The best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows make it easy to see why this British breakout star is one to watch. Born in London, Scipio has been grinding in the acting world since he was a child, taking on his first role in 1993 at just 9 months old. However, his big breakthrough came in 2020’s Bad Boys for Life, where he went toe-to-toe with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as the ruthless-yet-sympathetic Armando Aretas. Since then, he’s popped up in action-packed blockbusters, brooding crime dramas, and even high-concept comedies, always bringing the kind of intensity and charisma that keeps fans hooked.
What makes Jacob Scipio stand out is that rare mix of magnetic screen presence and emotional depth. Whether he’s playing a villain, a soldier, or a romantic lead, he brings layers to his characters that elevate even the most explosive scenes. His performances in projects like Expend4bles, Pieces of Her, and Without Remorse have helped cement him as a rising force in Hollywood. From gritty war stories to high-octane thrillers, every Jacob Scipio movie and TV show makes it easy to see why he’s one of the fastest rising stars currently active in Hollywood.
7
The Outpost (2019)
Jacob Scipio Plays Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos
Directed by Rod Lurie, The Outpost is a raw, harrowing war film based on the true story of the Battle of Kamdesh, one of the bloodiest engagements for U.S. forces during the Afghanistan war. Adapted from Jake Tapper’s book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, The Outpost captures the chaos and heroism of the soldiers stationed at the vulnerable Combat Outpost Keating. With a cast that includes Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, and Orlando Bloom, The Outpost delivers an unflinching portrayal of courage under fire.
Jacob Scipio plays Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, a real-life soldier who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. While Scipio’s screen time isn’t extensive, his portrayal carries weight, bringing authenticity and heart to a character who was a true hero. Scipio’s grounded performance stands out even in a film packed with powerful moments, and he manages to humanize the war story by portraying Gallegos with quiet strength and conviction. Though The Outpost didn’t earn Scipio any major award nods, it remains a key entry on his résumé thanks to being a strong example of his ability to handle intense, emotionally charged material.
6
Without Remorse (2021)
Jacob Scipio Plays Hatchet
2021’s Without Remorse dives into Tom Clancy territory with a vengeance-fueled origin story for Navy SEAL John Clark. Michael B. Jordan leads the cast of director Stefano Sollima’s action thriller as John Kelly (AKA John Clark), a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly protagonist out for justice after his wife is murdered (and a recurring character in Tom Clancy’s novels). The movie blends espionage, action, and high-stakes military drama, with Jacob Scipio stepping in as the mercenary known only as Hatchet.
Jacob Scipio’s character may be shrouded in mystery, but his presence in Without Remorse is electric. As Hatchet, Scipio brings a fierce physicality and slick menace to a role that could have easily been one-note. In one of the film’s standout fight scenes, Scipio goes toe-to-toe with Jordan’s John Kelly, delivering bone-crunching blows with fierce emotional intensity. It’s a small role, but Scipio makes the most of every second, holding his own in a heavyweight cast that includes Jodie Turner-Smith and Guy Pearce. It’s another example of how the best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows don’t require him to be the lead, just to make an impression, and here, he absolutely does.
5
The Unbearable Weight Of Mᴀssive Talent (2022)
Jacob Scipio Plays Carlos
In 2022 Jacob Scipio joined the cast of one of the most meta films of recent years, one that sees Nicolas Cage playing Nicolas Cage. The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent, directed by Tom Gormican, is part action-comedy, part Hollywood satire, and a masterclass in how to make a film about filmmaking that will keep almost every viewer glued to their seat. In The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent, Cage is recruited by the CIA to spy on a superfan (Pedro Pascal), and the result is a genre-hopping thrill ride that plays like a love letter to Cage’s legendary filmography.
Jacob Scipio plays Carlos, a supporting role that serves as one of the many eccentric pieces in the movie’s chaotic puzzle. While not front-and-center, Scipio blends in perfectly with the film’s quirky energy, showing off his comedic chops alongside a stacked cast that also includes Sharon Horgan, Ike Barinholtz, and Tiffany Haddish. His timing is sharp, his delivery smooth, and his character adds to the film’s unpredictable flavor. What makes The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent one of the best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows is that it lets him stretch a different muscle, proving he’s got range well beyond the action genre that helped launch him.
4
Pieces Of Her (2022)
Jacob Scipio Plays Michael Vargas
Pieces of Her, created by Charlotte Stoudt and based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel, is a slow-burning thriller series packed with secrets, lies, and idenтιтy twists. The Netflix series stars Toni Collette as a mother with a dangerous past that comes crashing into her daughter’s present. Jacob Scipio enters the picture in a pivotal supporting role as Michael Vargas, a mysterious figure who initially seems like a threat but turns out to be a lot more complex.
Jacob Scipio brings a cool, enigmatic edge to Vargas in Pieces of Her, playing him with just enough charm and ambiguity to keep viewers guessing. It’s a layered performance that adds depth to a series already thick with intrigue. While the show itself received mixed reviews, Scipio’s performance stood out for its subtle intensity. He stars alongside Bella Heathcote and Omari Hardwick, holding his own in emotionally charged scenes. Of every Jacob Scipio movie and TV show, Pieces of Her stands as the best example of how easily he can slip into suspense-driven drama and still steal scenes with ease.
3
Last Looks (2022)
Jacob Scipio Plays Don Q
Directed by Tim Kirkby, 2022’s Last Looks is a neo-noir mystery with a wry sense of humor. Charlie Hunnam stars as Charlie Waldo, a disgraced LAPD detective turned recluse, who’s pulled back into the world of crime-solving when he’s hired to investigate the murder of a TV producer. The movie blends gritty investigation with tongue-in-cheek absurdity, especially courtesy of Mel Gibson’s over-the-top performance as scandal-prone actor Alastair Pinch. The cast of Last Looks contains several notable names alongside Hunnam and Gibson, including Jacob Scipio as Don Q.
Jacob Scipio’s Don Q is a flamboyant and fast-talking character who spices up the film’s eclectic lineup. Scipio clearly had a lot of fun with the role, delivering one-liners and wild energy that elevate every scene he’s in. It’s the kind of performance that shows off his charisma and comic sensibilities, something audiences don’t always get to see in his more serious roles. His chemistry with Hunnam and Morena Baccarin helps anchor some of the movie’s more outrageous moments, making Don Q a memorable part of the ride. While Last Looks mostly flew under the radar, it’s still among the best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows for fans wanting to see his flair for playing bigger-than-life characters.
2
Expend4bles (2023)
Jacob Scipio Plays Galan
By the time Expend4bles rolled around in 2023, the Expendables franchise had already cemented itself as a testosterone-fueled action spectacle loaded with explosions, banter, and big names. Directed by Scott Waugh, this fourth installment pulls no punches, bringing in a new generation of mercenaries to team up with the old guard. Enter Jacob Scipio as Galan – the son of Antonio Banderas’ fan-favorite character from The Expendables 3 – and a fast-talking, trigger-happy addition to the chaos. Galan is all swagger and one-liners, and Jacob Scipio leans into the role with undeniable charm.
He fits right in alongside icons like Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Megan Fox, holding his own both in firepower and screen presence. Scipio brings fresh energy to the team, effortlessly mixing physical comedy with slick combat sequences. While Expend4bles didn’t win over every critic, it still delivered exactly what fans came for – and Scipio was a major part of why it didn’t feel like just another retread. One of the best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows for pure popcorn thrills, this is the role that proves he’s ready to take the baton from the legends.
1
Bad Boys For Life (2020) & Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (2024)
Jacob Scipio Plays Armando Aretas
When Jacob Scipio showed up in Bad Boys for Life, audiences weren’t expecting such a memorable villain for the resurrection of an iconic action franchise. As Armando Aretas, the mysterious ᴀssᴀssin with a personal vendetta, Scipio brought an icy intensity that made him more than just a stock antagonist. Directed by Belgian duo Adil & Bilall, Bad Boys for Life revitalized the franchise, adding emotional weight to the action-packed fun – and Scipio played a huge role in that success. In a twist that reshaped the whole series, Armando is revealed to be Mike Lowrey’s (Will Smith) secret son, making Scipio’s performance all the more crucial.
Jacob Scipio balances rage with vulnerability, and in scenes with Smith and Kate del Castillo (who plays his cartel queenpin mother), he shows serious emotional range. Fast-forward to 2023’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and Scipio returned, except this time not just as a former villain, but as a complex antihero trying to navigate his past. Scipio’s return as Armando deepens the franchise’s family drama and keeps the adrenaline pumping.
Bad Boys For Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die aren’t just among the best Jacob Scipio movies and TV shows – they’re the ones that introduced him to the world. With the character of Armando, he carved out a space next to Hollywood heavyweights and absolutely owned it, and no role has been anywhere near as important for his career so far.