Bryan Cranstonwill forever be remembered for his career-defining role asWalter White onBreaking Bad, although he’s continued to give fantastic performances across film and television in the years since. While Cranston was already a well-known sitcom actor beforeBreaking Bad, such as his acclaimedguest role onSeinfeldand a leading part inMalcolm in the Middle, it was his time as Heisenberg that solidified his now legendary status. As one of the most compelling actors working today, it’s no surprise Cranston has continued to excel in his post-Breaking Badcareer.
Walter White was among the most complexcharacters in theBreaking Baduniverse, and Cranston has brought the same level of depth and intensity to many of his subsequent performances. Whether it was franchise starters in big-budget monster movies or even returning to play his most famous role inBreaking Badspin-offs,Cranston has kept viewers engaged with an astounding career. With equal talents for comedy and drama, Cranston’s subsequent performances have been vast and varied.
Godzilla
Cast
Godzilla is a 2014 American reboot of the popular kaiju property and the first film in Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise. The film centers around Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who travels to Japan after his father Joe (Bryan Cranston) is detained for trying to uncover the truth about his wife’s death 15 years prior. Together they fight to survive as Joe’s conspiracy theory becomes true and giant monsters begin attacking the world.
Godzillawas Bryan Cranston’s first film role following the conclusion ofBreaking Badand acted as his highly anticipated foray into major movies. While Cranston had been in plenty of films before, the blockbuster nature ofGodzillasignaled he could shift into an entirely new era in his career. As nuclear engineer Joe Brody,Cranston brought depth and humanity to this giant monster storyand said (viaRTÉ) that filming started immediately after filming ended onBreaking Bad, so he had to wear a wig.
WhileGodzillawas an exciting start to Cranston’s post-Breaking Badcareer, Brody was also killed off in the early part of the film, meaning he did not appear in the rest of the Monsterverse movies, such asGodzilla vs. Kong. As a strong start to a brand new franchise,Godzillaperfectly blended human drama with monster carnage and was leagues ahead of the 1998 AmericanGodzillaremake with Matthew Broderick. The biggest complaint about Cranston andGodzillawas that he just wasn’t in it enough.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
Bryan Cranston is no stranger to a good sitcom, as proven by his pre-Breaking Badroles inSeinfeldandMalcolm in the Middle. Considering this, it was only appropriate he made an appearance on the chaotic sitcom dubbed “Seinfeld on crack,”It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Not only did Cranston show up on the show’s 16th season, but he also played himself alongside hisBreaking Badco-star Aaron Paul as the duo came to Philadelphia to promote their own alcohol brand, influenced by their real business venture Dos Hombres Mezcal.
However, the gang seemed oblivious to Cranston’s role inBreaking Badand instead were more impressed by his time as Hal onMalcolm in the Middle,as they referred to him as ‘Mr. Middle.’ Charlie, Mac, Dennis, and Dee also mistook Aaron Paul for Frankie Muniz and repeatedly called him ‘Malcolm’ throughout the episode. As a highly meta episode thatleaned heavily into Cranston and Paul’s real-life business, this hilarious appearance was a clever satire on the popularity of celebrity alcohol brands that proved Cranston didn’t mind poking fun at himself.
Isle of Dogs
Island of Dogs is a stop-motion animation film set in a dystopian future in Japan in which dogs have been quarantined on a remote island due to a new virus called “canine flu.” The film follows five local dogs—Chief, Rex, Boss, Duke, and King. They are fed up with their isolated existence until a boy named Atari Kobayashi ventures to the island to search for his dog, Spots. Atari receives their help, and they will protect him from the Japanese authorities who have come to retrieve him.
With a career packed with fascinating collaborations from work with Steven Spielberg onSaving Private Ryanand Vince Gilligan onBreaking Bad, one of Bryan Cranston’s most exciting artistic relationships was with the auteur filmmaking Wes Anderson. Cranston teamed with Wes for the incredible stop-motion animation movieIsle of Dogs, an idiosyncratic story about Trash Island, a place where all dogs had been banished following an outbreak of canine influenza. While Cranston and Anderson don’t immediately spring to mind as an obvious pairing, once they got together, it was clearly a match made in heaven.
Cranston played the stray dog Chief inIsle of Dogs, who helped the others on the island search for the missing dog Spots. In typical Anderson fashion,Isle of Dogswas a highly stylized release that focused on the beauty of intricate details and boasted plenty of thoughtful, philosophical wonder. Cranston and Anderson clearly knew they hit on something good together as Cranston reunited with him to play The Host in 2023’sAsteroid City.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is a Comedy television show created by Larry David, the same creative mind behind the wildly popular sitcom, Seinfeld. Starring Larry David himself, along with Cheryl Hines, and Jeff Garlin, the show acts as a semi-fictionalized look at Larry’s every day life and the people he would come in contact with.
One of Bryan Cranston’s most famous early roles was as Dr. Tim Whatley on five episodes ofSeinfeldduring the 1990s. Considering this, it made sense for Cranston to once again reunite withSeinfeldco-creator Larry David’sCurb Your Enthusiasm, a hilarious deconstruction of everyday frustrations that featured David playing an unapologetically blunt fictionalized version of himself. With a history of celebrity guest stars playing an assortment of characters who come face-to-face with Larry’s abrasive nature,Cranston had the memorable role of Larry’s therapist, Dr. Lionel Templeton, during the ninth season.
David and Cranston made an incredible comedic pairing in this memorable episode, as Larry couldn’t get over the power imbalance that he felt was taking place in their therapy sessions. Larry hilariously latched on to the fact that Dr. Templeton’s chair was so much better than his, as rather than deal with his litany of psychological issues, he’d rather confront his doctor “taking the good chair.” This hilarious everyday observation perfectly encapsulatedCurb Your Enthusiasm’stalent for shining a comedic and oddly relatable light on the absurdities of social interactions.
Trumbo
Trumbo is a biographical drama directed by Jay Roach that stars Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo, a successful screenwriter who faces blacklisting in Hollywood during the Red Scare. The film examines Trumbo’s fight against the anti-communist sentiment of the time and his efforts to continue working under pseudonyms. Helen Mirren, Diane Lane, and John Goodman co-star in this exploration of artistic perseverance and political paranoia.
Stepping out of the shadow of his role as Walter White onBreaking Badwould never be easy. Yet Bryan Cranston achieved this by not allowing himself to be typecast and portraying characters who couldn’t be further away from the high school chemistry teacher turned meth cook he was known as. One major example of this was Cranston’s Academy Award-nominated role as Dalton Trumbo in the fascinating Hollywood biopicTrumbo.
Trumbo was one of the most prominent screenwriters of the 1930s and 1940s, although his career fell into trouble when he was blacklisted due to accusations of being a communist amid McCarthyism in the 1950s. Cranston powerfully portrayed the way that Trumbo cleverly got around blacklisting by writing under false names and his difficulties after being subpoenaed to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. As a poignant tale of political instability within Hollywood,Cranston lost himself in the role of Trumbo and demonstrated his range to audiences who had only known him as Walter White.
Last Flag Flying
Last Flag Flying is a 2017 film directed by Richard Linklater. The movie stars Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne as Vietnam War veterans who reunite to bury one of their sons, killed in the Iraq War. It explores themes of friendship, loss, and the impact of war on veterans and their families. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Darryl Ponicsan.
With three Academy Award nominees at the helm,Last Flag Flyingsignaled Bryan Cranston’s status as he starred alongside Steve Carell and Laurence Fishburne. Thistouching tale about three Vietnam War veterans reunitingafter one of their sons was killed in the Iraq War had a poignant resonance with a lot to say about the complex nature of veterans' perceptions of warfare. With heart, humor, and plenty of emotional depth,Last Flag Flyingsaw Cranston in top form as a rebellious and somewhat jaded veteran who was there for his friend in his time of need.
Based on a novel by Darryl Ponicsan, which was written as a sequel toThe Last Detail, which was famously adapted in 1973 with Jack Nicholson, this unofficial sequel carved out its own identity as it addressed themes of friendship, grief, and honor. While there was mixed messaging regarding whatLast Flag Flyingwanted to say about conflict and those who serve in war, it still packed a heavy emotional punch. Most of all,Last Flag Flyingsucceeded due to its performances, and it was a pleasure to see Cranston acting alongside greats like Carell and Fishburne.
Sneaky Pete
Sneaky Pete was created by Bryan Cranston and David Shore and stars Giovanni Ribisi, Shane McRae, Marin Ireland, and Libe Barer. The Drama and Crime series ran for three seasons between 2015 and 2019 and revolved around a convicted con man that now finds himself being hunted by a gangster now that’s he out of prison.
It’s not just in front of the camera where Bryan Cranston has excelled in his post-Breaking Badcareer, as he’s also carved out his own opportunities as a writer, director, actor, and co-creator of the black comedy crime seriesSneaky Pete. This highly underrated Amazon Prime series was developed by Cranston alongsideHousecreator David Shore. As the story of a former convict adopting the life of his cellmate,Sneaky Petewas a clever tale of false identity and deceit starring Giovanni Ribisi.
WhileSneaky Peteran for three seasons,Cranston only acted in the first as Vince Lonigan, a former cop turned criminal who ran a gambling den in New York. While Vince was a much different character than Walter White, he also conjured the same sinister energy that madeBreaking Badsuch an enduring success.Sneaky Petewas a series full of twists and turns characterized by strong writing, great performances, and an engaging premise that deserves to reach a larger audience.
3All The Way (2016)
Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson
Following the conclusion ofBreaking Bad, Bryan Cranston embraced his theatrical side to portray President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Broadway playAll the Wayin 2014. This transformative performancewon Cranston a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, and he was cast to return as LBJ in the HBO television film adaptation. With a phenomenal performance, Cranston embodied the former president’s complicated life during a pivotal time in American history.
All the Wayexplored Johnson’s ascent to the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and how his trailblazing Great Society plans to eliminate poverty and racial injustice were impeded by the Vietnam War. Cranston looked almost unrecognizable as he took on the characteristics and behaviors of the complex political figure as he spent his first year in office trying to pass the Civil Rights Act. As an intense depiction of how strong political ideals often aren’t enough to impact the level of change required,All the Wayhas remained a relevant document of American political culture.
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
The conclusion ofBreaking Badwas among the greatest finales in television history, although audiences were still clamoring for more from Walter White. Despite the original series fully wrapping up his character’s story, Walter did return in a flashback inEl Camino, theBreaking Badmovie that acted as a coda to Jesse Pinkman’s story. Yet, audiences still held out hope for more, as throughoutBetter Call Saul’ssix seasons, one of the most pressing questions was whether audiences would get to see the return of Heisenberg one last time.
This at last came true in theBetter Call Saulfinal season episode appropriately titled “Breaking Bad,” where audiences saw Saul’s kidnapping from the previous show from his own perspective. Cranston again reprised his role in the finale ofBetter Call Saulas audiences got a glimpse of Walter and Saul while they waited to be given new identities, and Saul asked him what he would do if he could travel back in time. This final appearance from Walter White bid goodbye to his character and wasthe perfect epilogue to Cranston’s career-defining performance.
Your Honor
Your Honor is a legal drama series starring Bryan Cranston as a respected judge whose son becomes involved in a hit-and-run accident. The incident sets off a dangerous chain of events that forces the judge to confront his own principles and navigate the moral complexities of the law. The series explores themes of justice, loyalty, and ethics, offering a compelling narrative of a father’s desperate attempts to protect his son.
Bryan Cranston proved he was still a major figure in the world of prestige television with his leading role in the legal dramaYour Honor. As theNew Orleans judge Michael Desiato, Cranston, much in the same way he did inBreaking Bad, perfectly captured the challenges of a man who wants to do right by his family but, in the process, must break his moral and ethical rulebook. While Walter White made the conscious decision to embrace a life of crime, Judge Desiato inYour Honorwas forced into it as he sought to cover up his son’s accidental hit and run.
This enthralling premise was based on the Israeli TV seriesKvodo,asYour Honoradapted this story for an American audience. With an accident that caused lies to be built upon lies,Your Honorsaw Cranston’s character and his son, portrayed by Hunter Doohan, fall in over their heads with the head of an organized crime family in New Orleans.Your Honorbrought up pressing questions of what compels good people to do bad things and a firm showcase ofBryan Cranston’scontinued talents following the conclusion ofBreaking Bad.
