For a while there, whenever Will Poulter would show up in a TV show or movie that wasn't We're the Millers, viewers tended to say, "Hey, that's the kid from that Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis movie!" Not anymore, folks. Years later, Poulter would step into college-age roles with hits like Midsommar, and now you could say he's all grown up.
Come to think of it, Poulter is taking Hollywood by storm at the moment — especially given that he's sinking his teeth into an epic role in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy sequel. As we await that film's release, we can enjoy Poulter's starring role on the small screen with Britbox's original series Why Didn't They Ask Evans? And here's a closer look at Poulter's best on-screen efforts to date.
5 Wild Bill (2011)
There have been several releases over the years with the grabbing title Wild Bill, but Poulter can be found specifically in the 2011 big-screen effort. This British crime comedy drama also stars Charlie Creed-Miles and a standout Andy Serkis. The story follows street-toughened parolee Bill (Creed-Miles) who finds his two boys abandoned by their mom and fending for themselves. A baby-faced Poulter plays one of Bill's sons and reveals true Hollywood potential in this supporting role.
4 Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
They couldn't have made Poulter's physique look cooler in this one if they tried. Bandersnatch is Netflix's first-ever Black Mirror movie — but more importantly, it's the streaming giant's first choose-your-own-adventure style experience. It's a wild ride, with Poulter playing a video game creator and mastermind behind the fictional universe's greatest games of all time. The film itself is thrilling from start to finish, but could have played a part in why Poulter quit Twitter a while back:
"In light of my recent experiences, I am choosing to take a step back, of sorts, from Twitter," Poulter had said in a statement. "Before I do, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who has watched 'Bandersnatch' and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created. I accept all criticisms and it's been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked very hard to produce!"
3 The Revenant (2015)
It netted Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar, but The Revenant also features a stellar supporting cast. Someone who instantly comes to mind is not necessarily Oscar-nominated Tom Hardy, but Poulter in a heartbreaking, heroic performance. In the massive wilderness, it's crucial for the men to rely upon one another, and The Revenant portrays how this selfish fragmentation leads to disaster. Poulter's young Bridger character is torn on a moral level, and we can't help but cheer for him in the third act when he refuses reward money offered by his captain (Domnhall Gleeson) for trying to rescue Leo's Hugh Glass. Plus, Poulter pulls off a flawless Southern accent here, further displaying his true acting chops.
2 Detroit (2017)
Then there's Detroit — and our hatred for Poulter's cop persona in Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow's masterpiece is conclusive evidence that the British actor is a force of nature. The gripping, tragic film depicts events at the Algiers Motel during the race riots of July 1967. Detroit brings to light a horrific crime that took place during one of America's darkest periods. More than 50 years has passed since the riots, but it's clear these problems continue to persist.
During an in-person Q&A back when the film was released, Poulter took a moment to apologize to the audience for his despicable character. "It was like working in an oven,” Poulter once told The Independent in reference to shooting the film. "I was very, very glad to leave that character behind." Detroit truly highlights how Poulter can step into an extremely wide range of roles.
1 Dopesick (2021)
Michael Keaton has been adding trophies to his collection thanks to his starring turn in Dopesick, but Poulter's engaging sideplot really holds the show together — especially when the show falters due to surprisingly poor acting from others (we're looking at you, Michael Stuhlberg). Created by Danny Strong, Hulu's limited series is a compelling look at the epicenter of America's struggle with opioid addiction. From a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA, this limited series tells a captivating story that taps into a powerful and timely cultural conversation. And Poulter as the OxyContin salesman in distress — notice the moral-dilemma parallel to The Revenant — is really the finest character arc to watch here.
"I was really fortunate in that, although I only had the one script, I got a chance to speak to [series creator] Danny [Strong] at length about the character's arc," Poulter told EW. "It was really, really informative. Danny was encyclopedic when it came to not only knowledge about the opioid crisis, but all of these characters specifically. I think because he's an actor as well, he was able to offer an especially textured illustration of who Billy was and what he would look like over the course of the eight episodes. I really fell in love with his journey. It was full of gray zone and moral conundrums and will he, won't he. It was so enticing the way that he pitched it. The script surpassed my expectations."