Michael Stuhlbarg's best movies and TV shows are a testament to how an actor can find success and acclaim later in their careers. While Stuhlbarg has been acting since his early theater days in the 1990s, it wasn't until 2009 that Stuhlbarg's movie career really took off when he was chosen as the lead in the Coen brothers' acclaimed comedy, A Serious Man. His funny, nuanced, and complex performance quickly announced him as a real talent, which led to a busy career that hasn't slowed down since.

Stuhlbarg has appeared in seven Best Picture-nominated movies in his career so far, always adding something special to each project. He has worked with Hollywood legends like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese as well as brilliant filmmakers of the new generation like Luca Guadagnino and Denis Villeneuve. Outside of movies, he has starred in some wonderful dramas and miniseries. His prolific career showcases his incredible versatility and fans can expect many more great performances to come from Stuhlbarg.

10 Men In Black 3 (2012)

As Griffin

Given the prestige projects that Michael Stuhlbarg has made, it might be surprising to consider Men in Black 3 as one of his best. However, the sequel is a fine addition to the Men in Black franchise with Stuhlbarg being the highlight of the movie. Men in Black 3 finds Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) wiped out of existence by a time-traveling alien. Agent J (Will Smith) then has to go back in time to the 1960s where he teams with a younger K (Josh Brolin) in order to rewrite the future.

Stuhlbarg steals the show as Griffin, an alien who is able to see the infinite possibilities of the universe and how they can be affected by the slightest actions. He plays the role with a funny matter-of-fact nature as well as an unexpected sweetness. It is a fun addition that elevates this third movie beyond its fun sci-fi action set pieces and sense of humor.

9 Steve Jobs (2015)

As Andy Hertzfeld

A biopic of one of the most influential people in recent history was bound to draw a lot of controversy, but Steve Jobs managed to bring something new and exciting to the subgenre. Michael Fassbender stars in the movie as Jobs with the drama unfolding in three parts, each taking a behind-the-scenes look at Jobs before a game-changing product launch for Apple Inc. During these moments, Jobs is confronted by colleagues, friends, and enemies as his legacy continues to change over the years.

Michael Stuhlbarg has a standout ing role in the star-studded cast that also includes Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen. He plays Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original who came up with the Mac. Stuhlbarg plays the character as a quiet and reserved man who is also one of the few people not intimidated by Jobs and not altogether impressed by him. Despite the movie being a collection of heated conversations, it is thrilling with Aaron Sorkin's dialogue popping as delivered by such talented actors.

8 Boardwalk Empire (2010-2013)

As Arnold Rothstein

Michael Stuhlbarg's breakout performance in A Serious Man saw him playing an insecure and meek man, so to see him follow up that performance with this role in Boardwalk Empire truly shows his versatility. Boardwalk Empire is an epic crime series produced by Martin Scorsese. It takes a look at the criminal element who helped run Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. The HBO series is filled with real-life mob figures, including Stuhlbarg's role as Arnold Rothstein.

In a show filled with dangerous characters, Stuhlbarg comes off as one of the most intimidating without really ever raising his voice. He plays Rothstein with complete confidence and ruthlessness, willing to kill without hesitation. Boardwalk Empire is an underrated HBO series that is a worthy mob show to follow the ending of The Sopranos. It is also filled with great actors, including Steve Buscemi, Michael Shannon, Kelly MacDonald, and Michael Kenneth Williams.

7 Arrival (2016)

As Agent Halpern

Before Denis Villeneuve took on the daunting task of adapting the Dune novels to the big screen, he delivered one of the best sci-fi movies of the past decade. Arrival stars Amys Adams as a linguistics professor who is recruited by the military to help make with aliens whose ships have just arrived on Earth. As she begins the complex task of finding a common communication technique to use with these visitors, the truth of why they have come begins to be revealed.

Michael Stuhlbarg cements himself as a character actor who can elevate any movie with his ing performance as Agent Halpern. Though he is something of an antagonist in Arrival, Stuhlbarg wisely makes him grounded and even reasonable. The movie is a thoughtful and beautiful sci-fi story that evolves into something much deeper with an ending that makes it a truly unique experience.

6 Fargo (2017)

As Sy Feltz

Michael Stuhlbarg ed Fargo season 3, making himself a memorable part of the star-studded ensemble. Fargo features a new cast and a new story about crime and violent people in the otherwise charming and polite American Midwest. Season 3 of the show follows two feuding brothers (with Ewan McGregor playing both roles) who become mixed up with a criminal extortion scam that threatens anyone who gets close enough to it.

Stuhlbarg has a scene-stealing role as Sy Feltz, the right-hand man to the more successful of the McGregor brothers. Sy is a good businessman and loyal friend who sees everything being threatened when they get into business with the wrong people. His incredulous yet resolute reaction to the increasing mayhem is expertly done by Stuhlbarg. It is a darkly comedic season of the show with terrific performances from the cast that also includes David Thewlis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Carrie Coon.

5 Hugo (2011)

Prof. René Tabard

The idea of Martin Scorsese making a kid's movie was a strange one for many people to comprehend, but the result is a truly beautiful piece of cinema from the legendary filmmaker. Hugo stars Asa Butterfield as the titular character, a young orphan who lives in a Parisian train station, observing the local merchants and various characters who reside there. However, when he discovers a mechanical man and begins to explore where it came from, he learns of a magical truth hiding in the train station.

Michael Stuhlbarg s the stellar cast that also includes Ben Kingsley, Jude Law, and Sacha Baron Cohen. He plays René Tabard, a ionate and kind-hearted film historian who helps Hugo in his journey. Stuhlbarg's ing role is key to the Hugo's clever and heartwarming celebration of the history of movies, with Scorsese's ion for the subject clearly shining through.

4 Dopesick (2021)

As Richard Sackler

Michael Stuhlbarg has played a number of "villain" roles in his career, but he has always approached them from a grounded and authentic place. Dopesick is a harrowing miniseries that takes a look at the opioid epidemic in the United States from a variety of perspectives, from the people who became addicted to the people trying to hold someone able to the pharmaceutical companies who profit off of the destruction.

Stuhlbarg plays into the latter category as real-life chairman and president of Purdue Pharma Richard Sackler, who helped push the development and sale of OxyContin. Stuhlbarg plays the role with a reserved and cold nature, presenting Sackler as a man disionate about the effects of what he is doing and only concerned with financial success. Dopesick has been hailed as one of the best miniseries of all time, earning many awards and nominations, including an Emmy nomination for Stuhlbarg.

3 The Shape Of Water (2017)

As Dr. Robert Hoffstetler/Dimitri Mosenkov

To date, The Shape of Water is the only Best Picture winner that Michael Stuhlbarg has appeared in and it remains one of the most unexpected movies to win the coveted award. The Shape of Water is Guillermo Del Toro's genre-bending Cold War story that stars Sally Hawkins as a janitor with mutism working in a secret government facility where she discovers an amphibious humanoid creature being held captive. As she and the creature form a bond, they make plans to escape.

Stuhlbarg is part of the talented cast as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler, one of the scientists researching the creature who is also a secret Soviet spy. Stuhlbarg and Del Toro give Hoffstetler a more complex characterization than expected, as he is not truly loyal to either side but is rather a man of science who cares deeply about this amazing discovery. It is a surprisingly beautiful film that blends an R-rated monster movie with a period romance.

2 Call Me By Your Name (2017)

As Prof. Samuel Perlman

Michael Stuhlbarg worked for the first time with Luca Guadagnino in the Best Picture nominee Call Me By Your Name. Timothée Chalamet stars in his breakout role, which also earned him his first Oscar nomination as Elio, a young teen living in Italy with his parents during the 1980s. When Oliver (Armie Hammer), a young man working with Elio's father, arrives for the summer, Elio forms a ionate bond with the older man and begins a journey of self-discovery.

Call Me By Your Name has been called one of the greatest coming-of-age movies of all time. Chalamet carries the movie with his nuanced and heartbreaking performance. However, it is Stuhlbarg who gets the best moment in the movie. As Mr. Perlman, Elio's father, he does not have a huge presence until the end when he delivers a powerful monologue showing Elio how much he understands the relationship he just went through. It is a beautiful performance from Stuhlbarg and one of the highlights of his career.

1 A Serious Man (2009)

As Larry Gopnik

The movie that gave Michael Stuhlbarg his big break is also the only movie to date that allowed the actor to shine as the leading man. A Serious Man is the Coen brothers' hilarious and complex comedy inspired by the biblical story of Job. Set in the 1960s, Stuhlbarg stars as Larry Gopnik, a professor and family man who sees his life gradually unraveling as his wife leaves him for another man, a student attempts to blackmail him, and some unknown party is attempting to discredit him.

A Serious Man is a brilliant mix of dark humor and a profound exploration of faith. The scenes of Larry desperately looking for some kind of spiritual answer are among the funniest and cleverest moments in the movie. Stuhlbarg was nominated for many awards, including a Golden Globe, while the film has been hailed as a standout in the Coen brother's unmatched filmography and one of the best movies of the 21st century.