Discover Adam Scott’s Top Sci-Fi and Horror Films That Will Blow Your Mind!

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Adam Scott is a multi-talented actor who has built an impressive career in both television and film. He captivated viewers with his role as Ben Wyatt on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and now delivers a compelling portrayal of Lumon employee Mark Scout on Severance on Apple+. His resume boasts comedic hits like Party Down and The Good Place, as well as dramatic projects such as Big Little Lies on HBO and the Martin Scorsese film The Aviator, where he portrayed Howard Hughes.

It’s clear that Scott has a versatile acting talent, as he’s demonstrated through his diverse roles. Beyond dramas and comedies, he’s also delved into science fiction and horror films. With a career spanning over three decades in Hollywood, these genres have consistently been part of his repertoire. His first horror movie was released in 1996, while his latest venture in this genre was unveiled in 2025.

Here’s every sci-fi and horror movie Adam Scott has ever appeared in, ranked.

9
‘The Return’ (2005)

2005 saw the release of “The Return,” a supernatural horror film penned by Adam Sussman (“12 Monkeys”) and helmed by Asif Kapadia (“2073”). This movie failed to impress audiences. Sarah Michelle Gellar, famously known for her role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” portrays Joanna Mills, a representative of a trucking company. She is haunted by grisly visions that seem to be connected to a murder that occurred 15 years earlier. The film’s antagonist is Scott, Joanna’s troubling ex-boyfriend who persistently pursues her throughout the movie.

A Forgotten Horror Movie

The movie titled The Return didn’t do exceptionally well at the cinema or resonate much with viewers. On IMDb, it received a score of 4.7 out of 10. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes rated it a mere 15%, while audiences gave it a slightly better 32%. Despite Scott’s skill in portraying both adored and detested characters, there wasn’t much material to showcase his talents for this film.

8
‘Piranha 3D’ (2010)

The movie titled “Piranha 3D” is known for its outrageousness, making it an enjoyable watch for audiences. Originating from a 1978 film with the same name, this underwater adventure unleashes a horde of carnivorous fish during spring break, causing chaos and mayhem. Starring Elisabeth Shue (“The Boys”), Steven R. McQueen (“The Vampire Diaries”), and Jerry O’Connell (“Stand by Me”), it also features appearances by Richard Dreyfuss (“Jaws”), Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future”), and Eli Roth (“Inglourious Basterds”). Scott, playing the role of a seismologist diver, teams up with Sheriff Julie Forester, portrayed by Shue, in an effort to rescue unsuspecting partygoers from becoming fish food.

Over-the-Top Gorefest

The movie titled “Piranha 3D” has a bold, humorous approach that garnered favorable reviews from critics. For instance, it boasts a 75% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, yet only 45% favor among viewers. IMDB assigns it a score of 5.5 out of 10 stars. Generally, viewers perceive it as a highly violent comedy rather than a traditional horror film. Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times comments that the movie is so focused on generating laughs and making references amidst the gore and non-stop bloodbath of bare-naked women, that it neglects to scare anyone. Despite this, “Piranha 3D” was put forward for one MTV Movie award and six Scream Awards, securing a win in the category of Most Memorable Mutilation.

7
‘Madame Web’ (2024)

The movie “Madame Web” tells the backstory of Cassandra Webb, portrayed by Dakota Johnson, who possesses psychic abilities and is a paramedic. She’s on a mission to protect three potential Spider-Women, played by Sydney Sweeney from “Euphoria”, Isabela Merced from “The Last of Us”, and Celeste O’Connor from “Freaky”. Scott plays Cassandra’s friend and colleague Ben Parker, who shares a name with the man who eventually raises Spider-Man, Peter Parker. In this film, Ben’s sister Mary (Emma Roberts) is pregnant with Peter Parker.

Muddling Through Mixed Reviews

The film Madame Web struggled financially at the box office and faced a tough critique from critics, although audience opinions vary. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 53% rating from audiences but just an 11% approval rating from critics. IMDB rates the movie as 4 out of 10 stars. The film earned six Razzie Award nominations and took home awards for Worst Actress and Worst Screenplay. Remarkably, it was also nominated for Best Comic Book Film and Worst Film of the Year by the Hawaii Film Critics Society in the same year.

6
‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2’ (2015)

In the sequel of “Hot Tub Time Machine,” Corddry, Robinson, and Duke reappear, traveling back in time once more, this time to prevent one of them from being killed. However, an unexpected turn of events sends them hurtling into the future. Scott joins the group as Adam Yates Stedmeyer, the son of John Cusack’s character from the original movie, completing the quartet.

Praise From Roger Ebert

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 garnered a blend of positive and negative opinions. On IMDb, it scores 5 out of 10 stars, while on Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 14% approval rating from critics and a 26% rating from viewers. Despite this, there are numerous online reviews that commend the film for being more entertaining than many people realize. The movie was nominated for two Razzie Awards but has generally been appreciated for its enjoyable cast. Famed critic Roger Ebert awarded it 3 out of 4 stars, remarking that the film “aspired to be a screwball farce” and “exceeded all expectations based on its title.

5
‘Hellraiser: Bloodline’ (1996)

Bloodline, which was the fourth film in the Hellraiser series. Doug Bradley portrayed Pinhead (a role he would reprise eight times), while Brucey Ramsay, known for his work in Behind the Candelabra, and Valentina Vargas from The Four Altars were also part of the cast.

Scott portrays the character of Jacques, who is the assistant to the wealthy aristocrat Duc de L’Isle, played by Mickey Cottrell. In unison with L’Isle, they summon Angelique, portrayed by Vargas. However, when Jacques and Angelique deceive L’Isle, a toymaker named Philip Lemarchand creates something known as the Elysium Configuration, designed to eliminate demons. As a consequence of this act, he inadvertently casts a curse upon his entire lineage.

A Controversial Installment

The final Hellraiser film shown in theaters was Hellraiser: Bloodline. On IMDb, it has a rating of 5.1 out of 10. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes give it a 25% rating, while audiences rate it at 36%. Despite its flaws, fans of the series appreciate this installment for its creative and more campy feel. In 1996, Doug Bradley won Best Actor at Fantafestival for his portrayal of the famous character Pinhead. Additionally, the movie was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award in the category of Best Makeup FX.

4
‘Krampus’ (2015)

Before “Severance,” Scott appeared in the Christmas horror film “Krampus.” This movie, based on German folklore, features Emjay Anthony (“Bad Moms”) as Max Engel, a boy who unwittingly summons the demon Krampus to his household after having a dismal Christmas. As the spirit of punishment for those who’ve lost the Christmas spirit, Krampus arrives, leaving the Engel family to battle for their lives. Scott takes on the role of Max’s father, Tom, alongside Toni Collette (“Hereditary”) as his mother, Sarah. The movie is helmed by Michael Dougherty, the creator behind the 2007 Halloween cult favorite, “Trick ‘r Treat.

A Lesson in Folklore

The monster character Krampus performed exceptionally well financially, raking in a total of $61,548,707 against its production budget of $15 million. On IMDb, it scores 6.2 out of 10, while critics on Rotten Tomatoes rate it at 66%, with audiences giving it a slightly lower 52%. Generally regarded as an acceptable horror film for Christmas, Krampus has helped increase public awareness of this mythical figure. The movie earned four Fangoria Chainsaw Awards nominations and secured the win for Best Makeup/Creature FX.

3
‘The Monkey’ (2025)

In Scott’s latest horror undertaking, titled “The Monkey,” Osgood Perkins (known for “Longlegs”) takes on both writing and directing duties. This film is an adaptation of a 1980 Stephen King short story centered around a haunted toy monkey. Theo James, best recognized from “The White Lotus,” plays twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn in this chilling production. Hal and Bill struggle to discard a malevolent toy monkey that leaves destruction and death in its wake. In the movie, Scott makes a brief appearance as Captain Petey Shelburn, the monkey’s initial owner and father of Hal and Bill. However, his character vanishes soon after attempting to get rid of the cursed monkey. Eventually, the brothers unearth the toy in their attic.

Stephen King Approved

The film titled The Monkey boasts a considerable amount of clout due to its association with renowned horror director Osgood Perkins, who currently commands significant attention within the genre. Furthermore, tales derived from Stephen King’s works consistently maintain their relevance and appeal. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Monkey has garnered a 78% approval rating from critics, with many admiring Perkins’ unique directing style, while some note that the film’s tone may occasionally veer towards the comedic, which they find somewhat discordant given its subject matter. On IMDb, the movie currently holds a score of 6 out of 10 stars.

King penned on Threads in January, prior to the movie’s debut: “You’ve never encountered anything similar to THE MONKEY. It’s wildly absurd. Being somewhat familiar with madness myself, I express this sentiment with respect.

2
‘Little Evil’ (2017)

In the movie titled “Little Evil“, Scott’s ability to blend comedy and horror is brilliantly demonstrated. He plays Gary, a man who marries Samantha (Evangeline Lilly), but there’s a catch: Samantha’s son, Lucas (Owen Atlas), could potentially be the Antichrist. The film is helmed by Eli Craig, known for his work on “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil“. Notable actors in this production include Clancy Brown from “The Shawshank Redemption“, Bridget Everett from “Somebody Somewhere”, and Sally Field, who won an Academy Award for her role in “Norma Rae“.

A Lovable Horror Comedy

Little Evil, a horror comedy, boasts a high 92% critical acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes, yet only garners 47% appreciation from viewers. It scores 5.7 out of 10 on IMDb. According to Meghan O’Keefe at Decider, it is “an unexpectedly charming, even — might I venture? — adorable, addition to the ‘spawn of Satan’ genre.” Little Evil, while not Scott’s scariest film, could well be one of the most endearing.

1
‘Star Trek: First Contact’ (1996)

Following the release of “Hellraiser: Bloodline,” Scott made an appearance in the “Star Trek: First Contact” cast, which was the eighth film in the Star Trek series and the second one adapted from the television show “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Patrick Stewart stars as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise-E, with a supporting cast that includes Jonathan Frakes (“Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction”), Brent Spiner (“The Aviator”), and LeVar Burton (“Roots”). In the film’s opening scene, Scott portrays a conn officer on the USS Defiant spaceship. Here, he reports to Worf (Michael Dorn), the commander of the USS Defiant, who shares a past with Jean-Luc Picard.

An Academy Award-Nominated Film

The movie “Star Trek: First Contact” is widely regarded as a classic. On IMDb, it boasts a rating of 7.6 out of 10. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have given it a 93% approval rating, and audiences have rated it at 89%. The film was recognized with a nomination for Best Makeup at the 1997 Academy Awards and received ten Saturn Award nominations, winning in three categories.

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2025-06-08 01:04