10 Underrated Films by Timothy Olyphant You Must See

Timothy Olyphant has built a career across sharp crime stories, witty comedies, and tense thrillers. Many viewers first met him through TV roles like ‘Justified’, yet his film work ranges widely and shows how comfortably he moves from supporting turns to leads. The titles below span early breakout parts and later ensembles, with roles that place him in law enforcement, crime circles, and family dramas.

This list gathers feature films where Olyphant’s characters drive key plot turns or anchor important subplots. You will find details on who he plays, who made the films, and how each story is built, along with production notes such as locations, source material, and studio partners.

‘Scream 2’ (1997)

Olyphant appears as Mickey Altieri, a film student whose presence at Windsor College connects him to the new wave of attacks around Sidney Prescott. The film is directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, continuing the story of ‘Scream’ with returning cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

The production blends campus settings with set pieces that use lecture halls, theaters, and fraternity houses. It was shot across real college locations and soundstages, and it expands the meta film class theme through Mickey’s major and the sequel’s commentary on horror follow ups.

‘Go’ (1999)

Olyphant plays Todd Gaines, a small time dealer whose plans collide with three intersecting stories over one wild night in Los Angeles and a misadventure that reaches Las Vegas. The film is directed by Doug Liman and written by John August, with an ensemble that includes Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Scott Wolf, and William Fichtner.

The narrative structure follows the same timeline from different characters’ perspectives, which lets Todd’s actions ripple across each chapter. Production shot in Southern California and Nevada night spots, and the soundtrack features club tracks that match the rave setting of the opening stretch.

‘The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy’ (2000)

Olyphant portrays Dennis, part of a close group of friends in West Hollywood who gather for softball games and regular meetups at a restaurant owned by Jack. The film is written and directed by Greg Berlanti and features an ensemble that includes John Mahoney, Zach Braff, Dean Cain, and Justin Theroux.

The story focuses on friendship dynamics, work lives, and relationships inside a chosen family. It premiered at a major film festival and was distributed by a specialty division that handled many independent releases of the era, with location work centered on Los Angeles neighborhoods.

‘The Girl Next Door’ (2004)

Olyphant plays Kelly, a producer from the adult film world who arrives to pull Danielle back into the business, which complicates the plans of high school senior Matthew. The film is directed by Luke Greenfield and stars Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert with Chris Marquette in a key supporting role.

Production used suburban Los Angeles locations for the school and neighborhood settings, and the script mixes coming of age beats with crime elements once Kelly steps in. The release came through a major studio’s youth focused label and paired teen comedy marketing with a thriller angle.

‘Catch and Release’ (2006)

Olyphant appears as Fritz, a close friend of the deceased fiancé of Gray, whose death sets off revelations that change how the group knows one another. The film is written and directed by Susannah Grant and stars Jennifer Garner with Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger, and Juliette Lewis in supporting roles.

The story is set in Boulder and uses mountain town locations and riverside scenes that mirror the characters’ shared history. Production combined Colorado exteriors with stages in the Vancouver area, and the studio positioned the film in the romantic drama space with an emphasis on ensemble chemistry.

‘Hitman’ (2007)

Olyphant takes the lead as Agent 47, a contract assassin raised inside a secretive organization, who becomes the target of an international pursuit after a political hit goes wrong. The film is directed by Xavier Gens and features Olga Kurylenko and Dougray Scott in central roles, adapting the Eidos video game series.

Production staged action sequences across Eastern Europe, including work in Bulgaria and Turkey, and incorporated the character’s barcode and suit look directly from the game design. The release came through a major studio with an R rating for action and violence, and the score and sound design emphasize firearms and close quarters combat.

‘Stop-Loss’ (2008)

Olyphant plays a commanding officer who oversees soldiers returning from combat and who becomes involved when a decorated sergeant is ordered back to duty through the stop loss policy. The film is directed by Kimberly Peirce and stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, and Abbie Cornish as service members and family.

The production shot on real streets and homes in Texas to depict hometown life and used a mix of handheld and grounded camera work for stateside scenes. The release partnered with a major studio and framed the story around military paperwork, chain of command, and the personal impact of involuntary extensions.

‘A Perfect Getaway’ (2009)

Olyphant appears as Nick, a resourceful traveler who crosses paths with two couples trekking remote trails while news circulates about a pair of killers on the islands. The film is written and directed by David Twohy and stars Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, and Kiele Sanchez in an ensemble built for shifting suspicion.

The story is set on Hawaiian routes with jungle and coastal vistas and was filmed in tropical locations that include Puerto Rico as a primary base. The production uses limited trailheads and cabins to keep the cast in close quarters, and the studio issued both a theatrical cut and a later unrated version for home release.

‘The Crazies’ (2010)

Olyphant leads as Sheriff David Dutton, who tries to protect his town after a military transport accident contaminates the local water supply and residents turn violent. The film is directed by Breck Eisner and costars Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, and Danielle Panabaker, remaking George A Romero’s story.

Production combined Iowa small town exteriors with Georgia for larger action units, including set builds for roadblocks and farmhouses. Practical effects and stunt work anchor the infection scenes, and the studio positioned the film within a slate of modern reinterpretations of classic horror concepts.

‘I Am Number Four’ (2011)

Olyphant plays Henri, guardian and protector to a teenager hiding on Earth from enemies who track gifted survivors from another world. The film is directed by D J Caruso and stars Alex Pettyfer, Teresa Palmer, and Dianna Agron, adapting the novel by Pittacus Lore.

The production partnered with DreamWorks through a distribution deal that placed the film under a major label. Filming took place in Western Pennsylvania for school and town settings, and large scale visual effects built the climactic battle, creature design, and energy based abilities.

‘This Is Where I Leave You’ (2014)

Olyphant portrays Horry Callen, a neighbor with a long history with the Altman family, whose life in their suburban town intersects directly with the siblings during a week of mourning. The film is directed by Shawn Levy with a screenplay by Jonathan Tropper based on his novel and stars Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, and Rose Byrne.

Production shot in New York state to capture tree lined streets and a family home that houses most of the story. The studio marketed the film around the ensemble cast, and the narrative uses a single household setting to track personal histories and community ties that include Horry’s connection to Wendy.

Share your own overlooked favorites and the roles you think deserve more attention in the comments.