List Rules Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
List of the best Michael Shannon movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Michael Shannon's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Michael Shannon movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Michael Shannon movies will be at the top of the list. Michael Shannon has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Michael Shannon movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Michael Shannon films to end the squabble once and for all.
If you think the best Michael Shannon role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Michael Shannon performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.
Items here include everything from Take Shelter to Man of Steel.
"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Michael Shannon movies?" and "What are the greatest Michael Shannon roles of all time?"
Michael Bay and Joel Schumacher have both worked with Michael Shannon over the years, as have plenty of other well-known directors.
list ordered by
1
51 8
Take ShelterJessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Katy Mixon
Take Shelter is a 2011 American drama-thriller film written and directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young ...more
The Iceman is an American crime thriller film based on the true story of longtime notorious hitman Richard Kuklinski. Released in 2013 at the Venice Film Festival, the film was directed by Ariel ...more
Bug is a 2006 American psychological horror film directed by William Friedkin. It stars Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon and Harry Connick, Jr.. The screenplay by Tracy Letts is based on his 1996 ...more
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop biopic film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon and Kim Basinger. The film ...more
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is a 2009 film directed by Werner Herzog and produced by David Lynch, inspired by the story of murderer Mark Yavorsky. Herzog describes the film as "a ...more
6
13 3
Shotgun StoriesMichael Shannon, Natalie Canerday, Michael Abbott Jr.
Shotgun Stories is a 2007 drama film about a feud between two sets of half-brothers following the death of their father in rural Arkansas. The film was written and directed by Jeff Nichols, and ...more
7
16 7
MudReese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Paulson
Mud is a 2012 American drama film directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, and Reese Witherspoon. The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film
Revolutionary Road is a 2008 American-British drama film, based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Richard Yates, directed by Sam Mendes. This is the second collaboration between Leonardo ...more
9
20 11
Groundhog DayBill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Michael Shannon
Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story ...more
The Shape of Water is a 2017 American fantasy romance film directed by Guillermo del Toro. Lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation until she discovers a secret ...more
This film is a 2007 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet. The film was written by Kelly Masterson, and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei and Albert Finney. The film unfolds ...more
12
31 25
Man of SteelHenry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, based on the DC Comics character. Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable ...more
After Katrina, police sergeant Terence McDonagh rescues a prisoner, hurts his back in the process and earns a promotion to lieutenant plus an addiction. His drug-using prostitute girlfriend, his ...more
14
7 3
The RunawaysKristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Tatum O'Neal
The Runaways is a 2010 American drama film about the 1970s all-girl rock band of the same name written and directed by Floria Sigismondi. It is based on the book Neon Angel: A Memoir of a ...more
Jesus' Son is a 1999 drama film that was adapted from a collection of short stories of the same name by Denis Johnson. It stars Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, Denis ...more
Midnight Special is an upcoming American science fiction film written and directed by Jeff Nichols. The film stars Adam Driver, Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, and Joel Edgerton. It is Nichols' ...more
Nocturnal Animals is a 2016 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Tom Ford, based on the 1993 novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright. A divorced art gallery owner (Amy Adams) ...more
World Trade Center is a 2006 disaster drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael ...more
Premium Rush is a 2012 American action-thriller film directed by David Koepp and written by Koepp and John Kamps. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez and Jamie ...more
Cecil B. Demented is a 2000 American black comedy film written and directed by John Waters. The film stars Melanie Griffith as a snobby A-list Hollywood actress who is taken by a band of ...more
The Missing Person is a 2008 comedy-drama mystery film written and directed by American independent filmmaker Noah Buschel and starring Michael Shannon and Amy Ryan. It was first released at the ...more
22
4 3
Dead BirdsMichael Shannon, Isaiah Washington, Henry Thomas
Dead Birds is a 2004 American horror film directed by Alex Turner.
23
3 2
ReturnMichael Shannon, Linda Cardellini, John Slattery
Return is a 2011 independent film about an American reservist, wife and mother returning home from her tour of duty in the Middle East. The film was written and directed by Liza Johnson, and ...more
24
3 2
WaterIdina Menzel, Michael Shannon, Larry Pine
Water is a 2004 crime fiction film written and directed by Jennifer Houlton.
25
3 2
Herbert WhiteMichael Shannon
"In this film based on the poem by the same name, a man struggles with his inner demons while trying to live a normal family life." Quoting the description from the 2010 Sundance Film
