Not every musician has it in them to also be a great actor. As much asVanilla Ice’s fans love his music, no one was writing Oscar campaign speeches forCool as Ice. Former *NSYNC starJustin Timberlake, however, has proven to be a much more ambitious and interesting actor than some may have expected.
Timberlake has forsaken the typical musician-turned-actor trajectory by neglecting typical leading man vehicles and blockbusters, instead choosing exciting projects from ambitious filmmakers. His roles are more than cameos;Timberlake is building an impressive resume, and while he’s not necessarily a versatile performer, he often weaponizes his charm to his advantage.The best Justin Timberlake movies prove he’s a capable actorwho will keep improving as long as he stays in the lane he’s chosen so far.
8’Wonder Wheel' (2017)
Director: Woody Allen
The lastWoody Allenfilm widely released in theaters,Wonder Wheelshowed that Timberlake could use his whip-smart sense of humor to deliver great dialogue. He stars as the lifeguard Mickey Rubin, who secretly has an affair with Ginny Rannell (Kate Winslet). Mickey’s life gets more complex when he begins to fall in love with Ginny’s daughter, Carolina (Juno Temple).Wonder Wheelshowed how Timberlake’s charm could easily backfire; it’s Mickey’s affection for both Ginny and Carolina that gets him into trouble with the film’s main antagonist, Humpty Rannell (Jim Belushi).
Allen’s dialogue is not always the easiest to adjust to, but Timberlake fleshes out Mickey’s affections, turning him into a tragic hero. Although he displays flashes of the sardonic charm that he is often associated with, Timberlake shows more versatility than he ever had before.Wonder Wheelis a tightly wound thriller with a number of memorable plot twists, and Timberlake’s performance gives the audience a solid perspective of an otherwise tricky story.
Wonder Wheel
Watch on Amazon
7’Shrek the Third' (2007)
Director: Chris Miller
Shrekgot weirder with each installment, andShrek the Thirdmay have been the oddest entry yet. The notion of Shrek (Mike Myers) contemplating the perils of fatherhood may not sound like it would be as entertaining as it is, butShrek the Thirdadds some genuine heart to the story through the relationship between the green Ogre and his new protege, Arty (Timberlake). Timberlake brings an amusing vulnerability to Arty; he’s awkward and completely lacks confidence, which makes him the perfect person to rule Far, Far Away.
TheShrekfranchise often celebrates unlikely heroes, andShrek the Thirdworks best when it celebrates the perspective of outsiders who wouldn’t traditionally be the protagonists. While Shrek has never considered himself a “hero,” he realizes that Artie doesn’t harbor any lofty ambitions either. The charming bond between these two unlikely allies adds a level of heart to what is otherwise a very silly children’s fantasy adventure.
Shrek the Third
Tasked with finding a successor to the throne, an ogre and his companions venture through the land of Far Far Away to locate the teenage heir. Along the way, they must thwart the plans of a rebellious prince who aims to seize the throne for himself. Their adventure is filled with unexpected allies and the realization that leadership might come from the most unlikely of heroes.
Rent on Amazon
6’Reptile' (2023)
Director: Grant Singer
On top of being a terrifying serial killer thriller,Reptilebears some similarities to true events. Timberlake is cast against type as real estate agent Will, who is considered to be a major suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Summer (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz). DirectorGrant Singerwinds up the plot tightly so that it’s never clear who the real culprit is until the very end, and Timberlake does a great job disguising the eventual twist. He gives a surprisingly creepy performance for such a charismatic guy.
Reptileis a propulsive thriller that features an outstanding performance by Benicio del Toroas the veteran detective Tom Nichols. The film keeps the viewer guessing as to which characters are involved, with each interaction between Nichols and the suspects painting the case in a different light. Timberlake is an unorthodox casting choice but manages to shed his comedic persona entirely to give his most disturbing performance to date.
Watch on Netflix
5’Alpha Dog' (2006)
Director: Nick Cassavetes
The 2006 true crime thrillerAlpha Dogforced Timberlake to do something that seemed adjacent to his personality: be completely unlikeable. It focuses on Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and Frankie Ballenbacher (Timberlake), two “party animals” that cross the line when they kidnap the teenager Zack Mazursky (Anton Yelchin). Timberlake shows that despite how obnoxious he appears to be with his friends, Frankie has empathy within his heart. He shows surprising tenderness in his scenes with Yelchin, making the film’s tragic ending even more heartbreaking.
Alpha Dogexplores how the irresponsibility of youth can cause devastating circumstances. Although Johnny and Frankie aren’t necessarily framed as villains, their obsession with ego leads to a tragic situation. The film’s early scenes lampoon elements of millennial culture, but directorNick Cassavetesmakes the right tonal shifts totransformAlpha Dogfrom a satire of youthful excess into a dark crime thriller. The entire ensemble, including Timberlake, deserves credit for making this shift as jarring as it was intended to be.
4’In Time' (2011)
Director: Andrew Niccol
Although Timberlake often plays supporting figures or “character parts,“Andrew Niccolcast him as the lead in his 2011 science fiction thrillerIn Time. Timberlake is surprisingly perfect for the material; it’s a role that requires him to reflect on the fleeting nature of his youthful appearance.In Timehas a hard time justifying some of its unusual plot mechanics, so it’s a good thing to have someone as charismatic as Timberlake delivering the exposition-heavy dialogue. His chemistry withAmanda Seyfriedmakes the film’s action climax even more exciting.
In Timeis a film about the power of youth and explores how society’s infrastructure is designed to strip less fortunate people of their resources. It’s a thematically dense story that touches on how differences in class, profession, and upbringing can determine one’s fate.In Timeis much more ambitiousthan many science fiction blockbusters and a highly entertaining thriller. Timberlake’s endearing performance indicated that he could sustain an audience’s interest in a potentially confusing concept.
In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Will Salas is accused of murder and on the run with a hostage.
Watch on Hulu
3’Southland Tales' (2007)
Director: Richard Kelly
Southland Talesis baffling, disturbing, and even brilliant.Richard Kelly’s science fiction epic satirized consumerism, celebrity culture, presidential politics, and government surveillance way back in 2007.Southland Talesimagines a world where the contention between political parties has become violent, and the allure of celebrities has become even more influential in everyday life. Timberlake’s character, Private Pilot Abilene, is a soldier whose country has left him behind after his serving in the Iraq War.
Although it may have once felt like a badSaturday Night Livesketch,Southland Talesnow reflects our reality. No scene better embodies the film’s strange logicthan a moment featuring a drug-induced Timberlake lip-syncing to The Killers' “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Even removed from the film’s context, it’s a hypnotic sequence that shows how engaging Timberlake is as a performer. While much of Kelly’s intent is satirical,Southland Talesworks best when it evokes empathy for the characters who suffer as a result of the systems at play.
Southland Tales
2’Inside Llewyn Davis' (2013)
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
Inside Llewyn Davisis one of themost empatheticCoen brothersfilms. Timberlake got the chance to do what he does best- sing! He co-stars as Jim Berkey, a successful musician who offers an opportunity to his down-on-his-luck friend Llewyn (Oscar Isaac). Timberlake, Isaac, and a youngAdam Driversing the odd song “Please Mr. Kennedy” in what has to be one of the most delightful moments in any Coen brothers film. It’s the rare moment of celebration in a film that reflects on how challenging the life of an artist really is.
Although the Coen Brothers have made many films about troubled protagonists,Inside Llewyn Davisshows how artistic integrity can be a burden for those who feel they must share their gifts with the world. Although Llewyn is met with setback after setback, he is continuously inspired to keep writing and performing new songs. The film shows how each of Llewyn’s seemingly “normal” interactions, including his collaboration with Jim, ended up becoming a source of conflict within his life.
Inside Llewyn Davis
Set in 1961, this black comedy film follows a week in the life of Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk musician trying to balance his pursuit of musical success with his attempts to keep his life together.
Watch on Paramount+
1’The Social Network' (2010)
Director: David Fincher
Timberlake is perfectly cast as Sean Parker inThe Social Network. Parker embodies everything wrong about the Internet age thatDavid Finchercriticizes: he’s selfish, disloyal, and will do anything to benefit his interests. The tragedy ofThe Social Networkis seeing how Parker creates an unquenchable ambition within Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg)–Zuckerberg may have once been a sexist college student with some clever Internet skills, but Parker was the one who gave him actual power.
The Social Networkanalyzes how Zuckerberg’s ambitions to create a global social platform stem from his feelings of insecurityand how his position as CEO allowed him to exert his power over others. Although Parker is one of Zuckerberg’s most morally bankrupt allies, he’s merely a pawn in Facebook’s rise to power. Parker’s influence on “the social network” itself shows how in today’s Internet ecosystem, influence speaks louder than empathy. It’s an instrumental performance within one of the masterpieces of the 21st century and the biggest testament to Timberlake’s acting abilities.
