Justin Timberlake may have started as a pop icon, but over the years, it turns out he’s quite a talented actor as well. With everything from thrillers to dramas and charming rom-coms, Timberlake has built an impressive filmography that highlights the variety of characters he can play. From a rebellious hacker (The Social Network) to a time-stealing hero (In Time), he brings a distinctive energy to every role. Not every artist can boast such an impressive track record. In this collection, we explore some of his most notable films, including gripping crime dramas like Alpha Dog and Edison, hilarious comedies like Bad Teacher, and even sports dramas like Trouble with the Curve. If you’ve enjoyed his music and want to see Timberlake show off his acting chops, this list is where to begin.
Content
- In Time
- The Social Network
- Edison
- Alpha Dog
- Bad Teacher
- Friends with Benefits
- Trouble with the Curve
- Reptile
- Palmer
- Runner Runner
- Wonder Wheel
- The Open Road
In Time
IMDb: 6.7/10
2011, Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
USA, PG-13
Director: Andrew Niccol
Top cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy
The plot of the movie takes place in an alternate reality where people stop aging and time becomes the main currency. Time can be accumulated, spent, and shared. However, if you run out of time, you die. In this world, society is divided into castes: the rich, who have plenty of time, and the poor, who have very little. The main character, Will, comes from the poor class. By chance, he gets involved in criminal activities and hits the jackpot, gaining a huge amount of time. Fleeing from his pursuers, Will finds himself in the world of the rich, where time moves slowly, and the abundance of luxuries is overwhelming. But everything comes with a price.
The Social Network
IMDb: 7.8/10
2010, Biography, Drama
USA, PG-13
Director: David Fincher
Top cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
The Social Network tells the dramatic and controversial story of how Facebook was created and the legal battles that followed. The film displays the ambition that can destroy friendships. Eduardo’s betrayal is the most powerful moment, reflecting Mark’s ability to sacrifice loyalty for success. That is the irony of building a social network and losing any real friends. The Social Network is built on Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal. In the storyline, Timberlake plays Sean Parker, the businessman who quickly recognized the multibillion-dollar potential of the online platform. The Social Network is the cherry on top of Justin Timberlake’s career. David Fincher’s story of Facebook was well-received by both audiences and critics. The film earned eight Oscar nominations, winning three, and received six Golden Globe nominations, also winning three.
Edison
IMDb: 5.3/10
2005, Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
USA, Germany, R
Director: David J. Burke
Top cast: Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Justin Timberlake
It’s a crime action film directed by David Burke, starring Justin Timberlake in the lead role. His character is journalist Joshua Pollack, who is determined to reveal a corruption conspiracy within the American special forces. He is assisted by his older allies: former investigative journalist Moses Ashford and private detective Levon Wallace. Together, they must face a corrupt law enforcement system and its villains, who will go to extreme lengths to avoid prison. Although Edison skipped theaters and went straight to DVD, it’s a decent film that marked the beginning of Timberlake’s acting career. At that time, he hadn’t yet gained professional experience and somewhat faded next to more seasoned actors. However, he looked up to the professionals, learning from them.
Alpha Dog
IMDb: 6.9/10
2006, Biography, Crime, Drama, Thrille
USA, Germany, R
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Top cast: Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Anton Yelchin
Alpha Dog’ is a crime drama where all the characters are based on real people. In this film, Timberlake plays drug dealer Frankie Ballenbacher, an associate of the dangerous Emile Hirsch’s character. It is a true story of young criminal Johnny Truelove and the daring kidnapping of 15-year-old Zack Mazursky. When their perfect plan falls apart, the criminals come under the scrutiny of FBI agents determined to put them behind bars. Justin’s character in real life is Jesse Raj, a 20-year-old who was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after seven years. In July 2013, he was granted parole and was released in October of that year.
Bad Teacher
IMDb: 5.7/10
2011, Comedy, Romance
USA, R
Director: Jake Kasdan
Top cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake
A provocative comedy about lustful teenagers and immature adults. The story follows Elizabeth, who takes a teaching job to save money for plastic surgery. However, she is a lazy and terrible teacher who can’t stand her work and her students. Justin Timberlake plays Scott, a middle school teacher and heir to his parents' multimillion-dollar business. When Elizabeth learns about Scott’s potential wealth, she tries to win him over for selfish reasons. Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz played romantic leads in the movie after their real-life romance had ended. The stars dated for four years, from 2003 to 2007, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to the film.
Friends with Benefits
IMDb: 6.5/10
2011, Comedy, Romance
USA, R
Director: Will Gluck
Top cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson
This is another lighthearted romantic comedy in the actor’s filmography. The plot revolves around Dylan and Jamie, who, disappointed with love, agree to have regular sex without any commitments or romantic feelings. However, as time goes on, they begin to fall in love with each other, and their lives begin to change. The film became one of the most popular releases of 2011, earning four times its production budget. It went from $35 million spent on filming to $150 million at the box office.
Trouble with the Curve
IMDb: 6.8/10
2012, Drama, Romance, Sport
USA, PG-13
Director: Robert Lorenz
Top cast: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake
In this sports drama, Justin Timberlake stars alongside Clint Eastwood. The story centers on an aging baseball scout who is rapidly losing his vision. He sets out on one last journey with his daughter to find new promising players. They are joined by Johnny Flanagan, a young sports manager played by Timberlake. The theme in Trouble with the Curve intersects with In Time—both films emphasize that time and life are invaluable, with every second being precious. Trouble with the Curve is a drama that addresses sentiments of growing old, making amends within families, and the battle between conventional scouting versus contemporary analytics (driven by numbers) in baseball recruitment.
Reptile
IMDb: 6.8/10
2023, Crime, Thriller
USA, Rated R
Director: Grant Singer
Top Cast: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone
Reptile is a crime and psychological thriller in which Benicio del Toro stars as hardened detective Tom Nichols. The movie starts with him being assigned to crack the gruesome murder of a young real estate agent. While investigating further into the crime, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of lies, corruption, and hidden motives. As he digs deeper, he starts questioning everything around him—even his own reality. Justin Timberlake plays Will Grady, the girlfriend-killing boyfriend, who becomes the focus of the investigation shortly after. Faith is shattered with every new find of evidence, and Nichols must confront his demons and moral dilemmas. The movie has been praised for its taut suspense and slow-burning story reminiscent of the traditional crime noirs.
Palmer
IMDb: 7.1/10
2021, Drama
USA, Rated R
Director: Fisher Stevens
Top Cast: Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, Alisha Wainwright
Palmer is an emotional drama about redemption, second chances, and leaving the past behind. The movie is about Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake), a former high school football star who has spent years in prison. He returns to his small Louisiana town with no direction, trying to rebuild his life. He moves in with his grandmother and becomes a school janitor, determined to keep his head down and begin again. But Palmer’s life is reversed when he meets a strange boy, Sam (Ryder Allen), who does not fit in with the other kids in town. As impossible as it seems, Palmer and Sam form a bond that shakes the life of the retired sportsman. Palmer, clouded by his own past and by the judgments around him, must make tough choices that could decide his future. The film broaches the issues of resilience, acceptance, and the resilience of human relationships and offers a riveting and powerful story of hope in the unlikeliest circumstances. Justin Timberlake personally connected with the role, discussing in interviews that he was deeply affected by Palmer’s emotional path.
Runner Runner
IMDb: 5.6/10
2013, Thriller
USA, Rated R
Director: Brad Furman
Top Cast: Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton
Runner Runner is a high-stakes thriller set in online gambling, deception, and power struggles. The story follows Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake), a bright Princeton graduate student who loses all his tuition money in an online poker game. Convinced that he has been cheated, he tracks down the website’s billionaire owner, Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), who operates a lucrative but shady gambling empire from Costa Rica. Instead of brushing him off, Block offers Richie a job, promising him wealth and success beyond his imagination. At first, Richie enjoys his new lavish lifestyle, but he soon discovers the dark side of the business. As law enforcement agents close in and the risks escalate, Richie must decide where his loyalties lie and how far he’s willing to go to survive in a world where trust is an illusion. The title Runner Runner is a poker term referring to a situation in which a player needs two consecutive lucky cards to win.
Wonder Wheel
IMDb: 6.2/10
2017, Drama
USA, Rated PG-13
Director: Woody Allen
Top Cast: Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple
Wonder Wheel is a 1950s Coney Island period drama with romance, betrayal, and nostalgia. It is a story of four main characters whose lives become entangled in the background of the legendary amusement park. Ginny (Kate Winslet) is a former actress who now works as a waitress at a beachside clam shack. Unhappy with her marriage to Humpty (Jim Belushi), a crude but clever carousel operator, she longs for something more. When she begins a passionate affair with Mickey Rubin (Justin Timberlake), a charming young lifeguard who dreams of being a writer, she realizes she has escaped her unfulfilling existence. But all this changes dramatically with the arrival of Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty’s estranged daughter, who has escaped evil mobsters. With rising tension and revelations of lies, the characters are forced to confront their lust, guilt, and the harsh reality of their decisions. Classic Hollywood stars inspired Justin Timberlake to add a retro flavor to his performance.
The Open Road
IMDb: 5.5/10
2009, Drama, Comedy
USA, Rated PG-13
Director: Michael Meredith
Top Cast: Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges, Kate Mara
The Open Road is a drama that explores the complexities of family, redemption, and personal growth. Carlton Garrett (Justin Timberlake), a struggling minor league baseball player with personal and professional issues, is compelled to track down his estranged dad, Kyle Garrett (Jeff Bridges), a fallen baseball icon with a larger-than-life ego, when his mother (Mary Steenburgen) falls critically ill. What starts as a mundane task quickly becomes an emotional journey as Carlton and Kyle embark on a coast-to-coast road trip. During the trip, old wounds are revealed, underlying tensions come to the surface, and both men are forced to confront the past that has come between them. Accompanied by Carlton’s ex-girlfriend, Lucy (Kate Mara), the father-son duo must overcome their differences, learning what it truly means to be a family.
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