10 Best Movies & TV Shows Starring Actors From The Boys

The Boys is one of Amazon Prime's biggest hits, and it's easy to see why so many viewers connect with the explosive action-adventure TV show. The series premiered during the height of popularity for superhero movies and TV series and takes a darker and more satirical spin on this genre, making the heroic figures of these narratives much more flawed. Whether the actors in The Boys are playing struggling heroes or brutal antagonists, each character makes its mark and brings an unforgettable dynamic to The Boys, making the series what it is today.

While waiting for The Boys season 5, it's fun to look back on some of the biggest projects that the cast has been a part of, and there are many exciting movies and TV shows that fit the bill. The kinds of film and television that The Boys' actors are featured in vary widely by genre and format, demonstrating their versatility. While it's easy to look at some of the actors and only see their characters in The Boys, it's important to remember that these people have had a past in movies and TV as well as a bright future.

10 Gossip Girl (2007–2012)

Chace Crawford

The famously melodramatic and scandalous TV series Gossip Girl is one of the best teen romance TV shows ever made, and Chace Crawford's character is quite the heartthrob. Before he was the odious Deep in The Boys, Crawford was playing the golden boy Nate Archibald. From the first moment that Nate steps onscreen, it's clear that while he might not be the most scheming character on the show. However, he's always memorable and capable of stirring up drama.

As far as teen dramas go, there are few as iconic and well-remembered as Gossip Girl.

Though Gossip Girl was never considered prestige television and catered primarily to teen audiences, the show was remarkably self-aware, and it was clear that the writers and actors were having a lot of fun with the production. Many of Crawford's costars, like Blake Lively and Penn Badgley, went on to continue their careers in film and TV with significant success, like Crawford. As far as teen dramas go, there are few as iconic and well-remembered as Gossip Girl.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Gossip Girl (2007–2012)	84%	80%

9 Banshee (2013–2016)

Anthony Starr

Before he terrorized the characters and audience of The Boys as Homelander, Anthony Starr was playing the complex antihero, Lucas Hood, in Banshee. Hood might be the sheriff of a small town, but the man Starr plays is not who he says he is. The man adopts the identity of Hood after being released from prison. Throughout Banshee, Hood is hardly as evil and unforgivable as Homelander. However, Starr makes sure to include the best and worst parts of Hood so the audience is well aware of who they're dealing with.

Banshee has recently found new success on streaming services after ending in 2016 with season 4. Starr is the central figure throughout all of Banshee, and much of the story relies solely on his ability to give a strong performance. Fortunately, Starr is just as iconic as Hood as he is playing Homelander. It might be difficult to separate Starr from Homelander when first tuning into Banshee, but these associations quickly fade as the story progresses.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Banshee (2013–2016)	90%	92%

8 Jessica Jones (2015–2019)

Erin Moriarty

The Boys wasn't the first genre-bending superhero series that Erin Moriarty was a part of, as her performance in the dark Marvel series Jessica Jones is unforgettable. Moriarty plays the young Hope Shlottman, the complete opposite of Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones, who struggles to balance her compassion with her dark past. As Hope, Moriarty helps to bring out the best in Jessica, who feels a connection with Hope and realizes that it's her duty to help the innocent.

Though The Boys is much more explicitly violent than Jessica Jones, both share a dark tone and play with the tropes of the superhero genre.

Though she's only featured in season 1, Hope is an important figure. Her death haunts Jessica for the remainder of the series. Like Starlight in The Boys, Hope is forced to do things she doesn't want to do and used by others. However, she slowly rises up and fights back against those who would try to oppress her. Though The Boys is much more explicitly violent than Jessica Jones, both share a dark tone and play with the tropes of the superhero genre.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Jessica Jones (2015–2019)	83%	80%

7 Supernatural (2005–2020)

Jensen Ackles

It's unsurprising that the creator of The Boys, Eric Kripke, would draw from the cast of his other hit series, Supernaturalwhen casting his satirical superhero show. Though Dean Winchester is a far cry from Soldier Boy, Jensen Ackles plays them both believably and fully commits to these complex parts. In Supernatural, Dean is one of the protagonists and heroes of the story, selflessly sacrificing himself for the sake of the world and the people he loves many times over.

Ackles being featured in the cast isn't the only thing that The Boys and Supernatural have in common, as the action and adventure of both shows are what connect them the most.

Ackles being featured in the cast isn't the only thing that The Boys and Supernatural have in common, as the action and adventure of both shows are what connect them the most. Though The Boys is entrenched in superhero lore instead of folklore, both sets of main characters come up against insurmountable odds. Fans are still hoping for it, but Supernatural season 16 probably won't happen anytime soon. However, if it does, it will be interesting to see Ackles return to his roots as Dean after playing Soldier Boy.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Supernatural (2005–2020)	93%	73%

6 The Boy And The Heron (2023)

Karen Fukuhara

Hayao Miyazaki's most recent fantastical animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is yet another example of why Miyazaki is considered one of the greatest living filmmakers. As always, his films can be watched with subtitles or dubbed with an English voice cast. Each iteration of the film brings something different to the table, and the English cast was especially skillful in bringing The Boy and the Heron to life. The Boys' Karen Fukuhara plays Himi, a character revealed to be the younger iteration of the protagonist's mother.

Though The Boy and the Heron has little in common with The Boys, it's somewhat ironic that Fukuhara's voice is what's featured in the movie, as her character in The Boys, Kimiko, doesn't speak. She brings youth, joy, and adventure to her character in The Boy and the Heron, leading her son, Mahito, into another world filled with danger and magic. Both an escapist fantasy and a sobering portrait of grief, The Boy and the Heron is an excellent addition to Miyazaki's filmography.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Boy and the Heron (2023)	96%	88%

5 Plus One (2019)

Jack Quaid

Jack Quaid's touching indie rom-com Plus One subverts expectations but has no shortage of chemistry as Quaid and costar Maya Erskine push the boundaries of their friendship. Though Plus One has a familiar premise, this contemporary rom-com is elevated by the actors' chemistry and the plot twist that makes the story more compelling and unexpected. To subvert other rom-coms,Plus One grapples with the high expectation of finding the perfect partner and how this can actually hinder a relationship.

Quaid's character, Ben, wants to be certain that if he fully embraces a romantic relationship, it will work out, but he has to learn there are no guarantees.

Quaid's character, Ben, wants to be certain that if he fully embraces a romantic relationship, it will work out, but he has to learn there are no guarantees. It's interesting to see Quaid in a more traditional leading man role, and he's surprisingly romantic in Plus One. His tortured character in The Boys, Hughie, doesn't always have time to be the best boyfriend. However, the Companion movie trailer has audiences excited about Quaid's upcoming project, which will show a darker side of the actor that he struggles with in The Boys.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Plus One (2019)	88%	79%

4 I’m Thinking Of Ending Things (2020)

Colby Minifie

Like all of Charlie Kaufman's films, I'm Thinking of Ending Things plays with perception and surrealist themes while telling a story that seems mundane on the surface. Jessie Buckley and Jessie Plemons star as the Young Woman and Jake, the pair in a relationship that the Young Woman is having doubts about. Though it can be difficult to follow and tells a challenging story, I'm Thinking of Ending Things includes gorgeous visuals and fantastic performances from the main and supporting cast.

The best way to experience I'm Thinking of Ending Things is to go along for the ride and not be overly concerned with meaning or structure. Letting the movie flow and take you on its journey reveals more about the story and themes than attempting to dissect it. Colby Minifie plays Yvonne, a smaller role in the film, but she tackles Kaufman's unique style with ease. Though her performance in The Boys is more straightforward, Minifie is just as captivating in both projects.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)	82%	50%

3 Avatar (2009)

Laz Alonso

Laz Alonso plays Tsu'tey te Rongloa Ateyitan, one of Jake Sully's (Sam Worthington) biggest rivals, when he infiltrates the Na'vi in James Cameron's Avatar. Now one of the biggest blockbuster franchises of the past few decades, Avatar was an unexpected addition to the sci-fi and action genres when it came out in 2009, but the gorgeous visuals and sweeping narrative quickly captured audiences' hearts. Though Alonso and the other actors who portray the Na'vi are obscured by the visual effects, his acting still comes through.

Alonso's character in The Boys, M.M., is something of a father figure to the many people who rely on him, which is a sharp contrast from the brave but slightly arrogant traits of Tsu'tey. The recent sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, has expanded Cameron's universe and shown new sides of the characters introduced in the 2009 film. Though Tsu'tey won't be returning in any of the sequels, as he passes on in Avatar, there are plenty of recurring characters who make the Avatar movies an exciting adventure.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Avatar (2009)	81%	82%

2 Mysterious Skin (2004)

Elisabeth Shue

Gregg Araki's beautiful and heartbreaking coming-of-age drama Mysterious Skin only features Elisabeth Shue in a supporting role, but every character works together to bring the world of Mysterious Skin to life. Featuring one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's best performances and the work of a young Brady Corbet, who would go on to direct The Brutalist, Mysterious Skin tackles intense, graphic, and deeply upsetting subject matter. However, Araki still manages to find beauty in devastating circumstances.

Though Mysterious Skin is by no means easy to watch, it's considered one of Araki's essential films and has been praised for how sensitively and accurately it grapples with abuse.

Shue plays Gordon-Levitt's mother, and her work in Mysterious Skin is quite different from the 1980s blockbusters she was a part of. However, Shue proves here and in The Boys that she's a versatile and serious actress who can handle emotionally raw moments onscreen. Though Mysterious Skin is by no means easy to watch, it's considered one of Araki's essential films and has been praised for how sensitively and accurately it grapples with abuse.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Mysterious Skin (2004)	86%	89%

1 The Lord Of The Rings (2001–2003)

Karl Urban

The crass and violent Billy the Butcher is nothing like the graceful and heroic Éomer, Karl Urban's character in The Lord of the Rings. However, Urban's ability to perform complex fight choreography and seamlessly belong to a fantasy world are two traits that served him in both The Boys and The Lord of the Rings. He's prominently featured in the third movie, The Return of the King, as Éowyn's brother and a major player in some of the biggest battles of the story.

There is no shortage of incredible battle sequences in The Boys, and since Butcher is such a fan-favorite character, he's part of many of the most explosive moments. While every movie in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is beloved, The Return of the King was the first fantasy movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and has set a high standard for the fictional epics that have come after it. It will be a long time before another film is as iconic an addition to a franchise as The Return of the King.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)	94%	86%

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