Michael C. Hallfirst rose to prominence when he starred in the HBO hit seriesSix Feet Under,before becoming a sensation in Showtime’sDexter.The decorated actor has dazzled audiences with his complex and engrossing performances and is a commanding presence on-screen with every role he takes on. Fromvigilante serial killersto a funeral homeowner, a black market dealer, and a savvy detective, Hall is not afraid to dive into his characters and truly make them his own.
He has been the recipient of a slew of accolades including a Golden Globe, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Saturn Award, and continues to be a brilliant and exciting performer to watch. His next project will be voicing lawyer and Abraham Lincoln advisor Leonard Swett in the upcoming filmThe Gettysburg Address, and he most recently reprised his role as Dexter Morgan in the 2021 miniseriesDexter: New Blood.These are some of Michael C. Hall’s best performances so far.
10John and the Hole
In the 2021 coming-of-age psychological thrillerJohn and the Hole, the titular 13-year-old drugs his family and holds them captive in an unfinished bunker in the woods, leaving them down in the hole while he takes advantage of their absence and attempts to fill the empty void within him. Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle star as the troubled teenager’s parents Brad and Anna, whileAmerican Horror Storyalum Taissa Farmiga portrays his older sister Laurie, with the trio facing unfathomable fear and starvation while being held hostage. As the taut thriller unfolds, audiences are given more insight into why John did such a shocking act, though the ending is ultimately up to moviegoers to interpret and decide.
Michael C. Hall portrays a widowed pediatric surgeon whose life is turned upside down when his 16-year-old daughter goes missing in the 2018 British miniseriesSafe, which chronicles the devoted father’s frantic efforts to locate his child and in the process he discovers dark truths and sordid secrets about those he loves and trusts. The desperate Tom Delaney turns to his detective girlfriend for help as he attempts to remain stoic for his younger daughter while hestruggles with his own profound grief, and he begins to question the motives and innocence of his seemingly friendly neighbors in his gated community. The drama garnered positive reviews from critics, with Hall earning praise for capturing the parent’s immense anguish and determination to find his daughter.
8In the Shadow of the Moon
Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, and Michael C. Hall headlined the 2019 sci-fi thrillerIn the Shadow of the Moon, which begins in 1988 Philadelphia as the city is targeted by a mysterious serial killer who only emerges every nine years, attracting the attention and obsession of an ambitious police officer determined to bring the criminal to justice. As Thomas Lockhart (Holbrook) tracks the baffling crimes that seemingly defy scientific logic, he becomes increasingly frenetic in his hunt for the murderer, much to the detriment of both his personal and professional life.
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Hall appears as Lockhart’s brother-in-law and skilled detective Holt, who grows concerned for his sanity and takes over caring for the man’s daughter after his sister’s passing and Lockhart’s erratic behavior. The tense picture features commanding performances by its dynamic cast and is full of twists and turns that will leave viewers questioning just who the true killer is.
7The Report
Touting a star-studded ensemble castincluding Adam Driver, Annette Bening, and Tim Blake Nelson, the 2019 historical political dramaThe Reportrecounts the aftermath of the September 11th attacks and the methods of torture used by the CIA on suspected terrorists, with Driver portraying Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones who was tasked with conducting the investigation in 2009. The film covers the massive public political intrigue regarding the process and its findings, which culminated in Jones' 6,700-page report on the “War on Terror,” causing an uproar across the country upon its release.
Hall stars as lawyer Thomas Eastman, who is hired by the CIA to defend redacting information provided in the shocking report. The gripping drama had its worldwide premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was lauded for its brilliant performances and eye-opening approach to revealing the facts regarding the infamous report and its massive impact and fallout.
6Game Night
No one can deny that Michael C. Hall makes a phenomenal anti-hero, and the gifted actor was able to fully embrace his villainous side when he appeared in the 2018 action comedyGame Night, which follows a close-knit group of pals whose adult weekly game night goes awry after one of the participants is kidnapped. Hall portrays the dark comedy’s main villain, simply known as the enigmatic criminal known as “the Bulgarian,” who is seeking revenge against the person responsible for losing a priceless Fabergé egg he wishes to procure.
Avid gamers Max and Annie (Jason Batemanand Rachel McAdams) find themselves in the Bulgarian’s cross-hairs, and they and their friends ultimately come face-to-face with the dangerous black market dealer in a tense showdown.Game Nightwas a huge critical and commercial hit, with appreciation going towards its refreshing screenplay, humor, and overall originality.
5Cold in July
Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and Don Johnson star in the edgy 2014 independent crime thrillerCold in July, in which theDexteralum portrays devoted father and husband Richard Dane, who kills a home intruder after they attempt to break into his Texas home. The man finds himself targeted by the dead wanted felon’s hostile father (Shepard), who wants to avenge the death of his son. Johnson rounds out the cast and appears as a private investigator in charge of overseeing the incident, as Richard and his family become terrorized by the angry and vengeful stranger.
Cold in Julyis jam-packed with pulse-pounding thrills, a taut atmosphere, and dynamic performances, with theToronto Star writingin their review, “A well-paced story that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats as it bucks and rolls in unexpected directions to a bloody and satisfying climax.”
4Christine
In the 2016 biographical psychological dramaChristine, Rebecca Hall stars as television news reporter Christine Chubbuck, who became the first person to die by suicide during a live TV broadcast in 1974. The engrossing film chronicles the media personality’s life and achievements and depicts the events that led to her tragic death, showcasing Chubbuck’s struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts that resulted in the young woman taking her life on camera on August 17, 2025.
Hall appears as Chubbuck’s co-worker and crush George Peter Ryan, who was present the day of the reporter’s heartbreaking suicide and is left devastated by her traumatic death.Christinepremiered at the Sundance Film Festival where Hall’s performance as Chubbuck earned rave reviews, and it serves as a poignant character study of the gifted journalist.
3Kill Your Darlings
Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan portray two Columbia University students who share a mutual love of poetry and innovative literary ideas in the 2013 biographical dramaKill Your Darlings, with the story taking place in 1944 New York City and chronicling the college experiences of the Beat Generation, a group of authors who examined American politics and culture in a post-war era.
The members originally consisted of Allen Ginsberg (Radcliffe), Lucian Carr (DeHaan), William S. Boroughs, and Jack Kerouac, and the picture delves into Carr killing his friend David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall) in Riverside Park, who was a former professor that ended up working at the university as a janitor and helped the aspiring writer with his work. While the dramatook some historical liberties, it nonetheless was lauded for its breathtaking visuals and enlightening look at the trailblazing authors who emerged during the 1940s.Kill Your Darlingswas nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
2Six Feet Under
Michael C. Hall first gained prominence as a celebrated actor when he portrayed David Fisher in the 2001 HBO dramedy seriesSix Feet Under, centering on the dysfunctional Fisher family as they run a successful funeral home in Los Angeles while dealing with personal and professional hurdles during their everyday lives. After David and his brother Nate (Brian Krause) become partners at the funeral home following the death of their father, the siblings must navigate their new roles and responsibilities while constantly facing mortality and struggling with their own profound grief.
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Widely regarded as one of thegreatest television shows of all time,Six Feet Underwas a sensational ratings hit for HBO and constantly delivered high viewership, with the show utilizing surrealism and edgy humor throughout its five season run. The program won numerous accolades during its celebrated tenure including three Golden Globes, nine Primetime Emmys, and a Peabody Award, with Hall also winning two Screen Actors Guild Awards alongside the ensemble cast.
Hands down Michael C. Hall’s most acclaimed and unforgettable role was as vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan in the 2006 critically-acclaimed Showtime crime drama seriesDexter, focusing on the forensic technician as he works in the Miami Metro Police Department as a bloodstain pattern analysis who helps solve crimes by dayand murders criminalswho have cheated the justice system by night. With an additional cast including Jennifer Carpenter, James Remar, David Zayas, and Julie Benz, the fan-favorite drama dominated television during its reign and set numerous viewership records throughout its eight-season run.
Hall’s portrayal of the complex and deeply fascinating eponymous character earned widespread praise, as he would win a Golden Globe and Satellite Award for his engrossing performance. Its 2013 series finale attracted 2.8 million viewers, the largest in the network’s history, and due to massive fan demand a limited series revival debuted in 2021 entitledDexter: New Blood. The show and character remain synonymous with Hall, and it showcases his impeccable talent and overall allure as a decorated actor.
