Ten Favorite Michael Shannon Movies
(By now, Michael Shannon has graduated from a “that guy” to a movie star. Here, in chronological order, are my ten favorite movies in which he’s appeared, whether as a lead or as a bit player.)
Groundhog Day (directed by Harold Ramis, 1993)
Jesus’ Son (directed by Alison Maclean, 1999)
Criminal (directed by Gregory Jacobs, 2004)
The Woodsman (directed by Nicole Kassell, 2004)
Bug (directed by William Friedkin, 2006)
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (directed by Sidney Lumet, 2007)
Take Shelter (directed by Jeff Nichols, 2011) *
The Iceman (directed by Ariel Vroman, 2012)
Elvis & Nixon (directed by Liza Johnson, 2016)
Knives Out (directed by Rian Johnson, 2019)
* Shannon has appeared—and frequently starred—in all five of Jeff Nichols’s movies. I’m letting this one (my personal favorite) represent the quintet so that they don’t take up half the list.
— July 29, 2021