Walk down a dark street at midnight. You can hear a whisper, a chuckle—the type that gives you the creeps. You’re about to face him: Pennywise, It’s haunting clown. But imagine if I were to tell you that the person behind the nightmarish role is also among Hollywood’s greatest chameleons?
Bill Skarsgård isn’t just a horror master; he’s a shapeshifter who can slide seamlessly into any character, be it a brutal bad guy, an angsty war veteran, or even a mutant with a rather unseemly vomiting issue (yes, seriously). If you assume he’s just another horror-movie dude, you’re missing out. His résumé is full of performances that will leave you gobsmacked.
So let’s discuss his top five films, listed in order of IMDb rankings and votes.
1. Deadpool 2 (2018)
IMDb Rating- 7.6/10
You may have blinked and missed him in Deadpool 2. Zeitgeist, a mutant whose power is… vomiting acid. Yeah, not exactly Wolverine-cool, but hey, every superhero squad needs a wild card, right?
His appearance is short but not forgotten. Imagine this: Deadpool puts together his top team, X-Force, for a critical mission. The team, including Zeitgeist, dramatically parachutes out of an airplane. It’s supposed to be an epic moment, but let’s just say it doesn’t exactly go according to plan. If you’ve seen the film, you know what I mean. (RIP, X-Force).
This movie revealed that Skarsgård isn’t just creepy from horror films—he possesses a tremendous sense of comedy and can make even a minor character memorable.
2. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
IMDb Rating – 7.6/10
You ever see a movie and immediately hate the bad guy? That’s the wizardry of Bill Skarsgård in John Wick: Chapter 4. He plays The Marquis, a cold-blooded High Table operative who manipulates from the shadows.
Unlike the typical brute-force villains of the John Wick series, the Marquis is a mastermind. He wears high-end suits, sips fine champagne, and delivers threats with chilling, poetic grace. But don’t be fooled—beneath the elegance, he’s ruthless.
Skarsgård infuses natural charm into the role, making the Marquis a love-to-hate character. His performance proves he can make even the most objectionable characters irresistibly fascinating.
3. It (2017)
IMDb Rating – 7.3/10
This is the one. The film that made Bill Skarsgård a household name (and gave an entire generation of children a phobia of red balloons). His performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It was so bone-chillingly excellent that it immediately became one of the most iconic horror performances in recent history.
Let’s deconstruct. Pennywise isn’t just a monster—he’s a predator, an eater of fear. And Skarsgård knew that. From the tilt of his head to the unsettling smile, his performance is off—in the best (and most terrifying) way.
🔹 Fun Fact: That eerie eye movement Pennywise makes? That’s all Skarsgård—no CGI required. He can move each eye independently, making the character even more unnerving.
4. The Devil All the Time (2020)
IMDb Rating- 7.1/10
Horror, action, comedy—Bill Skarsgård has played them all. But in The Devil All the Time, he does something different: raw, unfiltered emotion.
He plays Willard Russell, a war veteran trying to shield his family from the corruption and violence of the world.
This isn’t a role where he portrays an otherworldly being or a melodramatic villain. Here, he’s human—flawed, broken, and clinging to faith. The film explores themes of trauma, religion, and family struggles, and Skarsgård shoulders it all.
It’s a haunting performance, the kind that lingers well after the credits roll. If you’ve only seen him in horror films, this role will make you appreciate his astonishing range.
5. Barbarian (2022)
IMDb Rating – 7.0/10
Barbarian is the kind of film that keeps you on edge. The setup? A woman rents an Airbnb, but when she arrives, she discovers that someone’s already there—a man named Keith (played by Skarsgård).
What follows? Well… things take a very dark turn.
Here’s why Skarsgård shines in this role: You don’t know if you can trust him or if you should be terrified of him. He plays Keith with a perfect mix of awkwardness and charm, constantly making the audience second-guess his intentions.
And that’s the brilliance of Barbarian. It shatters expectations, and Skarsgård’s performance is a key reason why. Once again, he proves his versatility, making us question every expression, every move.
Final Thoughts
Bill Skarsgård isn’t just an actor—he’s a chameleon. He can be frightening, funny, heart-wrenching, and everything in between. Whether he’s making you laugh in Deadpool 2, creeping you out in It, or dominating the screen as a villain in John Wick, he always leaves an impression.
The good news? He’s just getting started. With more projects lined up, he’ll keep astonishing audiences with his unmatched talent.
So, if you haven’t already, watch these movies. And the next time someone mentions Bill Skarsgård, you’ll know why he’s one of the greatest actors of his generation.
And hey, if you ever see a red balloon floating nearby… maybe just walk the other way.
