10 Bill Skarsgård Shows And Movies To Watch If You Loved His Performance in 'IT: Welcome To Derry.'
Bill Skarsgård in The Crow
Image Source: 4KWallpapers
Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård earned himself new fans because of his outstanding performance as Pennywise the Clown and Bob Gray in IT: Welcome to Derry, but Skarsgård first made his mark in Hollywood through projects like Hemlock Grove, where he played Roman Godfrey. It wasn’t until he stepped into Tim Curry’s shoes in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, IT, that Skarsgård had the first blockbuster of his career.
IMDb named him their number 1 breakout star that year, but his transformation into Pennywise was so convincing that many fans have hardly seen the actor outside of that role. Pennywise was just the beginning for Skarsgård, who has played numerous different roles since then, proving he’s more than a villain. His performances show a remarkable range, and it’s exciting to explore his filmography. Here are a few of Bill Skarsgård’s best and most versatile performances for anyone who’s become a fan of him after his phenomenal work in IT: Welcome to Derry:
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10: Battlecreek
Bill Skarsgård in Battlecreek
Image Source: Bill-Skarsgard.com
The wildest fact about Battlecreek is that Hayden Christensen was originally signed on to play Henry Pearl, but Bill Skarsgård replaced him later. In Battlecreek, Skarsgård plays the sweetest guy possible, and seeing him play Henry Pearl will take some getting used to if you’ve only seen him portray baddies. Pearl is a kind and shy teenager who lives in the South and was left with scars all over his body from burns he suffered as a kid. All is not as it seems in his life, but his sheltered existence is rocked when he meets a young woman named Alison.
Not many people have seen Battlecreek, but it’s definitely worth it if you wish to see Bill Skarsgård portraying a simple guy. He’s surprisingly suitable for the role and gives a performance that makes you wish that he would play regular guys instead of bloodthirsty villains, because he has the charm to pull them off.
9: John Wick: Chapter 4
Bill Skarsgård in John Wick 4
Image Source: Slash Film
Bill takes on the role of a villain again in John Wick: Chapter 4, where he plays the arrogant and stylish Marquis Vincent de Gramont. Skarsgård carried the various dapper suits well, but he also had to have an exaggerated French accent. His performance was well-received, and many critics called him the franchise’s best villain so far, noting that Bill’s charisma contrasted perfectly with Keanu Reeves’ performance.
The Maquis is smug and annoying to the point where you’ll hate him, which is a testament to how great Skarsgård is at portraying negative characters. Unfortunately, he doesn’t survive the film, but that’s something you should get used to as his fan because he tends to die a lot in his movies. This performance is proof of the actor’s ability to make a mark in front of heavyweights like Reeves.
8: Barbarian
Bill Skarsgård in a still from Barbarian
Image Source: JoBlo
Barbarian is a creepy horror story about an Airbnb in a deserted town that has a dark secret. Director Zach Cregger uses Bill Skarsgård’s unconventional hero looks to his advantage, and the first few minutes of the movie leave you wondering if he’s really as nice as he seems. Later on, though, it becomes clear that Keith is a sweet guy through his interactions with Tess, played by Georgina Campbell.
This is one of the rare projects in Bill’s repertoire where he showcases his romantic lead potential, and the chemistry between him and Campbell is a highlight. Be careful, though, because this movie pulls the carpet from underneath yours and Keith’s feet, rather quickly.
7: The Devil All The Time
Bill Skarsgård in a still from The Devil All The Time
Image Source: I-d.co
Skarsgård plays Tom Holland’s dad in The Devil All The Time. The cast of this film is absolutely stacked with talent, but Bill stands out as the troubled World War II veteran who moves to the South after coming home from serving his country. Although he gets married and has a son, Willard is haunted by his traumatic memories, and he turns to religion after his wife gets sick.
His mental health worsens as his desperate pleas to God to save her don’t work, and he ends up committing suicide. Skarsgård is in the film for less than an hour, but leaves a strong impression as a tortured and hopeless man. With performances like this one, it won’t be long until Bill becomes the Academy’s darling.
6: Boy Kills World
Bill Skarsgård in Boy Kills World
Image Source: scmp.com
Boy Kills World shows that Skarsgård isn’t afraid of a challenge. In the movie, he plays ‘Boy’, a deaf and mute character who is out to avenge his family’s murders. The role required the actor to transform into a buff action hero who looks like a believable killing machine. With no dialogues, it was up to him to express all his thoughts and emotions through his expressions and gestures, and he excels.
Skarsgård shows that he has potential as an action hero, but he’s also someone who can genuinely act. Even though the writing fails to match up to Bill’s impressive performance, it’s still worth a watch to see a totally different side of him as an actor.
5: Nine Days
Bill Skarsgård in Nine Days
Image Source: The Movie My Life
Nine Days is a thought-provoking story that stands out as one of the best films Bill Skarsgård has done in his career so far. The film explores the concept of a life before birth, where souls audition for a chance to be born. Each character brings his or her unique qualities in front of Winston Duke, who’s the guy in charge of deciding who will ultimately be born, and who will go back to not existing. The movie starts slowly, but as all the souls begin to reveal themselves and start getting to know each other, the viewer will develop an attachment to them.
Skarsgård plays a compelling character named Kane, whose pessimistic view on life makes him one of the most suitable candidates to be ‘chosen’ to be born. In Nine Days, Skarsgård shows remarkable emotional depth and range as a character who will keep you glued not by creeping you out, or performing stunts, but by his reactions to life and its trials. This should be at the top of your list if you’re a his fan.
4: The Crow
Bill Skarsgård in The Crow
Image Source: GeekTyrant
Fans of the original 1994 film, The Crow, starring Brendan Lee, were none too pleased when this remake, directed by Robert Sanders, was announced. The film received negative reviews, which is understandable, but it’s not a bad film if you’re someone who wants to watch Bill Skarsgård play a heartbroken, heartsick lover who wants revenge for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Shelly, played by FKA twigs. Once again, Skarsgård impresses in the action scenes of the second half of the film, but his romantic chemistry with FKA twigs is the lesser-discussed element in this remake.
It works extremely well, and it’s a change to see Bill portray someone whose emotions are so relatable. His longing for Shelly after her death, and his heartfelt performances in the emotional scenes, were worth a lot more praise, but unfortunately, the film was bogged down by controversy. Skarsgård should really consider doing a proper love story, because it’s a refreshing break from all the creepy villains he’s portrayed, and he has the looks and talent to pull it off.
3: Villains
Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe in Villains
Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Villains gives fans a taste of Bill Skarsgård’s comedic timing and charm. Skarsgård and Maika Monroe play lovers named Mickey and Jules, a wannabe Bonnie and Clyde, who end up at the wrong place at the wrong time. Skarsgård plays Monroe’s madly in love boyfriend, and while the duo is mischievous, they’re basically sweet people who never meant anyone harm.
Skarsgård seems made for comedy, and his chemistry with Maika Monroe is delightful to watch. This dark comedy was a change of pace for the actor, who gets to shine due to his amazing screen presence and refreshing chemistry with his co-star. This is an underrated movie that would be an excellent way to introduce new fans to a guy who’s known for playing villains, or to explore different shades of him as an actor.
2: Nosferatu
Bill Skarsgård in Nosferatu
Image Source: spoiler BOLAVIP
In Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu, Bill Skarsgård played a character who’s so evil that he admitted it scared him as well. As Count Orlok, the actor had to push himself to his limits to alter his voice and speak in a different accent, portraying a vampire who had made a pact with the devil. This was a role even Pennywise fans might find incredibly disturbing and disgusting, but Bill delivers a menacing performance that took a toll on him both psychologically and physically.
This is one of those films in his resume that stands out for writing, acting, and direction, but makes you wonder if Skarsgård should begin to move away from portraying negative characters.
1: Clark
Bill Skarsgård as Clark Oloffson
Image Source: Yahoo News
The greatest performance of Bill Skarsgård is as Clark Oloffson in the Swedish-language series Clark for Netflix. In Clark, Skarsgård plays a criminal who gained celebrity status in Sweden, leading to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome. The six episodes examine Oloffson’s life, including the impact his childhood had on his troubled life as a criminal, his crimes, his relationships, and his fame. There’s never a dull moment, and Skarsgård makes a charming and dashing hero who’s a criminal and a jerk, but you can’t help liking him.
He screams and shouts, he runs, and he even dances, but he never takes responsibility for his behavior. Unfortunately, Clark never received the attention it deserved, and most people have probably never watched it, so they’re unaware that Bill probably gave the best performance of his career in that series. It shows his complete potential as an actor and performer, confirming that he’s more than a villain. He has the potential to carry a project on his own and the Skarsgård legacy with ease due to his tremendous screen presence and charm. This is a series everyone should watch for Bill’s outstanding performance.
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