Jackie Earle Haley's career in Hollywood almost sounds like a movie itself. After finding success at a young age, Haley struggled to make the transition to adult roles. He all but disappeared from the business after years of being overlooked only to score an amazing comeback that relaunched him as a respected character actor.
From both his earlier work as a young man to his more recent supporting roles, Haley is an endlessly captivating performer. He is incredibly versatile, able to deliver intense dramatic performances as well as hilarious comedic ones. These are reflected in the high IMDb scores of his movies.
Parkland (2013) - 6.4
Haley has always had the ability to stand apart in a large ensemble, such as with the massive cast of Parkland. The film chronicles the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy from a variety of perspectives. Haley plays Father Oscar Huber who oversaw the president at the Parkland Hospital.
The story of JFK's assassination has been told in many films, but this large ensemble piece allows many different aspects of the story to be explored. The movie is filled with great actors like Paul Giamatti and Billy Bob Thornton adding to the powerful story.
The Birth of a Nation (2016) - 6.4
As an actor, Haley is not afraid to take on roles that are easy for audiences to detest. The Birth of a Nation is the true story of Nate Turner, a slave who helped organize a group of fellow slaves into a powerful revolt against their masters. Haley plays Raymond Cobb, a law enforcement agent responsible for keeping slaves in line.
The movie is a harrowing and brutal account of the darkest period in American history. It might be too much for some audiences but many found it to be a powerful period piece.
The Day of the Locust (1975) - 7.1
In one of his earliest roles in film, Haley starred in the dark Hollywood drama The Day of the Locust. The film tells the story of a troubled woman with dreams of making it big as an actor and the man who wanted to help her dreams come true. Neither of them realized how naïve their ambitions were.
Stories of Hollywood are always fascinating as audiences seem to love seeing the dark side of show business. With a talented cast, The Day of the Locust makes for a disturbing and compelling story about the desire for fame.
The Bad News Bears (1976) - 7.3
Haley's big breakthrough role came with the hilarious sports comedy The Bad News Bears. Walter Matthau plays an ill-tempered former minor league baseball player who forms a band of misfits into a competitive and dysfunction little league team. Haley plays an aggressive young kid with a skill for the sport.
The film is a hilariously vulgar take on the classic sports story. Matthau is perfect as the grumpy coach who shows no tenderness towards the young players and Haley shows off his comedic skills in the role that launched his young career.
Lincoln (2012) - 7.3
Once again, Haley joined a huge ensemble for a film focused on one of the most famous American presidents. This time it is Abraham Lincoln at the center of the story with Daniel Day-Lewis taking on the iconic figure as he attempts to outlaw slavery in the United States during the Civil War. Haley played Alexander Stephens, who served as the vice president of the Confederate States.
Under the direction of Steven Spielberg and headed by Day-Lewis' towering performance, Lincoln manages to be a stirring and emotional courtroom drama.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) - 7.3
Though it was not the box office hit that some were anticipating, Alita: Battle Angel has gained a strong following since its release. The film tells the story of a cyborg who is revived after being deactivated but has no memory of her past life.
The film comes from Robert Rodriquez and was written by none other than James Cameron. It's not surprising then that plenty of fans found this to be a thrilling and inventive sci-fi action film with a lot of intriguing ideas.
Little Children (2006) - 7.5
After not appearing in a feature film for over a decade, Haley took a complex role in Little Children which earned him an Oscar nomination. The film stars the likes of Patrick Wilson and Kate Winslet in a story of dark secrets held by various people in a suburban community. Haley plays a sex offender recently released back into the society.
The hard-hitting drama is packed with superb performances from the talented cast, but Haley is the clear standout. The overall film is a thought-provoking and emotional experience from beginning to end.
Watchmen (2009) - 7.6
Long before Zack Snyder was taking on the Justice League, he brought one of DC's most acclaimed graphic novels to life with Watchmen. The film is set in an alternate reality in which superheroes altered American history. One masked crime-fighter named Rorschach (Haley) investigates a conspiracy of someone killing off former heroes.
While some felt Snyder was the wrong man to bring the complex satire to the big screen, others felt it was a faithful take on Alan Moore's book. Haley steals the show as the deranged crime-fighter.
Breaking Away (1979) - 7.7
In another one of Haley's early roles, he joined a talented young cast for the coming-of-age story Breaking Away, about a small-town teen who is obsessed with the Italian national cycling team. The film follows his summer biking around, hanging out with friends, and trying to woo a college girl.
Breaking Away has earned a reputation as a charming and entertaining teen comedy. However, the writing and acting is often pointed to as aspects that elevate the whole film above others in the genre.
Shutter Island (2010) - 8.2
Haley had the chance to work with iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese in one of his most popular films. Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a U.S. Marshal who travels to a remote island where an inmate has escaped from a psychiatric institution.
The film is a dark and eerie mystery that takes the audience deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, all leading to a powerful and shocking ending. Haley has only one scene as an of the inmate of the institution, but he provides one of Shutter Island's best performances.