Amazon's The Boys has an ensemble cast that has appeared in many films worth checking out.

The current landscape of television has given audiences some of the best performances in recent memory, and The Boys is no different. The showrunners have been able to manage an ensemble cast that gives depth to every character, while avoiding the risk of weighing the plot down. What’s more, many cast members have had breakout roles as a result.

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Despite The Boys being a platform for many actors’ leap into stardom, many cast members have been working for years – some, decades. Fans of the show’s stars, as well as those just being introduced, have the opportunity to look back on the actors’ careers within the industry. Not only can this allow fans to spend more time with their favorite stars, but they can witness the range and growth that actors possess.

Erin Moriarity (Starlight) steps away from the role of America’s Sweetheart to become Lydia, the estranged daughter of John Link (played by Mel Gibson). The two are forced on the run after Lydia escapes from her drug-dealing boyfriend, Jonah (played by Diego Luna). Having just reconnected, John must now find a way to protect his daughter from the cartel at all costs.

The film tells the story of a father reconnecting with his daughter through the lens of an action-packed crime thriller. Both Moriarity and Gibson play well off one another, creating an emotional throughline that brings a great deal of resonance to the audience upon the movie’s climax.

Karl Urban (Billy Butcher) plays the ruthless law enforcement and judicial officer, Judge Dredd, in Dredd. Set in the dystopian world of Mega-City One, Dredd confronts drugs, corruption and outright lawlessness as the eponymous character attempts to bring justice in this sci-fi film.

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While Dredd underwhelmed at the box office (only grossing $41.5 million on a $45 million budget), the film did see success upon its home video release. Dredd’ssuccess in home video sales, coupled with an overall positive critical consensus, helped elevate this second adaptation of the comic book character to cult film status.

Jack Quaid (Hughie Campbell) stars in this offbeat romantic comedy about two friends who agree to accompany one another to every wedding they’re invited to in order to survive the summer’s busy wedding season.

Despite following many rom-com conventions, Plus One does manage to inject some refreshing moments into the genre. Movie critic, Nell Minow on Roger Ebert notes that “even though a single celled organism knows where this is all going, the developments primarily come from character, not the surrounding situations.” What’s more, Quaid’s romantic sensibilities come rather effortlessly, which makes sense when considering that he’s the son of romantic comedy veterans Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid.

Chace Crawford (The Deep) steps into a more calculating role as Joe, Nina’s abusive ex-boyfriend in the indie dramedy, All About Nina. The film follows its titular character, Nina, as she navigates her past trauma as well as the comedy scene in Los Angeles.

The movie was well received, with many critics citing Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Common as breakout performances. It’s worth noting how Eva Vives is able to craft a film that handles dark subjects in an unflinching manner. Nina embraces her mess, her contradictions – and at no point does she apologize to the audience for it. The movie is available to stream on Hulu.

Dominique McElligott (Queen Maeve) stars as Tess Bell, the wife of Sam Bell who is played by Sam Rockwell. Though the movie centers around Sam Rockwell’s character, McElligott’s character helps ground the story as well as provides humanity and an emotional throughline.

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Moon is director Duncan Jones' directorial debut. Its character-driven themes are reminiscent of a bygone era for sci-fi films, but it’s a welcomed addition to the current landscape of blockbuster space epics. Additionally, Sam Rockwell turns in an Oscar-worthy performance that becomes even more impressive given that he’s in most of the film by himself.

Jessie T. Usher (A-Train) stars as John "JJ" Shaft Jr., an FBI cybersecurity expert who gets thrown into a world of secrecy and drug-fueled crime when his best friend is mysteriously killed.

Despite underperforming at the box office, Shaft(2019) serves as an entertaining installment in the eponymous character’s legacy. Jessie T. Usher provides a lot of the film’s levity in his role as the inept man with a desk job who must learn quickly if he wants to survive. What’s more, the chemistry between Richard Roundtree, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jessie T. Usher will have audiences laughing throughout.

Antony Starr (Homelander) returns to New Zealand as a forest ranger who must deal with the fallout after his four-year-old daughter’s disappearance. On top of a broken marriage, John learns that his ex-wife is expecting a child with the policeman in charge of his daughter’s case.

After the Waterfall serves as a precursor to Starr’s ability in The Boys to express inner turmoil without becoming too grandiose. Simone Horrocks’ directorial feature film debut is one that explores grief and the rippling effects one person has on those around them.

Giancarlo Esposito (Stan Edgar) drops the villainous mask to fight for good in Spike Lee’s 1989 classic, Do The Right Thing. Esposito plays Buggin Out, longtime friend of the protagonist, Mookie, and a strong proponent of equality and support for Black people.

Buggin Out is a headstrong character bent on seeking justice, even if it means getting some “brothas on the wall.” While the energy and abrasiveness expressed in Buggin Out’s character is quite a departure from Esposito’s most recent roles, it displays the actor’s immense range and capabilities.

Simon Pegg (Hugh Campbell) plays a capable and confident (sometimes ignorant) police officer who investigates a mysterious string of murders with his partner in a West Country village. Fans of The Boys who want to see more of Pegg will be pleased to see him assume more agency as Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz than the bumbling Hugh Campbell on The Boys.

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Hot Fuzz performed well at the box office, grossing 80 million USD on a budget of 8 million GBP. What’s more, Pegg partners with longtime collaborators Edgar Wright and Nick Frost to create the second installment in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. This action-packed film is sure to make viewers laugh.

Laz Alonso (Mother’s Milk) plays Zeke – a well-to-do fraternity leader who is also captain of an elite step team in Stomp the Yard. Fans of Alonso will get to see him step away from the virtuous M.M. and explore a more egocentric, cunning character.

Stomp the Yard was a commercial success, garnering $75 million on a budget of $13 million. Though it was not a critical success, the film creates a well-rounded message about the importance of brotherhood and moving forward from past trauma. Stomp the Yard also stars Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown.

NEXT: 10 Scenes On The Boys When We Felt Sorry For Homelander

Daren Colbert is a writer and filmmaker from Missouri who's just trying to do his best. When he's not writing or making films, you can find him napping or watching a movie. Sometimes both. Okay, usually both. His work has been published or is forthcoming in Moon City Review, superfroot magazine, Puerto del Sol, and elsewhere. He's on a quest for the perfect mango, so if you have any information that could help, please let him know.

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