As the Emmy-nominated actor dominates pop culture, EW breaks down his greatest work to date.

Ranking Pedro Pascal’s best movies and TV shows, from Materialists to The Mandalorian

As the Emmy-nominated actor dominates pop culture, EW breaks down his greatest work to date.

By Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and Kevin Jacobsen

Published on July 31, 2025 08:00AM EDT

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Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller on 'The Last of Us'; Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'; Pedro Pascal as Harry in 'Materialists'. Credit:

Liane Hentscher/HBO; Jay Maidment/Marvel; A24

After years and years of toiling away in supporting roles, Pedro Pascal has become one of the rare actors to explode in popularity at middle age. It all started to really happen for him after being cast in two massively popular sci-fi series — *The Mandalorian* and *The Last of Us* — at the same time, which helped put him on the path toward becoming a dominant presence in film, television, and meme culture.

Thus far, 2025 has been a stellar year for Pascal, starting with season 2 of *The Last of Us* and extending through his starring roles in multiple acclaimed movies such as *Materialists* and *Eddington*. He is also taking to the skies as Reed Richards in Marvel's *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, which may only further cement his status as one of the hottest actors working today.**

With a résumé that spans nearly two decades and includes some of the best fantasy, reality, and meta-comedy in recent memory, here are the 15 best Pedro Pascal movies and TV shows, ranked.

15. The Equalizer 2 (2018)

Denzel Washington as Robert McCall and Pedro Pascal as Dave York in ‘The Equalizer 2’. Glen Wilson/CTMG

*The Equalizer* films are like if Liam Neeson in *Taken* accepted freelance clients. In this sequel, Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall, a former CIA assassin who, in the first movie, began a casual friendship with a teenage sex worker, inciting a war with the Russian mafia. Four years later, *The Equalizer 2 *sees McCall using his unique skill set to help others, including his former Defense Intelligence Agency colleague Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo). A vigilante action movie that casts Pascal in the role of McCall's former partner, Dave York, *The Equalizer 2* also features Ashton Sanders and Bill Pullman — and includes at least one death by harpoon. —*Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *The Equalizer 2*: Netflix

14. The Mentalist, seasons 6 and 7 (2014)

Pedro Pascal as Agent Marcus Pike and Simon Baker as Patrick Jane on ‘The Mentalist’.

Pascal's career really took off in 2014, with recurring roles on *Game of Thrones, Graceland, *and *The Mentalist*. The latter pairs a psychic named Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) with California investigative officer Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) as they get inside the heads of their suspects to help solve murder cases.

Pascal's character, Agent Marcus Pike, arrives during season 6 of the show's seven-season run, intended as a romantic foil to help interrupt the will-they-or-won't-they dynamic occurring between Teresa and Patrick. Marcus' chemistry with Teresa is arguably helped by Pascal's offscreen friendship with Tunney, and their seven-episode arc on the show is a good one for *Mentalist *devotees to revisit — or for newbies to check out. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Mentalist*: Hulu

13. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. Warner Bros. Pictures

Patty Jenkins' *Wonder Woman* delighted audiences when it debuted in the summer of 2017, while *Wonder Woman 1984 — *released the first Christmas of the COVID-19 pandemic — is an ambitious sequel that struggles to measure up. Set at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the film introduces a new set of antagonists, including Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) and Max Lord (Pedro Pascal), whose seemingly simple wishes set the world on a collision course toward chaos.

At nearly two-and-a-half-hours long, *1984* doesn't fly by, but Pascal excels in his role as a local TV salesman whose infomercials promise viewers "everything you've always wanted." As EW's critic describes him, he's "a boxy-suited Ponzi-schemer slicker than the product he peddles." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Wonder Woman 1984*: HBO Max

12. The Good Wife, seasons 1 and 2 (2009–2011)

Pedro Pascal as Nathan Landry on ‘The Good Wife’.

As of late, Pedro Pascal's career is a study in physical, fantastical projects, most of which require him to talk low and aim precisely. So it's interesting to note that his first major recurring television role took place on the talky CBS legal drama *The Good Wife*. Set in Chicago, the series follows Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney who reenters the workforce and resumes her duties as a litigator after her husband (Chris Noth) is arrested for a public political sex scandal.

Pascal plays Nathan Landry, an assistant state attorney keeping Alicia's husband behind bars, appearing in six episodes during the serialized show's critically acclaimed first two seasons. Also starring Josh Charles and Christine Baranski, *The Good Wife *represents some of the best network television of the early 2000s. It has received Pascal's stamp of approval, too, as the actor says he kept watching even after his arc on the series ended. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Good Wife*: Paramount+

11. Triple Frontier (2019)

Pedro Pascal as Francisco ‘Catfish’ Morales in ‘Triple Frontier’. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix

A lot of the best Pedro Pascal movies and TV shows involve some amount of sparring with dangerous cartel folk, and this heist film keeps that tradition alive. An action-adventure flick directed by J.C. Chandor for Netflix, *Triple Frontier* follows a group of former special-ops soldiers who — feeling financially undervalued for their years spent in military service — decide to get what's rightfully theirs by robbing a drug lord.

Chandor brought in the big guns to play his team of military men, enlisting an ensemble composed of Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and, of course, Pascal, this time playing a pilot dubbed "Catfish." It's a good, old-fashioned male bonding film with a lot of money on the line. As EW's critic writes, "There may be no honor among thieves, but *Triple Frontier* certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Triple Frontier*: Netflix

10. Prospect (2018)

Pedro Pascal as Ezra in ‘Prospect’. Gunpowder & Sky

The two areas Pedro Pascal excels in: acting while wearing helmets and becoming a surrogate parent to abandoned youth. In the 2018 sci-fi thriller *Prospect*, he gets to do both. Damon (Jay Duplass) and Cee (Sophie Thatcher) are a father-daughter team with a contract to extract gems from a forest covered in poisonous mushrooms. But what could have been a nice bonding trip to an alien moon turns ugly after a violent interaction with a pair of rival prospectors. Pascal plays Ezra, the verbal member of the duo, whose swagger and cowboy cadence are a surefire signifier of impending shoot-outs.

A stylish, low-budget indie film that's smart enough to cast great actors and get out of their way, *Prospect *doesn't need multi-million-dollar special effects to keep you entertained — Ezra's accent is capable of handling that all on its own. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Prospect*: Hulu

9. Narcos (2015–2017)

Pedro Pascal as Javier Peña on ‘Narcos’. Everett Collection

Many of Pedro Pascal's best movies and TV shows reside in fantasy worlds — that is, until we arrive at Netflix's *Narcos*. A serialized crime drama, *Narcos* follows the rise and fall of Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), whose aptitude for cocaine distribution transformed him into a billionaire. Pascal stars as real-life DEA agent Javier Peña, who, along with his partner, agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook), is tasked with bringing down Escobar, the Medellín Cartel, and later the Cali Cartel.

During the show's three-season arc, viewers get a crash course in the creation and growth of the cocaine cartels that dominated the '80s. Representing one of Netflix's premium series and serving a surprising amount of humor amongst the history and violence, *Narcos* offers a front-row look at Pascal's acting talents. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Narcos*: Netflix

8. Game of Thrones, season 4 (2014)

Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell on 'Game of Thrones'. Macall B. Polay/HBO

A thing about HBO: It *owns* Sunday nights. A prime example is *Game of Thrones*, which captivated viewers from the moment it premiered in April 2011. When Pedro Pascal showed up in season 4 to flirt and fight his way through Westeros as Oberyn Martell, it was obvious his career would vault to another level. Arriving in King's Landing to represent Dorne at King Joffrey's wedding, the "Red Viper" spends his seven-episode arc charming his paramours with bon mots like, "When it comes to war, I fight for Dorne. When it comes to love, I don't choose sides."

Boasting a healthy hatred towards the Lannisters — and managing to piss off or poison almost everyone he comes into contact with — Oberyn's departure from the series remains one of the show's most visceral moments. But during his brief tenure, Pascal is dynamic, channeling a man whose appetites vacillate between control and impulsivity, charisma and combat. *Game of Thrones* may have struggled at the end, but season 4 is considered one of its best, and some of that acclaim belongs to Oberyn's storyline and Pascal's performance. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Game of Thrones*: HBO Max

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7. Materialists (2025)

Dakota Johnson as Lucy and Pedro Pascal as Harry in ‘Materialists’.

Atsushi Nishijima/A24

After years spent as stoic heroes and intriguing side characters in action/sci-fi projects, *Materialists* allowed Pascal to showcase a different aspect of his range. The romantic dramedy from writer-director Celine Song stars Dakota Johnson as Lucy, a Manhattan matchmaker who finds herself charmed by Pascal's Harry, a debonair, uber-rich partner at a private equity firm. Drawn in by his high-class lifestyle, Lucy also begins to reconnect with her working-class ex-boyfriend (Chris Evans), forcing her to reassess her values.

Harry checks every box for Lucy: He's charming, thoughtful, and wealthy, but, as the film explores, she begins to realize that something is missing between them, which gives her pause. Pascal is well-suited for the role, subtly inhabiting the kind of man who seems like the total package...on paper. One revelation late in the third act regarding Harry proves divisive for some audiences, but the overall film makes us hope for more Pascal as a rom-com leading man in the future. —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *Materialists*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

6. Gladiator II (2024)

Pedro Pascal as Gen. Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’.

Cuba Scott/Paramount Pictures

*Gladiator* (2000) was led by then-emerging stars like Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, with legends such as Oliver Reed filling out the cast. Ridley Scott's sequel to his Best Picture winner employs that same methodology, casting buzzworthy stars like Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Pascal, with Denzel Washington as the respected veteran. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Set 16 years after the original, *Gladiator II* follows Hanno (Mescal), a prisoner of war with a secret past who fights in the gladiator ring on behalf of Washington's scheming Macrinus, a former enslaved man hoping to overthrow Rome's twin emperors. Pascal plays Marcus Acacius, a Roman general who becomes morally conflicted about his allegiance to the emperors. Tapping into his trademark emotional restraint, the actor provides solid grounding in a film populated with more theatrical performances. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Gladiator II*: Paramount+

5. Eddington (2025)

Pedro Pascal as Ted Garcia and Matt Gomez Hidaka as Eric Garcia in ‘Eddington’.

Richard Foreman/A24

Few of us want to revisit the dark days of 2020, when the COVID pandemic confined us to our homes. This, plus escalating racial tensions following the tragic death of George Floyd and the looming presidential election, made for difficult times. But Ari Aster — writer-director of *Hereditary* (2018), *Midsommar* (2019), and *Beau Is Afraid* (2023) — is certainly unafraid of dark, difficult material, as demonstrated by this satirical neo-Western about a small New Mexico town descending into chaos amid the various conflicts of that fateful year.

Joaquin Phoenix stars as the local sheriff, who becomes increasingly frustrated by the mayor's (Pascal) enforcement of mask mandates and decides to challenge him in the upcoming mayoral election. Pascal is exceedingly well cast as the liberal-minded politician whose outward friendliness conceals self-interested motivations. While his performance isn't as flashy as Phoenix's — whose character becomes increasingly unhinged as the film goes on — Pascal brings an X-factor charisma that plays well to his strengths as an actor. —*K.J.*

*Eddington* is not yet available to stream or rent.

4. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

Pedro Pascal as Javi Gutierrez and Nicolas Cage as himself in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’. Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate

Nicolas Cage has enjoyed a long, illustrious career — who else has the range to do *Moonstruck* (1987), *Gone in 60 Seconds* (2000), and *Pig* (2021)? — but in this meta action comedy, Cage assumes his most difficult role yet: himself. In *The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent*, Cage plays a struggling Nicolas Cage who quits acting and accepts a $1 million offer to be the guest of honor at billionaire Javi Gutierrez's (Pascal) birthday.

What began as a job transforms into a friendship, but when the FBI tips Cage off that his new pal might be an arms dealer who kidnapped a politician's daughter, he agrees to assist with their investigation. Pascal is, frankly, adorable as a Nicolas Cage superfan. In another actor's hands, Javi's obsession with and devotion to Cage and his work might read as creepy, but Pedro plays the role earnestly while still offering up enough edge to make the audience concerned for Cage's safety.

Also starring Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, and Neil Patrick Harris, *Unbearable Weight* is a surreal comedy that measures equal parts silly and sweet, but it's Pascal's performance that has everyone wondering whether Javi is as good an actor as his hero. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’.

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

While Pascal is no stranger to leading major sci-fi/fantasy franchises (*The Mandalorian*;* The Last of Us*) or the superhero genre in general (*Wonder Woman 1984*), *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* does mark new territory for the actor. *The Fantastic Four* is Pascal's significant venture into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as his first feature film with top billing.

As Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, the elastic-limbed scientist who serves as the titular superhero team's leader, Pascal brings a pragmatic levelheadedness that suits the character well. Reed may not be the most animated member of the team, but his steady hand is crucial to their success, as he tries to find a solution for how to protect Earth from a cosmic being hellbent on destroying the planet. As EW's critic writes, "Pascal at last gets a superb filmic vehicle for his charms, one that allows him to exude both his classic movie star swagger and his more modern sensitivity, which simmers beneath the surface every moment he's on screen." —*K.J.***

*The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is not yet available to stream or rent.

2. The Mandalorian (2019–2023)

Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin on ‘The Mandalorian’. Lucasfilm Ltd.

It takes a serious actor to be able to emote through a helmet, but Pedro Pascal is up for the challenge. On *The Mandalorian* — the first live-action *Star Wars* television series to stream on Disney+ — Pascal appears as the titular character, a bounty hunter hired to retrieve an infant named Grogu (a.k.a. "Baby Yoda") only to develop a love for the child and bail on his Imperial assignment in order to protect him. Straddling the line between space cop, mercenary, and reluctant father, Pascal spends most of the first season fighting for money while also battling his feelings of attachment for this vulnerable, new dependent.

A space Western that thematically explores fatherhood in ways not previously seen in the *Star Wars* canon, *The Mandalorian *is one of many projects in which Pascal gets to show off his paternal side, but his performance here deserves a special shout-out: Only an actor of his stature could avoid being constantly upstaged by Grogu, the cutest being in the history of the *Star Wars* universe. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Mandalorian*: Disney+

1. The Last of Us (2023–present)

Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams on 'The Last of Us'. Liane Hentscher/HBO

Should you ever need to navigate a postapocalyptic world inhabited by undead, cannibalistic humans infected with a mutant fungus, you'd be wise to team up with Pedro Pascal's character in *The Last of Us*. Adapted from the beloved PlayStation videogame franchise, Pascal plays Joel, a smuggler and survivor whose life changes after he agrees to transport a teenager believed to be immune to the virus (Bella Ramsey, also of *Game of Thrones* glory) across the country in search of a cure.

Co-written by Craig Mazin (*Chernobyl*) and Neil Druckmann (the game's co-creator), *The Last of Us *is a perfect showcase for Pascal's signature gruff charm and air of danger. EW's TV critic writes that he "brings a lightness to gory trauma, aging himself with unkempt gray fuzz, mumbling an ah-reckon Texas twang. He looks like he would be really bummed about killing you." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Last of Us*: HBO Max

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Source: “AOL Movies”