in 2015, labeouf starred in sia's music video for "elastic heart" along with maddie ziegler. he also starred in the war-thriller film "man down" directed by dito montiel alongside gary oldman and kate mara. in 2016, labeouf starred in "american honey", directed by andrea arnold, playing the male lead role, jake. in "variety", guy lodge wrote that "despite the apparent stunt casting of labeouf", he "easily delivers his best performance here, bleeding the eccentricities of his own celebrity persona into the character to fascinating, oddly moving effect".