Very few actors feel more front and center these days than Pedro Pascal, who, over the last decades, has parleyed his breakout role on Game of Thrones into some seriously iconic pop-culture projects. From getting his head popped by The Mountain to getting his face covered in Mandalorian armor, Pascal has been a top go-to guy for drama, comedy, and high adventure. And with HBO's The Last of Us being such a soaring success in 2023, his specific stock is at an all-time high.
The Chilean Pascal has been acting since the mid-90s, but has only more recently come into marquee parts and headlining billing. Still, the actor has a lot of good work under his belt and we've got his best movies and TV shows here for you to take in. If you're looking to check out some of Pascal's greatest roles, both big and small, here's the Best o' Pedro:
The Last of Us
Where to Watch: Max
Arguably the biggest thing Pedro Pascal's done -- though leading a Star Wars series might narrowly beat this out -- is HBO's spectacular adaptation of The Last of Us video game from Naughty Dog. It's only had one season but it was so awesome that it not only managed to reinvigorate the rotting zombie genre (though the monsters on the the series aren't "zombies," per se) but it also added more spice and spark to the "apocalypse" dad" sub-genre. Pascal played Joel, opposite Bella Ramsey's Ellie, for a treacherous trek across America in hopes that delivering the fungus-immune Ellie to a lab might result in a cure.
Check out IGN's review of The Last of Us: Season 1.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Where to Watch: Starz Apps/Add-Ons
Pedro got to let his funny, fanboy flag fly in 2022's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent where he played a billionaire (and possible arms dealer) Nicolas Cage stan, opposite Nicolas Cage playing a heightened version of himself. Pascal got to dig around in a very goofy, meta sandbox with Cage, playing a mysterious wealthy man who pays Cage to attend his birthday party on a Spanish island. It's also one of the best Nicolas Cage movies you'll ever see.
Check out IGN's review of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
The Mandalorian
Where to Watch: Disney+
Though Pascal's popular Star Wars bounty hunter role, come the third season, is mostly relegated to voice work, making it so he's rarely on set, there was a point when he was in The Mandalorian's armor full time (despite his face rarely being shown). The Mandalorian was huge for Pascal, plucking him up and out of the character actor sidelines and giving him a title role while also keeping legions of fans invested during a point when the Star Wars movies were being reined in. Din Djarin and Baby Yoda/Grogu's adventures have kept the spirit of Star Wars alive while also beautifully bridging the canon events of live-action and animation.
Check out IGN's review of The Mandalorian: Season 3.
The Equalizer 2
Where to Watch: Hulu, Fubo
Most of Pascal's work, for the first half of his career, had been in TV and theater, but thanks to his stint in Game of Thrones: Season 4 more movies fell his way. In The Equalizer 2, Pascal acted opposite Denzel Washington, playing Robert McCall's former partner, a CIA operative turned freelance assassin. This sinister role was one of Pascal's biggest gigs to date, pitting him against Washington's grudge-holding, justice-seeking vigilante.
Check out IGN's review of The Equalizer 2.
Wonder Woman 1984
Where to Watch: Max
Though both the release and the film itself were not ideal, many praised Pedro Pascal's lively, villainous turn in Wonder Woman 1984. As Maxwell Lord, a charismatic but failing businessman who finds himself in possession of The Dreamstone, Pascal found himself, for the second time in a handful of years, meme-worthy. This also marked Pascal's second time crossing paths with Diana Prince as he was also in the unaired Wonder Woman pilot from 2011, starring Adrianne Palicki, playing Wonder Woman's liaison to the cops.
Check out IGN's review of Wonder Woman 1984.
Triple Frontier
Where to Watch: Netflix
Pascal joined Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund in South American mercenary heist flick, Triple Frontier. From J. C. Chandor, whose Kraven the Hunter opens later this year, Triple Frontier had been bounced around Hollywood for years, attracting stars like Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Will Smith, and Mark Wahlberg. Eventually made by Netflix, the movie was a big part of getting Pascal up and running the action genre.
Check out IGN's review of Triple Frontier.
Narcos
Where to Watch: Netflix
Speaking of Netflix, another series that helped shine up Pedro Pascal was Narcos, which Pascal starred in for three seasons, taking the full lead role in Season 3 once co-star Boyd Holbrook left. The acclaimed drug war drama thrilled fans with the historic takedowns of both Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel. The series eventually spun off into Narcos: Mexico (which also ran for three seasons) but it still stands as a solid, buzz-about midlife series for Netflix before the streamer started coming under fire for canceling shows too quickly.
Read IGN's review of Narcos: Season 1.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Where to Watch: Netflix, Paramount+, Tubi
Admittedly, If Beale Street Could Talk is not a "Pedro Pascal Movie," but it is an excellent movie, featuring Pascal in a brief uncredited role near the end of the story. Pascal is only on screen for about three minutes, but it's enough of a window to showcase his skills as a scene-stealer. Even opposite Regina King who would win an Oscar for her role in the film.
Check out IGN's review of If Beale Street Could Talk.
Prospect
Where to Watch: Kanopy, Freevee
Before there was Joel and Ellie (well, on a TV show anyhow) there was Ezra and Cee in the little-seen 2018 sci-fi indie film, Prospect. As Ezra, Pascal dipped his toe in reluctant dystopian dad territory as a thief who's paired up with a teenage girl (Yellowjackets/The Boogeyman's Sophie Thatcher) on a forest moon after her father's greed for mining gems gets him killed. It's a small, effective future tale that -- look, any movie that takes home the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award from SXSW, and has the Beasties seal of approval, has got to be good.
Game of Thrones
Where to Watch: Max
For most, Pedro Pascal jumped to the front of the line when he starred on Game of Thrones, during one of the show's very best seasons, as Oberyn Martell, a Dornish noble carrying a not-so-secret hate for the Lannisters. Oberyn was dangerous, debonair, and determined to serve up cold retribution for the death of his sister and her children. Oberyn's demise was a standout moment on a show chock-full of "holy s***!" scenes that made for one of the best Game of Thrones episodes.
Read IGN's review of Game of Thrones: Season 4.
Matt Fowler is a freelance entertainment writer/critic, covering TV news, reviews, interviews and features on IGN for 13+ years.
