You remember that guy from Teen Wolf? The one who basically carried the show’s emotional weight on his back for six seasons? Most people still think of Dylan O’Brien as the fast-talking sidekick or the kid running through a post-apocalyptic labyrinth. But if you’ve actually been following Dylan O’Brien movies and shows lately, you know the "Teen Heartthrob" label is ancient history.
Honestly, he’s one of the few actors from that 2010s YA era who didn't just fade away or get stuck in a loop of playing the same character. He’s been out here doing weird indies, voice acting as a giant yellow robot, and playing Dan Aykroyd. It's a lot.
The Evolution No One Saw Coming
Most actors who blow up on a show like Teen Wolf spend the rest of their careers trying to replicate that specific brand of lightning in a bottle. Dylan? He went the other way. He chose projects that felt risky, sometimes even confusing, to a mainstream audience.
Take Flashback (2020). It’s this trippy, non-linear psychological thriller where he plays a guy spiraling through his own memories. It wasn't a blockbuster. It didn't break the internet. But it proved he could handle heavy, cerebral material that had nothing to do with supernatural wolves or dystopian teenagers.
Then you’ve got Love and Monsters. This movie is a gem. Period. It came out during the pandemic, so it sort of got buried, but it’s easily one of the best things he’s ever done. He plays Joel, a guy who is—let’s be real—kinda useless in a world full of giant bugs. It’s funny, it’s sweet, and it shows off that physical comedy he’s so good at.
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Why Everyone is Talking About 2024 and 2025
The last couple of years have been a massive shift for his filmography. If you missed Saturday Night or Caddo Lake, you're missing the "New Dylan" era.
- Saturday Night (2024): He stepped into the shoes of comedy legend Dan Aykroyd. It’s a high-wire act because if you mess up an impression of someone that famous, the whole movie tanks. Dylan nailed it. He got the cadence right without it feeling like a cheap Saturday Night Live sketch about Saturday Night Live.
- Caddo Lake (2024): This one hit Max (formerly HBO Max) and basically melted everyone’s brains. It’s an M. Night Shyamalan-produced mystery that’s best seen without knowing a single thing about the plot. Dylan plays Paris, a man haunted by his past, and his performance is so grounded it almost makes the "Shyamalan-ness" of the twist feel normal.
- Twinless (2025): This is the one that really changed the game. He plays two characters—Roman and Rocky—twins who couldn't be more different. He won a Special Jury Award at Sundance for this. Playing twins is usually a gimmick, but here, it’s a deep dive into grief.
The Mystery of the Maze Runner Shadow
We have to talk about The Maze Runner. It’s the elephant in the room when discussing Dylan O’Brien movies and shows. For a lot of casual fans, he is Thomas. And look, those movies are better than most people give them credit for. They were grittier and more physical than Twilight or Divergent.
But there’s a misconception that he’s "done" with that kind of action.
He isn't. He just does it differently now. Look at American Assassin. He trained like a maniac for that role. He wanted to be a real-deal action star. Then, of course, there was the horrific accident on the set of the third Maze Runner film. It’s a miracle he came back to acting at all. That trauma changed how he picks roles. You can see a certain vulnerability in his work now that wasn't there in 2011.
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What’s Next: Send Help and Beyond
If you’re looking for what to watch next, mark your calendar for January 30, 2026.
That’s when Send Help drops. It’s a Sam Raimi-directed survival horror flick where Dylan stars alongside Rachel McAdams. Imagine the guy from Love and Monsters but in a Raimi movie. It’s going to be chaotic. He plays a "sexist boss" (a huge departure for him) who gets stranded on an island with McAdams’ character after a plane crash.
He’s also working on Being Heumann, a drama about disability rights activist Judith Heumann. This is the "Oscar-bait" phase of his career, and honestly? He’s earned it.
Dylan O’Brien’s Best Performances (If You’re Cramming)
- Teen Wolf (Season 3B): If you want to see why he's famous, watch the "Void Stiles" arc. It’s genuinely chilling.
- The Outfit (2022): He plays a mobster’s son. He’s slick, he’s annoying, and he’s perfect for the role.
- All Too Well: The Short Film: Yes, the Taylor Swift one. He managed to make everyone on the internet hate him for ten minutes. That’s talent.
- Not Okay (2022): He plays a peroxide-blonde influencer who is just the worst. It’s hilarious.
The Real Insight on His Career
The thing most people get wrong about Dylan O'Brien is thinking he's just waiting for the next big franchise. He's not. He’s turned down huge roles to do small, weird projects that mean something to him.
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He doesn't want to be the next Captain America; he wants to be the next Robert Pattinson—the guy who survived the blockbuster machine and came out the other side as a respected character actor.
If you want to keep up, stop looking for him in the Marvel rumors. Look for him at Sundance. Look for the movies that don't have a 200-million-dollar marketing budget. That’s where he’s doing his best work.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
Start with Caddo Lake on Max if you want a thriller that will keep you up at night. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, find Love and Monsters. And if you really want to see the range everyone is talking about, keep an eye out for Twinless when it hits streaming later this year.