In 2017, Gyllenhaal starred as astronaut David Jordan in the science fiction horror film "Life"; "Slant Magazine"s Eric Henderson stated that Gyllenhaal was "dead behind the eyes from his first scene". He also had a supporting role in the action-adventure film "Okja" and starred in the drama "Stronger", based on Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman. In his review of the latter, "The Independent"s Geoffrey Macnab complimented Gyllenhaal's versatility and "outstanding" portrayal of Bauman. The following year, he co-starred in the drama "Wildlife" opposite Carey Mulligan, in which he plays a father who temporarily abandons his family to take a dangerous job. It is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Richard Ford. Ella Kemp, writing for "Sight & Sound" magazine, praised the chemistry of the lead actors which "fizzes with an effortless dynamism". He also had a role in the western drama "The Sisters Brothers" (2018).