Anthony Mackie is a versatile actor who has taken part in the majority of Marvel Studios' Phase 2 and Phase 3 movies. Although he's most commonly known for his role as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. the Falcon, in the MCU, Mackie has also played other serious roles in award-winning movies, establishing a fan base within the influential cinematic universe but also in sophisticated dramas, including two Oscar winners for Best Picture.
Mackie rose to stardom after a breakthrough role in 2002, but his successful career goes beyond movies: he's a former U.S. Air Force pararescueman (via ABC News), a Broadway performer, and a TV star in the MCU series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. At the end of that series, and after Chris Evans' departure from the MCU, Mackie's Sam Wilson took over Captain America's shield and became the hero's new identity. Here's a list of Mackie's best movies, including his Marvel works, ranked worst to best.
10 The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
The Adjustment Bureau is a successful sci-fi thriller that grossed more than double its production budget at the box office (via Box Office Mojo). The movie introduces an organization whose mission is to ensure that the lives of every human on the planet happen according to a pre-determined "Plan." Matt Damon stars as David, a man who accidentally discovers the farce of his life and sets out to find the woman he loves, played by Emily Blunt.
Anthony Mackie plays a small, yet significant supporting role as David's most valuable ally, Harry, a member from within the organization who turns against the Plan. The Adjustment Plan turns into another mind-bending sci-fi actioner when Harry teaches David how to teleport across the world using doors, leading up to an anxiety-inducing climax and the movie's coolest moment.
9 Synchronic (2019)
Directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, whose specialty is cosmic horror, Synchronic tells the chilling story of two paramedics who suspect a series of horrifying deaths might be connected to a new alien drug. The movie offers some slow-burn sci-fi horror that pays off in the end but requires patience from viewers. Most importantly, it counts on Anthony Mackie in one of his rare lead roles, which shows how much potential he has for bigger projects as well as other horror stories.
8 Real Steel (2011)
In the same year that The Adjustment Bureau came out, Anthony Mackie starred in another sci-fi movie, Real Steel, which contains a heartwarming and relatable underdog sports movie narrative. It uses the exciting fights between giant robots in the ring to develop the powerful bonds between a father, his estranged son, and the machine they repair together, which becomes an unlikely contender in the arena. Mackie and Hugh Jackman star in the movie, which did decent numbers at the box office and gained a loyal fan base but ultimately never fulfilled its promise as a launching pad for a new action franchise.
7 8 Mile (2002)
A unique movie in Anthony Mackie's career, 8 Mile launched the actor to stardom with its incredible success. The movie is a semi-autobiographical portrait of Eminem, who plays a version of himself. It also features some of Eminem's best freestyle raps on his journey for recognition in the hip-hop scenario. Eminem is Jimmy "B-Rabbit," who in his search for better opportunities stumbles upon a dangerous gang, led by Mackie's unforgettable antagonist, Papa Doc. Eminem used Mackie's real-life info for 8 Mile's final rap battle, making fun of him as Papa Doc (via Southpawers).
6 Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Million Dollar Baby is a huge highlight in Anthony Mackie's career because it not only features one of his best and most serious performances, but it's also a highly lauded movie. While 8 Mile brought attention to Mackie, Million Dollar Baby seemed to confirm he was a promising actor. Winner of four Oscars, including Best Picture, the movie follows Hilary Swank as a resolute woman in her pursuit to become a professional boxer. As Frankie, her trainer, Clint Eastwood gives one of his best performances in a movie he directed, leveling up Million Dollar Baby's emotional power with a heartbreaking twist in the end.
5 Half Nelson (2006)
Half Nelson follows Ryan Gosling as Dan, a dedicated junior high school teacher who secretly has a drug habit. In the film, Dan befriends one of his students, Drey, after she catches him snorting cocaine, and the two grow increasingly drawn to each other's problems. This causes Dan to clash with Drey's neighborhood dealer, Frank, played by Anthony Mackie. Different from other movies that feature unlikely friendships, Half Nelson stands out as a drama that perfectly captures loneliness: the film realistically portrays Dan and Drey's sentiment that no one in the world can understand them, which prompts the two in trying their best to accept each other's turbulent feelings.
4 Avengers (2015 - 2019)
Some of Sam Wilson's best MCU moments take place in the Avengers movies. Also known as the Falcon, Sam is played by Anthony Mackie. The character has a tumultuous trajectory as a member of the Avengers but is ultimately a vital ally in their fight against Thanos. After the team's original members part ways in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Falcon is recruited by Captain America, but soon he, Steve Rogers, and Bucky Barnes became fugitives. In Avengers: Infinity War, Sam returns alongside Steve and assists the Avengers in trying to prevent Thanos from collecting all the Infinity Stones. However, he's one of the heroes that die after Thanos's snap.
Mackie's Falcon doesn't show up in the next movie until the final battle, but he appears in one of Avengers: Endgame's most awesome moments: Steve Rogers's days of being Captain America come to an end, but the moniker itself can't die. In Endgame's final scene, Rogers passes the shield along to someone he truly trusts: Sam Wilson, who accepts the duty with honor. Mackie's presence in the Avengers movies is solid, but his character is constantly overshadowed by the main heroes, such as Iron Man, Thor, etc. Now that he has the shield, though, things are likely to change.
3 Captain America (2014 - 2016)
Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers evolve from just casual teasing during their training to a loyal friendship in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. With the help of his distinctive EXO-7 Falcon flight suit, Sam becomes Steve's most powerful ally, assisting Captain America in learning the truth about Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. the Winter Soldier. Sam also supports him in the controversial decisions that lead to the events of Captain America: Civil War, taking Steve's side and fiercely facing some of his previous allies, such as War Machine and Iron Man.
After Steve retired as an Avenger, Sam assumed the Captain America identity, and Mackie is the lead character in Captain America: New World Order. The Captain America movies not only deliver Mackie's best moments in the Falcon suit but also have a distinctive style: without giving up on the action and Marvel's sharp humor, they have a more serious approach and establish an efficient atmosphere of suspicion with all their political intrigue, while also providing fans with humane villains that make everything feel more real.
2 The Hate U Give (2018)
The Hate U Give is a coming-of-age movie that everyone should see. The movie offers a voice of its own to serious and urgent societal problems. More than just delivering a sharp social commentary, though, The Hate U Give also carefully provides context, meticulously showing how a single tragedy affects the lives of each of the movie's characters. In the middle of it is Starr (Amandla Stenberg), an independent teenager who witnesses her childhood friend getting shot dead by a police officer.
The Hate U Give has a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and won over audiences with its incredible acting. Starr is a realistic embodiment of resilience, and Stenberg speaks for the whole world with her convincing performance. Moreover, Anthony Mackie steals the show whenever he's onscreen, especially in the movie's final moments when his villainous arc takes a surprising turn.
1 The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Hurt Locker is a partially true story that commits to examining how war can be addictive, in the most negative way possible. The movie depicts landscapes that bloom in blood and misery, soldiers that are so drawn to traumatic battles that ordinary life fails to impact them, and the victims of an endless circle of violence that becomes their only reality. An anti-war film to its core, The Hurt Locker delves deep into the chaos of the Iraq War, following the soldiers of a bomb squad who must come together despite their constant quarrels.
Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie co-star in The Hurt Locker, each playing a different side of the same coin: Renner plays Sergeant James, whose hazardous methods have the potential to either put many lives at risk or effectively save the day, while Mackie plays Sergeant Sanborn, who prefers standard and pre-determined plans when it comes to the battlefield. The Hurt Locker is also Jeremy Renner's highest-rated movie and impacted everyone when it came out, earning nine Oscar nominations and winning Best Picture, the ceremony's most prestigious award.