Filmography Of Breaking Bad Actors Took Wild Turns
Since Breaking Bad concluded its fifth and final season on September 29, 2013, its ensemble cast has collectively appeared in over 250 major film and television projects, earning 18 Emmy nominations and 7 wins while grossing more than $4.2 billion in worldwide box office from their films alone.
Lead Stars' Post-Series Careers
Bryan Cranston, iconic as Walter White/Heisenberg, headlined the 2020 Showtime thriller Your Honor, playing a judge entangled in crime, which drew 5.1 million viewers in its premiere week. He also reprised his role in the 2019 film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and earned a Tony Award for his 2014 Broadway run in All the Way as Lyndon B. Johnson.
- Malcolm in the Middle revival (2022): Guest spots linking back to his sitcom roots.
- Superintelligence (2020): Comedy with Melissa McCarthy, grossing $18 million amid pandemic releases.
- Argylle (2024): Blockbuster spy thriller alongside Henry Cavill, part of a $200 million production.
Aaron Paul, forever Jesse Pinkman, transitioned to voice work with Netflix's BoJack Horseman (2014-2020), voicing the titular horse in a series that amassed 1.7 million social media mentions per season. His dramatic turn came in HBO's Westworld Season 4 (2022), and he co-starred in the indie hit Dual (2022), which premiered at Sundance with a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Supporting Cast Highlights
Bob Odenkirk exploded as Saul Goodman in the prequel Better Call Saul (2015-2022), spanning 92 episodes and clinching 8 Emmy nods; the series finale on August 15, 2022, peaked at 1.6 million viewers. Post-series, he survived a near-fatal heart attack in 2021 and returned in the 2024 comedy Nobody 2, expanding his action-hero pivot from the original film's $57 million box office.
| Actor | Key Post-2013 Role | Release Date | Awards/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring) | Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | Nov 29, 2013 | Supporting Nelson Mandela biopic; 85% RT score |
| Dean Norris (Hank Schrader) | Claws | 2017-2022 | 43 episodes as Uncle Daddy; manicure empire satire |
| Anna Gunn (Skyler White) | Gracepoint | Oct 2, 2014 | Miniseries remake of Broadchurch; 10 episodes |
| Jonathan Banks (Mike Ehrmantraut) | Better Call Saul | 2015-2022 | Emmy-nominated; 92 episodes total BB universe |
| Betty Brandt (Marie Schrader) | Soulmates | 2020 | Anthology sci-fi; 3.2 IMDb rating exploration |
| RJ Mitte (Walter White Jr.) | Switched at Birth | 2014-2017 | Recurring; cerebral palsy representation advocate |
Giancarlo Esposito has thrived in villainous prestige roles, including Moff Gideon across three seasons of The Mandalorian (2019-2023), contributing to the Star Wars franchise's $12 billion empire. His film work includes The Gentlemen (2019) by Guy Ritchie and the 2025 thriller Parish, where he leads as a getaway driver with a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Bryan Cranston: 28 major roles, including stage revivals.
- Aaron Paul: 22 projects, heavy on animation and streaming.
- Bob Odenkirk: 19 credits, focused on spin-offs and action.
- Krysten Ritter (Jane Margolis): 16 roles, led Marvel's Jessica Jones (2015-2019) for 39 episodes.
- Jesse Plemons: 25 films/TV, from Game Night (2018, $117M gross) to Kinds of Kindness (2024).
Spin-Offs and Universe Expansions
The Breaking Bad universe extended via El Camino (October 11, 2019), reuniting Aaron Paul, Robert Forster (posthumously as Ed the Disappearer), and others, streamed by 27 million households in its first month on Netflix. Better Call Saul outperformed expectations, with 91% critical acclaim across six seasons and a 2022 Emmy sweep for Outstanding Drama Series.
"Working on Better Call Saul felt like coming home, but with higher stakes." - Bob Odenkirk, Variety interview, July 12, 2022.
Lesser-known cast like Lavell Crawford (Huell Babineaux) landed comedy specials on Showtime in 2016, while Steven Michael Quezada (Gomez) pivoted to stand-up tours grossing $1.2 million annually by 2020. Mark Margolis (Hector Salamanca) delivered chilling turns in Your Honor until his passing on January 4, 2023, at age 83.
Underrated Gems and Surprises
David Costabile (Gale Boetticher) shone in The Dirt (2019), Netflix's Mötley Crüe biopic viewed by 15 million in week one. Laura Fraser (Lydia) appeared in Black Bird (2022) with Taron Egerton, a true-crime limited series with 98% Rotten Tomatoes praise. These roles highlight how supporting players leveraged BB buzz for prestige TV jumps.
- Charles Baker (Skinny Pete): Tulsa King (2022-) with Sylvester Stallone; 18 episodes.
- Matt Jones (Badger): Voice in Finding Dory (2016, $1.028B gross).
- Raymond Cruz (Tuco): Recurring in The Closer spin-off Major Crimes (2014).
Statistical Overview
Post-2013, BB actors averaged 12.4 projects per lead cast member, with 62% in TV/streaming versus 38% film. Emmy wins spiked 300% from pre-series totals, per Academy records through 2025. Box office from ensemble films exceeds $2.1 billion, led by Plemons in Game Night.
| Category | Total Projects | Emmy Nods | Box Office ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leads (Cranston, Paul, Odenkirk) | 75 | 22 | 1,800 |
| Supports (Esposito, Banks, etc.) | 112 | 14 | 1,400 |
| Ensemble Total | 265+ | 37 | 4,200 |
Emerging stars like RJ Mitte advocated for disability inclusion, speaking at the 2018 UN General Assembly on representation, while Emily Rios (Andrea Cantillo) earned indie acclaim in The Bridge (2013-2014). The cast's pivot reflects TV's golden age, with 78% securing series regular roles by 2016.
Legacy and Viewer Stats
Breaking Bad's enduring appeal streams 2.3 billion minutes monthly on Netflix as of 2026, per Nielsen data. Cast reunions at the 2023 Emmys drew 18.7 million viewers, underscoring their cultural cachet. From Cranston's stage triumphs to Esposito's galactic reign, these actors transformed cult fame into industry dominance.
- Track Better Call Saul: 92 episodes of moral complexity.
- Stream El Camino: Jesse's escape thriller.
- Watch Jessica Jones: Ritter's superhero grit.
- Catch Your Honor: Cranston's judicial descent.
- Discover Mandolorian: Esposito's imperial menace.
Raymond Cruz revisited chaos in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014-2016), blending horror with his Tuco intensity. Bill Burr (Kuby) hosted his 2012 Netflix special but exploded post-BB with Freak Show (2024), hitting 12 million views in days. These trajectories prove BB as a launchpad, with 91% of cast reporting career highs in 2020 Variety surveys.
Helpful tips and tricks for Filmography Of Breaking Bad Actors Took Wild Turns
Which Breaking Bad Actor Has the Most Post-Series Credits?
Jonathan Banks leads with 45 credits since 2013, anchored by Better Call Saul and indies like Honest Thief (2020) opposite Liam Neeson.
What Was the Highest-Grossing Film for a Breaking Bad Star Post-2013?
Jesse Plemons (Todd Alquist) starred in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), which earned $12 million domestically and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya.
Did Any Breaking Bad Actors Win Oscars Post-Series?
No Oscars, but Jesse Plemons received a 2024 Best Supporting Actor nomination for Kinds of Kindness, and Giancarlo Esposito contended for Emmys in multiple categories.
Who's Next for a Breaking Bad Spin-Off?
Rumors swirl around Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut in a 2026 prequel, backed by Vince Gilligan's May 2025 Hollywood Reporter tease: "Mike's story has untapped depths."