Awesome Movies That Starred Breaking Bad Actors

It's hard to overstate just how much of a pop culture phenomenon "Breaking Bad" has become since its 2008 premiere. With five seasons and as many years on the air, Bryan Cranston's depiction of Walter White descending from a mild-mannered schoolteacher into one of the most feared criminals in the country has become one of the most fascinating performances to ever air on television. The story wouldn't have been possible, however, without the work of not only his co-star Aaron Paul but every member of the top-notch cast involved.

While just about every member of the cast will likely have a hard time finding roles that will be as career-defining as their time spent on the series, they have still been in plenty of films that are just as worthy of your time. Below, we'll round up some of the best entries across the landscape of cinema to feature the incredibly talented cast of "Breaking Bad."

It's hard to pick out just one or two films from the now-legendary actor Bryan Cranston's incredible decades-long filmography. Primarily a television actor until his career highlight as Walter White, Cranston was also typically confined to comedy shows until his true range was established in the public eye. His 2016 drama "Wakefield" is a perfect example of just how daring a role he can tackle, with the film showing his character's gradual descent from normal life into a reclusive existence, as he tackles a conflict within his mind.

Although audiences previously watched Walter stow away into an isolated cabin in the final season of "Breaking Bad," his "Wakefield" character takes things even further: Howard Wakefield finds himself in the attic of his family's garage late one night while chasing away a raccoon, and he decides to stick around. Disappearing seemingly without a trace, Wakefield takes up permanent residence in the garage, surviving off of trash and scraps all whilst keeping a close eye on his old life and family members from right under their noses.

Probably the only entry on our list fit for younger viewers, the 2021 dark fantasy film "Nightbooks" still manages to find appeal amongst audiences of all ages. Delving into the genre of fantasy horror, the film focuses on child author Alex, who specializes in writing horror stories. The only catch is that his parents are less than approving of his budding hobby, leading him to swear off his passion for good. While destroying his work, however, he gets turned around in the apartment complex he calls home and winds up in a unit that's currently occupied by an evil witch.  

Unlike Alex's parents, though, Krysten Ritter's character of Natacha is fully supportive of his writing and is even a fan herself — a bit too much so considering she threatens to have him killed if he ever stops writing for her. It turns out he's not the only one being held prisoner by her either, leaving him and his fellow captive Yazmin to try and devise a way to escape their inevitable fate. A great gateway into horror films for audiences falling somewhere between the younger and older crowds, "Nightbooks" is a fun and thoroughly spooky watch any time of the year. Plus, it gives Ritter fans a chance to see her embrace her talents for on-screen villainy.

Another entry from Cranston, his 2015 film "Trumbo" incorporates some real-life history through his depiction of the famed figure Dalton Trumbo. Set during the height of public paranoia over communism infiltrating every aspect of the American way of life, Trumbo finds himself in the crossfire of the public's outrage. A talented Hollywood screenwriter who just so happens to be very public about his support for the Communist Party, Trumbo's career goes from just being on the rocks to straight-up dead in the water after he's sentenced to almost a year in prison for unpatriotic activities.

Following his stint in jail, Trumbo has a renewed determination to continue his prior work as a screenwriter. With a criminal record and a name as good as useless, though, that proves to be quite difficult. As a result, he's forced to produce all his future works completely without credit, either giving the rights to close friends or other writers who have suffered a similar fate as himself, all the while trying to evade the ever-expanding scope of the Hollywood Blacklist. Fans looking to see the sole Oscar-nominated performance by Cranston so far, or even just quality character dramas that incorporate a healthy dose of American history, should check this one out.

Just about all of the members of the phenomenal cast on "Breaking Bad" had their careers completely transformed for the better after it proved to be a smash hit, and that was especially true for RJ Mitte. Apart from a few minor roles and a brief uncredited appearance on "Hannah Montana," Mitte was still an up-and-comer when he was cast as Walter White Jr., and now he has joined his former co-stars in successfully capitalizing upon his "Breaking Bad" fame to forge a thriving career. 

Critics particularly revered one of his more recent entries, "The Oak Room." The film sees Mitte cast as Steve, a young man returning to the small Canadian town he grew up in one cold and desolate night. From there, he spins a story with twists and turns that grows more and more complex the longer the film goes on, all while shedding light on his own troubled history in the town.

One of the first films by renowned director Spike Lee, the 1989 title "Do the Right Thing" has also persisted as one of his highest-rated for more than three decades, receiving near-universal praise from critics and audiences alike. 

Set on the streets of Brooklyn during the '80s, the film takes a close look at the wide array of characters and demographics who call it their home, as well as the rocky relationships they maintain with one another. Among them is Esposito's character Buggin' Out, who really cannot be any more different than his iconic role as Gus Fring in "Breaking Bad." Despite providing some moments of comic relief, his character is integral to the story's themes of racial inequality and morality after their confrontation with the owner of their local pizzeria turns deadly. And despite his decades-long acting career with nearly 200 roles to his name, "Do the Right Thing" remains one of Esposito's best — and most important — roles to date.

Easily one of the more eccentric entries on this list, the 1998 film "Pi" was the first film directed by Darren Aronofsky, a filmmaker now known for his surrealist style and controversial subject matter. It also remains one of the best cinematic works in his small but quality filmography. Shot entirely in black and white, the film centers around Max Cohen, a brilliant but delusional mathematician who becomes consumed by his obsession with unlocking life's greatest secrets through mathematics. Paranoid and distrustful of everyone he interacts with, the only person he still trusts is his old friend and mentor, Mark Margolis's Sol Robenson.

The mathematics that are the object of Max's obsession are just half of the story being told here, and equally as important is his rapidly declining mental stability — as well as certain outside influences banking on him coming up with a visionary breakthrough. Visually distinct and endlessly complex, many of the hallmarks that would go on to define Aronofsky's directing style are present here, making "Pi" a great film that you'll admittedly have to pay close attention to if you want to keep up with. Also, if you were a fan of Margolis' searing performance as Hector Salamanca, you'll really enjoy his captivating turn in this film as well.