2024 was the year of Glen Powell — period.
Yes, Powell has been in Hollywood for years, but nothing solidifies heartthrob status for an actor quite like wearing a white T-shirt while it rains or shotgunning a beer on stage with Luke Combs (a special thank you to the summer blockbuster Twisters for allowing Us to have both iconic moments.)
The actor famously made his onscreen debut in the 2003 movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. From there he starred in some small, but notable roles, like Chad Radwell in the short-lived — but totally epic — series Scream Queens or the swoon worthy Charlie in Netflix’s Set It Up. Fans can argue (and they will) that Powell’s breakout role came as Jake “Hangman” Seresin in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, but it wasn’t until this year that he became a true household name.
“That’s the funniest part about this moment,” Powell told The Hollywood Reporter in May when reflecting on his career. “I’ve worked really hard for a long time, putting things together and just trying to get them in shape enough for people to give a s—. Then you get to a place where people are just like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ and suddenly you’re playing musical chairs with yourself. You’re like, ‘Wait, do I sit in all these chairs right now?’”
The Texas native will, no doubt, continue to sit anywhere he wants in Hollywood, especially as his star continue to rise. 2024 might have been his year but Powell is just getting started.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown why Us was obsessed with Powell this year:
Overall Sex Appeal
Powell posed shirtless for Men’s Health in November 2023, and we definitely thought it couldn’t get better than that — until Hit Man was released on Netflix. The streaming service turned up the heat as summer was starting with Powell’s onscreen sex montage with costar Adria Arjona.
Two months later, Powell put on his cowboy hat and proved their ain’t no love in Oklahoma, unless you’re starring alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in a movie about tornados. Twisters put Powell’s sex appeal on full display, and this time, the actor kept his shirt on the entire time. He’s just a real movie star and that’s all Us has to say about that.
Life as a Dog Dad
If Powell’s looks aren’t good enough, his old terrier poodle mix named Brisket (@hotbrisket on Instagram) might seal the deal. While filming Twisters, the actor adopted his now-famous pup who has even gotten his own magazine cover. Vogue became “Dogue” this past August and Brisket was, of course, featured.
“Brisket’s best quality, I would say, is his ability to snuggle,” Powell gushed of his pup. “If there’s any shape on your body that is remotely cuddle-able, he will figure it out, whether it’s the top of your head, neck, hips, or feet. He is just built for snuggles.”
Anyone familiar with Powell’s social media footprint knows Brisket is built for thirst traps too.
No. 1 Son
Powell has attempted to put his parents, Cyndy and Glen Sr., in every one of his projects and 2024 was no different. They returned to the big screen for this year’s Twisters — Powell’s big blockbuster hit of the summer — as a couple sitting behind Powell and costar Daisy Edgar-Jones during a rodeo sequence.
“They have some very good screen time, and they’re in the cowboy hats and the boots and the whole get-up,” Powell told Us in July. “They look great. I mean, obviously, they’re from Texas. So, they should look very comfortable in that look, but they nailed it.”
In addition to their endless cameos, Cyndy and Glen Sr. have also been known to show up and support Glen whenever possible — and often show fans exactly where Powell gets his sense of humor. At the May premiere of his Netflix film Hit Man, the duo hilariously followed the actor around with huge signs that read, “Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen” and “It’s never gonna happen.”
“I think that’s maybe the greatest gift that my parents gave me is never, never making me sit in things I didn’t want to sit in and letting me chase the passions I wanted to chase no matter what,” Powell told Us of his parents supporting his career over the years. “When I discovered movies, that’s all I wanted to do. And it didn’t matter the schedule. I would, like, wake up thinking about it and I wake up talking about it. So I just am really grateful for my parents for not trying to deter me from a job that has such a low success rate, which I think a lot of parents do.”
Showing love and appreciation for your — very cool — parents no matter how famous you get? Totally sexy.
Costar Chemistry
Powell told Entertainment Weekly in June that when it comes to on screen chemistry, “It either is or isn’t. There’s no way to force it.” And while that might be true, Powell seemingly hasn’t met a costar he doesn’t have “it” with in spades.
From his time on Scream Queens with Nick Jonas to his rom-com Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney, Powell has always sizzled on screen with his costars — but the sparks he created in 2024 with Twisters and Hit Man leading ladies Edgar-Jones and Arjona were maybe the most intense of all.
“The basis of it is, ‘Oh we could spend four hours together and not shut up. This is somebody that I feel incredibly comfortable with,’” Arjona told Netflix about her instant rapport with Powell. “And once you feel comfortable with someone there’s a layer of trust and respect. You free yourself and you allow that, kind of, chemistry to live.”
We love that Powell can create chemistry with anyone or anything — some would even argue he has it with storms — but it’s knowing his costars feel safe and respected on set that make him the ultimate green flag.
Lookalike Madness
Celebrity look alike contests became all the rage in 2024, with some stars — like Timothée Chalamet — showing up to the event to lend their support. While Powell was unable to appear in person when his own look alike contest was held in Austin, Texas, he was sure to send mom Cyndy to help judge in his place — and even popped up in a video to offer his winning doppelganger a special prize.
“Look, I know there is some cash and a hat at stake here, but I just want to say that the winner of today’s contest gets a personal prize from me,” Powell said in the video. “Now you may know that my parents make a cameo in every movie I make, but today, the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest wins their parents, or any family member of their choice, a cameo in my next movie. I am completely serious.”
That down to earth aura is exactly what makes Powell so endearing. If you ask Us, he’s everything a true movie star should be.
