Summary

• Daniel Kaluuya has had an impressive career in Hollywood, solidifying himself as a leading man, Academy Award winner, and household name.
• Despite starting out with TV appearances, Kaluuya made his mark in significant projects like "Black Mirror" and "Queen & Slim," showcasing his range and talent.
• "Get Out" will always be remembered as a standout film in Kaluuya's career, earning him critical acclaim and accolades, including Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

Despite his breakout Hollywood film only being released in 2017, Daniel Kaluuya has managed to make waves in Hollywood. In just over a decade, the Get Out actor has taken part in several significant projects, both in film and television. He solidified himself as a capable leading man, Academy Award winner, and household name without breaking a sweat.

Still, this isn't to say Kaluuya hasn't paid his dues. The British actor snagged his first credited role in 2006 in the BBC series Shoot the Messenger, and this proved to be the beginning of a rather impressive career. He gained notoriety with UK audiences thanks to his role in Skins, which allowed him to guest star in series like Doctor Who and Silent Witness. Still, this was nothing compared to the television shows and movies Kaluuya would eventually take on, many of which garnered some impressive scores on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.

10 Black Mirror - Fifteen Million Merits (2011)

Kaluuya's early career involved a lot of TV appearances, an example of which is the anthology series Black Mirror. The actor starred in season 1, episode 2, "Fifteen Million Merits." in which he played Bing Madsen, a man living in a society of people who must exercise (thus generating electricity) to earn the "merits" needed to pay for expenses. Though only a single episode, Kaluuya's performance was full of believable emotion and desperation, allowing the actor to make his mark. In regards to Black Mirror episodes, it wasn't as memorable as others, but it is still a prominent point in Kaluuya's career.

9 Nope (2022)

After Kaluuya's breakout performance in Get Out in 2017, the actor took on another role with director Jordan Peele in Nope. The Western science fiction hybrid starred Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as the cowboy/girl sibling duo attempting to obtain proof of a UFO on their property. Though not as successful as Kaluuya's previous work with Peele, Nope garnered a fair 83 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes (though the audience score was only 69 percent), and the American Film Institute named it one of the top ten films of 2022.

8 Skins (2007-2013)

Though Skins might not be at the level of Kaluuya's more recent successes, it's noteworthy as his first major role and the project that really jumpstarted his career. During its six years, Skins explored topics surrounding mental health, grief, sexuality, and gender, which made it somewhat controversial for the time. Kaluuya not only served as a member of the original UK cast (playing Posh Kenneth), but he participated in the writer's room as well, even serving as the head writer for two episodes. Now regarded as a binge-worthy classic, Skins has earned an 8.2 out of 10 score on IMDb.

7 The Fades (2011)

During his regular stint on Skins, Kaluuya was cast in a supporting role in another series, The Fades. He played Mac Armstrong, best friend to Paul Roberts, a 17-year-old who found out that he had the ability to see spirits (called Fades) who were not quite ready to move forward to the great beyond. At this time, this was quite a genre switch for Kaluuya, but he proved that he was up for the task (therefore demonstrating his ability for future roles). The Fades only ran for a single six-episode season, but it still managed to pull an 88 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

6 Queen & Slim (2019)

A couple of years after Kaluuya made waves with Get Out, he starred in the 2019 film Queen & Slim, where he played the titular Slim (opposite Jodie Turner-Smith). The first film from director Melina Matsoukas, Queen & Slim tells the story of a couple on the run after killing an officer (out of self-defense) during a traffic stop. This was Kaluuya's first major romantic role, and his chemistry with Turner-Smith was greatly praised after the film's release. Though audiences on Rotten Tomatoes gave Queen & Slim a generous 92 percent rating, critics came in a little lower at 83 percent.

5 Widows (2018)

Another film released shortly after Kaluuya's breakout role, Widows, allowed the actor to explore yet another avenue of talent. The 2018 neo-noir heist thriller follows four women who attempt to steal $5 million to repay their deceased husbands' debts to a mob boss called Jamal. Kaluuya played Jatemme Manning, Jama's brother. This made him something of a supporting villain, a take he managed rather well. Widows was a success overall, earning a 91 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, the fact that Kuluuya had a more minor role in this film and that it only got a 61 percent audience score keeps it lower on the list.

4 Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther is easily Kaluuya's highest-grossing film to date. The Marvel film took the world by storm, with a nearly entirely Black cast and unique premise compared to other superhero films. Black Panther had been highly anticipated, which meant a much broader audience was exposed to Kaluuya's talent. The actor played W'Kabi, who started as a loyal friend to the titular Black Panther but turned his back with the promise of a more aggressive leader. This conflicted character provided Kaluuya with a lot to work with, and the overall effect was excellent. Still, since he wasn't the central character of the film, it can hardly be considered his best.

3 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was Kaluuya's second film with Marvel, though it couldn't be more different from Black Panther. The film is entirely computerized animation, featuring vibrant 2-D elements that pay homage to the world of comic books. It was a massive success, bringing in $690 million at the global box office and earning an impressive 96 percent critic score and 94 percent audience score. Kaluuya lent his voice to the anti-authority Spider-Man alternative known as Spider-Punk. The character was largely modeled after the actor himself, and Kaluuya was reportedly (via GQ) the first pick to play the role.

2 Get Out (2017)

The directorial debut of Jordan Peele and the breakout film for Kaluuya, Get Out will likely always be remembered as the staple of the actor's career. Following a Black photographer visiting his white girlfriend's family for the weekend, the psychological horror blended Peele's talent for comedy with a thought-provoking and thrilling concept. In a big way, it was Kaluuya who truly tied this all together, allowing for Get Out's impactful twist ending. Though sprinkled with comedy, his performance was surprisingly emotional, earning Kaluuya Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations.

1 Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Ironically, Kaluuya's best film has the lowest box office numbers on this list, bringing in an abysmal $5.5 million domestic. Still, this has everything to do with the timing of its release and nothing to do with Kaluuya's performance as Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton. The 2021 biographical crime drama told the story of notorious FBI informant William O'Neal leading up to his famous betrayal of Kaluuya's Hampton. Despite the movie's poor return on investment, it managed a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned Daniel Kaluuya his first (and surely not last) Oscar win.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, GQ, IMDb