Paul Mescal movies ranked by sad boy energy: saddest to sweetest

Show summary Hide summary

• Normal People (2020) — Connell’s private ache that launched a career
• Drifting (2020) — A short film that tracked a slow-burning regret
• Rolling Stones — “Scarlet” (2020) music video: a tiny, intense moment
• Phoebe Bridgers — “Savior Complex” (2020) music video and a brief romance
• The Lost Daughter (2021) — Small role, big company
• God’s Creatures (2022) — Menace and moral tension in a rural thriller
• Aftersun (2022) — The performance that earned an Oscar nod
• Carmen (2022) — A brooding take on a classic opera
• All of Us Strangers (2023) — Yearning, tenderness, and quiet fury
• Foe (2023) — Sci‑fi premise, inconsistent lift
• Gladiator II (2024) — A softer bravado in an epic arena
• Saturday Night Live hosting (2024) — When Mescal lets loose
• The History of Sound (2024) — Love, loss, and suppressed longing
• Hamnet (2025) — Shakespeare, sorrow, and a performance to break you

Paul Mescal moved fast from breakthrough stage actor to one of cinema’s most talked-about talents. Critics and fans praise his aching vulnerability. Across TV, films, and music videos, he has perfected a performance shorthand: the kind of quietly devastating sadness that lingers after the credits roll.

Normal People (2020) — Connell’s private ache that launched a career

In the BBC/Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, Mescal’s Connell combines charm with a deep, simmering loneliness. He hides feelings and struggles to name them. A late-season therapy scene became a defining moment.

• Role: Connell Waldron — shy, pressured, emotionally split.
• Why it matters: That monologue revealed Mescal’s command of raw, intimate emotion.
• Notable co-star: Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne.

How to watch: Normal People is streaming on Hulu.

Drifting (2020) — A short film that tracked a slow-burning regret

This 14-minute Irish short by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney shows two lifelong friends growing apart. Mescal’s Cian wears bravado like armor.

• Tone: Playful on the surface, aching underneath.
• Length: Compact, elegiac, sadness unfurls near the end.

How to watch: Drifting is available on YouTube.

Rolling Stones — “Scarlet” (2020) music video: a tiny, intense moment

Mescal opens this clip with a tearful, direct-to-camera moment before the band kicks in. The switch from vulnerability to jaunty dance creates an emotional flip.

• Moment to remember: A whispered apology and “I love you” set the mood.
• Overall feel: Alternates between brooding and playful.

How to watch: The Rolling Stones’ “Scarlet” is on YouTube.

Phoebe Bridgers — “Savior Complex” (2020) music video and a brief romance

Directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this video cast Mescal as a roguish, troubled figure. He later dated Bridgers, which amplified the clip’s cultural buzz.

• Character: A con-man type; wounded and evasive.
• Why it stuck: The video mixed cinematic storytelling with Mescal’s magnetic unease.

How to watch: “Savior Complex” streams on YouTube.

The Lost Daughter (2021) — Small role, big company

In Maggie Gyllenhaal’s psychological drama, Mescal plays Will, a young man on a Greek island. He is one of the few characters not overtly tormented.

• Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal.
• Co-stars: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson.

How to watch: The Lost Daughter is streaming on Netflix.

God’s Creatures (2022) — Menace and moral tension in a rural thriller

Mescal plays Brian, a son who returns home and becomes the focus of a troubling accusation. The film centers on a mother’s torn loyalties.

• Lead opposite: Emily Watson as Aileen.
• Mood: Bleak, morally fraught, quietly menacing.

How to watch: God’s Creatures is available on Tubi.

Aftersun (2022) — The performance that earned an Oscar nod

Mescal was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Calum, a father whose warmth masks deep sorrow. The film unfolds through a daughter’s memories and old recordings.

• Director: Charlotte Wells.
• Emotional core: Love, regret, and a sense of loss that reframes the whole movie.

How to watch: Aftersun streams on Pluto TV.

Carmen (2022) — A brooding take on a classic opera

Benjamin Millepied reimagines Bizet in a Texas-set drama. Mescal plays Aidan, a Marine haunted by trauma and love, often watching more than speaking.

• Traits: PTSD, restraint, mournful gazes.
• Performance note: Mescal sings and plays guitar, adding a layered sadness.

How to watch: Carmen is for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

All of Us Strangers (2023) — Yearning, tenderness, and quiet fury

Andrew Haigh’s adaptation finds Mescal and Andrew Scott as neighbors who form a fierce bond. Their intimacy carries both hope and an underlying threat.

• Source: Based on Taichi Yamada’s novel Strangers.
• Why it lands: Emotional honesty and a devastating secret drive the drama.

How to watch: All of Us Strangers streams on Hulu.

Foe (2023) — Sci‑fi premise, inconsistent lift

Set on a dying Earth, this film pairs Mescal with Saoirse Ronan. Mescal’s Junior reacts with confusion and protectiveness when an AI replica threatens his marriage.

• Genre: Science fiction with relationship stakes.
• Takeaway: Strong moments but the film doesn’t fully ignite.

How to watch: Foe is streaming on Prime Video.

Gladiator II (2024) — A softer bravado in an epic arena

Ridley Scott cast Mescal in the sequel to Gladiator, tapping into a different masculine energy. Mescal’s quieter intensity contrasts with the franchise’s classic ferocity.

• Director: Ridley Scott.
• Streaming: Available on Paramount+.

How to watch: Gladiator II streams on Paramount+.

Saturday Night Live hosting (2024) — When Mescal lets loose

Hosting SNL showed Mescal’s comic range. He poked fun at his public image, sang, danced, and starred in a gleeful Gladiator II musical parody.

• Highlights: Musical numbers, physical comedy, vocal turns.
• Result: A rare, unguarded performance full of joy.

How to watch: Saturday Night Live is on Peacock.

The History of Sound (2024) — Love, loss, and suppressed longing

Oliver Hermanus’ film follows two music academics whose romance spans decades. Mescal’s Lionel is a man shaped by loneliness and forbidden desire.

• Co-star: Josh O’Connor.
• Themes: Grief, isolation, and a life of quiet devotion.

How to watch: The History of Sound streams on MUBI.

Hamnet (2025) — Shakespeare, sorrow, and a performance to break you

Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel casts Mescal as William Shakespeare. The story centers on the family’s grief after the loss of their son, and Mescal’s work is searing.

• Co-star: Jessie Buckley as Agnes.
• Impact: A portrayal that reframes familiar lines and images.

How to watch: Hamnet is now playing in theaters.