The Kyle Gallner Movies Road Trip

Explore the best Kyle Gallner movies, from horror favorites like Jennifer’s Body and Scream to heartfelt dramas and indie gems. Streaming info included.

Hey there – ever heard the name Kyle Gallner and thought, “Who’s that again?” Trust me, you’re gonna Google him halfway through this. He’s that quietly intense guy who jumps right off the screen. You know, the one who played the sweet, deaf Marine “Goat-Winston” in American Sniper and also showed up as a punk rocker in Dinner in America. He’s the kind of actor who might seem unassuming at first, but then wow – next thing you know, he’s eating your popcorn in a horror movie or stealing your heart in a drama. We’re talking range. From tear-jerking dramas to wicked horror flicks and indie sleepers you never knew existed, Kyle’s done it all. Here’s a laid-back tour of his standout roles, with a few fun fact asides and personal “whoa” moments along the way. By the end you’ll say, “Oh, that’s where I’ve seen him!”

Intense Dramas: Dear Zoe, American Sniper and the Heartbreak Kids

Kyle shines when the drama is heavy. Take Dear Zoe (2022), for instance – he plays a slacker dad with a heart of gold who’s dealing with family tragedy. It’s a low-key role, but he makes you feel every quiet, sad beat. (By the way, Dear Zoe is streaming on Amazon Prime.)

And of course there’s American Sniper (2014) – here he’s one of Chris Kyle’s buddies, nicknamed “Goat-Winston,” a soldier who’s tough but kind under the surface. That movie made billions and for good reason. In it, Kyle definitely doesn’t steal scenes from Bradley Cooper, but he quietly holds his own when the action gets real. You might remember him listening carefully, or giving one of those small smiles when people joke around on base. It’s a reminder he can play the salt-of-the-earth types – sweet and deeply human even in the chaos of war. American Sniper even pops up with free streaming on Prime Video (with ads), so you can catch it anytime.

A fun fact: Kyle’s not just about uniformed heroes. In the indie drama Beautiful Boy (2010), he played the loving older brother of a kid struggling with addiction – a completely different vibe. It’s this ability to pivot – from a guy who’s saving the day to a guy who’s silently carrying heartache – that makes him so engaging to watch.

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Horror Faves: Ghosts, Screams, and Devilish Cheerleaders

But don’t pigeonhole him as only the good-guy type. Gallner has horror film street cred for days. He’s earned a rep as a real scream-king (the guy who survives or creates the nightmares).

Remember Jennifer’s Body (2009)? He’s in that cult-comedy-horror about Megan Fox as a demon cheerleader, playing one of the sweet band guys who gets caught up in everything. It’s campy but fun, and if you want to watch it now, you can rent or buy it on Amazon and Apple. A total wildcard moment: Kyle goes from lovable goof to being right in the middle of an absurd bloodbath – it’s exactly the kind of unexpected turn you love to find in his filmography.

He was also in A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 remake), popping up as one of Freddy Krueger’s victims – another wild twist on a classic.

Then there’s The Haunting in Connecticut (2009), a straight-up spooky movie where his character is at the center of a haunted mortuary-home. He plays Matt, the troubled teenager in a family being tormented by ghosts. It’s legitimately creepy (think: possessed furniture and eerie whispering), and unsurprisingly Kyle sold all the fear and confusion in his eyes.

The movie itself grossed big, and it’s available to stream on Amazon Prime (including the ad-supported free version) or even on Roku/Hoopla if you prefer a library app. (Imagine popping on the image above: it’s an old ghost story from England that gives off exactly the haunted house vibe you get in Haunting in Connecticut.) He really nailed the scene where he hears noises at night – small, tense reactions that make you jump with him.

Fast-forward to Scream (2022). Yup, Kyle showed up in the new Scream sequel as Vince – the nepo baby of one of the original Ghostface killers. He looks all clean-cut in party scenes, then bam – totally creepy with that Ghostface mask on. That movie was a blast, mixing classic slasher chills with modern twists. If you like Scream’s meta-fun vibe, it’s streaming on Hulu right now. (Side note: one “whoa” moment for me was when Vince’s family history got revealed – super wild.)

If you liked bloody cheerleaders and resurrected killers, try Ready or Not (2019). Not Kyle, but same dark humor as Jennifer’s Body. And if The Haunting in Connecticut freaked you out, check out Insidious or The Conjuring, because Kyle could definitely take on the possessed nun role there too!

Indie Gems: Punk Romance and War Ghosts

On the flip side, Gallner also loves indie films where he gets to play unpredictable characters. Dinner in America (2020) is a cult favorite: he’s a punk rocker on the run who falls for a nerdy girl obsessed with his band. It’s hilarious and sweet, and Kyle bursts with charisma. (It actually premiered at Sundance in 2020 and got a wider release in 2022.) And guess what – Dinner in America is streaming on Hulu, so you can giggle along with every sarcastic quip. His performance here is so energetic and fun that I was thinking, “Is that the same guy from American Sniper?” – he just radiates this raw, punk-rock charm.

Then there’s Ghosts of War (2020), a creepy little war thriller where Kyle is one of a group of soldiers in an abandoned French chateau during WWII. It’s got time loops and ghosts and big twists, and Kyle went full intensity as a confused, frightened GI. The movie flew under the radar, but it’s a cool genre mashup (and yeah, it will mess with your head – in a good way). It came out on DirecTV in 2020. If you want to stream it, you can rent or buy it on places like Apple TV or Amazon.

Lastly, a fun offbeat mention: Kyle played a meta version of himself in the indie satire Nice Guys Sleep Alone (1999) way before he was famous, which is so charming to discover as a “remember that goofy role?” moment.

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Why Kyle Gallner Is Movie Gold

What makes Kyle Gallner special? It’s that mix of sincerity and surprise. One minute he’s the goofball friend or caring boyfriend, the next he’s in the middle of a knife fight or a spooky séance. He’s like a chameleon who can play both the quiet, sweet guy next door and the complete wildcard you didn’t see coming. For example, he’s so believable as a gentle teen in Beautiful Boy (2010) that you almost forget he also stabbed dudes in Nightmare on Elm Street. He also sometimes does his own stunts – I once read he actually drove a crazed car in Cherry (2021) himself!

Along the way, he’s picked up a lot of cool credits: he was on TV hits like Veronica Mars and Smallville, and even played a young genius Bart Allen (The Flash) on Smallville. But honestly, his movie roles are what really show off that Kyle Gallner energy.

One more tidbit – he has a TikTok cult following thanks to Dinner in America’s soundtrack. So yeah, he can even be a punk rock icon 15 years after The Haunting in Connecticut came out. Trust me, once you notice him, he’s everywhere!

So, that’s the tour of my favorite Kyle Gallner movies. Which role hooked you first? Was it the sweet soldier Goat in American Sniper, the possessed teen in Haunting in Connecticut, or maybe the punk hero of Dinner in America? Drop a comment and let me know – I’m always up for geeking out over Kyle Gallner with a fellow fan!