The bestPaul Mescalmovies and TV shows demonstrate how fast theGladiator IIandNormal Peoplestar has risen to receive widespread acclaim - and they also showcase his incredible ability to create chemistry with those he shares screen time with. Born in Ireland’s County Kildare in 1996, Paul Mescal has only been an active performer since 2017. His career began on stage in theater productions, with him finally making his way to screens in the 2019 miniseriesBump.
When it comes to his big break, the 2020 seriesNormal Peoplethrust Paul Mescal into the limelight. From there, his career has accelerated at an astounding pace, and within less than five years he found himself cast in the central role in Ridley Scott’sepic historical blockbusterGladiator II.Each and every one of the best Paul Mescal movies and TV shows reveals how this was possible, and they also tease more success in his future career.
10Bump (2019)
Paul Mescal Plays Matt
2019’sBumpis an Irish miniseries from director Imogen Murphy. While it’s by far the least known Paul Mescal movie or TV show, it’s also arguably among the most important, as it marks his on-screen debut. The story ofBumpfocuses on sisters Liz (Charlenne McKenna) and Ciara (Gemma-Leag Deveraux). When Ciara is asked by Liz to be a surrogate for her child, their relationship becomes strained, with many comedic and, at many points, emotional results.
Paul Mescal’s character Matt only appeared in a single episode ofBump,but he certainly made an impression. It was arguablyBumpthat helped him secure hisco-leading role in 2020’sNormal People,the show that would prove essential as a career foundation.WhileBumpis difficult to track down online, those Paul Mescal fans who can find it will find it essential viewing when it comes to experiencing the actor’s roots and his earliest roles.
The Deceived
Cast
The Deceived is a psychological thriller centered around English student Ophelia, who becomes romantically involved with her married lecturer. When a tragic death disrupts their affair, Ophelia is drawn into a web of uncertainty and begins to question her own sanity.
The 2020 miniseriesThe Deceivedis one of the lesser-known entries among the best Paul Mescal movies and TV shows, though it’s still just as deserving of recognition. Specifically, it marks an important milestone in Mescal’s career, as it’s one of his final supporting roles before being thrust into stardom and landing lead roles in feature films.
InThe Deceived,Paul Mescal plays volunteer firefighter Sean McKeogh. While far from his most prominent role, Mescal has many scenes that are integral to the plot, as it’s Sean who helps the central character Ophelia (Emilie Richard) discover the truth about the death of the wife of the man she’s had an affair with (Emmet J. Scanlan as Dr. Michael Callaghan).Mescal has become known for the chemistry he’s able to muster with his co-stars, and the scenes between himself and Emilie Richard are one of the earliest noteworthy examples of this specific aspect of his talents.
Foe
Foe is a sci-fi thriller film by director Garth Davis, based on the novel of the same name. Married couple Henrietta and Junior tend the land inherited by Junior’s family until a stranger appears at the door, offering Junior to head to space while leaving Henrietta in the care of a robot during his absence.
Based on the novel of the same name by Iain Reid,Foemarks Paul Mescal’s first venture into the realm of psychological sci-fi thrillers - and he proves himself incredibly adept in the genre. Like several of the best Paul Mescal movies and TV shows, the actor is part of a relatively small ensemble cast, in this casestarring alongside Saoirse Ronanand Aaron Pierre.
While the critical response toFoewasn’t overly positive, this wasn’t due to Paul Mescal’s performance. On the contrary, many reviews remarked that the chemistry between Mescal and Junior and Ronan as Hen managed to salvage the otherwise over-complicated sci-fi plot.While it may not be the best Paul Mescal movie overall, it is one of the strongest performances of his career so far, and should be considered a must-watch by his fans.
The Lost Daughter
The Lost Daughter is star Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut and stars Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson. The 2021 Drama is based on the novel The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante. The story sees a young mother struggling to connect with her daughters.
2021’sThe Lost Daughterwas the directorial debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal, and saw Paul Mescal as part of an ensemble cast that includes many celebrated names,including Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ed Harris. The story is adapted from Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel of the same name, and the psychological drama received several accolades (including Golden Globe nominations for Maggie Gyllenhaal in the Best Director category and for Olivia Colman as Best Actress).
The Lost Daughteris also noteworthy when it comes to Paul Mescal’s career as it marks his first appearance in a feature film. While his role isn’t the most prominent in the cast, he proved just how much his presence elevates any ensemble cast he’s part of - and displayed his suitability for the central and leading roles he’d soon find himself taking on.He also shared an especially hilarious scene with Olivia Colman, and their interaction remains one of the strongest on-screen moments in Mescal’s wider filmography.
Carmen
Carmen follows the journey of a young woman who, after her mother’s murder, flees the Mexican desert for the US. There, she confronts a rogue border guard and, along with his partner Aidan, becomes embroiled in a perilous standoff, leading to their ensuing flight.
Many of the best Paul Mescal movies and TV shows are, fully or in part, love stories, as the actor has proved he’s able to create incredible chemistry with co-stars (whether male or female) to sell romantic connections authentically. One of the best examples of this is 2022’sCarmen,the musical drama from director Benjamin Millipied. A modernization of the opera of the same name Georges Bizet,Carmensees Paul Mescal as Aidan, a border patrol officer with PTSD who falls in love with Carmen (Melissa Barrera), an undocumented migrant from Mexico fleeing across the border into the US.
Carmenprovided Paul Mescal with plenty of opportunities to display his wide acting range. As well as many romantic moments between Carmen and Aidan, there are also many tense and dramatic ones as the pair continuously have to evade authorities.Mescal truly pushed himself inCarmen,and his portrayal easily ranks among the strongest performances of his career so far.
God’s Creatures
God’s Creatures is a 2022 drama directed by Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer. The film stars Emily Watson as Aileen, who faces a moral dilemma in a small Irish fishing village when her son Brian, played by Paul Mescal, returns home amidst troubling accusations. The narrative explores themes of family loyalty and ethical conflicts set against the backdrop of a close-knit community.
2022’sGod’s Creaturesis a psychological drama from directors Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer. Paul Mescal co-leads the ensemble cast alongside Emily Watson and Aisling Francioni, with the chemistry between Mescal and Watson as Aileen and Brian O’Hara being absolutely incredible. It’s one of the most nuanced and complex of Paul Mescal’s best movies and TV shows, as the plot focuses on difficult themes like sexual assault and toxic masculinity.
Paul Mescal’s performance as Brian inGod’s Creaturesis one of several projects that brought him several award wins and nominations.These include a 2023 nomination for Best Supporting Actor - Film at the Irish Film & Television Awards, a Best Supporting Performance nomination at the British Independent Film Awards, and winning the award for British/Irish Actor of the Year from the London Film Critics’ circle.Brian O’Hara may be the most complex character Paul Mescal has played so far, and few of his movies or TV shows display the true depth of his range quite as clearly.
All of Us Strangers
All of Us Strangers is a dramatic fantasy romance film by writer-director Andrew Haigh. When Adam meets his neighbor, Harry, his routine is interrupted in what he feels is the best possible way as the two begin to develop a relationship. However, Adam’s mind begins to slip into the past and a journey back home where suddenly his parents are alive - and look no different than they did thirty years prior.
All of Us Strangersis the 2023 romantic fantasy from British director Andrew Haigh, who is also known for writing and directing the HBO seriesLooking.Paul Mescal stars in the movie as one member of a small yet solid ensemble cast that also includes Jamie Bell, Claire Foy, and Andrew Scott. The story adapts the Japanese novelStrangers,by Taichi Yamada, and like many of the best Paul Mescal movies and TV shows,All of Us Strangershas a unique premise that pushes the actor’s talents ever further with each scene.
InAll of Us Strangers,Paul Mescal plays Harry, a young man who has a deep romantic longing for Adam (Andrew Scott), who, unbeknownst to Harry, can communicate with the dead. However, the story takes a tragic turn towards the end, as Andrew discovers that Harry is struggling in his battle against his personal demons.Mescal delivers a spellbinding performance inAll of Us Strangersthat received him several awards and nominations, including an Irish Film & Television Award for Best Supporting Actor - Film.
Normal People
Normal People is a romantic drama miniseries based on Sally Rooney’s novel. The show centers on two people as they grow up and head to college in Dublin, exploring their relationship in detail. The series follows the two from their academic careers to their troubling family lives and the difficulty they have communicating their feelings for one another.
The 2020 Irish romantic dramaNormal Peoplefeatured an ensemble cast that included Daisy Edgar-Jones alongside Paul Mescal, and the majority of the performances were met with praise from critics. For his portrayal of Connell Waldron, Mescal won a BAFTA for Best Actor in 2021. He was also nominated in the same category at both the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards and the 2021 Critics Choice Television Awards, highlighting the strength of his performance.
Normal Peoplewas a joint production between Hulu and the UK’s BBC Three, and was based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Sally Rooney. Paul Mescal had incredible chemistry with Daisy Edgar-Jones (who played Connell’s love interest, Marianne Sheridan).Of all the Paul Mescal movies and TV shows so far, it’s arguable thatNormal Peoplewas the most significant career milestone, as it paved the way for future projects like 2022’sAftersunand his lead role inGladiator II.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
2024’sGladiator IImay not have been Paul Mescal’s most critically acclaimed performance when it comes to award wins and nominations, but this doesn’t mean his performance as Lucius Verus was absolutely incredible. Mescal had big shoes to fill when he stepped up to play theson of Russell Crowe’s Maximus, the hero of 2000’sGladiator,since the legacy of the original movie meant expectations for every aspect ofGladiator IIwere beyond high.
However, despite there being some disappointment with Ridley Scott’s sequel and how it compared to the first chapter in the story, Paul Mescal shone through as the titular lead in theGladiatorsequel. He brought all the fury and lust for vengeance of Lucius’ character to the fore.His performance was especially noteworthy given that it was his first prominent role in a Hollywood blockbuster, and because Lucius was unlike any character played by Mescal in his career so far.
Aftersun
Aftersun is a 2022 drama directed by Charlotte Wells. The film follows a young girl named Sophie who reflects on a vacation she took with her father, Calum, twenty years earlier. Through a series of memories, Sophie attempts to reconcile the loving father she knew with the unresolved aspects of their relationship. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio star in this introspective exploration of memory and familial connection.
While he may have gained recognition for playing the son of Maximus in 2024’sGladiator,the best Paul Mescal movie sees him in the opposite role - that of a loving father. 2022’sAftersun,directed by Charlotte Wells, is a coming-of-age drama that focuses on the relationship between 11-year-old Sophie Patterson and her young father, 31-year-old Calum.
Aftersunwas met with widespread critical acclaim, with much of the praise heaped onto Paul Mescal for his performance as Calum.Mescal received numerous accolades for his portrayal of a struggling father simply trying to provide a positive childhood experience for his daughter in the 2022 movie, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.WhileGladiator 2may currently be his most widely-publicized appearance,Aftersunbeing the best Paul Mescal movie or TV show is more or less impossible to dispute.
