Here is a comprehensive list of every Paul Dano movie, ranked from worst to best. In a career spanning more than 25 years, Dano has built an impressive resume of largely artistic and emotive projects, splitting his time near evenly between independent and studio films. He is arguably one of the most underappreciated talents in the industry, though he may finally be getting his due with his widely recognized role as The Riddler in The Batman.
Paul Franklin Dano was born in New York City on June 19th, 1984. He made his Broadway debut at the age of twelve in John Tillinger’s revival of Inherit the Wind, landing his first major film role only four years later. Dano has worked consistently in film for the last 22 years, taking a short break from 2018 to 2021 following the birth of his daughter.
Dano brings a seldom-seen level of depth and understanding to his characters, making Dano as effective as The Riddler in The Batman as he is as a mute teenager in Little Miss Sunshine. His versatility and soft-spoken sincerity make him a unique talent in the often brash world of Hollywood, standing out amidst accomplished actors by effectively blending in with the fabric of a story. With that in mind, here is a look at Dano’s accomplishments in film thus far.
33. The Newcomers (2000)
The Newcomers is a family drama featuring the film debuts of both Paul Dano and Chris Evans. After their son is threatened by bullies, the Docherty family makes the move from Boston to rural Vermont in hopes of starting anew. The story and direction are fairly basic, making The Newcomers a largely forgettable installment in Dano’s catalog.
32. Weapons (2007)
Weapons (stylized as WEAPONS) is a crime drama starring Paul Dano and former America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon. The story is told non-sequentially, beginning with a gruesome murder and working backward to unveil the culprit and their motivations. Weapons received largely negative critical reviews due to its graphic and disturbing content, including a scene in which Dani’s character, Chris, urinates on a guest at a party.
31. Light And The Sufferer (2007)
Light and the Sufferer is a science fiction film based on the short story by Jonathan Lethem. Two brothers from New York City dream to leave and start new lives in California, but their plans change after the appearance of a mysterious alien. The film’s strange and cerebral tone is at times jarring, and the story’s contemplative nature answers fewer questions than it poses, never truly explaining what purpose the alien serves to the story.
30. Explicit Ills (2008)
Explicit Ills is an indie drama featuring the directorial debut of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’s Mark Webber in his second collaboration with Dano. The film follows four interconnected stories taking place in Philadelphia, dealing with heavy subject matter such as drugs and poverty. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Dano, Naomie Harris, and Rosario Dawson, but the characters feel distant and unfamiliar, with the relationship between them only becoming clear at the film’s end.
29. Gigantic (2008)
Gigantic is an independent comedy written and directed by French Exit producer Matt Aselton in his directorial debut. A young mattress salesman applies to adopt a baby from China, but his plans take a turn when he falls for the quirky daughter of a rich customer. Dano stars alongside New Girl actress Zooey Deschanel as the unlikely lovers, their unusual chemistry bringing a degree of life to an underdeveloped story.
28. Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Cowboys & Aliens is a sci-fi/Western movie on the 2006 graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. A mysterious gunslinger with memory loss wanders into the town of Absolution shortly before an alien attack, quickly proving to be the only person capable of stopping it. The film is packed with celebrities, from Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig to director Jon Favreau, but the story’s contrasting styles and drastic shifts in tone make it a confusing and abrasive watch.
27. Taking Lives (2004)
Taking Lives is a psychological thriller loosely based on the 1999 Michael Pye novel by the same name. FBI Agent Ileana Scott (played by Eternals actress Angelina Jolie) travels to Canada to investigate an active serial killer who impersonates the identities of their victims. Dano appears briefly at the beginning of the film as a younger version of the deranged killer, Martin Asher. The plot is relatively predictable, and Jolie’s mediocre performance earned her a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress.
26. L.I.E. (2001)
L.I.E. (an acronym for the Long Island Expressway) is an American drama written by poet and producer Stephen M. Ryder. The film is an exploration of grief and sexuality, with young Howie Blitzer (played by Dano) falling in with a pair of troubled men after the death of his mother. Despite quality performances, the movie has aged poorly in the 20 years that have passed. L.I.E. asks some interesting questions, but its themes of incest and pedophilia are a bit jarring by modern standards.
25. Knight And Day (2010)
Knight and Day is an action-comedy from Logan director James Mangold. June Havens (played by Cameron Diaz) is hunted by corrupt CIA operatives after a chance encounter with Roy Miller (played by Tom Cruise), an agent on the run. Dano appears as Simon Feck, the inventor of a coveted perpetual energy battery that Miller is tasked with guarding. The film is serviceable as a by-the-numbers action comedy, relying heavily on the chemistry of its famous protagonists.
24. Fast Food Nation (2006)
Fast Food Nation is a film adaptation of Eric Schlosser's 2001 novel from Boyhood director Richard Linklater. A marketing executive for a burger chain faces reality as he investigates claims that the company’s meat is being contaminated by manure, uncovering layers of unsavory methods in the process. Dano appears alongside a star-studded cast including Ethan Hawke, Avril Lavigne, and Bruce Willis, with the film seemingly being more focused on its celebrity appearances than on making its point.
23. The Extra Man (2010)
The Extra Man is a comedy based on Jonathan Ames’ 1998 novel by the same name. A failed playwright (played by Kevin Kline) mentors an aspiring young writer (played by Dano) in his eccentric ways, teaching him to be an “extra man” by entertaining wealthy older women. Dano’s journey of self-discovery is endearing and sincere, but the story’s constant reference to arts and literature alienates casual viewers while offering little of substance to its more discerning audience.
22. The Guilty (2021)
The Guilty is a remake of a 2008 Danish film from by popular movie director Antoine Fuqua. A guilt-ridden LAPD officer is stuck working at a 911 call center when he receives a distressing report of a potential kidnapping, embroiling himself deeply in the case as penance for his recent transgressions. The Guilty’s format works well with the restrictions of making a movie during the COVID pandemic, using the voices of Dano, Ethan Hawke, and Riley Keough while Jake Gyllenhaal acts largely alone.
21. Being Flynn (2012)
Being Flynn is a drama film based on the 2004 memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn. Nick (played by Dano) is an aspiring writer working at the homeless shelter where his alcoholic ex-convict father Jonathan (played by Robert De Niro) lives, forcing the two to confront their feelings surrounding the suicide of Nick’s mother, Jody (played by Hannibal actress Julianne Moore). The story’s shifting tone is a bit confusing at times, but Dano and De Niro’s sincere and emotional performances do justice to Flynn’s story.
20. The King (2005)
The King is a drama film from The Theory of Everything director James Marsh. The protagonist, appropriately named Elvis, moves to Corpus Christi, Texas after he is discharged from the Navy, falling in with the family of David Sandow, a local pastor with a dark secret. Dano appears as Paul Sandow, son of the late William Hurt’s David Sandow, adding yet another dark and unsettling film to the actor’s catalog.
19. Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
Meek’s Cutoff is an American Western film loosely based on the 1845 incident on the Oregon Trail. Stephen Meek (played by Bruce Greenwood) leads a group of settlers on an ill-fated trip through the Oregon desert along a route that would like after be known as the Meek Cutoff. Dano, Michelle Williams, and Harry Potter actor Shirley Henderson are among the settlers following Meek on his journey, slowly building the tension in this slow-paced yet intense fight for survival in the American West.
18. For Ellen (2012)
For Ellen is an American drama written and directed by So Yong Kim in her third of four feature films to date. Joby Taylor (played by Dano) faces difficult decisions during an ugly divorce, forced to choose between his floundering music career and being a father. Dano’s performance is heartbreaking and raw, and the film’s unexpected ending is a refreshing change of pace in a sincerely upsetting kind of way.
17. The Good Heart (2009)
The Good Heart is an independent drama from Icelandic filmmaker Dagur Kári. A short-tempered bartender (played by Succession actor Brian Cox) becomes determined to mentor a young homeless man (played by Dano) after the two share a hospital room following separate near-fatal incidents. The story is brought down by corny passages and an overly-sentimental twist ending, but Cox’s chemistry with Dano on his journey of self-discovery lifts the somewhat subpar script, making good use of the actors’ not-insignificant talents.
16. The Ballad Of Jack And Rose (2005)
The Ballad of Jack and Rose is a romantic drama written and directed by Rebecca Miller and starring her husband, Daniel Day-Lewis. Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition living on an island with his daughter, battling against greedy land developers whilst trying to navigate his relationship with his expanding family. Dano plays Thaddius, the son of Slavin’s romantic interest. Although it received somewhat mixed reviews, the film justifies its existence if only as a result of the incredible combined talents of its cast.
15. Taking Woodstock (2009)
Taking Woodstock is a comedy/drama movie directed by Ang Lee. Based on the 2007 memoir Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life, the story documents Eliot Tiber’s pivotal role in organizing the legendary 1969 concert. Dano makes a cameo appearance alongside a bevy of famous faces including Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in what is perhaps Ang Lee’s boldest stylistic shift to date.
14. Where The Wild Things Are (2009)
Where The Wild Things Are is a mixed-medium fantasy adventure film based on the classic 1963 children’s book by Maurice Sendak. A dejected and misunderstood child flees his reality and escapes to the land of the Wild Things, quickly becoming the leader of the beasts and learning that even kings have responsibilities. Dano voices one of the Wild Things alongside Forest Whitaker, Catherine O’Hara, and the late James Gandolfini, bringing the classic story to life with a unique style and tone.
13. Looper (2012)
Looper is a sci-fi action thriller from Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson. A hired gun is sent targets from the future to be murdered in the present, eventually coming face to face with a future version of himself. Dano plays Seth, another “looper” who fails to kill his future self. Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt lead the film as the two incarnations of Joe, delivering on action and dynamic performances through Looper’s somewhat confusing time-travel story elements.
12. Youth (2015)
Youth is a comedy-drama written and directed by The Young Pope creator Paolo Sorrentino. A pair of elderly friends reflect on their respective careers while vacationing at a spa in the Swiss Alps. Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel star alongside Dano, Rachel Weisz, and Jane Fonda, a veritable powerhouse of Oscar-winning and well-respected actors come together to tell a thoughtful and well-intentioned story.
11. The Girl Next Door (2004)
The Girl Next Door is a twisted romantic comedy directed by producers of David Wain’ s 2008 movie Role Models Luke Greenfield. A group of overachieving high school students has their lives upended when a former adult film star moves to town, sending them on a dangerous adventure of lust and self-exploration. Dano simultaneously offers some of the most ridiculous and bold performances of his career as Klitz, starring alongside Emile Hirsch and Chris Marquette as the awkward teens in what has since become a cult classic.
10. The Emperor’s Club (2002)
The Emperor’s Club is a dramatic adaptation of Ethan Canin’s 1994 short story The Palace Thief. A poignant contemplation on the power and pitfalls of dishonesty, The Emperor’s Club follows a group of classics students as both children and adults and the role that their teacher plays in their lives. Dano again collaborates with Kevin Kline and Emile Hirsch, as well as Jesse Eisenberg in one of his earliest roles. The story is subtle and layered, and the performances from its impressive cast are well-executed, making it one of Dano’s most memorable films despite its relatively moderate success.
9. Swiss Army Man (2016)
Swiss Army Man is an absurdist black comedy from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known collectively as Daniels), the creative minds behind 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once. Stranded on an island and on the verge of desperation, Hank Thompson (played by Dano) comes across a corpse (played by Daniel Radcliffe) that proves to be not only the key to his survival, but to his happiness as well. The film pairs its ridiculous subject matter with genuine and poignant emotion, achieving the impossible by making the audience empathize with a farting corpse.
8. Ruby Sparks (2012)
Ruby Sparks is a dramatic comedy directed by Little Miss Sunshine duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Suffering from writer’s block, Calvin Weir-Fields (played by Dano) seeks inspiration from an old typewriter, inadvertently bringing to life a character of his own creation, the eponymous Ruby Sparks. Dano’s long-time romantic partner Zoe Kazan stars as Ruby (as well as having written the film), bringing the fantastical story to life with their genuine chemistry and emotion, deftly traversing a bevy of tonal and stylistic shifts.
7. Okja (2017)
Okja is an action-adventure film from Bong Joon-ho, the Oscar-winning director of 2019’s Parasite. A young girl finds companionship in a massive pig-like creature, living with it in the mountains of South Korea for a decade before it is whisked away to New York by the multinational corporation that created it. Dano plays Jay, the leader of the activist group Animal Liberation Front (or ALF), giving a memorable performance alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton in one of Netflix’s first and best original dramas.
6. Love & Mercy (2014)
Love & Mercy is a biographical drama about Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson. Paul Dano and John Cusak split the role of Wilson, depicting the musician’s struggles with his mental health through the '60s and '80s respectively. Wilson himself praised the actors for their portrayal of his life, earning Dano his first and only Golden Globe nomination to date.
5. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Little Miss Sunshine is a tragic comedy featuring the directorial debut of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris as well as the screenwriting debut of Michael Arndt. The story follows the dysfunctional Hoover family as they travel to California to enter young Olive Hoover (played by Abigail Breslin) into the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The film’s endearing and talented ensemble cast earned Little Miss Sunshine two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin.
4. Prisoners (2013)
Prisoners is a dramatic thriller from Dune director Denis Villeneuve. When a young girl and her friend are abducted, police arrest and promptly release their only suspect due to a lack of evidence, forcing the girl’s father to take matters into his own hands. Dano plays the young kidnapping suspect Alex Jones opposite Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal in one of the darkest films of the three actors’ respective careers, a sense of dread permeating the bulk of the project.
3. The Batman (2022)
The Batman is a reboot of the popular DC franchise from Cloverfield director Matt Reeves. Robert Pattinson stars as the relatively green Caped Crusader, this time facing down The Riddler (played by Dano) and The Penguin (played by Colin Farrell) following the murder of Gotham’s mayor. Dano’s Riddler differs greatly from Jim Carrey’s popular take in Batman Forever, offering a quieter and deeper understanding of the character in a darker and more grounded interpretation of the franchise.
2. 12 Years A Slave (2013)
12 Years A Slave is a biographical drama based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir as dictated to author David Wilson. Shortly before the Civil War, Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a New York-born free black man, is kidnapped and sold into slavery, forced to work Louisiana plantations for 12 years before being released. The film’s committed and emotional performances earned 12 Years A Slave three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o in her film debut.
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood is an American period drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the creative mind behind Boogie Nights and The Master. Ruthless silver miner Daniel Plainview (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) moves to California in search of oil, conning landowners out of their property to reap his fortune. Paul Dano plays identical twins Paul and Eli Sunday, local landowners who take objection to Plainview’s methods. Day-Lewis’ performance as the twisted conman earned him his second of three Oscars to date, landing him in a tie for the second most Oscars won by an actor behind only Katharine Hepburn.