Editing Jason Ritter (section)

=== 2017–present: Television and film work ===

In the satirical dark comedy ''[[Bitch (film)|Bitch]]'' (2017), Ritter re-teamed with director Marianna Palka to play Bill, a promiscuous husband whose wife suddenly takes on the mannerisms of a wild dog. Writing for ''[[IndieWire]]'', Erick Kohn said, "The usually sweet-natured Ritter boldly plays against type ... an ''[[American Psycho (film)|American Psycho]]''-like creep ... leaving the care of his three young children to his clearly unstable wife", adding that "[the film] works best when it focuses on Bill's ongoing shock at the sudden demand for his responsibility, as he fights through the task of delivering his kids to school and suddenly loses traction in the workplace. A fierce portrait of unwieldy comeuppance, it's both hilarious and terrifying to watch Bill take in the strange events around him".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/bitch-review-jason-ritter-marianna-palka-sundance-2017-1201771627/|first=Erick|last=Kohn|title=Palka's Vicious Feminist Satire Has Plenty of Bark and Bite — Sundance 2017|work=IndieWire|date=January 22, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref>

Ritter's portrayal of Kevin Finn—a depressed financial worker tasked with preventing humanity from self-destruction—in ''[[Kevin (Probably) Saves the World]]'' was warmly received by critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2017/10/03/kevin-might-not-save-the-world-but-jason-ritter-might-save-the-show.html|first=Johanna|last=Schneller|title=Kevin might not save the world, but Jason Ritter might save the show|work=The Toronto Star|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-series-premiere/|first=Jodi|last=Walker|title= Kevin (Probably) Saves the World series premiere react: 'Pilot'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> The show ran for a single season on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] between October 2017 and March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-canceled-jason-ritter-abc-1202379823|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512022852/http://deadline.com/2018/05/kevin-probably-saves-the-world-canceled-jason-ritter-abc-1202379823/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 12, 2018|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|title='Kevin (Probably) Saves The World' Canceled After One Season On ABC|work=Deadline|date=May 11, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2023}}</ref> Next, he appeared in ''[[The Tale]]'' (2018), a drama based on the childhood sexual abuse suffered by [[Jennifer Fox (documentary filmmaker)|Jennifer Fox]]—the film's writer and director—at the hands of her running coach. Ritter played perpetrator William "Bill" Allens, earning strong reviews for his performance: "Ritter has never been better" said Matt Goldberg of ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/the-tale-review-laura-dern-jennifer-fox/|first=Matt|last=Goldberg|title='The Tale' Review: One of the Bravest Movies You'll Ever See|work=Collider|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> while ''[[The Atlantic]]''{{'}}s David Sims commented, "Handed the tough roles of mentors who shift into monsters, Ritter and [[Elizabeth Debicki|Debicki]] subtly calibrate their performances as necessary, projecting a protective edge in one moment and a predatory one in the next. Their transformations are extraordinary to watch, and necessary to reckon with".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/05/the-tale-jennifer-fox-laura-dern-review/561104/|first=David|last=Sims|title=The Tale Is a Searing Investigation of Past Abuse|work=The Atlantic|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> Ritter said the experience of making the film had been a challenging one, and that there were times after a day's shooting when he "had to go home and let it all out".<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.amny.com/entertainment/jason-ritter-the-tale-hbo-1-18663980/|title='The Tale' star Jason Ritter reveals the rage he felt playing a predator|first=Niki|last=Cruz|date=May 21, 2018|website=AM New York|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref>

In 2019, Ritter played the voice role of Ryder—a member of the Northuldra tribe—in [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney]]'s ''[[Frozen II]]'', which broke box office records upon its release.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/frozen-2-box-office-all-records-broken-1257703/|title='Frozen 2' Box Office: All the Records Broken|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=November 14, 2023}}</ref> He began starring as [[Biotechnology|biotech engineer]] Pat Rollins on the critically acclaimed superhero series ''[[Raising Dion]]'' the same year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/raising_dion/s01|title=Raising Dion (2019)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> with Aaron Pruner of ''[[Thrillist]]'' commenting that Ritter's involvement "adds the nuanced character work he's known for".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thrillist.com/amphtml/entertainment/nation/netflix-raising-dion-superhero-review|title=Netflix's Superhero Origin Story 'Raising Dion' Is a Breath of Fresh Air|website=Thrillist|first=Aaron|last=Pruner|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=November 14, 2023}}</ref> The show ran for two seasons on [[Netflix]] before being cancelled in April 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a39839144/raising-dion-cancelled-season-3/|title=Why was Raising Dion cancelled?|website=Digital Spy|first=Janet A.|last=Leigh|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref>

In a casting choice that drew attention for being "[[Meta (prefix)|meta]]",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/candy-hulu-jessical-biel-justin-timberlake-1235145380/|title=Jessica Biel on the "Meta on Meta" Surprise Roles in Her and Melanie Lynskey's 'Candy'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Strause|last=Jackie|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> Ritter appeared as Deputy Denny Reese in two episodes of the true crime [[Hulu]] miniseries ''[[Candy (miniseries)|Candy]]'' (2022), where the character—along with his colleague, played by [[Justin Timberlake]]—investigates the 1980 murder of Texan housewife Betty Gore. Gore was portrayed by Ritter's wife, Melanie Lynskey, while the perpetrator—[[Candy Montgomery]]—was played by Timberlake's wife, [[Jessica Biel]]. The following year, Ritter voiced principal character Jonathan Fall in the animated series ''[[Captain Fall]]'', a dark comedy that ran for one season on Netflix.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/shadow-and-bone-glamorous-agent-elvis-captain-fall-farzar-canceled-strike-impact-1235611562/|title='Shadow And Bone', 'Glamorous' & 'Agent Elvis' Among 5 Series Canceled By Netflix Amid Strike Impact|website=Deadline|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=November 15, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref>

It was announced in March 2023 that Ritter had been cast in the CBS reboot of ''[[Matlock (2024 TV series)|Matlock]]'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/matlock-jason-ritter-cast-cbs-reboot-pilot-kathy-bates-1235299160/|title='Matlock': Jason Ritter Joins Cast Of CBS Reboot Pilot|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=March 14, 2023|access-date=July 11, 2023}}</ref> which began airing in October 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tvline.com/news/matlock-reboot-delayed-cbs-postponed-2024-2025-1235078975/|title=Matlock Reboot, Wayans Sitcom Poppa's House Pushed to 2024-25 Season at CBS|website=TVLine|first=Rebecca|last=Iannucci|date=November 13, 2023|access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> In his review of the first season, ''IndieWire''{{'}}s Ben Travers found Ritter to be one of the show's biggest assets, writing, "Ritter has long deserved a regular showcase like [this]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/matlock-review-kathy-bates-new-matlock-twist-1235056040/|title=The New ‘Matlock’ Isn’t the Old ‘Matlock,’ but Is That Enough?|website=[[IndieWire]]|first=Ben|last=Travers|date=October 17, 2024|access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>