The cast ofPixelsincludes several well-known Hollywood actors, as well as many supporting roles and fun cameos from the world of film, TV, and gaming. Despite not being considered one ofAdam Sandler’s best-ranked movies,Pixelscertainly includes a fun premise. It tells the story of extraterrestrial invaders of Earth who once found a video game-infused time capsule in space and mistook it as a declaration of war. In anotherAdam Sandler and Kevin James collaboration, the main cast ofPixelsuse their video game expertise to repel this alien invasion that comes in the form of game characters.
Due to this unique premise,Pixelscan almost be counted as avideo game adaptation movie. Although it is not based on any one game and does not include a storyline found in a video game likeDetective Pikachu,Warcraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, orMortal Kombatof late, it features endless references to classic video games from the 1980s. As such, manyupcoming video game movieswill likely be very different fromPixels, down to the fact that they will not feature the star-studded cast, vast supporting roster, and slew of cameos thatPixelsdoes.
Adam Sandler as Sam Brenner
Date of Birth: July 13, 2025
Actor:Adam Sandler is an American actor born in New York City. Sandler’s early career consisted of appearances inGoing Overboard, Coneheads,andAirheads,as well as live TV shows likeSaturday Night Live.Sandler’s breakout role came in 1995’sBilly Maddison,leading to his career as a comedic actor in movies likeHappy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, 50 First Dates,andGrown Ups, to name a small handful. Some of Sandler’s more dramatic roles came inPunch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, The Meyerowitz Stories,andUncut Gems.
Uncut Gems
Howard Ratner
Character:InPixels,Sandler plays the character of Sam Brenner. Sam was once a video game enthusiast, playing in many tournaments when he was a kid and even becoming the second-bestDonkey Kongplayer in the world. As an adult, Sam is an electronics installer who yearns for the glory days. When aliens attack Earth in the form of iconic video game villains, Sam is recruited by the United States President to fend off the attackers as the leader of an elite task force called the Arcaders.
Kevin James as Will “Chewie” Cooper
Date of Birth: August 10, 2025
Actor:Kevin James is an American actor born in Mineola, New York. James' early career primarily consisted of stand-up comedy performances and a recurring role inEverybody Loves Raymond.James' breakout role came in the sitcomThe King of Queens, in which he appeared in over 200 episodes. This led to James' more prolific film career, with many appearances coming alongside Sandler in50 First Dates, Grown Ups, Pixels, andHubie Halloween. James' other most recognizable film roles includeHitchandPaul Blart: Mall Cop, with more dramatic roles coming inThe Dilemma,Little Boy, andBecky.
Kevin Can Wait
Kevin Gable
Character:Kevin James plays Will “Chewie” Cooper inPixels. As children, Will and Sam were best friends before Will grew up to somehow become President of the United States. When the aliens attack Earth using the form of video game antagonists, Will immediately reconnects with Sam due to the latter’s knowledge of video games. Will becomes one of the Arcaders, the task force set up to defeat the video game-based alien invasion.
Michelle Monaghan as Violet von Patten
Date of Birth: July 20, 2025
Actor:Michelle Monaghan is an American actor born in Winthrop. Iowa. Monaghan’s early career included appearances in movies likePerfumeandUnfaithful, as well as the dramaBoston Public.Monaghan’s breakout role came in 2005’sKiss Kiss Bang Bang, leading to a more mainstream appearance inMission: Impossible III. Since then, Monaghan has appeared in a variety of mainstream movies and TV shows, includingGone Baby Gone, Source Code, andTrue Detective.
Messiah
Eva Geller
Character:Monaghan plays Violet van Patten inPixels, the Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army. Violet is also the love interest of Sandler’s Brenner and a member of the Arcaders. Violet is integral in repelling the alien invasion as she develops energy weapons that prove effective in defeating the invaders.
Date of Birth: August 02, 2025
Actor:Josh Gad is an American actor born in Hollywood, Florida. Gad’s early career saw him appear on several shows in one-off episodes and in some Broadway performances, finding wider success inThe Book of Mormon.In film, Gad found success in the early 2010s with voice acting in movies likeIce Age: Continental DriftandFrozen.Live-action roles inPixels,Beauty and the Beast, andMurder on the Orient Expresscan be classed as his breakout performances, leading to success in the likes ofGhostbusters: AfterlifeandAvenue 5.
Beauty and the Beast
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Muncher (Voice Role)
Character:Gad plays Ludlow “The Wonder Kid” Lamonsoff inPixels.Ludlow is a major conspiracy theorist and video game enthusiast like Brenner and Cooper were as children. Ludlow sees video footage of the video game-inspired alien attacks and rushes to the spot of another, meeting with Brenner, Cooper, and von Patten to join the Arcaders.
Peter Dinklage as Eddie Plant
Date of Birth: August 19, 2025
Actor:Peter Dinklage is an American actor born in Jersey Shore, New Jersey. Dinklage performed in a few lower-status movies and TV shows in the 1990s, includingLiving in Oblivion.Dinklage’s breakout role was inThe Station Agent, leading to more mainstream roles inElfandThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.Undoubtedly, Dinklage’s most well-known role is that of Tyrion Lannister in HBO’sGame of Thrones, which led to him appearing in big movies likeX-Men: Days of Future Past, Avengers: Infinity War,andThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Casca Highbottom
Character:InPixels,Dinklage portrays Eddie “The Fireblaster” Plant. Eddie was the primary rival of Sam as a child, with the former beating the latter to become the bestDonkey Kongplayer in the world. However, it is later revealed that Eddie is a cheater after he joins the Arcaders. This renews Sam’s confidence and allows him to defeat the aliens, with a remorseful Eddie aiding in the various battles against the video game invaders.
Pixels Supporting Cast & Characters
Brian Cox as Admiral James Porter:A high-ranking military official, James Porter is one of the men responsible for overseeing the training of NAVY Seals alongside the Arcaders. Porter is played by Brian Cox, known for his roles inBraveheart, Succession, X2,andTroyamong many others.
Sean Bean as Corporal Hill:Corporal Hill, like Porter, is one of the main military men who aids the Arcaders in preparing for the alien invasion as a leader of the British SAS. Sean Bean is primarily known forThe Lord of the RingsandGame of Thrones.
Every On-Screen Sean Bean Death
British actor Sean Bean has become one of Hollywood’s most killable actors, with a staggering two dozen on-screen deaths in his nearly 40-year career.
Jane Krakowski as Jane Cooper:Jane Cooper is the First Lady of the United States and Will Cooper’s wife. InPixels, Cooper is portrayed by Jane Krakowski, known for her roles in30 Rock, Ally McBeal,andUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Ashley Benson as Lady Lisa:Lady Lisa is the protagonist of a fictional video game calledDojo Questwho is the object of Ludlow Laminsoff’s desires. The alien taking the form of Lady Lisa defects to the side of Earth’s protectors during the film. Ashley Benson portrays Lady Lisa, primarily known for her role inPretty Little Liars.
Matt Lintz as Matty van Patten:Matty van Patten is the son of Violet inPixelsand aids the Arcaders by revealing Eddie’s cheating ways and inspiring Sam during the final battle. Matt Lintz plays the character, known for his roles inThe Walking DeadandMs. Marvel.
Pixels Cameo Guide
Alongside the main and supporting cast members,Pixelsincludes several major cameos in the film. Be it collaborators of Adam Sandler or cameos from sports personalities,Pixelshas no shortage of surprises. Furthermore,Pixelspays homage to the world of video games several times through its cameos, with some iconic people from the industry appearing in the film.
Pixels
Cast
In Pixels, invading aliens misinterpret classic 1980s arcade games as declarations of war and attack Earth in the form of various game characters such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Michelle Monaghan, and Brian Cox star in this 2015 sci-fi action comedy directed by Chris Columbus.
