If you were anywhere near a smartphone in 2013, you knew Matthew Espinosa. He was one of the "Magcon Boys," a group of teenagers who basically invented the modern concept of being "internet famous" via Vine. But then something happened. While some of his peers went full-tilt into music or stayed in the influencer lane forever, Matt took a hard pivot. He wanted to be a real actor.
Honestly, the transition from 6-second comedy clips to a 90-minute feature film is a brutal jump. Most people fail. They get one "influencer movie" project, it flops, and they go back to TikTok. But when you look at the catalog of Matthew Espinosa movies and tv shows, you see someone who actually tried to put in the work, even if the Hollywood machine is notoriously tough on "social media stars."
That One Movie Everyone Remembers: Be Somebody (2016)
Let’s talk about Be Somebody. This was the big one. It came out in 2016 when the hype around Matthew was at an absolute fever pitch. If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically a modern-day Roman Holiday but for the Gen Z crowd.
Matt plays Jordan Jaye, a massive pop star who is just exhausted by the fame. He jumps off his tour bus in a small town to escape a group of fans and ends up meeting Emily Lowe, played by Sarah Jeffery. Sarah is actually a really solid actress (you might know her from Descendants or the Charmed reboot), and their chemistry wasn't half bad.
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It wasn't a masterpiece. I’ll be the first to say it. Critics weren't exactly kind, and it’s got a pretty "made-for-TV" vibe. But for his first lead role? He actually carried it. He didn't just play "Matthew Espinosa." He played a character who felt vulnerable. It was a smart move because the role mirrored his real life—a kid dealing with a level of fame that felt claustrophobic. Paramount Pictures actually got behind this, which was a huge deal at the time.
Beyond the Lead Roles: Small Screen Surprises
Most people think Be Somebody was his only acting gig. It wasn't. If you dig through the list of Matthew Espinosa movies and tv shows, you’ll find some interesting cameos and supporting roles that showed he was trying to branch out into different genres.
Take 48 Hours to Live (2016). This was a weird one. It’s a 3D dance-thriller—yeah, you read that right—where he played a character named Tristan. It was worlds away from the "heartthrob" image of his Vine days. It was gritty, fast-paced, and focused on the underground dance scene and a missing sister plot. It didn't win any Oscars, but it proved he was willing to take roles where he wasn't the "pretty boy" lead.
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Then there’s his TV work. A lot of fans missed his appearances in:
- American Vandal (Netflix): This was a huge "blink and you'll miss it" moment for many. Being part of a critically acclaimed mockumentary series like this, even in a smaller capacity, showed he was moving in circles with actual "prestige" creators.
- Ballers (HBO): He had a brief stint here. Again, it’s HBO. You don't just walk onto an HBO set because you have followers. You have to at least be able to hit your marks.
- A Hollywood Christmas (2022): This is one of his more recent credits. It’s a meta-rom-com about making a Christmas movie. It’s light, it’s fun, and it shows a more mature version of the kid we saw in 2016.
Why the "Influencer" Label Is a Double-Edged Sword
We have to be real here. Hollywood is snobby. For a long time, if you started on the internet, casting directors wouldn't take you seriously. Matthew talked about this in interviews back in the day—how he’d go into rooms and people would already have a preconceived notion of who he was.
"I really kind of want to just start going through those doors," he told TheWrap back when he was 18. He’s been chasing that "actor" title for over a decade now.
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There’s also the project The Last Summer of Nathan Lee (2023). It’s a coming-of-age story that hit streaming services like Tubi. It’s low-budget, but it’s the kind of indie work that actors do when they are trying to build a "serious" reel. It’s about a kid who finds out he has a brain tumor and decides to live his life to the fullest. It’s heavy stuff, and Matt’s involvement shows he’s still interested in the craft of acting, not just the fame.
What's Next for Matthew Espinosa?
By 2026, the landscape has changed. Most actors are influencers now anyway. The line is blurred. Matthew has matured quite a bit from the kid who used to jump into piles of stuffed animals for likes.
He’s been doing more live events and comedy lately, as seen on sites like Vivid Seats for his 2026 tours. But the acting bug usually doesn't just go away. He’s consistently listed in industry databases with several "in development" projects that often pop up and disappear. That’s just the nature of the "biz."
If you’re looking to binge the Matthew Espinosa movies and tv shows catalog, start with Be Somebody for the nostalgia, then check out American Vandal to see the kind of high-quality productions he’s been associated with. He’s not just a Vine star anymore; he’s a guy who survived the first wave of internet fame and is still standing.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you want to track his latest work, your best bet is following his verified IMDb profile or his official Instagram. Most of his smaller indie projects, like The Last Summer of Nathan Lee, are currently available on free-with-ads platforms like Tubi or Pluto TV. If you’re a fan of the old Magcon days, Be Somebody remains the definitive "Matt" movie and is usually available for rent on Amazon or Apple TV.