Matthew McConaughey is today considered one of the best actors in circulation, and his long-lasting career (his first role was in 1993) is a proof to the longevity and tenacity of the Texan actor. It’s amazing how McConaughey has been able to make a mark on cinema history multiple times in his filmography,

This list considers the characters that Matthew McConaughey is most known for, from his small but legendary performance in Dazed And Confused to the award-winning achievement for Dallas Buyers Club. At the same time, it features many movies from the early 2010s that signified a change of career for the actor, and the blossoming of his drama skills after one too many rom-coms. Matthew McConaughey has proved to be a charismatic and polyhedral actor, capable of reinventing himself and not afraid to step in the unknown, and this list shows it.

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10 Mud

     Everest Entertainment

Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Mud tells the story of two boys named Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who live in the DeWitt area in Arkansas. One day, after finding a boat on a small island in the Missisipi River, they meet a man named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) who lives there. Mud strikes you with its beautiful cinematography, the elegant directorial style of Nichols, and one of the best performances of McConaughey to date.

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The actor plays the role superbly and delivers a psychologically layered character that is hard to forget for his ruggedness, his literal dirtiness, and the emotions he brings inside. Mud is a magnificent coming-of-age movie, one of the best ever made, and an example of heartfelt cinema. Nichols is superb, the cast is perfect in every aspect, and McConaughey shines once more for his capacity to bring to life the characters he plays.

9 The Lincoln Lawyer

     Lakeshore Entertainment

The Lincoln Lawyer was directed by Brad Furman and is based on the homonymous novel by Michael Connelly. Matthew McConaughey stars as Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles lawyer who works in the back of his car and usually defends street criminal clients; one day, he gets hired to defend the rich Louis Roulet, son of a real estate big shot. Everything gets complicated when similarities emerge with a previous case of Haller.

The Lincoln Lawyer is a good thriller with a strong touch of legal drama and a well-written screenplay. McConaughey is the star of the show and delivers an engaging performance, both in his relaxed trademark style and in the more dramatic scenes. The Lincoln Lawyer is great entertainment, and the movie flows fast from start to finish, giving us a Matthew McConaughey in great shape with his acting.

8 Reign of Fire

     Touchstone Pictures

Reign of Fire was directed by Rob Bowman, and it describes a post-apocalyptic world at the beginning of the 21st century ravaged by dragons. The movie features Christian Bale as Quinn, a community leader at Bamburgh Castle, Northern England. Quinn thinks the best way to survive is to wait until the dragons go into hibernation. Soon, a band of military irregulars from the US arrives at the castle, armed to the teeth and led by Denton Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey).

Denton Van Zan is a rugged and resilient soldier with only one purpose: killing dragons. McConaughey interprets this tough guy part with no flaws. His style is still memorable after many years: the sleeveless leather jacket, the tribal tattoos, and the ax he carries are perfect for his character. At the same time, McConaughey has great chemistry with Bale and represents a great counter altar to Quinn. A testosterone cult.

7 Tropic Thunder

     Red Hour Productions 

Tropic Thunder was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars as Tugg Speedman, an action actor on his way to the decline. When the bestseller Tropic Thunder by Vietnam veteran John “Four Leaf” Tayback is ready to be portrayed in a movie, Tugg decides to take the lead role of the Staff Sergeant to revive his career. Tropic Thunder features a luxurious ensemble cast comprehending Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, and Matthew McConaughey.

The Texan actor plays the role of Rick “Pecker” Peck, originally intended for Owen Wilson. McConaughey is great at fitting the shoes of a character not written for him and delivers an exhilarating performance as Tugg Speedman’s agent. Despite the small part, Matthew McConaughey still covers for his role greatly and helps Tropic Thunder become the hilarious movie that everybody knows.

6 Killer Joe

     Voltage Pictures

Directed by the great William Friedkin, Killer Joe is a masterful thriller with black comedy inserts. Chris (Emile Hirsch) is a drug dealer who remains homeless after his mum threw him out; she also stole drugs he was supposed to sell, and now Chris owes money to his contact. Consequently, he conspires with his father to kill her, hiring Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) for the job.

Killer Joe is an intense and dreadful movie showing the evilest Matthew McConaughey has ever been on-screen. The piercing and violent screenplay gives him the possibility to embrace the dark side of his character and deliver a performance that is diametrically opposed to what he used to interpret. Killer Joe signified a break from his rom-com past and a step into foreign territory for McConaughey. Without that evolution, we wouldn’t have the multilayered actor that he is today. An unforgettable turning point.

5 Magic Mike

     Nick Wechsler Productions

Magic Mike was edited, photographed, and directed by Steven Soderbergh and features Channing Tatum as Mike Lane, a famous stripper in Tampa at the Xquisite Strip Club, owned by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey). One day, Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer) and introduces him to his nightlife. Magic Mike features a classic Soderbergh in charge of many mansions and strong performances by the ensemble cast, on and off-stage.

Matthew McConaughey, in the part of Dallas, is one of the driving forces of the movie. The actor is great at portraying the passionate character in the journey to build his strip empire in Florida, still impacted by the economic crisis. Magic Mike is mostly remembered for the physiques of its actors, but it’s also an entertaining movie with a touch of social commentary and a convincing interpretation by McConaughey.

4 Interstellar

     Syncopy

Interstellar features Matthew McConaughey as the main protagonist Joseph Cooper, a former NASA pilot who became a farmer after a global food crisis erupted on Earth. Cooper is tasked by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) to travel through space to investigate three possible planets and their compatibility with human life. Co-written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan, this sci-fi movie features suggestive images by the English director and a powerful soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.

McConaughey fits the part perfectly, and the complexity of the character allows him to explore his acting completely and showcase a full range of emotions. He is equally brilliant in the tense and dramatic scenes; in fact, the sequences with his daughter Murph, played by Mackenzie Foy and Jessica Chastain, are especially deep and significant. Interstellar remains a sci-fi excellence of the last decade and a must-see in Matthew McConaughey’s filmography.

3 Dallas Buyers Club

     Truth Entertainment

Dallas Buyers Club was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, and it stars Matthew McConaughey as Roon Woodroof, a patient who contracted AIDS in the mid-80s, a time when the condition was highly stigmatized. Based on a true story, the movie details Woodroof’s struggle to survive and his decision to smuggle experimental pharmaceutical drugs to fellow patients with the same condition. Alongside McConaughey we find Jennifer Garner as Dr. Eve Saks and Jaret Leto as Rayon.

McConaughey delivers a heartfelt performance and probably the best of his career so far in the shoes of Woodroof. The movie is amazing in detailing his tough and pioneering struggle and the screenplay gives the Texan actor the possibility of delivering a complete range of emotions. Woodroof’s stubbornness and resilience is perfectly embodied by McConaughey, who doesn’t miss the beat in one single scene. An impressive performance that crowns McConaughey as one of the best actors and gave him an Oscar.

2 The Wolf of Wall Street

     Red Granite Pictures 

The Wolf of Wall Street was co-produced and directed by Martin Scorsese and features Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, the real-life stockbroker who made millions on Wall Street before behind arrested for fraud. One of the best movies of 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street, sees Scorses in impeccable form as always, crafting an epic and entertaining three hours opus.

In this movie, Matthew McConaughey plays Mark Hanna, the supervisor of Belfort, during his first job at a Wall Street firm. McConaughey’s scene lasts less than six minutes but will forever be remembered for the Texan actor’s brilliant acting; Hanna is fundamental in the story because he breaks every preconceived idea Belfort had about Wall Street. It’s all about drugs, prostitutes, and earning money for yourself, not caring about the client’s profit. McConaughey is top-notch in his delivery, and the humming sequences are pure genius.

1 Dazed and Confused

     Alphaville

Detailing the last day of high school of different groups of Texas student in 1976, Dazed and Confused is a coming-of-age cult that features a great ensemble cast, a funny and well-written screenplay, and memorable performances by many actors. The most famous of all is, without a doubt, Matthew McConaughey’s rendition of David, an older man who hangs out with the students.

Watching the movie and based on the confidence with which the actor tackles the role, it seems like McConaughey’s part was purposely written for him. The hazy and marijuana-infused delivery of the lines, the attitude towards other students, and the behavioral nuances are handled perfectly by McConaughey. Since from the start with his impressive audition, this role was calling him and the rest is history. Dazed and Confused is a cult that first showcased the raw talent Matthew McConaughey had and that gave us some of the most memorable comedy scenes ever.