Actor Highlight: Michael Shannon and where to stream his movies
By Onias Snuka
A brief look at the artistry of Michael Shannon, one of the most underrated actors in show business today and the streaming platforms where his movies and TV shows can be found.
Michael Shannon has one of those Hollywood faces that makes you think, “I know him from something, but I have no idea what his name is.” A side effect for a man who revels in the craft but avoids the social limelight.
Within the mainstream audience, Michael Shannon is best known for his portrayal as the vengeful General Zod in the DCU’s Man of Steel. As menacing as the Kryptonian antagonist was, his performance in the 2013 Superman adaption was hardly a full showcase of his brooding intensity and signature grimace that has graced the silver screen for decades.
Shannon has been open about how the genesis of his ability to lose himself in the intensity of his characters comes from drawing on past trauma and struggle from growing up with divorced parents. He explained on The Off-Camera Show with Sam jones that in his youth, Shannon found himself jumping from house to house and never quite establishing real friendships until he was immersed in the industry at the age of sixteen.
Since his first speaking part in Groundhog Day, Shannon has been churning out critically acclaimed titles like he was Elvis releasing hit songs in the latter half of the 50’s (Elvis being just one of the real-life portrayals Michael Shannon has played as a matter of fact). At one point Shannon had 10 feature films out in a single calendar year.
A credit to Michael Shannon’s profession
Shannon as of the last few years has been ubiquitous within the noir thrillers, but he can be seen in anything from sci-fi dramas to making appearances in buddy comedies. The Lexington, Kentucky native is also famously known his character opposite of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the period drama Revolutionary Road where he received the first of his two Oscar nominations.
His second Academy Award nod came when he played an indignant, small county Texas cop alongside the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the twisted revenge film Nocturnal Animals. News from The Hollywood Reporter tells the heralded actor is to be included in more movie star saturated projects including an untitled David O. Russel movie which has also casted Margot Robbie, Christian Bale, Taylor Swift, and more!
Michael Shannon’s ability to suspend his audiences’ attention from reality with every role is accredited to the time he put in as a stage actor. Needless to say, no matter the movie title or topic, if Michael Shannon is on the role sheet, he will capture your consciousness and leave you drained with emotion.
More Michael Shannon movies and shows available to stream
- Nocturnal Animals
- Pottersville
- Frank and Lola
- Midnight Special
- Loving
- World Trade Center
- The Runaways
- Knives Out
- Take Shelter (also on Hulu)
- Complete Unknown
- The Iceman
- Elvis and Nixon
- Man of Steel
- Boardwalk Empire
- Fahrenheit 451
- Machine Gun Preacher
- Room 104 (S2:Ep 3)
- Revolutionary Road
- Wolves
- The Shape of Water
- The Current War (with ShowTime)
- 12 Strong (with CineMax)
- The Quarry (with CineMax)
- Freeheld
Tubi
- 99 Homes
- The Iceman
- The Missing Person
Which performance from Micheal Shannon is your favorite?