Hunter Schafer Reveals Six Films That Shaped Her Creative Vision

Hunter Schafer’s star is only rising, and audiences can expect to see much more of her in the coming years. Known for her breakout performance as Jules Vaughn in the acclaimed series Euphoria and her recent roles in films like last year’s psychological thriller Cuckoo, Schafer has quickly become a standout talent. Her journey from modeling to acting, and her impact as a trans role model, have made her a significant figure in the entertainment world. Despite having no prior acting experience, she landed her role in Euphoria and earned widespread praise across three seasons. This success opened doors to the big screen, including a part in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in 2023 and a cameo in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness the following year. With eight projects currently in the works—including more Euphoria, a Blade Runner miniseries, and a new horror film from A24—Schafer’s creative journey is just getting started.

Films That Left a Mark

Schafer has spoken candidly about the movies that have shaped her perspective and inspired her craft. Her list is a blend of animated masterpieces and intimate dramas, with a superhero epic thrown in. In her own words,

“One for sure is Paris is Burning by Jennie Livingston, a favorite, always. Mind Game by Masaaki Yuasa, a really great anime movie. (And) This is like so many people’s favorite, but The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan, it’s incredible. And then Ponyo by Studio Ghibli. If any character feels like who I am, it’s Ponyo. I wrote a TV episode about sea blobs, it’s just very in line with who I am.”

A Love for Animation

Animation holds a special place in Schafer’s heart, especially the work of Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. She shared,

“I rewatched Spirited Away when I was sick, and that always takes me far away from earth. It’s a treasure. I think it was the first Studio Ghibli film I watched, and my mind was blown. I was then very hungry to watch all the Studio Ghibli films all at once. It started a rampage.”

This passion for animation is reflected in her creative choices and the roles she gravitates toward.

Drama and Cult Classics

Among Schafer’s favorites is Safe, a 1995 drama directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore. The film follows a housewife whose life unravels as she becomes convinced her environment is making her ill. Though it struggled at the box office, it’s now seen as a cult classic, praised for its ahead-of-its-time themes.

Looking ahead, Schafer is set to appear in Tom Ford’s upcoming film Cry to Heaven, scheduled for release in 2026. The movie, Ford’s first since Nocturnal Animals in 2016, features a star-studded cast and tells the story of a nobleman in 18th-century Italy who rises to fame as an opera singer after being castrated as a boy to preserve his soprano voice.

Hunter Schafer’s Top Six Films

Here are the six movies that have had the biggest impact on Schafer’s life and work:

• Spirited Away (2001, Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
• Paris is Burning (1990, Dir. Jennie Livingston)
• Mind Game (2004, Dir. Masaaki Yuasa)
• Safe (1995, Dir. Todd Haynes)
• Ponyo (2008, Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
• The Dark Knight (2008, Dir. Christopher Nolan)