You remember the O2L days? If you don’t, you probably weren't on the internet in 2012. Back then, Kian Lawley was just a kid with a camera and a lot of energy. But honestly, watching his transition into a legitimate actor has been one of the weirdest and most fascinating things to happen in the influencer-to-Hollywood pipeline.
Most people still think of him as "that guy from YouTube." They're not exactly wrong, but they're missing about 70% of the story.
He didn't just stay in the vlogger lane. He actually put in the work, even when the industry was basically ready to write him off as another "social media star" trying to play pretend. From winning Teen Choice Awards to getting fired from major studio projects, the list of kian lawley movies and tv shows is a total rollercoaster of high highs and some pretty public lows.
The Indie Horror Era: Where It All Started
Kian’s first real swing at acting wasn't some polished Disney project. It was gritty. It was weird. It was The Chosen (2015).
He played Cameron, a guy basically forced to sacrifice his own family members to save his younger cousin from a demon. It’s a lot. If you go back and watch it now, you can tell he’s still figuring out his "acting face," but there’s a raw vulnerability there that most people didn’t expect from a guy who spent his afternoons pranking his friends on camera.
Then came Shovel Buddies in 2016.
This one actually had some heart. Kian played Dan, part of a group of friends trying to fulfill the "shovel list" (basically a bucket list) of their friend who just died of leukemia. It premiered at SXSW. That's a big deal. It wasn't just a movie for fans; it was a movie for people who actually like cinema. He starred alongside Bella Thorne, and for the first time, critics started saying, "Wait, can this guy actually act?"
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The Tyler Perry Connection
Okay, we have to talk about Boo! A Madea Halloween.
Kian played "Bean Boy." It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a ridiculous, over-the-top Tyler Perry comedy where Kian is basically the stereotypical frat guy. It wasn't Shakespeare, but it was a massive commercial success. It grossed over $73 million at the domestic box office. That’s more than most "prestige" actors see in a decade.
Why Before I Fall Changed Everything
If you’re looking for the peak of kian lawley movies and tv shows, this is it. Before I Fall (2017) is a time-loop drama based on the Lauren Oliver novel. Kian played Rob Cokran.
He wasn't the "nice guy." Rob was the popular, somewhat jerkish boyfriend of the protagonist, Sam (Zoey Deutch).
He nailed it.
The movie premiered at Sundance, which is the ultimate "you’ve made it" badge for an indie actor. He even won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor: Drama. He beat out some heavy hitters for that one. It proved he could hold his own in a cast of professional, trained actors without sticking out like a sore thumb.
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The TV Shift: Zac & Mia and Perfect Commando
While his movies were getting him on the big screen, his TV work was arguably more consistent.
- Zac & Mia: This was a huge turning point. It’s a story about two teens undergoing cancer treatment in the same hospital. Kian played Zac Meier. It was emotional, heavy, and honestly pretty devastating. He actually got an Emmy nomination for this role. Let that sink in.
- H8TERS: He did this with his longtime friend and collaborator Jc Caylen. It was meta, goofy, and basically made fun of the very culture they came from.
- Perfect Commando: This is the one most people haven't seen. It’s a Finnish comedy series where Kian plays Van Hamilton, a guy who accidentally gets drafted into the Finnish military. It’s weird, it’s dry, and it shows off a comedic range that’s totally different from his early YouTube sketches.
The Controversy That Halted Everything
We can't talk about his career without mentioning The Hate U Give.
In 2018, Kian was cast in the major film adaptation of the best-selling book. He had already finished filming his scenes as Chris, the protagonist's boyfriend. Then, an old video surfaced of him using racial slurs.
He was fired immediately.
Fox reshot all of his scenes with KJ Apa. He was dropped by his agency, CAA. For a while, it looked like his acting career was completely over. He apologized, stayed quiet, and basically went back to his roots to figure out his next move.
What’s He Doing Now? (2025-2026)
So, is he still acting?
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Yes, but it's different. He’s much more selective. As of early 2026, he’s focused on a mix of independent projects and his massive reality-style content on YouTube, like The Reality House.
He’s also leaned heavily into fatherhood after having a son with Ayla Woodruff, which has definitely shifted his public persona. He’s less "frat boy vlogger" and more "industry veteran who’s seen it all."
If you’re trying to catch up on his work, here is the essential watch list:
- Before I Fall – For the best dramatic performance.
- Zac & Mia – For the emotional gut-punch.
- Monster Party – For a weird, cult-horror vibe where he plays a thief who picks the wrong house to rob.
- Perfect Commando – For a look at his international comedy chops.
The evolution of Kian Lawley isn't a straight line. It’s messy. But in an era where everyone is trying to be "authentic," his career—complete with its massive mistakes and surprising awards—is about as real as it gets in Hollywood.
If you're looking to dive into his filmography, start with Before I Fall on streaming; it's the most polished entry point into what he can actually do when the cameras are rolling and the script is solid.