British actor John Boyega made his film debut with 2011's Attack the Block. He later achieved international fame as Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which began with the highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While overall reception to the trilogy was mixed, Star Wars was responsible for putting Boyega in the public spotlight. Since then, the charismatic actor has tackled other film projects such as The Circle and Naked Singularity.
Throughout his film career, Boyega has brought a unique charm and energy that no other Hollywood actors possess. That screen presence led to Boyega becoming the recipient of the 2016 BAFTA Rising Star Award and the Trophée Chopard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. In 2020, New African magazine also cited Boyega as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans. As we continue to watch his career with great interest, here is a look at John Boyega's best movies, ranked.
7 Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Director Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi proved to be a very divisive film, splitting the Star Wars fanbase right into two. While the film shifted the trilogy's focus more towards Rey and Kylo Ren, Finn was still assigned a new character arc. As The Last Jedi took place immediately after the events of The Force Awakens, Boyega's character had more to learn before he became a fully-realized hero. The contrasting viewpoints between the nihilistic DJ and courageous Rose allowed Finn to find his place in the Resistance. Taking on a desperate mission to find a "Master Codebreaker", Finn infiltrated a massive First Order Dreadnought where he came face-to-face with Captain Phasma. Despite the mixed fan response to The Last Jedi, Boyega made the most of the moments he had been given.
6 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The conclusion to the Skywalker saga presented Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as an on-screen trio for the first time. The heroes of the sequel trilogy traveled to different planets including Pasaana, Kijimi, and Kef Bir, in search of a Sith wayfinder. By Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Finn had become a brave Resistance fighter who believed in and was completely committed to the cause. Although Boyega continued to be a pleasure to watch as Finn, unfortunately, The Rise of Skywalker did not give him much to do. Indeed, Finn was always present leading Resistance troops against the First Order. However, he was ultimately the same character at the end of the movie as he was at the beginning. Nonetheless, audiences who simply wanted a straight-forward likable good guy got one in Finn.
5 Pacific Rim: Uprising
Pacific Rim's "canceling the apocalypse" speech, delivered by Idris Elba's Stacker Pentecost, was easily one of the most memorable moments in the film. The 2018 sequel, Pacific Rim: Uprising, had Boyega's Jake Pentecost rise up to take on a new leadership role. Uprising was not nearly as well-received as the original Pacific Rim, missing the touch of Guillermo del Toro. Boyega, however, proved to be a fantastic leading man, oozing charisma as the rebellious Jake Pentecost. Jake left behind his troubled past to lead a group of cadets against more giant sea monsters known as the Kaiju. Co-piloting the Gipsy Avenger, Pacific Rim: Uprising made it crystal-clear that Boyega makes a great action hero. The film also marked the first time Boyega produced a film with his production company, Upperroom Entertainment Limited.
4 Attack the Block
The film that started Boyega's movie career was none other than Attack the Block. A sci-fi comedy horror film, Attack the Block featured a teenage gang in South London fighting against extraterrestrial threats. It was certainly a standout in Boyega's filmography, and remains unlike any other film the actor has done. The genres of science fiction, comedy, and horror at first glance may seem at odds with each other, but Attack the Block was able to blend them seamlessly. Most who were looking for an enjoyable alien invasion flick were left feeling satisfied. It was announced in 2021 (via Deadline) that Boyega would produce and reprise his role as Moses in the sequel.
3 Detroit
Kathryn Bigelow, who previously directed Point Break and Zero Dark Thirty, directed Boyega in 2017's Detroit. The film was released on the 50th anniversary of the real-life Algiers Motel incident, which the film was based on. During the summer of 1967, mass civil unrest dominated the city streets, leading to one of the most violent riots in American history. Boyega portrayed private security guard Melvin Dismukes, one of his most dramatic roles to date. In 2017, Boyega told IndieWire that Detroit was the "biggest movie" and "biggest role" of his career. Detroit was not the most comfortable film to watch, but it succeeded in telling an intense, emotionally impactful story. Excellent performances from Boyega and Will Poulter elevated the film to impressive heights.
2 Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Force Awakens was criticized for being too similar to the original Star Wars trilogy. However, upon its release, The Force Awakens became an overwhelming financial success and was received positively by both fans and critics. For the first time in Star Wars film history, audiences were introduced to a human being underneath the stormtrooper helmet. Boyega was FN-2187, a stormtrooper with an awakened conscience that wanted nothing to do with the First Order. Named "Finn" by Poe Dameron, Boyega's character was pulled into a galaxy-spanning joyride, meeting Rey, BB-8, Chewbacca, and Han Solo along the way. The Force Awakens was not representative of the most original Star Wars movie ever made, but for many, was one of the most entertaining blockbuster films in recent memory.
1 Imperial Dreams
After premiering at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Imperial Dreams was released as a Netflix Original in 2017. The film centered on a reformed gangster (Boyega) named Bambi. Following life in prison, Bambi was immediately thrown into a stressful environment. He did everything he could to avoid a life of crime in a violent neighborhood in Los Angeles. The love Bambi had for his son gave him strength, forcing Bambi to face overwhelming odds and fight for their future. Imperial Dreams explored themes surrounding race, education, rehabilitation, and difficult systemic issues, while showcasing Boyega's acting strengths. The film has not been Boyega's most popular work, but was easily among his best.