Justice Smith’s Soul-Shaking Performance You Can’t Look Away From
There are performances that entertain you, and then there are ones that unravel something deep inside your chest. Watching Justice Smith in I Saw the TV Glow is the second kind. It’s raw. It’s uncomfortably honest. And it might just be the most courageous work of his career.
You probably first met Smith as the wide-eyed booksmart teen in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, or as the heart of Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Maybe you fell for his electric charm in Baz Luhrmann’s The Get Down. But nothing in his filmography prepares you for what he does in Jane Schoenbrun’s psychological horror-drama. This isn’t acting for applause. This is baring a soul.
A Role That Wasn’t Just Played — It Was Lived
I Saw the TV Glow follows two lonely teenagers bonded by a mysterious late-night TV show. Years later, one of them (Smith) is still trapped inside a life that never felt like his own. The film becomes a haunting metaphor for suppressed identity, and Smith pours his entire self into the role.
For the queer actor, it wasn’t a stretch. It was a homecoming.
Smith came out publicly in 2020, sharing that he uses he/they pronouns and is part of the LGBTQ+ community. In interviews, he’s spoken about the long, quiet ache of pretending — of folding yourself into a shape the world finds more digestible. That ache bleeds through every frame of his performance. You don’t just watch Justice Smith in this film. You feel him.
The Scene Everyone Will Be Talking About
Midway through the movie, Smith’s character delivers a monologue so fragile it feels like eavesdropping on a confession. There’s no melodrama, no Oscar-bait grandstanding. Just a man admitting he’s spent decades being someone else. The silence after his words is louder than any soundtrack. If you’ve ever hidden a fundamental truth about yourself, this moment will wreck you — and then gently put you back together.
From Blockbusters to Brave Storytelling
Smith could have played it safe. After Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and the blockbuster Detective Pikachu, Hollywood was ready to slot him into leading-man territory. Instead, he chose projects that demand vulnerability. The Quarry video game. Off-Broadway plays. And now a micro-budget indie film that critics are calling a queer masterpiece.
It’s the kind of career pivot that speaks volumes about his priorities. Not fame. Not algorithm-friendly roles. But truth. The kind of truth that lights a path for others still searching for their own reflection on screen.
Why This Matters Now
We’re living in a moment where authentic storytelling isn’t just appreciated — it’s essential. Audiences are tired of polished surfaces. They’re hungry for connection, for the messy, beautiful honesty Justice Smith brings to the screen. Representation is no longer about simply being visible. It’s about being understood. And Smith’s performance is a masterclass in turning private pain into public healing.
In a world quick to demand labels, his work reminds us that identity isn’t a checkbox. It’s a living, breathing evolution. Watching him inhabit a character who finally stops running from himself feels like permission — permission to be unfinished, to be searching, to be real.
The Takeaway
Justice Smith didn’t just give a great performance. He gave a piece of himself. And that gift is landing at exactly the right time, in a cultural landscape starved for sincerity. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering his talent, one thing is certain: you won’t forget how this role made you feel. Because some performances don’t just stay on the screen. They move right into your heart and make a home there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Justice Smith non-binary?
Justice Smith identifies as queer and uses he/they pronouns. He hasn’t publicly labeled himself as non-binary, but his openness about gender fluidity has resonated deeply with fans who see their own experiences reflected in his journey.
What is Justice Smith’s most emotional role?
Many critics point to his work in I Saw the TV Glow (2024) as his most emotionally exposed performance to date. The role draws heavily on themes of suppressed identity and the ache of living an inauthentic life.
What is I Saw the TV Glow about?
The film follows two isolated teens (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine) bonded by a supernatural TV series. When the show is canceled and reality blurs, one character must confront the terrifying truth that the life he’s living isn’t his own.
How did Justice Smith come out?
Smith came out as queer in 2020 through an Instagram post that also expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He later confirmed he uses he/they pronouns, and has since become a vital voice for queer representation in Hollywood.
What other projects is Justice Smith known for?
He gained recognition in The Get Down, starred in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, played the lead in Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and appeared in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also voiced a major character in the horror game The Quarry.