Billy Bob Thornton is a man of many talents. He first gained fame for writing, directing, and starring in the film Sling Blade. He went on to take on roles in movies such as Armageddon and A Simple Plan.
The actor has received nominations for both the Oscars and Emmys and has won Golden Globes. He has written movies like A Family Thing and directed All the Pretty Horses. Billy Bob Thornton has starred in the series Fargo and Hearts Afire. He has released four solo albums to his credit and is the vocalist of the band the Boxmasters.
Recently, he was seen on the drama series Landman, created by Taylor Sheridan. Thornton plays Tommy Norris, an abrasive landman at an oil company in West Texas. The series has gained acclaim and was released on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024.
Viewers who enjoyed watching Thornton's portrayal in Landman can stream titles listed below.
Fargo, Bad Santa, and other movies and shows by Billy Bob Thornton
1) Sling Blade (Amazon Prime Video)
Directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade is a drama about an intellectually challenged Karl Childers (Thornton), who was sent to a psychiatric hospital for killing his mom and her partner. However, when he is released to start life anew, he cannot let go of his past.
The independent movie unexpectedly became a hit, catapulting Thornton to fame with this project. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his complex portrayal, showing his talent in the first movie itself.
2) A Simple Plan (Amazon Prime Video)
A neo-noir crime thriller, A Simple Plan is based on a novel by Scott B. Smith and directed by Sam Rami. The movie follows two brothers, Hank (Bill Paxton) and Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), from Minnesota who discover a crashed plane containing $4.4 million with a friend.
The trio, along with Hank’s wife, becomes involved in a plan to keep the money hidden and goes through elaborate ruses. However, they soon begin to lose trust in each other, leading to deceit. Thornton does a compelling job in his role and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
3) One False Move (Apple TV+)
One False Move not only stars Billy Bob Thornton but is also written by him. Directed by Carl Franklin, the cast includes Bill Paxton and Cynda Williams. The low-budget movie revolves around three criminals who commit a string of murders in Los Angeles and make a run for Houston, where they also aim to sell drugs.
Paxton plays one of the criminals, Ray Malcolm, showcasing his acting chops. The movie was initially intended for direct home video release but gained popularity through word of mouth and was eventually released in theaters.
4) Dead Man (Amazon Prime Video)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Johnny Depp, Billy Bob Thornton, and others, Dead Man is an acid Western movie set in the 19th century and shot entirely in black and white. This unique movie tries to capture the psychedelic experience within a Western setting.
It centers around William Blake (Depp), who commits a murder and tries to evade authorities. During his escape, he meets a Native American spirit guide who believes that Blake is the reincarnation of the famous English poet of the same name. Thornton plays a mountain man in the film.
5) Bad Santa (Amazon Prime Video)
Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, and others, Bad Santa is a black comedy Christmas movie directed by Terry Zwigoff. Thornton plays Willie, a thief who takes on the role of Santa at a shopping mall each year. While his assistant, Marcus (Cox), becomes an elf and loots the shelves on Christmas Eve.
Willie slowly gets tired of playing Santa and becomes crude with children until he befriends a gullible young boy who causes problems in their robbery plans. The movie was executively produced by the Coen Brothers and received positive reviews for its humor and plot. Thornton delivers a memorable and humorous performance.
6) Fargo (Amazon Prime Video)
Based on the 1996 hit movie directed by the Coen brothers, Fargo is a dark comedy-crime drama series created by Noah Hawley. It is an anthology where each season is self-contained. Fargo has received acclaim for its various seasons, with Billy Bob Thornton playing the role of Lorne Malvo in the first season, for which he was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe.
Each season features a different cast, setting, and time period, but all revolve around organized crime, legal authorities, and how these elements impact the lives of regular citizens. Throughout the series, various other actors like Kirsten Dunst and Chris Rock have made appearances.
7) Goliath (Amazon Prime Video)
Starring Billy Bob Thornton as Billy McBride, Goliath is a legal drama centered around McBride, a genius lawyer who started a successful firm. However, after he acquits a murder suspect who turns out to have killed an entire family, McBride gives up everything and becomes an alcoholic.
When he takes on a wrongful death lawsuit, he sees it as a chance to get revenge on the firm he created and to salvage his reputation. The series is a tense and crisp drama with lots of twists. Thornton plays the enigmatic and complex McBride with flair and won a Golden Globe for his portrayal.
Viewers are suggested to explore the list and choose a movie or show featuring Billy Bob Thornton.