Amber Midthunder has been gaining raves for her lead performance in the latest Predator franchise entry, Prey. Even though this role has skyrocketed her popularity, the 25-year-old actress has been a part of several other critically acclaimed movies and shows ranging from the Marvel superhero series Legion to the sci-fi drama Roswell, New Mexico.
With Prey and an upcoming role in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, audiences are bound to check out more of Midthunder's previous roles. Apart from her acting skills, her casting in big-budget productions has also been praised for normalizing the representation of Indigenous American actors on screen.
Only Mine (2019) - 4.7
Only Mine plays out as a revenge thriller, starting out with a woman left for dead by her former lover. And then, in a truly Kill Bill fashion, Midthunder's protagonist seeks her vengeance by hatching a violent plan against him.
As Only Mine plays around familiar tropes established by some of the best revenge movies of all time, it could not establish itself as a memorable watch. Still, it is the heroine's charismatic performance that still serves as a redeeming factor for the movie. The anger that her character feels while craving for retaliation is fleshed out further in movies like Prey.
The Ice Road (2021) - 5.6
One of Liam Neeson's post-Taken action movies, The Ice Road stars the Irish actor as a truck driver who braves his way through frozen lakes and a rough tundra environment to rescue a group of trapped diamond miners. Midthunder appears as Tantoo, a young woman hired by the trucker for the dangerous mission.
Even though the action flick received mixed reviews, Midthunder gives her best as Tantoo, evoking the real-time tension and intensity that the plot demands. Further, it also gives her an opportunity to share screen space with seasoned veterans like Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne.
Roswell, New Mexico (2019-2022) - 6.2
A reboot of the sci-fi series of the same name, Roswell New Mexico finds a biomedical researcher returning to her titular hometown. When she discovers that her longtime crush is actually an alien, she unravels a larger political conspiracy.
The show's four-season run has drawn acclaim for its performances as well as the socio-political themes. Amber Midthunder first appeared in the debut season as a recurring character but was promoted to a series regular eventually, playing the protagonist's late sister who apparently died in a car accident. But her death eventually plays a major role and Midthunder gets to display her dramatic prowess in some emotionally crucial scenes with Jeanine Mason who plays her sibling.
The Wheel (2021) - 6.5
Also co-produced by Midthunder, The Wheel explores the nuances of a marriage gone wrong. As one partner has nothing but cynical thoughts, the other tries his best to prevent their relationship's breakdown. Their conflicts ultimately culminate to a weekend trip to the mountains, a journey that would ultimately determine their future.
It is a change in tone for Midthunder who has already acted in several sci-fi and thriller movies and shows. A raw and realistic human drama like The Wheel allows her to flaunt a brutally honest performance that some viewers would even be able to relate to.
Prey (2022) - 7.3
A prequel to the Predator franchise, Prey is set in the 1800s when an early version of the feared exterrestrial hunter goes against a valiant Comanche warrior. But fighting the alien isn't enough as she also goes against the rough wilderness and colonising forces.
Instantly upon its release, the Hulu original movie has been garnering immense praise from critics as well as the franchise's diehard fans. Most of the praises are for Midthunder's lead performance as Naru. Even in intense scenes with hardly any dialogue, Midthunder's expressions do the talking. She also appears convincing enough in the fight sequences establishing herself as an action star to watch out for.
Hell Or High Water (2016) - 7.6
On the surface, Hell or High Water is a thriller about a bank heist gone wrong. But as two hardened Texas Rangers pursue the robbers, the Tyler Sheridan movie turns into a compelling human drama. Set in West Texas, Gil Birmingham's character Texas Ranger Alberto Parker also addresses the issues caused by the oppression of Indigenous Americans in the past.
Midthunder appears in a minor role as Natalie Martinez, one of the bank employees who gets interrogated by the Rangers. She perfectly captures the fear and tension that her character faces after a burglary. Despite the brief screentime, the appearance is still an interesting throwback for the actress' fans.
Long Gone Gulch (2021-) - 8
In a world dominated by creatures from urban legends and myths, two sheriffs of a mysterious town have a fallout with the mayor. This leads to some bizarrely funny animated adventures comparable to the situational humor in contemporary animated shows like Rick and Morty and Disenchantment.
Midthunder joins the Long Gone Gulch cast as BW, a fellow sheriff who likes troubling the two protagonist. The actress's voice acting brings a sassy and sarcastic tone to the character who is also depicted to be of Native American descent.
Legion (2017-2019) - 8.2
A spin-off from the Fox X-Men movies, Legion deals with the surreal adventures of David Haller, a psychic mutant who must fight his inner demons as well as a parasitic entity. With a distinct hallucinatory visual style and multiple reality-bending narratives, Legion makes for a unique take on the superhero genre.
Amber Midthunder gets enough space to shine as a main cast character playing the part of Kerry Loudermilk, a mutant who shares a body with a scientist. Both can either coexist together or come out as seperate persons. There is a lot of boldness in her Kerry that comes out further in some adrenaline-fueled action scenes.
The Originals (2013-2018) - 8.3
A spin-off from The Vampire Diaries universe, The Originals deals with the ups and downs of the vampire-werewolf hybrids, the Mikaelson siblings. Garnering enough popularity as its source material, the show went on to run for five seasons.
As for Amber Midthunder, she has a minor role in an episode as the werewolf Kayla McInnis. Midthunder brings some of her emotional intensity in the scene when she kills a human and triggers her werewolf gene.
Banshee (2013-2016) - 8.4
Before Roswell and Legion, Amber Midthunder appeared in brief roles in several shows with Banshee being one of them. The thriller series stars Anthony Starr as an ex-con who assumes the identity of a sleepy town's sheriff, delivering his own personal brand of justice.
Midthunder appears in two Season 2 episodes as a Kinaho tribe member called Lana. As Lana is eventually murdered, much of the plot in these two episodes focuses on solving the mystery behind her death. But for the limited screen time she gets, Midthunder plays her part with the naivety and charm that the character requires.