The bestBill Skarsgårdmovies and TV shows not only showcase his exceptional talents in the horror genre, but also how skilled he is outside of it too. Born in Stockholm in 1990, the Swedish actor is the son of the equallyfamed Stellan Skarsgård and the brother of Alexander, Gustaf, and Valter Skarsgård. Coming from such a prolific family of actors, it seemed inevitable that Bill Skarsgård would soon find acclaim of his own.
While performing since 1999, Bill Skarsgård’s big break came in 2011 when he appeared in the Swedish comedySimple Simon.International recognition came shortly afterward thanks to shows likeHemlock Grovein 2013and a part in the 2016YA thrillerThe Divergent Series: Allegiant.However, he’d soon prove that his true talent lay in horror films, as many of the best Bill Skarsgard movies and TV shows demonstrate - though he is far from limited to a single genre.
Nine Days
Cast
Nine Days, directed by Edson Oda, follows a reclusive man’s introspective journey as he interviews human souls for a chance at life on Earth. This existential drama delves into the nature of human existence and the complexities of choice and destiny.
While he’s predominantly known for his work in horror, Bill Skarsgård’s best movies and TV shows include projects from several different genres. Among them is the 2020 fantasy dramaNine Days,from writer-director Edson Oda. The movie sees Skarsgård appearing as part of an ensemble cast that also includes the likes of Benedict Wong, Winston Duke, and hisDeadpool 2co-starZazie Beetz.
Nine Dayshas one of the most intriguing premises of any film Bill Skarsgård has appeared in, and allowed him to display a more intimate side of his range as an actor than his famed horror ventures. The movie focuses on a group of souls hoping to be born on earth, one of which is Skarsgård’s character, Kane. However, only one will be chosen, andthe movie is an intriguing philosophical exploration into the very meaning of existence.
Hemlock Grove
Set in small-town Pennsylvania, Hemlock Grove explores the lives of the titular town’s residents as they deal with a series of strange, brutal murders. Two young men, Roman Godfrey and Peter Rumancek, set out to uncover what is actually going on while dealing with their respective supernatural secrets. The series stars Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron, Famke Janssen, Penelope Mitchell, Lili Taylor, and Dougray Scott.
TheNetflix horror seriesHemlock Grove,which was released between 2012 and 2015 was a breakout appearance for Bill Skarsgård, and an important foundational milestone of his early career. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by author Brian McGreevy (who also served as a developer),Hemlock Grovewas produced by legendary horror director Eli Roth, and was just as violent and gruesome as any project with his name attached to it is expected to be.
The story ofHemlock Grovefocuses on the titular Pennsylvania town which hosts a famed biomedical research facility. Skarsgård’s character, Roman Godfrey, is a wealthy local teen with a solid rebellious streak. He was easily one of the highlights of the show, andhis performance helped cement the reputation as being among the most reliable horror movie actors currently working.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock is a supernatural/horror television series based on the works of Stephen King. Set in the titular town in Maine, the show covers an anthology of supernatural stories surrounding various characters that work, live, and visit Castle Rock, all of which sharply turn the mundane lives of northeasterners into compelling tales of the extraordinary - both good and bad.
2018’s Stephen King adaptationCastle Rockeasily stands among the best Bill Skarsgård TV shows for several reasons, not least of which because Skarsgard was perfectly case in the supernatural horror as The Kid, one of several inmates at Shawshank State Penitentiary. The show arrived on Hulu for two seasons between 2018 and 2019, and drew on many aspects from several of Stephen King’s novels.
Bill Skarsgård’s character, the Kid, had been held prisoner in a septic tank for over two decades. It’s one of several performances from the actor that’s brilliant even though he doesn’t actually say that much, instead relying on his distinctive physical presence and mastery of his own facial expressions.WhileCastle Rockperhaps wasn’t the success story it could have been overall, Skarsgård’s performance remains a highlight both of the series and his wider career.
Villains
Villains is a dark comedy thriller directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. The film stars Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe as a pair of amateur criminals who break into a suburban home, only to discover a disturbing secret held by the homeowners, played by Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick. This encounter leads to a tense and twisted face-off with chilling consequences.
2019’sVillainsis one of several dark action comedies starring Bill Skarsgård, and it’s easily one of his best. Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who both co-wrote the script,Villainsfocuses on two gas station robbers who go on the run only to find themselves caught up in a kind of evil that’s far beyond what either is capable of. Skarsgård stars as Mickey, one half of the duo, and shares great chemistry with co-star Maika Monroe as Jules.
Like several other movies in his recent career,Villainsplays on Bill Skarsgård’s reputation for playing antagonists by subverting it. Mickey could be the villain of any other movie, but comes across as a hero once the true antagonists (Kyra Sedgwick’s Loria and Jeffrey Donovan’s George) are introduced.Villainswas received incredibly well by critics and viewers when it was released, as evidenced by it’s 84% Tomatometer and 77% Popcornmeter score onRotten Tomatoes.
Playing a character known only as Boy, Bill Skarsgård led the cast of director Moritz Mohr’s action-comedyBoy Kills Worldincredibly well - a notable feat since Boy has very few speaking lines due to the character being deaf and mute. Set in a dystopian future,Boy Kills Worldsees Skarsgård’s character going on an epic revenge rampage against those who killed his family.
Highly stylistic and as pulse-pounding as it is laugh-out-loud funny, Boy inBoy Kills Worldmanages to be one of the most endearing characters Bill Skarsgard has played. Boy may not speak out loud, but his inner voice is portrayed byH. Jon Benjamin ofArcherandBob’s Burgersfame - andthe combination of the famed voice-actors words and Skarsgård’s physicality is nothing short of perfect.WhileBoy Kills Worldwas met with middling reviews from critics, its place as one of the best Bill Skarsgård movies is undeniable.
Barbarian
Barbarian follows a young woman who discovers her Airbnb has been double-booked with a stranger already present. Despite initial hesitation, she decides to stay, only to uncover disturbing secrets within the unsettling rental. The film, released in 2022, explores themes of trust and unease in unexpected encounters.
2022’sBarbarianis the renowned horror-thriller from director Zach Cregger, who also wrote the script. It was incredibly well received when it released in 2022, with critics praising both the nailbiting story and the performances of the central cast - especially Bill Skarsgård, who plays Keith. Starring alongside Georgina Campbell as Tess and Justin Long as AJ,Barbarianmanaged to use Skarsgård’s reputation in the horror genre incredibly effectively by completely subverting it.
Throughout the first act ofBarbarian,the audience is firmly led to believe that Keith is the central threat to Georgina Campbell’s Tess. Bill Skarsgård plays the character as an unnerving interloper, with his every line building a strong sense of dread. However, the rug is firmly pulled out from underneath viewers one the narrative gets going.It’s an incredibly strong performance from Skarsgård, who expertly uses his skills to create harrowing antagonists to pull off one of the biggest misdirections in modern horror movies.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Following the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum, John Wick Chapter 4 will see the titular character battle against some of his most dangerous foes yet. With a bounty on his head that continues to skyrocket, John decides to take the fight to the High Table on a global scale and battles across areas like Osaka and Paris to wipe out some of the strongest players in the underworld.
Few 2023 movies were as eagerly anticipated as director Chad Stahelski’sJohn Wick: Chapter 4,the (so far) final installment in the epicKeanu Reeves-ledJohn Wicksaga. It was widely suspected before the film’s release that it would round off the story of the central character, and so expectations were high - especially when it came to the antagonist John would face up against. This is why the stylish action thriller ranks among the best Bill Skarsgård movies, as his character, The Marquis, more than delivered as a suitable nemesis for John Wick.
Bill Skarsgård was exceptional as The Marquis, one of the most powerful members of the High Table and the source of the many, many assassination attempts John Wick survives throughoutJohn Wick: Chapter 4.It’s one of the best performances of Skarsgård’s career and shows his suitability for playing chilling protagonists in action movies (ones that are a little more grounded than his many horror villains).
Nosferatu
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
Directed by Robert Eggers,Nosferatuis one of the most successful horror moviesof 2024, arriving to intense critical success and receiving multiple award wins and nominations (including at the Academy Awards, which is incredibly difficult for films in the horror genre). The all-star ensemble cast includes the likes of Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Defoe, and Aaron Taylor Johnson. However, the performance that steals the show is inarguably Bill Skarsgård as the titular vampire, Count Orlok, also known as Nosferatu.
Nosferatuis a remake of the classic 1922 silent movieNosfteratu: A Symphony of Horror,from director Henrik Galeen - which is a loose adaptation of the classic 1897 vampire novelDraculaby Bram Stoker.Bill Skarsgård gives an intense and terrifying performance as Count Orlok, and this ensured that whenNosferatuarrived it instantly ranked as one of the horror veteran’s best movie appearances so far.
2Clark (2022)
Bill Skarsgård Plays Clark Olofsson
Clarkis an underrated gem among the best Bill Skarsgard movies and TV shows, and his performance as Clark Olofsson should be considered essential viewing for fans who know him from the likes ofNosferatu, IT,orJohn Wick: Chapter 4.The 2020 crime miniseries was created for Netflix, and is based on the autobiography of Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson, titledVafan vad det some hande?
Bill Skarsgard plays Clark Olofsson in the miniseries, bringing the Swedish bank robber to life with an uncanny level of accuracy and authenticity.Clarkcovers many of the dramatic events of Oloffson’s life, including the famed 1973 Norrmalstorg bank robbery (which escalated into a tense hostage situation).While he’s mostly known for his work in horror,Clarkremains one of the best performances of Bill Skarsgård’s career and proves he’s capable of bringing more than scares.
1IT Chapter One (2017)
Bill Skarsgård Plays Pennywise
Bill Skarsgard has become an icon of the horror genre by the second decade of his career. A key foundation of this reputation was his terrifying performance as Pennywise in Andy Muscietti’s 2017 Stephen King adaptation,IT(which, after the release ofIT Chapter Twoin 2019, is now commonly known asIT Chapter One). Thanks to a combination of practical effects, CGI, and the actor’s performance, Bill Skarsgård’s iteration of Pennywise the Dancing Clown was nothing short of terrifying - and just as iconic as Tim Curry’s take in the famed 1990 miniseries.
The majority of Bill Skarsgard’s accolades and award nominations stem from 2017’sIT,including nominations for Best Villain at the Seattle Film Critics Awards, Best Supporting Actor at the Satur Awards, and Best Villain at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.What’s more, since he was invited back to reprise the role not only in 2019’sIT Chapter Twobut also the TV spinoff,2025’sWelcome To Derry,it’s clear to see thatITis the bestBill Skarsgardmovie or TV show so far.
