Stranger Thingsis constantly breaking viewership records for Netflix. Set in the 1980s, the series follows the residents of the fictional small-town town of Hawkins, Indiana – mostly a group of lovable kids, led by a powerful girl with telekinetic abilities. Things turn upside down, however (literally), when Hawkins is invaded by the mysterious Upside Down, a hostile alternate dimension that exists beside Earth. The show’s highly anticipatedfifth and final season is slated for a 2025 release.
WhenStranger Thingsdebuted in 2016, the biggest name in its cast was ’90s icon Winona Ryder.But over the years, the showhas turned many of its castmembers into stars, like Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, and Joe Keery. But one of the show’s biggest breakout stars is David Harbour, who plays chief of Hawkins Police Department, Jim Hopper. And the success and recognition he’s gotten is deserved.
Stranger Things
Harbour has been acting in movies since 2004 and has appeared in some notable films over the years. Here are 10 movies that you forgot, or maybe didn’t even realize, David Harbour was in beforeStranger Things.
10’Every Day' (2010)
Every Dayis a comedy that follows a disillusioned scriptwriter who’s caught between an exciting new romance and the family he already has. The film is led by two big names – Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt – but it also features a couple of famous actors who were unknown at the time. We’re talking aboutEzra Miller, whose rising career has come to a screeching halt after a series of scandals and legal troubles, and David Harbour.
Harbour had a small role playing a character named Brian, who works with Schreiber’s character in the movie. An official selection for 2010’s Tribeca Film Festival,Every Daywas mostly panned by critics.
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9’Awake' (2007)
Awakeis a conspiracy thriller that centers on a young man undergoing heart transplant surgery, who discovers that his surgical team might be planning to murder him. The film stars several big names, such as Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, and Terrence Howard.
A then-unknown David Harbour makes an appearance playing Dracula. Well, he’s notreallyDracula. He’s merely dressed up as the character at a costume party. Even still, Harbour’s appearance as Dracula makes this a timely entry,given the forthcoming release of the vampire film,Nosferatu.
8’State of Play' (2009)
State of Play
State of Playis a political thriller based on the 2003 British TV serial of the same name. Here, a journalist investigates the suspicious death of a congressional aide, whose murder may have involved his old college friend.State of Playfeatures an all-star ensemble that includes Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright, and Jeff Daniels.
David Harbour also appears in a minor role – so minor, in fact, that his character wasn’t even given a name. He’s credited only as PointCorp Insider, an inside source who aids Russell Crowe’s character in his investigation.
7’Snitch' (2013)
Based on the experiences of a real-life DEA informant,Snitchfollows a father who goes undercover for the DEA to aid his estranged son, who’s been framed in a drug deal. It’s your typical action thriller starring Dwayne Johnson.Snitchalso stars other big names, like Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal, Benjamin Bratt, and Michael Kenneth Williams.
Davids Harbour appears in a minor role as a character named Jay Price. AlthoughSnitchdidn’t perform well at the box office,it did become an unexpected streaming hit last year on Netflix, cracking the streaming giant’s Top 10.
6’Parkland' (2013)
Weaving together different narratives,Parklandfollows the chaotic aftermath of President John Kennedy’s assassination as he’s brought to Parkland Hospital for resuscitation. It stars Zac Efron as the doctor who worked on President Kennedy, Paul Giamatti as the civilian who recorded the legendary Zapruder footage, and Jeremy Strong as JFK’s infamous assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.
David Harbour plays James Gordon Shanklin, the real-life FBI agent and lawyer who helped investigate JFK’s assassination.Parklandisn’t a presidential biopicand features some inaccuracies, but it does provide an interesting account of the historic events of that day.
5’The Green Hornet' (2011)
The Green Hornet
We’ve gotten a lot of great and memorable superhero films over the years. 2011’sThe Green Hornet,however, is not one of them. Based on the iconic 1930s superhero of the same name, this live-action adaptation tells the origin story of the Green Hornet, a masked vigilante who takes on crime and Russian gangsters with his sidekick. Comic actor Seth Rogen plays the Green Hornet, which is the first problem with this movie. It also features big names like Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, and, of course, our man, David Harbour.
Harbour plays Frank Scanlon, a crooked district attorney who bribes city officials and works with the Russian mob. While the film wasn’t a bomb, it wasn’t a critical or commercial success either, which scrapped any plans for a sequel.A reboot is reportedly in the works, though there hasn’t been an update on this project in a couple of years.
4’Black Mass' (2015)
Black Mass
Black Massfollows the life and crimes of infamous Boston gangster Whitey Bulger, who’s played by Johnny Depp. It also features other big names, such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Jesse Plemons, Peter Sarsgaard, and Dakota Johnson. In this film, David Harbour plays the corrupt FBI agent John Morris, who was an ally for Bulger in real-life. Toward the end of the film, a paranoid Morris exposes the FBI’s links to organized crime viaThe Boston Globe, which helps bring down Bulger’s criminal operations.
There was a lot of hype aroundBlack Mass, especially when it came to Depp’s performance. But in the years since its release, it’s become largely another forgotten entry in the oversaturated gangster genre.
Revolutionary Road
You know those powerful but depressing movies that you can only watch every once in a while?Revolutionary Roadis such a film. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Mendes, this romantic drama reunitesTitanicco-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. But unlike their characters inTitanic,Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet respectively) are a picture-perfect suburban couple who are trapped in a boring, unfulfilling marriage littered with explosive arguments, lost dreams, and extramarital affairs.
Revolutionary Roadgave David Harbour one of his biggest roles beforeStranger Things.He plays the Wheelers' neighbor and friend, Shep Campbell. At one point, April confides her dissatisfaction with life to Shep, and the two end up having an affair of their own. This prompts Shep to profess his love for April, showing that the Wheelers aren’t the only suburban couple with dark secrets and a complex marriage.
2’Quantum of Solace' (2008)
Quantum of Solace
After the cliff-hanging finale ofCasino Royale,fans were eager to see Daniel Craig return as James Bond. He finally did in 2008’sQuantum of Solace,which saw Bond embark on a vengeful spree to pursue the mysterious criminal organization that murdered the woman he loved.
Here, David Harbour plays Gregg Beam, the chief of the CIA’s South American section and a contact of Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright).Quantum of Solacekilled it at the box office, raking in $586 million worldwide. But despite its commercial performance, the film received mixed reviews. It’s become one of the more forgettable films in 007’s catalog, which could be why you don’t remember seeing Harbour in this movie.
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1’Brokeback Mountain' (2005)
Brokeback Mountain
Set in the American West from 1963 to 1983,Brokeback Mountaincaptures the complex romance between two cowboys, played famously by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
This was only David Harbour’s third film and his biggest mainstream release at that point. He plays Randall Malone, a homosexual character who has an affair with Gyllenhaal’s cowboy.Brokeback Mountainwas the subject of controversy back in 2008for its homosexual focus. Fortunately, despite this, this ground-breaking gilm went on to garner critical acclaim and commercial success.Brokeback Mountaincontinues to be regarded as a great film, nearly 20 years after its release.
