English actorJoseph Quinnis easily one of the most popular rising stars in the industry today. A talented performer with multiple stage and screen credits to his name, Quinn has appeared in several great shows and movies starting in the early 2010s. And with his starring role as Johnny Storm in Marvel’sThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, the actor has cemented his status as a bona fide Hollywood star.
While Quinn is best known for hisbreakout role inStranger ThingsSeason 4, the actor has been featured in a number of great projects both before and after the Netflix series, including some of the most acclaimed British productions of recent years. He’s been featured in everything from costume dramas and historical epics to horror thrillers and war movies, showcasing his range and acting ability through his varied filmography. Read on to discover our ranked selection of Joseph Quinn’s best movies and TV shows, including both massively popular hits and more underrated productions.
10‘Catherine the Great’ (2019)
Directed by Philip Martin
Starring the iconicHelen Mirrenas the titular Empress of Russia,Catherine the Greatis a historical drama miniseries that chronicles the story of her reign, beginning in 1764 (two years after her ascension to the throne) and ending with her death in 1796. Quinn plays Catherine’s son, Prince Paul Petrovich, alongside an ensemble supporting cast that includesJason Clarke,Rory Kinnear,Gina McKee,Kevin R. McNally, and more. The show premiered in October 2019 on Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the US.
A gorgeously produced costume drama with excellent design and performances,Catherine the Greatwas fairly well-received by critics but criticized for its uneven plot. Quinn’s performance in the show, however, is one of the highlights of the series, as his character plays a key role in the political machinations that dominate the story. The show earned a number of accolades, including an Emmy nomination and two British Academy Television Award nominations.
Catherine the Great
9‘Make Up’ (2019)
Directed by Claire Oakley
A British psychological thriller written and directed byClaire Oakleyin her feature debut,Make Upfollows Ruth, a young woman who suspects that her boyfriend is cheating on her. Set in a remote holiday park in St Ives, Cornwall, the film starsMolly Windsoras Ruth and Joseph Quinn as her boyfriend, Tom, withStefanie Martini,Lisa Palfrey,Theo Barklem-Biggs, and more in supporting roles. The movie premiered at the London Film Festival in October 2019.
A fascinating psychological film with a unique story of self-discovery,Make Upwas highly successful with critics but less well-received by audiences. Quinn’s role in the film, while limited, is masterfully handled, with the actor conveying all the layered emotions of Tom’s controlling but insecure personality. A tragically underrated movie,Make Upis a film that deserves a lot more attention, especially for fans of Quinn’s work.
8‘C.B. Strike’ (2017 - Present)
Written by Michael Keillor, Kieron Hawkes, Charles Sturridge, and Sue Tully
Based on theCormoran Strikebook series byJ. K. Rowling(written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith),C.B. StrikestarsTom Burkeas the titular war veteran turned private eye, who uses his unique skills and background to solve complicated cases alongside his partner Robin Ellacott, played byHolliday Grainger. The show premiered in August 2017 and has aired six seasons so far, each adapted from a different book in the series.
Quinn plays a guest role onC.B. Strikein the show’s fourth season, taking on the role of Billy Knight, a young man with schizophrenia who tries to report a murder he believes he witnessed some years ago. While his character has a limited part in the season, Quinn’s performance is flawless, and his character’s actions are what set the whole story in motion. It’s not an easy job playing a character who shifts between vastly different emotions and personalities, yet Quinn performs the role perfectly.
C.B. Strike
7‘Small Axe’ (2020)
Created by Steve McQueen
Small Axeis a British anthology series that explores the lives of West Indian immigrants in London over three decades, from the 1960s to the 1980s. The series consists of five films, each following a separate story set against the backdrop of pivotal real-life events. The show features an ensemble cast that includes the likes ofLetitia Wright,John Boyega,Malachi Kirby,Micheal Ward,Shaun Parkes, and more.
All five films that make upSmall Axehave receivednear-universal acclaim, butMangrove, the film in which Quinn appears, is arguably the best of the lot. Following the events that take place after a Trinidadian immigrant opens a new restaurant in Notting Hill in the ’60s, drawing the attention of racist police officers, Quinn plays PC Dixon, a police officer who isn’t as openly cruel as his colleagues but still implicitly condones their actions. A powerful, educational, and unapologetic story,Mangrove(andSmall Axeas a whole) is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys truly great social drama.
6‘Gladiator II’ (2024)
Directed by Ridley Scott
A sequel to the iconic 2000 filmGladiator,Gladiator IIis a historical epic set 16 years after the first movie. The film follows the exiled Prince of Rome, who becomes a gladiator and fights to free Rome from the corrupt twin emperors Geta and Caracalla and return the empire to its former glory.Paul Mescalstars in the lead role as Lucius Verus Aurelius, withPedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn,Fred Hechinger,Connie Nielsen, andDenzel Washingtonin key roles.
In the film, Quinn plays the part of despotic emperor Geta, one half of the insane duo that rules the failing empire. While Geta is overshadowed by his even more psychotic brother, Quinn’s performance is quite memorable, and his character certainly ranks among thefilm’s best. The movie as a whole may not be quite as brilliant as the originalGladiator, but it is an entertaining watch for fans of epic action, and it earned a number of accolades, including two Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination.
Gladiator II
5‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (2024)
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
An apocalypticsci-fihorror thriller,A Quiet Place: Day Oneis a spin-off prequel to 2018’sA Quiet Placeand the third film in theA Quiet Placefranchise. Set in New York City during the early days of an alien invasion, the film starsLupita Nyong’oas Sam, a terminally ill cancer patient who fights to escape the monsters, befriending an English law student (played by Quinn). The movie premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, receiving largely favorable reviews from critics, and went on to earn over $261 million worldwide.
While Nyong’o’s Sam is the central character of the story, Quinn’s Eric is a key part of the film, providing a nervous, fearful foil to Sam’s stoic hero. His character arguably has the most development in the film, growing from a terrified young man to a brave survivor over the course of the movie. Though it might not be quite as terrifying as the other films in the series,A Quiet Place: Day Oneis a gripping watch with some truly special performances by its lead duo.
A Quiet Place: Day One
4‘Les Misérables’ (2018 - 2019)
Created By Andrew Davies
Adapted from the eponymous 1862 French historical novel byVictor Hugo,Les Misérablesis a British miniseries written byAndrew Daviesand directed byTom Shankland. The series starsDominic Westas Jean Valjean, leading a stacked ensemble cast that includesDavid Oyelowo,Lily Collins, and more. The show follows the stories of various individuals in 19th-century France, leading up to the June Rebellion of 1832 and its immediate aftermath.
LesMisérablespremiered in the UK on BBC One in December 2018, receiving highly favorable reviews from critics for its writing, direction, performances, and production values. A rousing, emotional drama that faithfully adapts Hugo’s landmark novel, the show is a thoroughly engaging watch for fans of the source material and its manyadaptations. Quinn’s performance in the show as the young revolutionary Enjolras is easily one of the actor’s best, bringing out the character’s charm, charisma, and passion to full effect.
Les Misérables
3‘Warfare’ (2025)
Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland
A 2025 war movie inspired by true events,Warfareis based on co-writer and co-directorRay Mendoza’s personal experiences serving as a US Navy SEAL during the Iraq War. The film recounts an incident that Mendoza and his platoon experienced in November 2006, where they were ambushed by Iraqi insurgents, leading to a deadly firefight. The movie stars an ensemble cast led byD’Pharaoh Woon-A-Taias Mendoza, withWill Poulter,Cosmo Jarvis,Kit Connor, and more in significant roles.
Released in the US by A24,Warfarereceived favorable reviews from critics but didn’t perform very well at the box office. Though sadly under-watched, the movie is easily one of thebest war filmsof recent years and an excellent showcase of Quinn’s dramatic abilities. In the movie, Quinn plays Sam, a member of Mendoza’s platoon who is seriously injured during the insurgent attack, and the actor portrays the pain and anguish experienced by his character with heartbreaking authenticity.
2‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)
Directed by Matt Shakman
A sci-fi action superhero film based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name,The Fantastic Four: First Stepsstars Pedro Pascal,Vanessa Kirby,Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the titular team, leading an ensemble cast that includesJulia Garner,Sarah Niles,Ralph Ineson, and more. Though technically part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe, the film is set in an alternate retro-futuristic Earth, following the Fantastic Four’s attempts to protect the world from the cosmic world-eater, Galactus. The film premiered in July 2025 to highly positive reviews and commercial success, rocketing to the top of the box office.
There have beenmultiple adaptationsof the Fantastic Four on film before, butThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis arguably the best one yet, and that’s largely thanks to the performances of its talented cast. In the film, Quinn plays Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, bringing a sense of humor and bravado to the role while differentiating himself from previous versions. It’s easily Quinn’s biggest role to date, and while the characterization isn’t perfect, the actor gives it his all, and the result is nothing short of fantastic.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
1‘Stranger Things’ (2016 - Present)
Created by the Duffer Brothers
One of Netflix’s flagship shows and most popular hits,Stranger Thingsis a sci-fi mystery adventure series set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. The show follows the lives of the town’s residents after the experiments at a secret facility nearby open a gateway to an alternate dimension full of dangerous forces and monstrous entities. The series features an ensemble cast that includesWinona Ryder,David Harbour,Finn Wolfhard,Millie Bobby Brown, and more.
Quinn joins the cast of the series in Season 4, playing Eddie Munson, an eccentric teenager and president of the Dungeons & Dragons-themed “Hellfire Club”. Though the character is only featured in one season, Quinn’s stellar performance made him an instant fan-favorite, and Eddie is widely regarded by fans of the show as one of thebest charactersin the series. Though his arc ends with a heroic sacrifice (set toMetallica’s “Master of Puppets”), the fans have been desperately calling for the character to be brought back in the show’s upcoming final season.
