Scott Mescudi isn’t just a rapper who decided to stand in front of a camera because he got bored with the studio. For over a decade, the man better known as Kid Cudi has been weaving himself into the fabric of Hollywood. Most people remember him from the "Day 'n' Nite" era, but if you’ve actually been paying attention to Kid Cudi movies and tv shows, you know he’s a legit character actor. He’s the guy who shows up in an A24 horror flick or an M. Night Shyamalan thriller and actually holds his own against industry veterans.
It’s not just cameos. Cudi has a vibe. He brings this specific, vulnerable energy to his roles that mirrors the raw honesty of his music. He’s not playing himself; he’s playing these weird, layered, often troubled individuals that stick with you.
The Early Days: How To Make It In America
Before everyone was obsessed with "aesthetic" New York, Cudi was living it on screen. In 2010, he landed the role of Domingo Dean in HBO’s How to Make It in America. Honestly, this show was ahead of its time. It captured that gritty, hustle-heavy NYC energy perfectly.
Cudi played Domingo with a natural coolness. He wasn’t the main lead, but he felt essential to the world. He was the guy with the connections and the street-smart wisdom. Looking back, it was the perfect launchpad. It proved he could handle a recurring TV role without it feeling forced.
Stepping Into The Feature World
Cudi’s first major film appearance came in 2014 with Need for Speed. He played Benny, a pilot who provided comic relief and aerial support. Was it Oscar bait? No. But it showed he could fit into a big-budget action movie.
He followed that up with roles in Entourage and the indie drama James White. In James White, he played the best friend of Christopher Abbott’s title character. It was a small role, but it was heavy. He even composed the score for that film. That’s the thing about Cudi—he’s usually doing more than just acting. He’s often deeply embedded in the creative process.
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The A24 Breakout and Modern Horror
If you want to see Cudi really flex his acting muscles, look at 2022’s X. Directed by Ti West, this movie was a massive hit for A24. Cudi played Jackson Hollis, a Vietnam vet turned adult film performer.
He was unrecognizable.
With a thick mustache and a massive afro, he fully disappeared into the 1970s Texas setting. He wasn't just "Kid Cudi the rapper" in a wig. He brought a groundedness to a movie that was otherwise pretty wild and gory. He also executive produced the entire trilogy (X, Pearl, and MaXXXine), which shows he’s got a real eye for the business side of things through his production company, Mad Solar.
The Weirdness of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap
In 2024, Cudi popped up in Trap. He played a character called "The Thinker." It was... bizarre. In a good way. He had this wild, gravity-defying hair and a persona that was essentially a parody of a pretentious pop-star-diva.
Watching him yell about kombucha while being a complete red herring in a serial killer thriller was one of the highlights of the movie. It confirmed that he doesn't take himself too seriously. He’s down to be the joke if it serves the story.
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Entergalactic: A Visual Masterpiece
You can’t talk about Kid Cudi movies and tv shows without mentioning Entergalactic. This wasn’t just a TV special; it was a "visual album" released on Netflix in late 2022.
Cudi voiced Jabari, a comic book artist moving into a new Manhattan apartment. The animation style was gorgeous—thick, painterly brushstrokes that felt like a dream. It was basically a love letter to New York City and the feeling of falling for someone new.
The voice cast was stacked:
- Jessica Williams as Meadow
- Timothée Chalamet as Jimmy (the crypto-obsessed weed dealer)
- Vanessa Hudgens
- Macaulay Culkin
- Ty Dolla $ign
It won critical acclaim because it didn't feel like a gimmick. It was a genuine story about black love and creativity that just happened to have an amazing soundtrack.
What’s Next for Scott Mescudi?
The man isn't slowing down. In 2025 and 2026, his slate is looking pretty crowded. He’s recently been linked to projects like Ursa Major, a sci-fi thriller where he plays a lead role opposite Jessica Biel. There’s also Happy Gilmore 2, where he’s reportedly playing an FBI agent. Imagine that—Cudi in a Sandler comedy.
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He’s also been working on his directorial debut, Teddy. He wrote it, he’s starring in it, and Jay-Z is even on board as a producer. He’s described it as "If Entergalactic was live-action and on drugs." Given his track record, it’s probably going to be pretty trippy.
Where To Start Your Watchlist
If you’re new to his filmography, don’t just jump in randomly. Start with the projects where he actually gets to act, not just cameo as himself.
- Watch X (2022) if you want to see his best dramatic transformation.
- Stream Entergalactic (2022) if you want the "Cudi Vibe" in visual form.
- Find How to Make It in America (Max) to see where the acting journey truly began.
- Check out A Man Named Scott (Amazon Prime). It’s a documentary, but it’s essential to understand why he chooses the roles he does. It covers his struggles with mental health and how that fuels his art.
Kid Cudi has transitioned from a musician who acts to an actor who happens to be a legendary musician. He’s selective. He picks roles that challenge the "rapper-turned-actor" stereotype. Whether he’s playing a vampire in Neverland or a voice on Trolls Band Together, he’s doing it with a level of sincerity that’s rare in Hollywood.
The best way to appreciate his work is to look at the credits beyond just his name. He's often producing, writing, or composing. He’s building a cinematic universe of his own, one weird, vulnerable character at a time. Keep an eye on his upcoming directorial work—that’s where we’ll likely see the purest version of his vision yet.