“Say my name.”
— Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Born in 1956 in Hollywood, California, Bryan Cranston built his career brick by brick — from guest TV roles and voice acting to becoming Walter White in Breaking Bad. Along the way, he’s stolen scenes in comedies, lent his voice to animated hits, and anchored Oscar-winning dramas. Explore his film journey below and share your top three favorites in the comments! ⬇️
🌱 1987–1999: Early Roles & TV-to-Film Crossovers
1. Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)
Sketch-comedy anthology where Cranston pops up in zany parodies of late-night TV.
2. Clean Slate (1994)
Amnesia-fueled crime comedy — Cranston takes on a quirky supporting part.
3. Erotique (1994)
International romance anthology — he features in a vignette exploring taboo love.
4. Street Corner Justice (1996)
Gritty vigilante flick — Cranston stands out as a cop navigating moral gray zones.
5. That Thing You Do! (1996)
60s band comedy — he briefly charms as astronaut Gus Grissom during a cameo.
6. Strategic Command (1997)
Action thriller — Cranston portrays a tough officer in a mid-air hostage scenario.
7. Time Under Fire (1997)
Sci-fi submarine mission — he’s part of the crew battling time-bending chaos.
8. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Spielberg’s WWII epic — Cranston plays a War Department colonel delivering heartbreaking news.
9. Last Chance (1999)
Indie drama — Cranston headlines as a small-town man confronting big regrets.
🚀 2000–2007: Character Actor Breakthroughs
10. The Santa Claus Brothers (2002)
Animated holiday special — Cranston voices one of Santa’s bumbling heirs.
11. Holiday Reunion (2003)
Family road-trip comedy — he plays the uptight relative in a dysfunctional gathering.
12. Seeing Other People (2004)
Romantic dramedy — Cranston appears as a memorable supporting character.
13. Illusion (2004)
Fantasy drama — Cranston co-stars in a story of love and redemption.
14. Hard Four (2007)
Vegas-set dark comedy — he turns up as part of a chaotic gambling tale.
15. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Indie comedy classic — Cranston shows up as the dismissive pageant director.
🌟 2010–2014: Breaking Bad Fame & Big-Screen Turns
16. Love Ranch (2010)
True-crime drama — Cranston plays a lawman circling Nevada’s first legal brothel.
17. Batman: Year One (2011)
Animated adaptation — he voices Commissioner Gordon in Gotham’s gritty reboot.
18. Contagion (2011)
Pandemic thriller — Cranston is a military officer coordinating crisis response.
19. Drive (2011)
Neo-noir masterpiece — Cranston is the garage owner with dangerous ties.
20. Detachment (2011)
School-set drama — he portrays a weary teacher struggling with the system’s failings.
21. Leave (2011)
Psychological thriller — Cranston has a small but pivotal supporting role.
22. Larry Crowne (2011)
Rom-com — he plays Julia Roberts’ smug, unemployed husband.
23. The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
Courtroom drama — Cranston appears as a sharp detective circling McConaughey’s lawyer.
24. Argo (2012)
Oscar-winning political thriller — Cranston is the tense CIA supervisor running the rescue op.
25. John Carter (2012)
Sci-fi adventure — Cranston plays a Civil War colonel caught up in interplanetary conflict.
26. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)
Animated sequel — he voices Vitaly, the gruff Siberian tiger with a soft side.
27. Red Tails (2012)
Tuskegee Airmen story — Cranston portrays a skeptical military officer.
28. Rock of Ages (2012)
’80s glam-rock musical — Cranston is a morally flexible mayor’s aide.
29. Total Recall (2012)
Sci-fi remake — he’s the authoritarian Chancellor Cohaagen.
30. Cold Comes the Night (2013)
Crime thriller — Cranston plays a nearly blind criminal hiding out in a seedy motel.
31. Godzilla (2014)
Monster reboot — Cranston’s scientist is central to the film’s emotional core.
🚀 2015–2020: Prestige Roles & Bold Performances
32. Trumbo (2015)
Oscar-nominated turn — Cranston plays blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
33. Get a Job (2016)
Comedy about millennial struggles — he’s the father juggling expectations.
34. Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Animated hit — Cranston voices Li Shan, Po’s long-lost father.
35. The Infiltrator (2016)
Undercover thriller — he infiltrates drug cartels as a high-stakes customs agent.
36. Why Him? (2016)
Raunchy comedy — Cranston’s uptight dad clashes with James Franco’s wild tech bro.
37. In Dubious Battle (2016)
Labor-movement drama — Cranston plays a stern law enforcer during a strike.
38. Last Flag Flying (2017)
Veteran road movie — he co-stars as a grieving ex-Marine reconnecting with old friends.
39. The Disaster Artist (2017)
Cult-classic making-of — Cranston appears as himself during Malcolm in the Middle.
40. Wakefield (2017)
Psychological drama — Cranston retreats into his attic to spy on his own family.
41. Power Rangers (2017)
Rebooted superhero flick — Cranston voices and plays mentor Zordon.
42. Isle of Dogs (2018)
Wes Anderson animation — he voices Chief, a stray dog with a gruff heart.
43. The Upside (2019)
Remake of The Intouchables — he’s the wealthy quadriplegic forming an unlikely bond.
44. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Epilogue to Breaking Bad — Cranston reprises Walter White in a poignant flashback.
45. The One and Only Ivan (2020)
Disney+ family film — he plays the circus owner caring for a gentle gorilla.
🌟 2021–2025: New Frontiers & Recent Highlights
46. Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022)
True-life lottery comedy — Cranston plays the math whiz who cracks the system.
47. Asteroid City (2023)
Wes Anderson ensemble — Cranston narrates the quirky mid-century sci-fi play.
48. Argylle (2024)
Spy action romp — he’s a shadowy figure pulling strings in a globe-trotting caper.
49. Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Animated adventure — Cranston returns as Po’s dad in another martial-arts quest.
50. The Phoenician Scheme (2025)
Upcoming thriller — Cranston is set to star in this international conspiracy epic.