Summary
Dylan O’Brienhas starred in numerous projects, from lighthearted romantic comedies to thrilling dramas, and has portrayed a wide range of characters. O’Brien is likely known to most for his roles inTeen WolfandThe Maze Runnerseries, buthe’s been acting since 2011 and has appeared opposite big names like Michael Keaton, Owen Wilson, and more. In addition to his live-action performances on the big screen and TV shows, O’Brien has also lent his voice toBumblebeeand portrayed a character in Taylor Swift’s short film,All Too Well: The Short Film.
O’Brien has taken on previously established fictional characters like Mitch Rapp throughout his career. Yet he’s also been given the chance to play real-life figures in films, such as Caleb Holloway inDeepwater Horizonand, later this year,Dan Aykroyd inSaturday Night. Though many of his characters are kind and heroic,O’Brien has also had the chance to play characters with true grit, showcasing his range as an actor.
Every Dylan O’Brien Movie Ranked From Worst to Best
From a hero trapped in a maze to a clout-chasing influencer, Dylan O’Brien has been a part of some very different movies. But which is his best?
The leading role inNot Okayis Danni Sanders, played by Zoey Deutch, andbecause O’Brien’s Colin has limited screen time, the character ranks low among the best.Not Okayis a satirical black comedyfilm that tackles toxic influencer cultureas Danni gets tangled up in a web of lies when she realizes her fabricated life gets her attention on social media. Danni’s one ofNot Okay’s least-likable characters, and is just as insufferable as Colin.
Colin is vastly different from the other characters in O’Brien’s filmography, and is one of the most difficult for fans to sympathize with.
ThroughoutNot Okay, Colin is presented as self-serving and status-obsessed. Colin doesn’t make the effort to get to know Danni, his co-worker, until she gains a large following online. Colin is vastly different from the other characters in O’Brien’s filmography, and is one of the most difficult for fans to sympathize with. However,a negative encounter between Colin and Danni at a party helps the latter reflect on her harmful behavior onlineand begin to make a change, so he is an important character in the film.
Based on the real-life explosion and oil spill in 2010,Deepwater Horizonis a harrowing look at the disaster and the crew onboard.Deepwater Horizonis led by Mark Wahlberg but features an impressive cast including John Malkovich, Kate Hudson, and Kurt Russell. O’Brien appears inDeepwater Horizon,playing a minor role as a member of the drilling team, Caleb Holloway.
Despite Deepwater Horizon telling an emotional story based on horrific real-life events, the characterization of Caleb doesn’t stand out from O’Brien’s other characters.
There’s not much room for O’Brien to show his skills as an actor, but when he does appear on the screen, he gives a powerful performance.O’Brien’s portrayal of Caleb contributes toDeepwater Horizon’s overall suspenseand panic. DespiteDeepwater Horizontelling an emotional story based on horrific real-life events, the characterization of Caleb doesn’t stand out from O’Brien’s other characters. Due to his limited time on screen, Caleb ranks lower, but not last thanks to his personality and sense of urgency when disaster strikes.
In 2017, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp was brought to the big screen inAmerican Assassin, which depicts the start of his job as a counter-terrorism operative. HadAmerican Assassinbeen a success, there was potential for it to be a perfectfollow-up franchise for O’BrienafterThe Maze Runnermovies.O’Brien plays Mitch and does the best he can to handle the weight of a recognized and established character.
The Actor American Assassin’s Creator Pictured As Mitch Rapp Wasn’t Dylan O’Brien
Dylan O’Brien was cast as Mitch Rapp in American Assassin following a long search, but author Vince Flynn originally had a different actor in mind.
American Assassindidn’t do well with critics or at the box office and many of the criticisms stem from its excessive focus on revenge plots and formulaic action sequences. O’Brien is mostly saved from criticism as many felt he was convincing as the hardened killer. However,it’s difficult to ignoreAmerican Assassin’s flaws and uninspired portrayal of Mitch. Regardless of whether the blame lies on O’Brien’s performance or not, it means Mitch is far from the actor’s best character.
Flashbackis a twisted thriller that doesn’t ultimately work despite O’Brien being challenged as an actor to portray a wide range of immense emotions.O’Brien plays Fred, an average man who quickly descends into a drug-induced madness, experiencing bouts of confusing visions. As intriguing asFlashback’s premise sounds, especially to those who enjoy an intricate mystery, it isn’t smoothly translated, and it ends up becoming more complex than an average moviegoer would appreciate.
From grief to terror, O’Brien’s performance is raw the whole way through and never feels tacky or over the top.
However, the performance delivered by O’Brien is a career highlight. As Fred is going through his memories to stop the debilitating visions, O’Brien displays a variety of potent emotions. From grief to terror, O’Brien’s performance is raw the whole way through and never feels tacky or over the top. Unfortunately,Flashback’s baffling plot and Fred’s minimal character growth make for a less-than-memorable character in O’Brien’s career.
6Dave Hodgman
The First Time (2012)
In his first leading role, O’Brien plays Dave inThe First Time. The 2012 romantic comedy follows the unexpected romantic connection between Dave and Aubrey (Britt Robertson).Dave is a high school student who longs to date his best friend, despite it being clear their relationship is as far as it’ll ever get. It isn’t until he meets Aubrey — a classmate whose love life is being tested in its own way — that he gets to experience falling in love for the first time.
10 Best Dylan O’Brien Roles, According To Rotten Tomatoes
Dylan O’Brien is back in Not Okay. From blockbusters like The Maze Runner to smaller independent projects, his career has been diverse so far.
O’Brien comfortably portrays a boy-next-door and inexperienced teenager as he was playing another character at the same time, Stiles Stilinski in MTV’sTeen Wolf, who’s a similarly clever and awkward character. Dave is a lovable character and thoughThe First Timewasn’t a massive success, it serves as a great introduction to what talent O’Brien would bring into his characters that followed.
A crime thriller set in ’50s Chicago,The Outfitis one ofO’Brien’s highest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoesand introduces one of his best characters. Led by Mark Rylance,The Outfitis about his character’s involvement in a conflict between rival gangster families. One of these families is the Boyles and O’Brien plays Richie, the son and second-in-command to his father, Roy Boyle. Richie, while embodying what audiences have come to expect of gangster characters in Hollywood, is also slightly insecure.
Is The Outfit Based On A True Story?
The Outfit is a thrilling crime drama set in 1950s Chicago that involves both the mob and the FBI. But is the film based on real historical events?
In addition to finding the person he believes to be ratting out the Boyles' business, Richie aims to gain his father’s approval. The beginning ofThe Outfitshows Richie feeling hidden underneath the shadow of his partner Francis (Johnny Flynn). O’Brien doesn’t have as long of a stay inThe Outfitas he does in other projects featuring his best characters, butRichie’s ambitious and arrogant personality is captivating and O’Brien does a good job immersing himself into the criminal world.
O’Brien doesn’t appear on-screen in 2018’sBumblebee, but his voice can be heard, speaking as the titular Autobot. Bumblebee’s origins are explored in the film as he meets Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), a young girl who befriends and names him.Bumblebeeis a departure from the loud blockbuster franchiseTransformershad become and critics had grown tired of. Part of the film’s charm is its character-driven narrative and the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee.
While O’Brien’s voice isn’t part of the character’s budding friendship with Charlie — at this point,Bumblebee can’t talk anymore—his interpretation of Bumblebee in earlier scenes sets up the film’s grounded tone.Speaking withIGNin 2018, one ofBumblebee’s producers, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, spoke positively of O’Brien’s ability to bring liveliness to the character. Di Bonaventura said, “Dylan has that great quality in his voice of youthful exuberance, and also sort of trustworthiness.”
Differing from O’Brien’s role inThe Maze Runnerseries, which sees his character move through the film’s action sequences with ease, Joel Dawson inLove and Monstersisn’t as skilled.Love and Monstersis set in a world taken over by monsters andJoel, who lives in a bunker, sets out on a journey to reunite with the girl he was dating before disaster struck down on Earth. The only issue is that Joel isn’t a skilled monster hunter and tends to freeze in life-or-death situations.
O’Brien’s charm as an actor shines through the character, making audiences root for Joel without hesitation.
Much ofLove and Monsterstakes Joel on a solo quest — aside from his stray dog companion.Joel’s journey inLove and Monstersis that of a typical coming-of-age storyas he gains confidence fighting monsters and realizes the importance of community in an isolated world. O’Brien’s charm as an actor shines through the character, making audiences root for Joel without hesitation.
The Maze Runner
is O’Brien’s first time leading a large action film. O’Brien plays Thomas, a character who wakes up in a large maze and introduces audiences to the film’s main setting. During Thomas' earliest moments in the maze,it quickly becomes clear that he has all the necessary qualities of a good leader. Such qualities are put to the test over the next two films,The Scorch TrialsandThe Death Cure.
Differing from the other Gladers in the maze, Thomas is skeptical, always asking the right questions and refusing to blindly trust others the Gladers believe are good-hearted.Thomas' sharp instincts prove time and time again to be useful in getting the Gladers out of life-threatening situations, from fighting off vicious Grievers inThe Maze Runner, to breaking into WCKD headquarters to retrieve Minho inThe Death Cure. O’Brien handles the weight of the heroic protagonist incredibly well, leading the character to become one of his best.
Stiles Stilinski is undoubtedly O’Brien’s best character. Making his official acting debut inTeen Wolf,O’Brien would eventually get the chance to showcase his range as an actor throughout the series' six seasons. The response toO’Brien’s absence from the last season ofTeen WolfandTeen Wolf: The Moviereveals how important Stiles is in the overall story. InTeen Wolf,Stiles is the ideal sidekickto Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), a teenager who learns to navigate the supernatural world after turning into a werewolf.
Despite being a sidekick, Stiles is still front and center. Stiles is smart and, with his sarcastic remarks, he acts as the series' comedic relief. However, the second half ofTeen Wolfseason 3 sees an unrecognizable side of the character. During these episodes, O’Brien shows he has skills as a powerful dramatic actor, asStiles becomes possessed by an evil spiritthat thrives off of chaos. Stiles' character arc throughoutTeen Wolfmakes him one of the more complex characters O’Brien has taken on and isa perfect illustration of his growth as an actor.
