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, relies heavily on CGI and leans into the popularity of the style of video games in the early 2000s. However, for fans of the franchise, this doesn’t date the film; it only makes it more nostalgic. Now that Powell has been launched into stardom, it only makes his cameo as Long-fingered Boy even more exciting and endearing. At thirteen, it was one of the actor’s biggest roles at the time, and the joy of the movie continues to inspire him.
Not every actor can look back on their early acting experience with as much enjoyment as Glen Powell, and for contemporary fans of the actor, it’s a great excuse to revisit a childhood favorite. Though the third installment wasn’t as much of a hit as the previous films, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s an early favorite for many kids who were being introduced to cinema in the early 2000s.