Before 'Task,' Mark Ruffalo Starred in a 90% RT Crime Thriller That Redefined the Genre

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Detective at a typewriter holding up his hand

Published Feb 19, 2026, 7:23 AM EST

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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.

HBO continues to be a Mark Ruffalo content machine, and it isn’t hard to see why. The Oscar-nominated actor has plumbed the depths of some complex characters, notably in his newest television venture, Task. From the creator of Mare of Easttown comes another hyper-specific crime series in the heart of Delaware County. Ruffalo stars as Tom Brandis, a former priest who finds his calling as an FBI agent. After a recent tragedy, however, he has been relegated to desk work until he is called to join a task force.

Ruffalo digs into this meaty role that begs for another season. Luckily for fans, they can immerse themselves in another gritty crime thriller starring the actor. In 2007, Ruffalo starred as Inspector Dave Toschi in the true crime film Zodiac. Also starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the David Fincher-helmed feature was everything a deep dive into the serial killer should be and more.

‘Zodiac’ Was a Stylistic and Thrilling Feat

Before The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl, there was Zodiac. David Fincher has become known for his beautifully shot deep dives into the darkest minds, and that goes for his underrated crime thriller from the mid-aughts. The film is inspired by Robert Graysmith’s book of the same name, which details the newspaper cartoonist’s hunt for the serial killer. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Graysmith as the unlikely hero who gets close to the identity of the killer.

Fincher expertly depicts the desperate attempt to find the identity of the Zodiac while still staying close to the reality of the situation. It is likely that the Zodiac will never be officially identified, but the director still crafts an emotionally compelling film with a satisfying ending. Zodiac broke even at the box office but didn’t immediately gain the traction that later films such as The Social Network did. Instead, the film later gained cult status because of its performances from Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.

Ruffalo plays the straight man against Gyllenhaal’s surprising and sometimes comedic portrayal of Graysmith. Dave Toschi is the official detective looking into the case and understands that the police are not making progress. While Graysmith is not qualified to hunt for the Zodiac and is not involved with the case in an official capacity, his talent for puzzles makes him an asset as the serial killer terrorizes the Bay Area with his ciphers. Ruffalo provides the strong foundation for a film that should be better recognized.

Zodiac contains the style and grittiness that Fincher developed throughout his career. Clocking in over two hours, the film earns every second of its runtime. It weaves the story of a disturbing and mysterious case, which is a thrill to watch. Arguably the definitive film about the serial killer, Zodiac is more than a true crime film. It was a signal that crime films could allow artistic license while also staying true to the spirit of the story. A precursor to Gone Girl and Fincher’s equally evocative crime thrillers, Zodiac is a benchmark that all other films of the genre should measure themselves against.