7 Ethan Hawke Movies And TV Shows You Must See: The 2024–2025 Career Resurgence

Ethan Hawke is experiencing one of the most creatively fertile periods of his decades-long career, moving seamlessly between auteur-driven dramas, major studio horror sequels, and prestige television. As of late 2024, the four-time Academy Award nominee is dominating headlines with a slate of fresh, high-profile projects that cement his legacy as a versatile and dedicated artist, not just an actor. His recent work demonstrates a commitment to both independent cinema—as a director and star—and commercially successful genre films, proving his enduring relevance in Hollywood.

The coming year, 2025, promises to be an "Ethan Hawke Year" with major releases in film and television that span genres from psychological thriller to musical biopic. From his chilling return as a beloved horror villain to his ninth collaboration with legendary director Richard Linklater, this is everything you need to know about the latest and most essential additions to the Ethan Hawke filmography.

Ethan Hawke: Biography, Profile, and Career Highlights

Ethan Green Hawke has cultivated a career defined by thoughtful, often melancholic performances, a deep commitment to independent filmmaking, and an impressive versatility as an actor, director, screenwriter, and novelist. His journey from a sensitive young poet in *Dead Poets Society* to a modern cinematic polymath is unparalleled.

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• Full Name: Ethan Green Hawke
• Born: November 6, 1970, in Austin, Texas, U.S.
• Spouses: Uma Thurman (m. 1998; div. 2005), Ryan Shawhughes (m. 2008)
• Children: Maya Hawke, Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke (with Uma Thurman), Clementine Jane, Indiana (with Ryan Shawhughes)
• Major Nominations: Four Academy Award nominations (two for Best Supporting Actor for *Training Day* and *Boyhood*, two for Best Adapted Screenplay for *Before Sunset* and *Before Midnight*).
• Directorial Debut: *Chelsea Walls* (2001)
• Signature Collaboration: Nine films with director Richard Linklater, most notably the *Before Trilogy* and *Boyhood*.

The Most Anticipated Ethan Hawke Projects for 2025

The next two years are packed with major releases that showcase Hawke's range, from a highly anticipated horror sequel to a prestige streaming series. These three projects are at the top of every movie fan's must-watch list.

1. Blue Moon (2025) - The Oscar-Buzzed Biopic

The ninth collaboration between Ethan Hawke and legendary director Richard Linklater, *Blue Moon*, is already generating significant Oscar buzz. Hawke takes on the challenging role of Broadway songwriter Lorenz Hart, half of the iconic composing duo Rodgers and Hart.

• Role: Lorenz Hart, the brilliant but troubled lyricist whose successful partnership with Richard Rodgers was cut short due to personal struggles.
• Why It's Essential: Critics are hailing this as one of Hawke's most demanding and triumphant performances, a career-defining turn that he reportedly spent 12 years preparing for. The film is a one-location, real-time drama focusing on a pivotal night in Hart’s life.
• Topical Entity: Richard Linklater, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Musical Biopic.

2. The Black Phone 2 (2025) - The Return of The Grabber

Horror fans rejoice: Ethan Hawke is set to return as the terrifying masked killer, The Grabber, in the sequel to the 2022 hit, *The Black Phone*. The film, which is slated for an October 2025 release, brings back the core cast, including Mason Thames (Finney) and Madeleine McGraw (Gwen).

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• Role: The Grabber, the resurrected masked psycho who continues to haunt the lives of his former victims.
• Why It's Essential: Hawke, who initially resisted playing villains, made The Grabber an instantly iconic horror character. This sequel, directed by Scott Derrickson, promises to dive deeper into the psychological trauma and potentially explore a more "Freddy Krueger-like" resurrection of the character.
• Topical Entity: The Grabber, Scott Derrickson, Psychological Horror, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw.

3. The Lowdown (2025) - The Neo-Noir Mystery Series

Stepping back into television after his critically acclaimed turn in *The Good Lord Bird*, Hawke is leading the FX series *The Lowdown*, a neo-noir mystery conspiracy thriller. Created by Sterlin Harjo (*Reservation Dogs*), the series is already being called one of the best new shows of 2025.

• Role: Lee Raybon, a bookstore owner-turned-investigator in a gritty, Oklahoma-set crime drama.
• Why It's Essential: The show is a departure for both Hawke and Harjo, blending the actor's cerebral intensity with a compelling crime narrative. Co-starring Peter Dinklage and Kaniehtiio Horn, the series has debuted to a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score from critics.
• Topical Entity: Sterlin Harjo, Neo-Noir Mystery, Lee Raybon, Peter Dinklage, FX Series.

Recent Triumphs: 2023 and 2024 Films

Hawke’s career momentum didn't just start with his upcoming slate. His work in 2023 and 2024 has been marked by a return to directing and a major role in a Netflix blockbuster, showcasing his commitment to diverse projects.

4. Wildcat (2024) - Director/Writer

In a deeply personal project, Ethan Hawke directed and co-wrote *Wildcat*, a biographical drama about the life of novelist Flannery O'Connor. The film stars his daughter, Maya Hawke, in the lead role.

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• Role: Director, Screenwriter, and supporting actor (as a father figure).
• Why It's Essential: This film is a testament to Hawke’s passion for literature and his evolution as a filmmaker. It's a complex, interwoven narrative that explores O'Connor's faith, her writing process, and her struggles with illness.
• Topical Entity: Flannery O'Connor, Maya Hawke, Director, Screenwriter, Biographical Drama.

5. Leave the World Behind (2023) - The Netflix Hit

The 2023 psychological thriller *Leave the World Behind* became a massive hit for Netflix. Hawke starred alongside Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali in this unsettling film about a family vacation interrupted by a mysterious global blackout.

• Role: Clay Sandford, the college professor and patriarch of the family, whose comfortable life is thrown into chaos.
• Why It's Essential: This film offered Hawke a chance to explore a character dealing with paranoia and societal collapse, all while working with a stellar ensemble cast and producer Barack Obama.
• Topical Entity: Psychological Thriller, Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Netflix.

Career-Defining Roles That Built Topical Authority

To understand Hawke's current success, one must look at the roles that cemented his reputation as one of his generation's most compelling actors. These films are the bedrock of his topical authority.

6. The Before Trilogy (1995, 2004, 2013)

The series of films—*Before Sunrise*, *Before Sunset*, and *Before Midnight*—chronicling the romantic lives of Jesse (Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) over two decades is arguably his most celebrated work. Hawke received Oscar nominations for co-writing the screenplays for the second and third installments, showcasing his talent beyond acting.

7. Training Day (2001) and Boyhood (2014)

Hawke earned his first two Academy Award nominations for acting in these two wildly different films. *Training Day* saw him as Jake Hoyt, the rookie cop opposite Denzel Washington's corrupt detective, a role that proved his dramatic chops in a high-stakes police drama. *Boyhood*, another Richard Linklater collaboration, was filmed over 12 years, earning him a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Mason Sr., the divorced, philosophical father.

Other vital roles that often get overlooked but are crucial to his career depth include the sci-fi time-travel puzzle *Predestination* (2014), the Sidney Lumet crime thriller *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead* (2007), and the Paul Schrader masterpiece *First Reformed* (2017), which many critics consider his finest performance.