r/moviecritic 23h ago

Matthew Lillard

Post image

I feel Matthew is one of the best comedic actors of our generation. However, based on his acting in Scream, I think we missed out on the opportunity of watching him crush some serious/ action/ drama roles. What are your thoughts? Am I wrong? Was he meant for comedy alone?

1.4k Upvotes

195 comments sorted by

232

u/Top_Sherbet_8524 22h ago

SLC Punk is his finest work

42

u/Rough_World_7063 21h ago

I love his anarchy debates at the party.

15

u/Fun-Tumbleweed2594 16h ago

When he debates his mom n dad lol

8

u/dcbluestar 11h ago

I didn’t sell out, son. I bought in.

6

u/Fun-Tumbleweed2594 11h ago

Its wild, but he ventually did too

31

u/Cdawg4123 21h ago

The ending hurts my soul…been there in multiple different situations without the drugs and with sadly.

25

u/Relative_Thanks_8380 20h ago

Agreed, but his later, non comedic, stuff is good too. Bosch.

7

u/Equivalent-Sink4612 18h ago

He was in Bosch??! My mom watched that show and really liked it, we've both read the books (they're awesome by the way, Michael Connelly is a pretty great writer!)

Gonna have to watch that, I guess!:)

4

u/Free-Atmosphere6714 18h ago

Dude. I love this show. Had no idea he was in it.

Edit: someone else referenced the role and it clicked for me i just forgot about it!

5

u/AdvertisingBrave5457 18h ago

He’s not in it a lot, and not until a later season. With that being said it’s a great show and he was really fucking good in it.

11

u/SpenglerE 16h ago

Hack the Planet!!!

10

u/PastorInDelaware 18h ago

Only posers die!

10

u/joel2000ad 18h ago

“We can do a hell of a lot more damage in the system than outside of it. That was the final irony, I think. That, and well, this. And “fuck you” for all of you who were thinking it: I guess when all was said and done, I was nothing more than a God-damned, trendy-ass poser.” -Stevo.

9

u/The__FuZz2of2 21h ago

Seconded.

6

u/Ill-Comfortable-2044 19h ago

The scene where he finds Bob dead, he's just so damn good. 

7

u/SecBalloonDoggies 16h ago

I’m sorry, but his portrayal of Shaggy in the live action Scooby Doo movies was one of the finest bits of acting ever put to film. I’m not even being ironic here. If not for the fact that it was in such a stupid movie, that performance would have been up there with anything Olivier ever did.

5

u/Turbulent-Candle-340 20h ago

I love that movie so much

3

u/therealCatnuts 18h ago

I think his role in She’s All That defined/skewered a generation of douchebag influencers. 

1

u/Gh0st_Pirate_LeChuck 14h ago

Such a great movie and performance.

1

u/Commie_Scum69 14h ago

Everything was perfect but if you check the last scene when bob is dead. You can see his eyes move and his chest breathing lol. Still one of my fav movie tho

113

u/SolutionLegal 22h ago

One of the nicest guys in Hollywood

47

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

I have heard this so many times. I would love to run into him at least once. It would be an honor

43

u/Top_Chard5757 20h ago

I saw a post about how nice he was a few weeks ago and he got on here and thanked them for the kind words

27

u/phantom_avenger 18h ago

Yep that was my post!! 😄

I was mind blown when he hopped in like that! One of the coolest things that has ever happened to me lol.

14

u/Timotron 18h ago

Whilst doing a play that went through LA, I randomly ended up at this dude's house in Pasadena.

Can 100% confirm - this dude is genuine AF. Awesome dude. We talked about dungeons and dragons for like 2 hours over beers.

Has a ton of kids.

240

u/Waczal 22h ago

Protect this man at all cost.

91

u/RODjij 22h ago

Yeah after seeing the few videos of him trying to console scared kids at conventions in his Shaggy voice, I think he's a pretty good dude. The online version of him, anyways.

41

u/Wyl_Younghusband 22h ago

He replied to one of the post here iirc.

13

u/PM_NICE_TOES-notmen 19h ago

He did and it was only like a month or two ago on a post about actors who are genuinely kind iirc

2

u/Bush-LeagueBushcraft 12h ago

He recently(?) hosted a baking show, Killer Cakes.

I'd love for him to play a few serious roles. Maybe a gritty detective, perhaps a psycho a la Dexter.

167

u/Fieos 22h ago

I need him and Brendan Frasier in a buddy cop movie

76

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

Anything with Matthew and Brendan together would probably bring peace to the nations.

38

u/blackace352 21h ago

With Keanu Reeves and Jeff Goldblum

6

u/Cdawg4123 21h ago

Wakanda would come to the table on peace negotiations!

2

u/_Floriduh_ 12h ago

Bring back Chadwick while we’re at it :(

19

u/JJBell 21h ago

Throw Josh Hartnett into that film with those two and my wife will buy all the tickets.

7

u/jonesing247 20h ago

I still can't believe it took almost half of Oppenheimer before I finally realized that handsomely familiar actor was actually Hartnett. I'd honestly forgotten about seeing his name attached to the film somehow.

1

u/EconomyPrior5809 19h ago

"True Detective" season 5?

1

u/oFbeingCaLM 18h ago

Oh yeah!! Love em both!

62

u/The_First_Drop 22h ago

If Christopher Nolan had done a riddler storyline in any of his movies this guy would’ve been perfect

19

u/phantom_avenger 21h ago

Lillard should be cast in a Christopher Nolan film in general, as his comeback to relaunch his career!

2

u/sho_nuff80 12h ago

Excellent idea.

50

u/Randlepinkfloyd1986 22h ago

And let’s face it Sid, your moms no Sharon stone!

72

u/ryan9991 22h ago

Scream, scooby doo, without a paddle are classics of my childhood

26

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

Without a Paddle is probably in my top five favorite movies of all time

5

u/shooterLV 22h ago

Rightly so, it’s frickin hilarious!

4

u/Halya77 21h ago

I think I’m gonna have to queue up a rewatch. It’s been too long for Without a Paddle

Edited after seriously second guessing my use of WaP here

17

u/InfiniteAppearance13 22h ago

SLC Punk shouldn’t be slept on

4

u/jeepnut24 17h ago

Hackers!!!!

2

u/FRlTZ 2h ago

HACK THE PLANET !!

1

u/soy_bean 10h ago

"a little pelvis and booty"

37

u/two_fish 22h ago

Hack the planet

20

u/Roam_Hylia 21h ago

Hack the planet!

3

u/RaechelMaelstrom 8h ago

Remember, hacking isn't just a crime... it's a survival trait.

28

u/Hamilton-Beckett 22h ago

I agree. Out of the original scream cast, he was the one that really stood out on screen with his performance.

Neve Campbell pretty much went from tv to doing a bunch of scream movies, and Rose McGowan was kind of pushed on audiences through different films…I never much cared for her though.

Lillard was my favorite among that cast and would’ve definitely been interested in seeing him do other roles. I was a bit too old and never had kids, so the scooby doo stuff never really went on my radar.

23

u/Shifty661 22h ago

Matthew Lillard is a national treasure and we need to protect him.

17

u/aransoul 22h ago

Been a fan since Hackers. Anything Matthew is in is a must watch no matter what genre.

4

u/RealisticInterview24 21h ago

Hack The Planet! Twin Peaks the Return!

16

u/lisalisaandtheoccult 22h ago

Had a big crush on him. “I’m feelin’ a little woozy here!”

35

u/ego_tripped 22h ago

Cereal Killer

10

u/djcack 21h ago

HACK THE PLANET!

16

u/JustNota-- 22h ago

Whoa! This isn't woodshop class?

16

u/Zealousideal_Map_526 22h ago

When he popped up in Bosch as an fbi guy I was like oh Hell yeah ! He’s amazing in everything he does.

3

u/No_Confusion270 21h ago

I wish his roll was bigger in Bosch, he was awesome

16

u/Texas_Sam2002 21h ago

Amazing in Thirteen Ghosts!

5

u/Equivalent-Sink4612 18h ago

Yessss!!! I don't remember who else was in that movie, or even very much about it at all, but I remember him!!!

14

u/so1i1oquy 22h ago

He's incredible in Twin Peaks: The Return.

13

u/Brokenbrainturbo 22h ago

He was the best part of the five nights at Freddy movie.

3

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

I actually have not watched this yet, it is on my list

10

u/crunchwrapsupreeeeme 22h ago

He played Shaggy perfectly.

10

u/traumatransfixes 22h ago

Only posers die, Bob! sob like seriously the best

7

u/FruitPristine1605 22h ago

I’ve always been a big fan of his work.

8

u/realjohnkeys 22h ago

I think he'd be interesting in a Patrick Bateman or Norman Bates type of role, where he's really playing two different personalities.

6

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

Oh he would KILL as Patrick Bateman, no pun intended

7

u/youmightwanttosit 22h ago

Spandex, it's a privilege, not a right.

9

u/phantom_avenger 22h ago

He deserves to have a comeback role that will relaunch his career, where he gets a lot of offers!

I’ve always wondered what his take on Negan in The Walking Dead would’ve looked like, since he was almost cast for the role before it went to Jeffrey Dean Morgan!

5

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

Yeah, I probably would have actually watched the Walking Dead if it had Lillard in it!

6

u/DickGraysonForMayor 22h ago

Absolutely legendary acting in all forms. I believe he could be used well in a Christoper Nolan movie or a Fede Alvarez movie

8

u/Only-Boysenberry8215 22h ago

He is soo good in Twin Peaks: The Return. Didn't have much screen time but the interrogation scene with Tammy is amazing !!

2

u/daleinthelodge 19h ago

Was looking for someone to mention this he absolutely crushed that role

6

u/othertemple 21h ago

Absolute GOAT. He’s never turned in a bad performance. His work in Twin Peaks 3 was absolutely face melting. Why does he not get more work? And I don’t mean cast him in Sonic 4, like why doesn’t he get more roles where he can be serious and unhinged and uniquely himself?

6

u/trollcole 22h ago

Used to live in LA. We must’ve been living close to him because we saw him shopping at our grocery store (years ago.) He had a daughter with him so didn’t want to interrupt for a fan interaction, plus it must be annoying to just try to get your errands In and you have to have a positive interaction with a stranger.

Healthy shopping in the produce section! Would love to see him on the big screen again!

8

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

That is awesome that you didn’t bother them! I wish more people would give celebrities space in public.

6

u/Khurdryn 22h ago

He had a role in an episode of criminal mind that was so very different from what I'm used to seeing him in. He was FANTASTIC! I kinda feel cheated for not seeing him in more dramatic roles.

On another note: his show Faster, People Wurm! Kill! Kill! is a lot of fun. Highly recommend.

6

u/MarlonShakespeare2AD 22h ago

Great comedians are often great actor.

Hugh lawrie and Hugh grant immediately come to mind.

6

u/Cdawg4123 21h ago

Guys got range that most people don’t know about! Great actor!

5

u/Roam_Hylia 21h ago

I've loved seeing him in movies since Hackers. He always just seems to be so into whatever character he's playing.

5

u/Suspicious_Hand_2194 21h ago

He was in the descendants with George Clooney and though he had a short screen time, he still made an impact. He’s a very good actor and I want to see him get more roles in the future, he deserves it, especially with how many people have said that he’s a nice guy. Something you don’t see a lot in Hollywood now

2

u/RushBear 16h ago

YES. Not enough people comment on The Descendants. Yeah, Matthew Liliard was great in it, such an unexpectedly down to earth role for him considering EVERYTHING ELSE he's ever done.

4

u/BakedBeans1031 21h ago

May be an unpopular opinion, but I really liked him in Five Nights At Freddy’s, for as little screen time as he got.

2

u/Quetzl63 15h ago

My kids were mystified when I figured out who his character was in the first scene. He is waaaay too good of an actor to be in that unimportant of a role.

*if you didn't read the diploma on his wall in that scene, it's hilarious.

1

u/BakedBeans1031 13h ago

YEEESSSSSS

4

u/Whole-Debate-9547 21h ago

Now that photo leads me to believe that he should be cast as the Joker without a second thought.

4

u/0pp0site0fbatman 21h ago

Except that we don’t need ANYTHING else with a Joker for a long time…

4

u/Cdawg4123 21h ago

Even better, fav line from that movie/scene when he gets stabbed is improv “my moms gonna kill me! I’m feeling a little woozy!”

5

u/Sillyfunnyfacedance 20h ago

He did an excellent job in The Descendants - so unlikeable and perfectly played the asshole role. Such a nice guy in real life

3

u/fetuspiston 20h ago

Loved him in SLC Punk, Scream original, and 13 ghosts. Him and all his saliva.

5

u/Outrageous_Credit_96 19h ago

13 Ghosts was great and his character was on point.

4

u/0rganicMach1ne 17h ago

Insanely underused actor.

3

u/djonesie 22h ago

Since seeing Hackers back in the day when I was just a kid I’ve thought he’s been great in every role.

3

u/GeeFen 21h ago

first thing I seen him in was Senseless. guys got good range!

3

u/Malthus17 21h ago

Cereal killer

3

u/0pp0site0fbatman 21h ago

As in Froot Loops…

1

u/Malthus17 20h ago

His character's name in Hackers

3

u/0pp0site0fbatman 20h ago

I know. It’s a line from the movie. As he’s being intro’d to Dade.

1

u/Malthus17 20h ago

Damn, it's been too long since I've seen it

3

u/Player-Haters-Ball 21h ago

Emanuel Goldstein

1

u/Fun-Badger3724 2h ago

Cap'n crunch is a gateway drug...

3

u/0pp0site0fbatman 21h ago

Super chill IRL. Love him and the roles he’s done.

3

u/No_Inspector7319 20h ago

I hope he is creepin on here and sees how much people like him (again). Go F yourself you lovely dude

3

u/edwardsanders2808 20h ago

He's the definition of range.

3

u/Hebshesh 20h ago

S10E16 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

3

u/Limp_Cheek_4035 20h ago

Love this guy!

3

u/logg1215 19h ago

Been a fan of his since Hackers came out then saw all his movies, need to get my blue ray copy autographed one day would make even more of a crown jewel of the physical media collection! Super down to earth genuinely nice celebrity from what I can tell

3

u/Blainesview 19h ago

He actually has a reddit acct and posts time to time... without a paddle is still one of my top favs

3

u/afinechap84 19h ago

“Hack the planet!”

3

u/Odd_Seaworthiness145 18h ago

At 47, I have an unusual obsession with scooby doo. I just love the small town America settings. His performance as shaggy makes me feel just right.

3

u/D-Flo1 18h ago

He'd have made a great Riddler, and a serviceable Joker, IMHO.

3

u/IndistinctMuttering 18h ago

He was great in “Good Girls.” I hadn’t seen his work in years and was definitely impressed by how he and his acting had both matured.

3

u/jensalik 18h ago

You could have just posted the picture here without any accompanying text and this thread would still explode. Tells you all you need to know about him.

Also, he was amazing in 13 Ghosts, Hackers and Wing Commander.

3

u/Born_Resolution1404 17h ago

Love him in everything.

2

u/twistedjuice 21h ago

If you don't shed a tear at the end of SLC Punk, you don't have feelings.

2

u/i-like-entertainment 21h ago

RAW - THEN, NOW AND TOMORROW.

next question

2

u/Halya77 21h ago

National treasure…wanna fight ‘bout it?

2

u/Green-Draw8688 21h ago

He was great in Twin Peaks The Return

2

u/Legitimate_Cloud2215 21h ago

The Groomsmen. Fantastic film.

2

u/beslertron 21h ago

He was amazing in SLC Punk.

2

u/Redrum_71 21h ago

Shaggy?

2

u/A_Dog_Chasing_Cars 20h ago

Love him, always happy to see him pop up in a movie.

2

u/Calm_Entertainer6407 20h ago

But wait, there’s more!!

2

u/daydreammuse 20h ago

The fact that he did not get a long and healthy career pisses me off, because he is so dedicated to every performance!

2

u/MJUrWAY 20h ago

Try 13 Ghosts

2

u/Ecstatic-Turnip3854 20h ago

His breakdown at the end of SLC Punk is one of the finest I've ever seen. He definitely should be bigger than he is.

2

u/-jira 20h ago

he gets love from me at different times of my life

2

u/Wide-Review-2417 20h ago

Tag him. I mean, he literally uses Reddit, and replies. It don't get more wholesome than that.

1

u/Educational-Rip-972 16h ago

I would rather him see it naturally than to be tagged :) it has been awesome to see just how many people appreciate him like I do

2

u/Additional_Opposite3 19h ago

He was the the best character in Scream - movie would have sucked without him

2

u/vainsandsmiling 18h ago

SLC punk can’t do better

2

u/robocockle 18h ago

She was no Sharon Stone, Sydney...

2

u/Responsible_Big1229 17h ago

Great in Hackers

2

u/idiotsbydesign 17h ago

He's a great actor & person. Don't know of y'all saw it but he actually replied to a post about a month ago.

https://www.reddit.com/r/moviecritic/s/GG2HGc4J5P

2

u/Late_Duty_5745 17h ago

Gee, Scoob. That was just like my first year of college.

2

u/ihatetheplaceilive 17h ago

He looks a lot different than he does when a gun's pointed at him in SLC

2

u/Magnolia_Fan_0123456 14h ago

Anyone see He's all that? He's the principal in that

2

u/splatdyr 14h ago

He is an absolute legend and an amazing human being

2

u/NO_GUEYJOSE 12h ago

Mathew “fucking” Lillard!

2

u/Cheesy_Beans24 11h ago

This man is a chameleon only comparable to the likes of Gary Oldman

2

u/SpaceghostLos 10h ago

He was so good in “A Knight’s Tale”!!

I kid.

Personally I feel like he’s a wildly underrated talent. He doesnt have the list of movies his contemporaries might have but he’s every bit as good if not better. Dude is a champ.

2

u/Pristine_Bit7615 10h ago

He is awesome in anything he plays

2

u/RedWhiteAndBooo 9h ago

Criminally underused due to typecasting

He makes everything better

2

u/Visible_Cod_7488 6h ago

My parents are gonna be so mad at me!!

2

u/Kaevek 3h ago

This man has to be one of the nicest people. Great actor and he's active on reddit!

2

u/FRlTZ 2h ago

Lt. Todd 'Maniac' Marshall

Awesome character he played in the movie "Wing commander".

A movie that was made by Chris Roberts, whom also is in the process of finishing up the single player game "Squadron 42" with plectra of A-stars.

4

u/CancelSalty4864 22h ago

When the role is good fit for Jim Carrey but it’s not in the budget.

1

u/Copernicus_Brahe 21h ago

Was he a Las Vegas undercover cop in ‘Bosch’?

1

u/ms_directed 20h ago

I thought he was really good in The Bridge series

1

u/Dry_Requirement_6108 20h ago

Will always see him as Shaggy in a new role

1

u/Latterlol 18h ago

This guy would be the PERFECT Carnage in a Marvel movie, maybe not anymore, but once

1

u/kf1035 18h ago

Love him as Afton

1

u/coralgrymes 16h ago

i've loved him in everything that i've seen him in. Especially wing commander.

1

u/donkeydiggs 16h ago

Trouble with the curve character was well acted and I personally dislike the character

1

u/rushbc 16h ago

He is very talented. But he maybe got typecast

1

u/TouchMySwollenFace 15h ago

Twin Peaks Season 3. Incredible.

1

u/freedomforthefree1 13h ago

HACK THE PLANET!!!

1

u/Past-Product-1100 13h ago

Isn't that Shaggy

2

u/Educational-Rip-972 11h ago

The one and only!!

1

u/dangelo-breezer 11h ago

Just remember him always spitting when he talked

1

u/puddStar 11h ago

5 nights a Freddy’s was pretty pretty good

1

u/PDXtoMontana2002 10h ago

I’m feeling a little woooooozzzyy

1

u/tkingsbu 10h ago

Hack the planet!!!!!

1

u/OneDelay8824 10h ago

Reeeheeee

1

u/sambuchedemortadela 10h ago

Hack the planet!!!

1

u/MrDriftviel 10h ago

Is no sharon stone

1

u/be_just_this 10h ago

He deserves more! SLC punk and bob scene was gut wrenching

1

u/jasonite 9h ago

Scream is the only thing I think of with him

1

u/yeah_yeah_therabbit 9h ago

I say, let him get the band back together and make the R-rated ‘Scooby Doo’ movie!

1

u/asteinberg101 1h ago

I just wanted to go scuba diving!

1

u/krsCarrots 1h ago

Is only capable of playing a tall goof

1

u/Educational-Rip-972 32m ago

I strongly disagree

0

u/[deleted] 22h ago

[deleted]

3

u/Educational-Rip-972 22h ago

He is a fun actor who did a nice job with campy roles; however, he is not appropriately famous IMO. He is the 🐐

-2

u/doyouhaveprooftho 21h ago

Terrible over actor, but seems like a swell dude.

0

u/jensalik 18h ago

You've only seen Scooby Doo films with him, right?