To fans of Mad Men, Jon Hamm will always be Don Draper but the actor has left his Madison Avenue days behind him and fully embraced the big screen. In Top Gun: Maverick, he once again adopts his macho mannerisms as he tackles the role of Vice Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson, the no-nonsense commander of Naval Air Forces.
It's undoubtedly the biggest movie that the actor has been a part of. However, he never has to wait too long to be cast in projects that are both critically acclaimed and adored by audiences. Fans who adore Hamm might want to check out the best movies featuring the actor and luckily, Letterboxd does a great job of sieving them out.
The Congress (2013) - 3.3
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
An actress who is unable to land key roles anymore is approached by a studio willing to buy rights to her image so that they can use it forever in animated projects. She agrees to do so but serious consequences soon emerge. Hamm plays Dylan, the lead animator for the studio.
Through the movie (which blends live-action and animation), it becomes clear just how much advances in technology can bring both harm and good. As the actress' image is used in ways she never liked, Hamm's character goes rogue, offering to help her. What results is an amazing (yet complicated) love story that Hamm has no problem providing all the necessary emotions for, given the long list of lovers his character had in Mad Men.
No Sudden Move (2021) - 3.3
Stream On HBO Max
After a mission to steal an important document goes wrong, the thieves start looking for the mysterious person that hired them. Hamm stars as Joe Finney, a police detective who investigates the gang.
Given his ever-stern nature, playing a spick and span '50s detective suits Hamm perfectly. The movie plays to the actor's strengths by restricting his scenes to dialogue-only and no physical altercations. There are plenty of incredible twists too, which are a major reason why the 2021 flick is one of the best Steven Soderbergh movies. One of them includes the revelation that Finney wasn't as straightforward as everyone thought.
Marjorie Prime (2017) - 3.3
Stream On Hulu
A tech service that creates holographic projections of dead people allows an 86-year-old woman to spend her final years with a younger version of her deceased husband. Hamm's role is that of the woman's husband, Walter.
Like every other cast member, Hamm gives an exceptional performance. And through Walter, serious issues such as the effects of terminal illness, love, and humanity are explored. The dangers of technology are deeply examined too and fans who enjoyed Hamm's performance in one of the best sci-fi series, Netflix's Black Mirror, will spot some similarities.
We Were Soldiers (2002) - 3.3
Stream On Netflix
During the first phase of the Vietnam war, a battalion of the US army battles deadly Vietnamese troops at the Ia Drang valley. One of the recurring soldiers, Capt. Matt Dillion is portrayed by Jon Hamm.
It's the role that feels the most similar to the one Hamm has in Top Gun: Maverick. But while he doesn't get to hold a gun in the Tom Cruise-led flick, he is all in here, battling enemy forces and dealing with all the mayhem that comes with being on the field. It's a minor role but one that fans will truly appreciate.
Bridesmaids (2011) - 3.5
Stream On Hulu
A chef named Annie is tasked by her friend to be the maid of honor but ends up ruining everything due to a feud with one of the bridesmaids. Hamm has a supporting role as Annie's arrogant and wealthy lover, Dan.
This was one of John Hamm's first all-out comedy roles, and although his part in the movie is quite small he has some brilliant laugh-out-loud moments. Hamm delivers a truly funny performance of a man who is so wrapped up in his own believed sexual prowess and arrogance he fails to realize - or care - how terribly he's treating the women around him.
Bad Times At The El Royale (2018) - 3.5
Stream On Disney+
A group of strangers books the same hotel and it isn't long before each of their dark secrets comes to light. Hamm's character is an FBI agent that's on an undercover mission.
Ensemble neo-noir movies where each of the characters holds a secret are always fun and the Drew Goddard movie is no different. Once again, the actor finds himself in a period project, and he feels right at home. And although the movie has been criticized as a "Tarantino knock-off", the cast, including Hamm's performance just saves it from being too laborious.
Richard Jewel (2019) - 3.5
Stream On Netflix
Security guard Richard Jewell alerts law enforcement about a bomb threat at Centennial Park but is soon made the prime suspect. In the movie, Hamm is the FBI agent Tom Shaw.
Hamm is slowly becoming one of the most typecast actors but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's rare to not see him as a figure of authority nowadays and here, he impresses once again as a lawman working hard to get a suspect and please the public. But as determined as his character is, he soon realizes he was in the wrong.
The Town (2010) - 3.6
Stream On Netflix
Things become complicated for a group of bank robbers when one of them falls in love with the bank manager during the heist. In the crime thriller, Hamm is an FBI agent yet again.
The actor never disappoints when playing highly intelligent characters and he does so again here. His character, Agent Frawley, figures out almost every move the robbers make. And he's the complete super-agent package too, able to decipher, interrogate, threaten and even fire a couple of rounds when need be.
Baby Driver (2017) - 3.8
Stream On Vudu
A young skilled driver is forced to be a getaway driver for a dangerous heist but the plan goes wrong when undercover agents get involved. Hamm plays a banker-turned-thief named Buddy.
It's no surprise that Hamm totally owns the Buddy character as it was specifically written for him by director Edgar Wright, who happens to be his long-time friend. The actor proves that he can play baddies as perfectly as he plays antiheroes and law enforcement officers. And on this occasion, he gets to be the henchman that murders the boss.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) - 4.2
Stream On Paramount+ (After Cinema Run)
Captain Pete Maverick is tasked with training and leading a new group of Navy pilots that will go on a mission to bomb an unnamed foreign country's uranium enrichment plant. Hamm has a supporting role as Maverick's superior, Cyclone.
The actor plays the annoying boss quite well in the movie. Fans can't help but frown when Cyclone prematurely removes Maverick as mission trainer or castigates him for telling the trainees to play beach volleyball. In the end, his skepticism towards Maverick leaves him with egg on his face but there's mutual respect there.