Since his film debut in 2010, Thomas Mann has starred in several critical and commercially successful movies. Born in Portland, Oregon, he spent most of his growing years in Dallas, Texas. Despite being over 1,200 air miles from Hollywood, Mann had always longed to have a career as an actor.
At 17, Mann ultimately moved to California to pursue an acting career. Over a decade later, Thomas Mann has enjoyed relative success as a leading man and character actor. He’s arguably one of the most successful actors of his generation. With a growing list of independent and studio movies, here are the top 6 Thomas Mann movies.
6. Kong: Skull Island (2017)
It makes the list of Thomas Mann movies because of its popularity and commercial success. Mann was cast as a Sky Devils warrant officer Reg Slivko in Kong: Skull Island in a fairly minor supporting role. The movie had a star cast comprising Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and Brie Larson. Despite being among a star-studded cast, Thomas Mann’s character stood out for always walking around with a portable record player. It was the first time Thomas Mann was playing a soldier character in movies. Kong: Skull Island grossed $568.6 million on a $185 million budget.
5. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
With Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) principal photography beginning on March 13, 2011, 19-year-old Thomas Mann was cast as Benjamin “Ben” Walser. Although the movie was released in 2023, Mann’s character was a local teenage fan of Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton). Ben later joins the witch-slaying siblings in their fight against the evil grand witch, Muriel (Famke Janssen). Although not a critic favorite, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was a Box Office success. Produced on a $50 million budget, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters grossed $226.3 million at the Box Office after its theatrical run.
4. Project X (2012)
The 2012 found footage teen comedy Project X helped launch Thomas Mann’s career. Playing the friend and boyfriend character, Aaron Fitzcarraldo in the star-studded 2010 comedy-drama It’s Kind of a Funny Story was a great way to make a film debut. However, the buzz around Project X made Mann popular, especially among teen comedy genre audiences. Interestingly, Thomas Mann only landed the lead role because of sheer determination and persistence.
Project X producers wanted to cast relatively unknown actors with no acting experience. Mann was turned down from auditioning since he had already starred in It’s Kind of a Funny Story. Mann reportedly auditioned seven times before producers decided to cast him as Thomas Kub. While it received mixed reviews from critics, Project X was a commercial success. It grossed $102.7 million on a $12 million budget.
3. About Fate (2022)
Thomas Mann plays the romantic in the 2022 romantic comedy About Fate. Mann, who starred alongside Emma Roberts, plays the male lead character, Griffin Reed. About Fate is a remake of the 1976 Soviet TV movie The Irony of Fate. In About Fate, the two lead characters meet after Mann’s drunken Griffin character mistakes his home address for Emma Roberts’ character. Despite attempting to return to their respective partners, they soon discover they’re fated to be together.
2. Parachute (2023)
Growing older, Thomas Mann has taken several iconic lead roles in rom-coms and drama. In Parachute (2023), Mann is cast as Ethan, a character that becomes Riley’s (Courtney Eaton) love interest. Parachute premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 11, 2023. It received a limited theatrical release a year later, on April 5, 2024. It is one of Thomas Mann’s finest performances, with Parachute generally praised by critics.
1. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Jesse Andrews‘ 2015 live adaptation of his 2012 novel Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is one of Thomas Mann’s greatest performances as an actor. Co-starring alongside RJ Cyler and Olivia Cooke, the trio portrays the title characters Greg Gaines, Earl Jackson, and Rachel Kushner, respectively. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is so emotionally breathtaking it leaves audiences and critics in awe of the storyline and cast performances. Although not a Box Office hit, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl received generally positive reviews from critics.
Mann plays a High School student forced by his parents to befriend an old childhood friend diagnosed with leukemia. Although both are reluctant at first, Greg and Rachel become close, with Greg also introducing his “co-worker,” Earl, to Rachel. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl follows Rachel’s struggles through chemotherapy, as well as Greg Gaines’ personal struggles with his inability to be selfless. If you enjoyed reading about Thomas Mann movies, read 7 Movies You Forgot Zoe Saldaña Was In.
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