Editing Simon Rex (section)

=== Film resurgence (2021–present) ===
In 2020, Rex, stuck in a floundering music endeavor with film opportunities having dried up, received a call from director [[Sean Baker (filmmaker)|Sean Baker]] asking him to send in a video audition for the film ''[[Red Rocket (film)|Red Rocket]]'', after which he was quickly offered the lead role.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Randolph|first=Eric|date=July 14, 2021|title=Not much foreplay: actor's rush to Cannes porn star role|url=https://news.yahoo.com/not-much-foreplay-actors-rush-165203666.html|access-date=July 15, 2021|website=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3"/> Rex stated: "Sean Baker gave me a shot when nobody else would ... I didn't really work for over a decade. And I think Sean wanted to prove to people that he could show someone like me could do it."<ref name="RedRocketComeback">{{Cite web |last=Nordstrom |first=Leigh |date=2024-08-23 |title=Simon Rex Gets His 'Seat at the Table' as Hollywood Comeback Continues With Zoë Kravitz and 'Blink Twice' |url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/simon-rex-blink-twice-zoe-kravitz-1236552965/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYdKwBGXltFndLdMtmXT2ImUgIcm117ris8bHhMXVAttMHHPl0A3wZSNmo_aem_fjKL4xOPeVr9htJN5QN1Lw |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref> The film premiered in competition for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]] and the film - and particularly Rex's performance - received overwhelmingly positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Lawson|first=Richard|date=July 14, 2021|title=Simon Rex Is Sensational in 'Red Rocket'|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/07/red-rocket-movie-review-simon-rex-cannes|access-date=July 17, 2021|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/simon-rex-hollywood-pariah-red-rocket-oscar-contender-1234681846/ Simon Rex Charts His Journey from Hollywood Pariah to 'Red Rocket' Oscar Contender]</ref> The film was considered a serious acting career breakthrough for Rex and his comeback in the industry.<ref name="RedRocketComeback"/>

In October 2021, as a result of the attention ''Red Rocket'' had garnered, Rex signed with the [[Entertainment Manager|management firm]] Range Media Partners. He next appeared in ''[[Mack & Rita]]'', starring [[Diane Keaton]], followed by ''[[Down Low (film)|Down Low]]'' with [[Zachary Quinto]]. Soon after that, he was cast in a number of other films that premiered in film festivals, such as ''[[Americana (2023 film)|Americana]]'' and ''[[The Sweet East]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2021-10-27|title='Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Signs With Range Media Partners|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/red-rocket-star-simon-rex-range-media-partners-1234863053/|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Deadline}}</ref><ref name="Anthem">{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2022-02-03|title=Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex & Others Set For Bron's 'National Anthem'|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/sydney-sweeney-halsey-paul-walter-hauser-simon-rex-brons-national-anthem-1234925918/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Deadline}}</ref> Other film appearances include ''[[Greedy People (film)|Greedy People]]'', ''[[Blink Twice]]'', and ''[[Everything's Going to Be Great]]''. He was cast in a supporting role in ''The Leader'', a biopic about the [[Heaven's Gate (religious group)|Heaven's Gate cult]] led by Marshall Applewhite.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=2023-10-30 |title=Michael C. Hall & Grace Caroline Currey Join Heaven's Gate Cult Biopic 'The Leader' – AFM |url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/michael-c-hall-grace-caroline-currey-join-heavens-gate-cult-movie-leader-1235587633/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

Rex appeared in the April 2, 2022 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' hosted by [[Jerrod Carmichael]] with musical guest [[Gunna (rapper)|Gunna]], in the music video "Short-Ass Movies", where in addition to appearing as himself, his face is used for [[Ernest P. Worrell]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title='SNL': Pete Davidson Returns To Vent About Movies Being Too Long In Music Video Featuring Simon Rex |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/snl-pete-davidson-returns-movies-too-long-in-music-video-simon-rex-gunna-chris-redd-1234993116/ |website=Deadline |access-date=April 3, 2022 |date=April 3, 2022}}</ref>