Whether you know him as Shaggy from the live-action Scooby-Doo movies or Stu Macher from Scream, you probably recognize the face and voice of Matthew Lillard. Though not a major star, he’s been quietly proving himself as a legitimate actor since the early 1990s. He’s worked in quite a wide range of genres, and frequently excels as a supporting cast member. Often playing obnoxious braggarts or comic relief characters, Lillard can also excel in dramatic parts, as demonstrated by his recent appearance in Twin Peaks: The Return (via Vanity Fair). For this list, we’re counting down the seven best performances of his career, and ranking them from worst to best.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 She’s All That (1999)

     Miramax Films   

Who could forget the heyday of the teen movie? It was a time when characters in high school were played by men and women in their mid-20s, and just about everyone onscreen was downright obnoxious (from Buffed Film Buffs). She’s All That is a classic teen movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachel Leigh Cook, Paul Walker, and Matthew Lillard. Lillard plays a comically annoying reality television star, Brock Hudson (the name really says it all). Brock can be seen as the villain of the film, and Lillard’s performance goes a long way to making this over-the-top character work.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

6 Without a Paddle (2004)

     De Line Pictures  

Without a Paddle is a forgotten relic of early 2000s buddy-comedy. It might not hold up particularly well today, but there are still laughs to be had. The cast of Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepherd, and Seth Green have terrific onscreen chemistry. As they hunt for the legendary criminal D.B. Cooper’s lost treasure, things go from bad to worse to even worse. Lillard is perfectly cast in this boyish downriver romp, and his performance is the strongest in the film​​​​​​.

5 Hackers (1995)

     MGM / UA Distribution Co.  

Hackers is a classic ’90s cyberthriller with sleek visuals and a lot of attitude. Its punk flair might make it seem like a product of its time, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t revisit it. Lillard plays Emmanuel “Cereal Killer” Goldstein, and if the name doesn’t give it away already, he’s one of the film’s most memorable characters. Goldstein is one of a ragtag group of hackers who get in over their heads in the world of cybercrime and cybersecurity. Lillard’s Goldstein is obnoxious in all the right ways, making this performance a highlight of his early years in show business.

4 Scooby-Doo (2002)

     Warner Bros.  

Scooby-Doo isn’t the easiest piece of media to adapt as a live-action feature film. Somehow, Raja Gosnell’s version turned out to be quite good. Maybe it’s the James Gunn screenplay, or the star-studded cast, or the fact that it perfectly captures the spirit of the original series. Lillard’s Shaggy is a major highlight, and it seems like he was made for the role. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing (or voicing) Shaggy after seeing Lillard bring the character to life. Unsurprisingly, he continues to voice the character in animated Scooby-Doo projects today.

3 SLC Punk! (1998)

     Sony Pictures Classics  

Before the release of SLC Punk! in 1998, Lillard was seen as a supporting actor rather than a lead. But when he took top billing in this cult classic of the late ’90s, he changed everybody’s minds. It was a film that showed that Lillard had the makings of a star, and although he would not go on to become a go-to leading man, he certainly had the potential to do so. Though it’s an almost garishly punk film, Lillard’s performance in SLC Punk! is incredibly nuanced. His fears and anxieties are almost palpable: you can read them on his face and hear them in his voice.

2 Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)

     Showtime  

Lillard was an unexpected addition to the cast of Twin Peaks: The Return. He was one of a number of brand-new characters added to the third season of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s mystery series. Though not connected to the characters of the original two seasons, Lillard’s character, William “Bill” Hastings, is one of the highlights of The Return. He plays an important, though somewhat confusing role in the show’s South Dakota subplot. A principal arrested for a murder, Hastings features in one of the series’ most emotionally arresting scenes, which allows Lillard to prove himself as a gifted dramatic actor. It’s a knockout performance, to say the least.

1 Scream (1996)

     Dimension Films  

Wes Craven’s Scream is the horror satire to end all horror satires. Laughs aside, it has its fair share of legitimate scares, and its influence on the genre has been enormous. Lillard plays one of its two central villains, and his performance is maybe the most iconic in the film. Stu Macher is a loudmouth bully, and however annoying his brazen self-confidence may be, it’s hard to believe that he could be a bloodthirsty killer. Lillard pulls off the transition well, bringing just the right amount of insanity to the character. He doesn’t push it as far as a lesser actor might have, and his role in Scream is the best of his career.