Do you like Matthew Lillard Horror movies? This scream king scored big in 1996 when he was cast as Stu Macher in Scream. The versatile and loveable actor has been working in the horror genre since, capturing some other high-profile roles. Lillard may not have made as many scary movies as other actors, but when he does work in horror, he really makes his mark. Five Nights at Freddy's was a great return to the genre for this charismatic actor.
Scream (1996)
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Stu Macher is a Ghostface that you can never forget. Matthew Lillard was cheerfully playful in the role, mocking and funny, right up until the moment that he wasn't. Of the Ghostface pair, Stu was the much more vulnerable killer, but that didn't stop him from killing. It was Lillard's ability to shift Stu from pleading to psychotic rage that made Stu Macher so unforgettable in Wes Craven's Scream.
Stream Scream right now on Paramount+.
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Image Credit: IMDB
As Steve Raglan in Five Nights at Freddy's, Matthew Lillard's own natural charisma is at work again. He's got an infectious smile that disarms the other characters and hides a dark secret. This time, he is an authority who has the ability to manipulate the situation, and he does. Lillard makes a great charming killer, and that talent gets used well in in the movie.
Five Nights at Freddy's is now streaming on Peacock.
Thirteen Ghosts (2001)
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Matthew Lillard plays psychic Dennis Rafkin in Thirteen Ghosts, and he is one of the most likable characters that you root for in the film. That's excellent work because the film also stars Tony Shalhoub, another adorable character actor. Rafkin is playing a nefarious game with Arthur Kriticos (Tony Shalhoub), but you still like him. His nervous energy keeps the tension high, and his death is the most affecting in the film.
Thirteen Ghosts is now available on VOD.
Dead Man's Curve (1998)
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Dead Man's Curve, which is sometimes just called The Curve, is a fright film that is about the urban legend that if your college roommate dies, you automatically are granted a 4.0 average for the semester. Matthew Lillard plays Tim, one of the two roommates who scheme to bump off the third roomie. The movie premiered at Sundance and was released two years after Scream. In the photo from the film, you can see Lillard using his trademark intense stare on the back of Michael Vartan's head.
Dead Man's Curve, aka The Curve, can be streamed on Tubi now.
Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1991)
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Okay, so if I find that Matthew Lillard was in a Ghoulies movie, I am definitely going to include it on a list because, come on, it's Ghoulies. Lillard's character is named Stork, and even in a scene with the great Kevin McCarthy, the actor stands out in one of his earliest screen appearances when he was billed as Matthew Lynn.
You can stream Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College on Tubi.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
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If there has ever been a time when an actor seems born to play a role, Matthew Lillard was born to play Shaggy. The loveable dude with his dog and pal Scooby perfectly matches Lillard's acting talents and looks as he and the rest of the Scooby gang solve mysteries. It's another iconic scary movie role for Lillard. Seriously, can you think of Shaggy and not think about Lillard's performance? It is so spot on that Lillard continued to play the role in several sequels.
Scooby Doo is streaming on Paramount+ on Apple TV.
Messages Deleted (2008)
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Messages Deleted is a film written by genre legend Larry Cohen and was his last completed screenplay. Matthew Lillard plays Joel Brandt, a screenwriter who has become a teacher and now has to live out the plot of a script he wrote. The problem is that the screenplay's idea was stolen from another writer who wants revenge. This is more of a serious role for Lillard, and he stars with Deborah Kara Unger in the film.
