Justin Theroux has a career that most stars and audiences might stop and take another look at! Justin Theroux has movies and TV shows that are undeniably worthy of being watched. His work in the theaters and on the small screens is just amazing.
One thing that separates Justin Theroux from the rest of the actors is not the number of shows but the quality of the projects and his performance in each of them. His engagements intersect with human-driven tales and odd pushing of the boundaries in storytelling. Some of them are the most talked-about series at the peak of their fame, others are respected artistic films, and a few have achieved long-lasting importance through the critics' re-evaluation.
Here are 3 series and 2 films of Justin Theroux that talk volumes about the actor's career and definitely deserve a spot on your watchlist
1. The Leftovers (2014–2017)
When the name Justin Theroux is mentioned, one of the first associations that the audience will make is The Leftovers. The HBO series, which involved two names, Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, presents a scenario where a world has to continue despite the news that 2% of the population has mysteriously disappeared without a trace overnight.
He played the role of Kevin Garvey, the police chief of the New York Desert. His character was dealing with his own personal matters and, at the same time, focused on being the upholder of the community’s integrity.
The character portrayed by Justin Theroux was always at the forefront, particularly as the series increasingly resorted to ever more abstract and psychological narrative techniques. The show wound up in 2017 in a conclusive manner.
2. The Mosquito Coast (2021–2023)

The Mosquito Coast is one of Justin Theroux's most significant television roles of late. The show is streaming on Apple TV+ and is based on Paul Theroux's novel, which tells the story of an inventor, Allie Fox, who relocates his family while trying to escape the U.S. authorities. Unlike previous movie adaptations of the same book, this one took the story to a serialized format.
Justin Theroux portrayed Allie Fox as a character whose intellect was the driving motive in his life, whose uncompromising commitment to his ideals was where the conflict lay, and whose emotional state became increasingly precarious. It was allowed two seasons, so it provided a preordained character trajectory as opposed to an endlessly extended storyline.
Other than acting in it, the actor was also one of the executive producers for the show. This is basically an indication of involvement beyond just acting.
3. White House Plumbers (2023)
A limited HBO series titled White House Plumbers provided Justin Theroux with the role of G. Gordon Liddy, a conspicuous character in the Watergate scandal and one of the participants. The show rotates around the political/military figures whose ventures, apart from the scandal, led to the fall of President Richard Nixon's government.
Compared to usual political dramas, White House Plumbers not only has dark roots but also comedy and satire while firmly placing itself in the historical context. Justin Theroux's part demanded precise artistry between the outlandishness and the truth.
The miniseries format enabled the program to present a complete story in a limited number of episodes, which fits with the constant television involvement of documentary personality Louis Theroux.
4. Mulholland Drive (2001)

David Lynch's Mulholland Drive is an inexorable source of controversy and polemics for filmmakers and theorists alike, and Justin Theroux is, indeed, one of the creators' main concerns. He was picked to play the role of Adam Kesher, who is a Hollywood filmmaker with a successful career and a perfect life, but things fall apart gradually as the story unravels.
The film has received praise for its interrupted story, psychoanalytic logic, and enigmatic imagery. Justin Theroux's character acts as the anchor of that section of the film that relates to Hollywood and its depravities, dealing with questions like those of power, deception, and creativity.
Over the years, Mulholland Drive has joined the ranks of being a film of the century through the rankings of the critics, academic scrutiny, and discussions by audiences.
5. The Girl on the Train (2016)
Justin Theroux also appeared as Tom Watson, the ex-husband of Emily Blunt’s character, in the movie The Girl on the Train. The story actually represents the bestselling novel, ‘The Girl on the Train’ by Paula Hawkins, with the use of the narrative technique of unreliable storytelling and memories.
The film did not win over critics completely, but still, Theroux’s contribution was that of the main character Tom’s ex-husband, who was on the murder mystery case as the story unfolded. It was a great challenge for him since he was mostly seen on the abstract or experimental side of the film industry.
How these projects reflect Justin Theroux’s career
Together these works gave us an overview of the consistency in Justin Theroux's career. Like many others, he is also the one who chooses to go with character-driven over plot-driven stories. Whether it is a long drama or a short feature film, his audience has to think actively and engage rather than being mere observers, since his roles are usually in narratives that challenge the audience.
One of the characteristics of the filmography of Theroux that has defined him is the struggle for balance. He has made his presence felt through different-genre works like prestige TV, limited series, historical projects, and socially relevant films.
Some characters bring him to the forefront, while others are simply part of a larger whole. This diversity keeps his work continually significant for the varying audience preferences.
These films and series mentioned above illustrate why Theroux remains a topic of discussion in the film and television world. To those who wish to grasp the full range of Theroux's career, the aforementioned titles are your best shot.
They bring out the kinds of stories that he has been, and continues to be, associated with. By virtue of their quality, they also explain why these projects are still receiving interest many years after their first release.