The Best Matthew Rhys Movies & TV Shows, Ranked
There are very few instances where an actor winning an award has made me cry from happiness, and one of the rare times was when Matthew Rhys won the Emmy for portraying Philip Jennings in the final season of The Americans (2013). Some actors not only have a naturally inimitable charisma, but their talent has to be why award shows are around in the first place—to recognize greatness, which is fitting considering that another actor who's just like this is Rhys' wife, Keri Russell.
Matthew Rhys' range is so uniquely nuanced that even though he has a recognizable voice, the distinct layers he brings to each of the characters he embodies are no small feat. From dark comedies to sweet, wholesome films, here are the best Matthew Rhys movies and TV shows ranked, as well as where you can stream them on Prime Video, Apple TV, and more.
If you love shows like Parenthood (2010) or This Is Us (2016), but somehow never watched Brothers & Sisters, now is your chance. The drama is one of Rhys' earlier roles, and it's one he's incredible in, even if the show's material isn't for every kind of viewer. Sometimes complicated family dynamics sit with people as their bread and brother; other times, they're a bit too much.
Although Brothers & Sisters has a rough start, with every growing season, the show gets better and better as character dynamics strengthen and give us solid entertainment. It's mostly amazing to look back and see how far Rhys has come as an actor, and also how many other recognizable actors are in it, too.
While fans of the original Perry Mason (1957) and die-hard book readers might not want to dabble with a newer adaptation, Matthew Rhys' Perry Mason is surely worth watching for everything the actor gorgeously brings to the role. Interestingly, his features almost make him the perfect actor to take on the character in the 21st century, and his range allowed the series to be great while it was on.
Though the series was unfortunately canceled, it's still relatively solid in the short amount of time we get. Ranked lower on this list solely because some people might not want something that doesn't have a complete ending, but the series is still worth its salt for all that Rhys brings by embodying the classic character with memorable beats throughout.
Matthew Rhys rarely ever plays a full-on villain, even when he's embodying complex roles, but he brings a whole new level of sinister in The Beast in Me. In what can be defined as his next big career-defining role since The Americans, Rhys brings out layers and a darkness that can be viscerally upsetting.
The limited series might not be suitable for faint-hearted viewers who don't do well with killers, but it's so worth it for the acting. (Claire Danes also brings her A-game.) Rhys' chilling performance makes the edgy plot fully gripping, proving that with his range, there's really nothing he can't take on and embody with tremendous nuances in a way that viewers can dissect for hours and hours.
Apple TV's newest dark comedy, Widow's Bay, premieres on April 29, 2026, and for fans of Matthew Rhys, this one should not be missed. As someone who typically doesn't dabble with horror, the Twin Peaks-inspired dark comedy is so riveting that it's impossible to look away from all the classic horror twists that ensue in the small town.
Rhys is so compelling in the role that he's ultimately the entire reason why it's worth watching if the genre isn't typically your jam. The series is dark and twisted, and Rhys' comedic timing is sharp, dry, and unlike anything else you've seen him in. The sardonic humor makes the show almost addictive, showcasing with its debut season that it's one worth sticking around for.
Every time people start arguing about which Darcy is better, Matthew MacFadyen or Colin Firth, I want to scream "Matthew Rhys" because his embodiment in Death Comes to Pemberley should also be part of the conversation. While the series isn't a traditional adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and is instead based on a period that comes afterward, it should still be part of the conversation and essential viewing for Austen fans.
Rhys' performance as Mr. Darcy is so deliciously remarkable, raw, and honest. He brings something completely original that no other actor has touched on while simultaneously still keeping the character's mannerisms from the book fully intact. It's a must-watch performance not just for Austen fans, but for murder mystery aficionados, too.
There are beautiful, lovely movies, and then there's the kind of indescribable warmth we could all use from time to time in a wholly unique movie like A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Rhys plays Lloyd Vogel, a journalist opposite Tom Hanks' Mr. Rogers, and he carries his own with stunning depth, adding layers to a complex character that helps us understand the movie's meaning perfectly.
It isn't every biopic that deserves praise or even attention, but the take on Mr. Rogers and the lessons he stood for makes the movie an absolute must-watch for the whole family. It's guaranteed to soften even the most hardened hearts, and Rhys delivers one of his most underrated performances, without a doubt.
When people ask me what's the one show I'd recommend to anyone, no matter their taste, if I had to choose a single series as the single best thing ever to grace our screens, the choice is always the same: The Americans. It's not only the best-written show that consistently gets better and better with each episode, but the performances are utterly transcendent.
Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell, and the whole cast consistently bring their A-game, delivering the kind of performances that should be studied as a means to achieve perfection in acting. How the series honors marriage and a love story is unlike anything else, and its jaw-dropping and brilliantly profound series finale is one that'll never be replicated. (It's one I think about at least once a day in this job, and that's not a hyperbole.) It's Matthew Rhys' best role to date and likely the one that'll always be the most inimitable.
