With there being such a lack of meaty roles available for actors in the movie industry, it’s no surprise that many of Hollywood’s finest who were once bankable movie stars are now jumping over to TV.
With networks sinking literally billions of dollars in to fresh and new TV shows, whether it’s a crime drama, a modern take on an old property, or a sci-fi western epic, there are so many outstanding roles for seasoned actors to sing their teeth into. There are dozens of shows that now star many of Hollywood’s elite, including many Academy Award winners, and most of them are great, but these are the very best.
Big Little Lies (8.5)
Big Little Lies might feature that most impressive list of actors, as the HBO drama stars great list of female actors, including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern, all of whom have won an Oscar. But the crown jewel of the show is the one and only Meryl Streep. Having won three Academy Awards and nominated for a total of 21 of the statuettes, it’s a surprise that the celebrated actress would turn to the small screen. But given how great Big Little Lies is and that it’s one of the best TV shows based on books, it was another smart move.
Twin Peaks (8.5)
Though it’s essentially the third season of the cult classic Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: The Return is a separate entry on IMDb, and as it comes 25 years after the second series, there are some huge differences. It might come at the expense of some characters who are inexplicably missing, but the newest season features several movie stars, including Laura Dern, Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Cera, and loads of others who crop up throughout the 18 episodes. Cera’s presence mat be the best of the lot, as he walks up on a motorbike impersonating Marlon Brando.
House Of Cards (8.7)
Though he was absent from the sixth season of the show, Kevin Spacey was the lead actor in House of Cards for the first five seasons, and he was one of the most menacing characters on TV since Heisenberg.
Though the show went completely downhill after his departure, there are great performances from other actors, too; besides starring movie star, House of Cards was also the breakthrough show for many actors who are now household names in Hollywood, including Kate Mara and Mahershala Ali.
Stranger Things (8.7)
From Dungeons and Dragons to blue and red 3D glasses, Stranger Things capitalizes on 1980s nostalgia in every way possible. But behind the flare jeans and colorful jackets is a fascinating fantasy series full of captivating characters. The show is so great and has such a tried-and-true premise and aesthetic that it doesn’t even need to use the fact that it stars Winona Ryder as a selling point. The actress isn’t even that identifiable, as her character doesn’t look after herself and dresses in frumpy clothes, completely unlike how audiences know the character.
Westworld (8.7)
Though western movies and TV shows are about 70 years passed their peak, HBO has been enjoying a lot of success from the genre, as they first had the incredible and gripping Deadwood, and the network followed that up with Westworld in the 2010s. The reason the show is so great is because it isn’t simply a western, but a sci-if adventure in which cowboy robots turn against their creators.
As ridiculous as it sounds, it’s actually well written, has a ton of production value, and an all star cast that included Anthony Hopkins, who is one of the characters fans miss. Over the past decade, Hopkins hasn’t hidden his love for the current golden age of TV, as he has sang the praises of Breaking Bad on many occasions, so it’s hardly surprising he’s in one of the most expertly shot series currently on TV.
The West Wing (8.8)
Martin Sheen has such an expansive filmography that goes on for hundreds of roles over the period of more than half a century. Starting with the classic Terrence Malick movie Badlands, Sheen has starred in everything from Catch Me If You Can to The Amazing Spider-Man, but even despite being in a superhero movie, the actor’s most famous role is in the medium of TV. Sheen played the President of the United States in The West Wing, which has won countless Emmy awards and even has a reunion episode in the works.
Peaky Blinders (8.8)
Cillian Murphy has been starring in movies for close to 20 years at this point, and though he hasn’t had many leading roles in that time, he seemingly appears in almost every movie, from the Dark Knight trilogy to 28 Days Later. But all of that has been sidelined for Peaky Blinders, a Birmingham based crime drama.
The show is one of the best looking series on TV right now, and no expense has been spared, as the set and costume design looks extremely expensive. It’s almost as if Murphy is starring a 20+ hour long movie, and playing one of the most evil characters on the show, it might be the actor’s best role despite being on the small screen.
Fargo (8.9)
Being based in the same world as one of the greatest movies of the 21st century, the series Fargo is arguably better than the crime drama, which is an incredible feat considering how much of a classic the film is. Whether it’s expanding the world, the way it intertwines with the film, or the high definition depiction of the sordid town itself, the show is marvelous.
On top of that, the show has a revolving cast of movies stars with each season, including Chris Rock, Ewan McGregor, and so many more. But the most exciting casting of the whole four seasons might be Billy Bob Thornton’s performance as Lorne Marvo. Playing a hitman, there are some fan theories that Marvo is actually the devil, and that’s in part due to though jaw dropping performance from the movie star.
True Detective (9.0)
It’s a testament to how great True Detective is that it holds an astonishing 9.0 on IMDb, as the second season is hated by fans, and the third season received a lukewarm response too, but the first season is just that great. Starring both Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the show does a great job at mixing true crime with the supernatural, which is something that has never been done so well before, and it has one of the highest ranked pilot episodes in history.
The following seasons, though not as great, still have the epic star power behind it, as there’s Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughan, and Rachel McAdams all in starring roles.
Sherlock (9.1)
Sherlock is an interesting case, as the show began before the two actors had become fully fledged movie stars, but by the time season four came around, they had been Hollywood royalty for years. It is the most well crafted piece of television on TV; what’s so great about the show is that it manages to tell age old stories about a century old character in the modern day without coming off corny, which is almost like achieving the impossible.
The BBC wouldn’t have been able to pull the modern day interpretation of Sherlock Holmes off as well as they did if it wasn’t for Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. But as they both play characters in the Marvel cinematic universe, their A-list fame is primarily what’s stopping fans from getting a season five.