10. "Drive" (2011)
Picture this: A nameless driver (Ryan Gosling) moonlights as a Hollywood stuntman and a getaway driver for criminals. Cranston plays Shannon, a fatherly figure and mentor to the Driver.
Now, here's the twist: Shannon ropes the Driver into a heist that goes south, fast. With mobsters hot on their heels and the stakes rising, Cranston's character gets caught in a tight spot. It's a car chase drama with a heart, a far cry from Cranston's usual roles.
9. "All the Way" (2016)
Step back into the '60s, with Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson in this HBO biopic.
Fresh off the Kennedy assassination, Johnson grapples with the Civil Rights Act and a divided nation. Martin Luther King Jr., J. Edgar Hoover, and others come into play. The bill's success could alter the nation's history, but failure looms large.
Cranston's portrayal of a president in turmoil, balancing power and principles, is uncanny.
8. "Total Recall" (2012)
In this sci-fi action remake, Cranston goes full-on villain as Chancellor Cohaagen, ruler of the dystopian United Federation of Britain. In a world divided by war and colonization, Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) discovers that his life may be a fabricated memory.
As Quaid seeks the truth, Cohaagen's authoritarian grip tightens. There's high-octane action, Mars colonization, and Cranston's brilliant performance as the iron-fisted antagonist. Not the usual Cranston fare, but a wild ride nonetheless.
7. "Sneaky Pete" (2015-2019)
Welcome to the world of Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi), a con man who assumes the identity of his former cellmate, Pete Murphy, to escape a vengeful gangster (Cranston). But, Marius finds himself entangled in the Murphy family's secrets.
Cranston's character, Vince Lonigan, is a ruthless, charismatic figure, a poker-faced villain with a dark past. This isn't Walter White, we know, but Cranston is still unforgettable as the puppet master pulling the strings.
6. "The Infiltrator" (2016)
Dive into the high-stakes underworld of drug trafficking in this thrilling crime drama. Cranston plays Robert Mazur, a federal agent tasked with infiltrating the Medellín Cartel's money-laundering operations. Mazur assumes the alias of Bob Musella, a corrupt businessman, and gets closer to the drug lords.
The catch? Trust is scarce, deception is rife, and one slip could cost Mazur his life. As Mazur navigates this web of lies, Cranston delivers a masterclass in suspense.
5. "Trumbo" (2015)
Journey back to the Hollywood of the 1940s. Dalton Trumbo (Cranston), a gifted screenwriter, is on top of the world. But his world crumbles as the Red Scare sweeps through the industry.
Blacklisted for his Communist ties, Trumbo fights back with a pen and a pseudonym. He scribbles classics like "Roman Holiday" and "Spartacus," defying the blacklist. In this biographical drama, Cranston brings the tenacious Trumbo to life.
4. "Malcolm in the Middle" (2000-2006)
Ah, the zany world of the Wilkerson family. Meet Hal (Cranston), a bumbling but loving father of five. His quirky antics and goofy dance moves are a stark contrast to his stern wife, Lois.
In this hit sitcom, Hal navigates the chaos of raising a brood of rowdy boys, including the titular Malcolm. Cranston's comedic timing and dad-next-door charm make Hal a character to remember. There are life lessons, there are laughs, and then there's Bryan Cranston's unbeatable performance.
3. "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006)
In this indie dramedy, Cranston appears as Stan Grossman, the mentor of Greg Kinnear's character, Richard Hoover.
The dysfunctional Hoover family embarks on a road trip to support young Olive (Abigail Breslin) in a beauty pageant. With a VW bus, a suicidal uncle, and a mute teenager in tow, the journey is a rollercoaster of emotions.
Cranston's supporting role as the sleazy, self-help guru adds another layer of complexity to this heartwarming film.
2. "Argo" (2012)
Inspired by a real-life CIA operation, this Academy Award-winning drama showcases Cranston's brilliance as Jack O'Donnell, the deputy director of operations.
Amid the Iran hostage crisis, CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) hatches an outlandish plan to extract six American diplomats from Tehran. The guise? A fake sci-fi movie production. O'Donnell provides the support and leadership Mendez needs to pull off this high-risk mission.
1. "Breaking Bad" (2008-2013)
Now, the moment you've been waiting for. Enter Walter White, the high school chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Walter partners with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to secure his family's financial future. But the transformation from Mr. White to Heisenberg comes at a price.
Cranston's iconic portrayal of the brilliant, tormented, and ruthless Walter is nothing short of legendary. His descent into darkness, punctuated by moments of vulnerability, solidifies this as the quintessential Bryan Cranston role. He is the one who knocks, and he has left an indelible mark on television history.