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Austin Butler has recently gained some considerable traction in his career for his portrayal of the legendary King of Rock, Elvis Presley. You can probably expect to see more Austin Butler movies and TV shows from here on out, especially since his role as Elvis netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
And you can always get used to his face and acting chops by checking out his portfolio of other Austin Butler movies and TV shows.
We’ve compiled some of his best works leading up to Elvis to give you an idea of how much Austin Butler has grown careerwise and, of course, something to binge.
Elvis (2022)
First up is Austin Butler’s biggest role so far. Trying to get picked to play Elvis in a musical biopic is likely an uphill battle, given how many prominent faces there are with more colorful filmographies, but Austin Butler won with flying colors. It’s worth noting that Austin Butler beat out Harry Styles for the role, and that’s nothing short of impressive.
Sure enough, Austin Butler was the right choice since Elvis won Best Picture for the Academy Awards this year, and the lead actor was nominated for the aforementioned Best Actor award.
Moreover, they actually used Austin Butler’s singing voice in Elvis, giving it a more authentic and natural feel. For those who are not familiar with Elvis (which is highly unlikely), the 2022 biopic chronicles his rise to fame as well as his complex relationships with the people around him.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of Quentin Tarantino’s latest films and truth be told, it’s a lot tamer than his usual offerings. It’s about a famous and aging actor and his stuntman who cross paths with the infamous Charles Manson cult family while they’re struggling to land film roles.
Austin Butler was a villain here, and he stepped into the shoes of Charles “Tex” Watson, one of the members of the Manson family. Here, he plans a revenge home invasion against the two protagonists, Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton, after a previous unresolved altercation sparked into a feud.
For a lot of viewers, recognizing Austin Butler here might be difficult since he naturally sinks into the role, a testament to his faithfulness to his characters.
Dude (2018)
For another proof of Austin Butler’s acting range, Dude is a recommended film. It’s an indie coming-of-age story about a group of friends who were about to graduate high school but suddenly have to face some life-changing predicaments and heartbreaks.
Sadly, Austin Butler’s role here as Thomas Daniels is somewhat minimal. He’s one of the closest friends of the aforementioned protagonist girl group, and he died early in the film due to a car crash.
However, there were still some important flashbacks and recorded dialog from Austin Butler’s Thomas character left behind to help viewers appreciate his character better.
Yoga Hosers (2016)
It’s no blockbuster, but Yoga Hosers has its own B-movie charm. Imagine a female version of Dude Where’s My Car but without the aliens and the ostriches (and the car). That’s what you get here. The plot revolves around two blonde BFFs who are also yoga enthusiasts, and somehow, they end up in a battle with an ancient evil that’s threatening their party plans.
This is not a movie you watch for Austin Butler, sadly, but he’s here, and his brief role can give you a good glimpse of his dynamics. Because he plays Hunter Calloway in this comedy horror, and his character is a comedic heartthrob with a goofy accent.
It goes to show Austin’s range and his handy ability to toy with his accents.
The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
Speaking of comedy horror films, The Dead Don’t Die is another where Austin Butler is among the cast. This film is an absurdist comedy film with zombies and a simple premise; there’s a small, generic country town called Centerville, and one day, the dead decide to rise up from their graves so the movie could happen.
Austin Butler is here as Jack, one of the young travelers who accompanied his two friends on a small-town trip. As is customary for young people in a zombie horror film, they die and get digested by the living dead, so it’s not exactly a dignified role for Austin.
Moreover, bigger stars like Adam Driver and Tilda Swinton tend to overshadow him, but at the very least, you get to enjoy this mindless fun of a zombie comedy film.
The Shannara Chronicles (2016)
Now here’s a more epic role for Austin Butler.
The Shannara Chronicles is a TV series that served as the media adaptation of The Sword of Shannara fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. In this fantasy world, three heroes must band together to stop demons from escaping their banishment, which is tied to an ancient tree.
Austin Butler is one of those heroes, Wil Ohmsford. He’s a half-elf who aspires to be a great healer though his background is a lot less conflicted compared to your usual fantasy protagonist.
Regardless, seeing Elvis as an elf makes The Shannara Chronicles worth a try. And besides, it’s one of the more decent fantasy projects on TV that isn’t Game of Thrones or The Witcher with its difficult romantic triangles.
The Carrie Diaries (2013)
The Carrie Diaries is a prequel to the hit show Sex and the City, and as the title implies, it’s about Carrie Bradshaw’s past. The series was a throwback to when Carrie was just in high school up to the point of her working life as a yuppie writer in New York City.
In this fictional period drama, Austin Butler assumes the role of Sebastian Kydd; he’s one of Carrie’s love interests and one of her exes, eventually. Austin certainly shows a good concept of his role here since his character, Sebastian, is supposed to be a toxic on-and-off boyfriend who regularly cheats and is one misdeed away from getting expelled.
It’s safe to say Austin Butler already had the makings of a candidate for an Elvis biopic this early on.
Switched at Birth (2011)
For additional proof that Austin Butler was already an effortless heartthrob worthy of an Elvis biopic, look no further than his role in Switched at Birth. This drama is about a teenager who suddenly discovers that she was switched at birth (unsurprisingly), and now their families must live together for the two kids.
Austin Butler, meanwhile, is James “Wilke” Wilkerson III here, your typical charismatic and flirty ladies’ man in high school who apparently doesn’t stick with a girl for more than two weeks. This makes him an automatic love interest for one of the protagonists and also easier to digest as someone who will grow into an Elvis impersonator.
