All 33 Sebastian Stan movies, ranked by critics

Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan attend the "A Different Man" Premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 21, 2024
Adam Pearson costars with Stan in "A Different Man."
  • Sebastian Stan has two movies out this fall: "A Different Man" and "The Apprentice."
  • We looked at the critics' scores on his 33 movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Not surprisingly, his top-rated movie is "Avengers: Endgame."

Sebastian Stan has had one of the most interesting careers in Hollywood. He got his start on TV playing roles like Carter Baizen in "Gossip Girl," TJ Hammond in "Political Animals," and the Mad Hatter in "Once Upon a Time." At the same time, he was cast as Bucky Barnes, the lovable best friend of Steve Rogers in 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger."

Thirteen years later, Stan is still playing Bucky, aka the Winter Soldier — "Thunderbolts" is out in 2025 — and has appeared in multiple billion-dollar films in the role. He's also been nominated for an Emmy for playing Tommy Lee in "Pam & Tommy," appeared in multiple best picture nominees, and has been receiving awards buzz for his roles in two films this year: "A Different Man" and "The Apprentice."

Here's how critics have received all 33 of Stan's films throughout his career.

Stan's worst-reviewed movie by critics is the 2012 horror film "The Apparition," which has a measly 3%.
sebastian stan in the apparition
Stan plays a character named Ben in "The Apparition."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 3%

A group of college students, including Stan's character Ben, attempt to recreate the "Charles Experiment," which sees them stare at a drawing of a dead man named Charles to summon his spirit. It works, and they slowly get picked off one by one.

"The entity is a ghostly presence amid an even ghostlier absence. This is truly distressed real estate," wrote The Boston Globe's Mark Feeney.

In 2006, he appeared in another horror film, "The Covenant," as the film's antagonist Chase.
sebastian stan in the covenant
Stan plays the villain, Chase, in "The Covenant."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 4%

A group of high school boys who are descended from ancient witches have to contend with the fact that their magic is slowly killing them. They also must confront a new foe, Chase, who threatens all of them.

"Flying scenes, frat-boy face-offs and pyrotechnic punch-ups are punctuated by excruciating expository dialogue," wrote Nigel Floyd of Time Out.

That same year, he appeared in "The Architect" as the main character's son, Martin.
sebastian stan in the architect
"The Architect" was one of his first roles.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

An architect is forced to come to terms with his life — his wife is bored, his son doesn't care about following in his footsteps, and his daughter is growing up too fast — while contending with the fact that one of his projects has led to community decay.

"Despite his obvious earnestness, first-time director and cowriter Matt Tauber is ill-equipped to mine emotions this complex," wrote Michael Booth for the Detroit Free Press.

Stan co-starred with Amanda Seyfried in the 2012 thriller "Gone."
gone sebastian stan
It's neither actor's best work.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 12%

A woman, Jill, is dealing with the aftermath of her brutal kidnapping a year prior, including that no one believes it actually happened. After her sister goes missing, she fears that her kidnapper has struck again.

Derek Malcolm of the London Evening Standard wrote, "It's one of those Hollywood movies that goes in one eye and out the other."

In the 2009 film "Spread," Stan plays Harry, the best friend of a narcissistic gigolo, Nikki, played by Ashton Kutcher.
sebastian stan in spread
"Spread" also stars Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, and Margarita Levieva.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 22%

After Nikki, a gigolo who lives without a care in the world, meets Heather, he becomes fixated on her — to the detriment of everything else in his life.

"Shallow, melodramatic, pretentious and wildly misguided, it's also ambitious, entertaining and rather funny," wrote Tom Huddlestone of Time Out.

In 2022, Stan appeared in the female-led spy thriller "The 355," playing a CIA agent, Nick.
sebastian stan the 355
In "The 355," Stan got to speak in his first language, Romanian.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

Three spies (and one field psychologist) from around the world team up to take down a crime lord in possession of a device that could effectively destroy the world. Stan plays Nick, a CIA agent and boyfriend of Jessica Chastain's character.

"If you've ever seen a mediocre action movie with a surprisingly stacked cast, then you've basically seen this," wrote Mashable's Kristy Puchko.

In "I'm Not Here" (2017), Stan plays the younger version of J.K. Simmons' character Steve.
i'm not here sebastian stan
Stan went blonde for "I'm Not Here."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 35%

An older Steve is forced to look back at his life and figure out why he's been left old and alone.

"There isn't a moment of 'I'm Not Here' that didn't have me fervently wishing I wasn't here," wrote the New York Post's Sara Stewart.

In the 2015 sports comedy "The Bronze," Stan plays the arrogant Team USA gymnastics coach and gold medalist Lance Tucker.
the bronze
"The Bronze" stars Stan and "Big Bang Theory" actor Melissa Rausch.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

Former bronze medalist Hope Greggory, who has been coasting on her minor celebrity ever since the Games, decides to coach young gymnastics superstar Maggie in order to receive a $500,000 inheritance from her dead coach.

"This ostensibly edgy comedy didn't wring a single laugh out of me until maybe fifteen minutes before the finale," wrote Glenn Kenny for RogerEbert.com.

Stan plays Frank, one corner of a love triangle and a free-spirited "bad boy," in the 2019 film "Endings, Beginnings."
endings beginnings
"Endings, Beginnings" focuses on a love triangle.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%

After a bad breakup turns Daphne's world upside-down, she finds herself drawn to two polar opposite men who happen to be best friends: Jack, a stable and serious writer, and Frank, a free-spirited guy always down for adventure.

Paste Magazine's Amy Amatangelo wrote, "'Endings/Beginnings' swerves toward an uplifting and positive conclusion [that] doesn't feel natural or earned. By then, one can only hope those familiar, poorly lit faces made the viewing worthwhile."

Stan has a small role as Leo in "The Education of Charlie Banks" (2007).
the education of charlie banks
"The Education of Charlie Banks" is a drama.

Rotten Tomatoes score48%

Charlie and Danny are childhood best friends who are now roommates in college. But when Mick, someone with a dark link to their hometown, decides to come stay with them, Charlie is worried he's planning revenge.

"Though painted with broad strokes and marred by dialogue howlers during key moments, 'Education' tracks Charlie's emerging sense of identity and perspective," wrote Film Comment Magazine's Nicolas Rapold.

Stan secured the role of the romantic lead, Mickey, in 2020 film "Monday."
sebastian stan in monday
Stan stars in "Monday" opposite Denise Gough.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

Two strangers, Mickey and Chloe, meet while living in Athens and almost immediately have intense chemistry before embarking on a weekend-long relationship that turns into something more.

"Try though the actors may, they're unable to make us care about characters who are primarily defined by their lousy decisions and who lack the spark to draw us closer to their flame," wrote Ty Burr of The Boston Globe.

 

He plays Scott Huffman, a Pentagon staffer tasked with investigating a Medal of Honor request in 2019's "The Last Full Measure."
the last full measure
"The Last Full Measure" was based on a true story.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%

Scott Huffman, a Pentagon employee, investigates the life and death of Vietnam airman William H. Pitsenbarger, whose family has submitted a Medal of Honor request, only to find out there's way more to the story.

"Here's a true story about a young soldier's exceptional bravery and sacrifice made into a pretty average war movie, insubstantial and TV-ish despite the appearance of some decorated Hollywood veterans," wrote Cath Clarke for The Guardian.

Stan's first credit on Rotten Tomatoes is 2005 film "Red Doors," in which he plays high school senior Simon.
red doors
Stan has a small role in "Red Doors"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%

The film mainly focuses on the Chinese-American Wong family as they navigate their own ups and downs while dealing with their distant father, Ed.

G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle called it "A gentle, pleasant film about people you genuinely like."

He plays Blaine, a classic '80s ski patrol bully in the 2010 film "Hot Tub Time Machine."
sebastian stan hot tub time machine
"Hot Tub Time Machine" also stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%

When four middle-aged friends reunite at the ski resort they used to frequent in their younger days, they're dismayed to find it rundown. They decide to get drunk and drown their sorrows in a hot tub, which takes them back to 1986.

"An irreverent, guilty pleasure, frat boy comedy, it blows a big fat raspberry at sci-fi fans and tells them to stick their Flux Capacitors where the sun don't shine," wrote Anna Smith of Metro.

In "Ricki and the Flash," released in 2015, Stan plays one of Ricki's three kids, Joshua, whose wedding she's not invited to.
sebastian stan in ricki and the flash
"Ricki and the Flash" was directed by Jonathan Demme.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

Ricki (Meryl Streep) abandoned her family to pursue her dreams of becoming a rock star, but years later she is forced to reckon with what it did to the three kids she left behind, including her son Joshua who didn't even tell her that he's engaged.

"Ricki's life may be chaotic but the film hits the high notes when it counts, in rambunctious, crowd-pleasing fashion," wrote Mark Kermode of The Observer.

In the 2020 Netflix film "The Devil All the Time," Stan plays a dirty sheriff named Lee Bodecker who will do anything for his family.
the devil all the time
"The Devil All the Time" also stars Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

"The Devil All the Time" follows a cast of characters living in small-town Ohio in the '60s, focusing on the saga of Arvin, an orphan played by Tom Holland.

Leonie Cooper of NME wrote that it's "two and a half hours of unrelenting sadness, anxiety, and distress — but impossible to stop watching."

"Sharper," released in 2023, is a complicated crime thriller.
sebastian stan in sharper
Stan plays a con artist named Max in "Sharper."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

In "Sharper," Stan plays a con artist, Max, who works with his lover, Madeline (Julianne Moore) to con billionaires, but when one of their marks catches feelings, lines get blurred.

Robert Levin of Newsday called the film a "fun thriller with lots of twists."

Stan plays an FBI agent named Chris in "Destroyer" (2018).
sebastian stan nicole kidman destroyer
"Destroyer" is a neo-noir film.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

Nicole Kidman plays an LAPD detective who has a past with Silas, a gang leader, who she believes is active again after 16 years. Stan plays Chris, her former FBI partner and boyfriend who worked with her during Silas' first crime spree.

"A masterful performance by Kidman, who has proven over the last few years that she has deep reserves of talent," wrote Wenlei Ma for

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