10 Best Luke Grimes Movies & TV Shows (2024)

Though he is best remembered for starring in Yellowstone, Luke Grimes' movies and TV shows have helped him become one of the biggest rising stars in Hollywood. A constant presence on both the large and small screens since the early 2000s, Grimes is a rare example of an actor who has found equal success in both. Known for his rugged and roguish parts, Grimes has proven himself to be an action star and a romantic leading man with equal ease. Though he has already reached great heights, Grimes is far from his peak.

While Yellowstone's immense popularity has helped make him a household name, Luke Grimes is no stranger to successful series and movies, with many of his cinematic outings being legitimate blockbusters. More recent parts such as the romantic Netflix movieHappiness for Beginners have allowed Grimes to expand his horizons, and he is already proving to be so much more than a brooding hunk. As the main Yellowstone series fades out, Luke Grimes' shows and movie parts are bound to become more diverse and showcase even more of what he has to offer.

10 The Fifty Shades Franchise (2015 - 2018)

• The Fifty Shades franchise is available to stream on Max

The Fifty Shades of Grey franchise was never going to win any Oscars, but the wildly popular romance trilogy nevertheless found financial success. The films concern an eccentric millionaire named Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) who begins a sordid relationship with a student named Anastasia (Dakota Johnson). The first installment earned a whopping half a billion at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) despite the controversy surrounding the film's problematic depiction of the BDSM lifestyle. Grimes appeared as the elder Grey brother, and added to the eye candy of the film but had little to work with. The films were a watershed pop culture moment despite being almost universally despised.

RELATED: Fifty Shades Movies Ranked Worst To Best

9 Taken 2 (2012)

• Taken 2 is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Vudu

No stranger to massive blockbuster franchises, Luke Grimes' movies include the first sequel in the wildly popular Taken series. In an act of revenge after his actions in the first film, Taken 2 sees retired CIA Agent Brian Mills (Liam Neeson) kidnapped in Istanbul. Grimes appeared in the minor supporting role of Jamie, and mostly took a back seat to Neeson's blank-faced action-hero character. While every Taken movie was somewhat formulaic, Taken 2 especially suffered from a rehash of ideas that capitalized on the financial success of the original.

8 Assassination Of A High School President (2008)

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• Assassination of a High School President is available to stream on Peaco*ck, Fubo TV, The Roku Channel, Vudu, Tubi TV, Freevee, Plex, and Pluto TV

The late aughts were alive with indie-core comedy films, and Luke Grimes appeared in one of the more forgotten entries in the bygone subgenre. Assassination of a High School President follows a high school reporter named Bobby (Reece Thompson) who investigates the mysterious theft of his school's SAT tests. Grime's role as Marlon Piazza allowed him to show off his duplicitous side, and he was a convincing bully. The film ultimately suffered from tonal inconsistencies, but the mystery plot was well executed, and it deftly blended the DIY imagery of '00s indie movies with neo-noir elements for a one-of-a-kind mix.

7 Happiness For Beginners (2023)

• Happiness for Beginners is available to stream on Netflix

Stepping out into unprecedented territory, Netflix's Happiness for Beginners was a new evolution in the Luke Grimes movie experience. In the film, recently divorced Helen (Ellie Kemper) finds herself in nature thanks to the guidance of her new friend Jake (Grimes). Though the film was largely given the brush-off by critics because it was a romantic comedy, Happiness for Beginners offered much more than a romantic plot. The characters were realistic and grounded, and Grimes' chemistry with Kemper transcended simple rom-com sparks. The ending of Happiness for Beginners subverted all expectations, but the streaming exclusive largely flew under the radar.

6 Freeheld (2015)

• Freeheld is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Vudu

When not starring in massive blockbusters, Luke Grimes movies are often more understated, and Freeheld was a perfect example of the actor's versatile range. Police detective Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) is diagnosed with terminal cancer and must battle the state in order to leave her pension to her partner Stacie (Elliot Page). Grimes appears as Todd Belkin, a colleague of Hester's who is secretly gay, and the role was the veteran actor's most dynamic part up to that point. While the film was mostly lost in the shuffle because of its low-budget nature, it stood tall on the performances of its cast and true story.

5 The Magnificent Seven (2016)

• The Magnificent Seven is available to stream on AMC +

Luke Grimes has usually been excellently cast throughout his career, but the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven missed an opportunity. When a town in the Old West is overrun by violent criminals, the townsfolk hire a band of gun-slinging outlaws to protect them. Though a natural for cowboy characters, Grimes played a minor role as a townie named Teddy Q alongside Hailey Bennett's character but delivered a strong performance nevertheless. The film itself was a serviceable re-imagining of the classic film complete with plenty of action and humor, but it mostly paled compared to its legendary predecessor.

RELATED: 2016's Magnificent Seven Remade The Wrong Movie

4 American Sniper (2014)

• American Sniper is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

Shrouded in controversy because of its divisive subject matter, American Sniper was nonetheless a massive hit that amplified Luke Grimes' burgeoning career. The film chronicles the life of U.S. Navy sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) as his legacy as a war hero conflicts with the very real trauma he sustained in combat. Grimes' major supporting role of Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee was a dramatic highlight of the movie, and he held his weight alongside veterans like Cooper. The real story of American Sniper was a bit more complicated than the movie portrayed, which caused many to sour on the blockbuster not long after its Best Picture Oscar nomination.

3 Brothers And Sisters (2006 - 2011)

• Brothers and Sisters is available to stream on Hulu

ABC's award-winning drama series Brothers and Sisters blazed a trail that modern TV shows like This is Us continued later down the line. The series concerns the Walker family as they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of life in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena. Stars like Sally Field and Calista Flockhart carried the show, but supporting roles like Luke Grimes' Ryan Lafferty gave the series depth. The 35-episode stint was essentially Luke Grimes' big break, and the show itself scored a slew of Emmy nominations. Brothers and Sisters was both a progressive and original series, and a relatable down-to-earth show at the same time.

2 True Blood (2008 - 2014)

• True Blood is available to stream on Max and Hulu

Helping to reinvent the vampire romance with a bit more bite, HBO's True Blood offered Luke Grimes a chance to diversify the shows and movies he was known for. In a small Louisiana town, Sookie (Anna Paquin) falls in love with ancient vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) which introduces her to a supernatural world she didn't know existed. Grimes appeared in the show's sixth season as James Kent, a sensitive and philosophical vampire. Though James Kent was recast for True Blood season 7, the show itself succeeded because of its mixture of horror and romance which kept vampire scary and sexy.

1 Yellowstone (2018 - 2023)

• Yellowstone is available to stream on Peaco*ck, Fubo TV, and The Paramount Network

The western genre has largely been dormant since its heyday, but the TV series Yellowstone brought it back with a modern twist. The series follows the powerful Dutton family who fight to protect their massive ranch in Montana while dealing with internal strife. In a role that has allowed him to stretch his dramatic range, Luke Grimes plays the eldest Dutton son, Kayce. Bouncing off his co-star Kevin Costner with ease, Grimes has elevated Yellowstone into the cultural phenomenon that it has become, and it has spun off into various other series which expand the show's rich lore.