The 40+ Best Idris Elba Movies
Ranked By
2.3K votes
555 voters
4 reranks
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
- 1Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel EjioforAmerican Gangster is a gritty crime drama that tells the real-life story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a heroin kingpin from Manhattan. Lucas, an ordinary driver and bodyguard for Bumpy Johnson, builds his own drug empire after Johnson's death. In parallel, we encounter Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), an honest detective in a corrupt police force who makes it his mission to bring Lucas down. The movie, directed by Ridley Scott, masterfully intertwines these two narratives, offering an unflinching look at crime and corruption in 1970s America. It received two Oscar nominations for its authentic portrayal of this intense period in American history.More American Gangster
- #128 of 190 onThe Best Movies For Men
- #9 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
- #15 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics
- 2Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, ShakiraIn the vibrant city of Zootopia, a place where animals coexist in harmony, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), an ambitious bunny cop, teams up with a sly fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve a mysterious case. The movie is an animated thrill-ride, loaded with humor and action, as well as social commentary. Notably, Zootopia won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It's a tale of friendship and determination, showing that no matter what your size or species, anyone can make a difference.More Zootopia
- Dig Deeper...The Most Satisfying Easter Eggs in Zootopia
- And Deeper...The 25 Best Movies Like 'Zootopia', Ranked By Fans
- #5 of 115 on50+ Movies That Need Sequels
- 3Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis GossettMonty (Idris Elba), a mechanic, struggles to make ends meet and raise his three young daughters alone. When his drug-dealing ex-wife wins custody of the girls in court, he enlists the help of Julia (Gabrielle Union), a successful attorney, to get the girls back. Romance unexpectedly blooms between the pair, but the couple must come to terms with their very different lives and find a way to keep Monty's family together.More Daddy's Little Girls
- #42 of 468 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #25 of 79 onThe 75 Best Black Romance Movies
- #58 of 87 onThe 80+ Best Father-Daughter Movies
- 4Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony HopkinsIn Thor, the titular character, played by Chris Hemsworth, is an arrogant warrior from the realm of Asgard. After his reckless actions reignite an ancient war, Thor is banished to Earth by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Stripped of his powers and hammer, Thor must learn humility while living among humans. Meanwhile, his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) seizes the throne in Asgard, leading to a dire situation. This Marvel superhero film blends action, fantasy, and adventure as it charts Thor's journey from fallen god to worthy hero.More Thor
- #12 of 20 onMovies Directed By Kenneth Branagh
- #86 of 178 onThe 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
- #115 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 5Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize TheronIn Prometheus, a group of explorers, led by Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), embarks on an ambitious journey. Their destination? A distant moon, guided by star maps discovered among the remnants of several ancient Earth civilizations. The crew aboard the spaceship Prometheus seeks clues about mankind's origins. As they probe deeper into the moon's secrets, they stumble upon more than what they bargained for. Unseen dangers lurk in the alien world, threatening their mission and their lives. Director Ridley Scott crafts this sci-fi thriller with aplomb, spinning a tale filled with suspense and intrigue.More Prometheus
- Dig Deeper...The Best Characters in the Whole Alien Franchise, Ranked
- #24 of 178 onThe 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
- #49 of 162 onThe 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
- 6Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris ElbaGordon Jennings (Idris Elba) and his friends enjoy a luxurious lifestyle funded by bank robberies, and they avoid capture by sticking to a strict set of rules. As they celebrate the latest job, a former associate arrives with a daring plan to rob an armored car. The lure of so much cash is too tempting to resist but, unbeknown to Gordon's men, this heist puts them on a collision course with Russian mobsters and a detective (Matt Dillon) who will do anything to capture them.
- 7Charlie Hunnam, Diego Klattenhoff, Idris ElbaLong ago, legions of monstrous creatures called Kaiju arose from the sea, bringing with them all-consuming war. To fight the Kaiju, mankind developed giant robots called Jaegers, designed to be piloted by two humans locked together in a neural bridge. However, even the Jaegers are not enough to defeat the Kaiju, and humanity is on the verge of defeat. Mankind's last hope now lies with a washed-up ex-pilot (Charlie Hunnam), an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) and an old, obsolete Jaeger.More Pacific Rim
- Dig Deeper...The Best 'Pacific Rim' Quotes, Ranked
- And Deeper...13 Things That Prove Pacific Rim And Independence Day Are The Exact Same Movie
- #44 of 178 onThe 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
- 8Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom HiddlestonIn the thrilling sequel Thor: The Dark World, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a cosmic battle against an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), his earthly love, becomes embroiled in the conflict when she unwittingly awakens an ominous weapon, forcing Thor to ally with his treacherous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) for her protection. This adventure-packed film fuses elements of fantasy and science fiction, delivering a high-stakes fight for the survival of the universe. Despite its dark themes, it retains a thread of humor and wit characteristic of Marvel productions.More Thor: The Dark World
- #125 of 178 onThe 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
- #393 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #103 of 164 onThe Best Movie Sequels Ever Made
- 9Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John CenaThe government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world -- Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn and others -- to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Col. Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave.
- 10Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Opeyemi FagbohungbeAs civil war rages in Africa, a fierce warlord (Idris Elba) trains a young orphan (Abraham Attah) to join his group of guerrilla soldiers.More Beasts of No Nation
- #330 of 468 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #52 of 76 onThe Best Movies About Historical Battles
- #10 of 15 on15 War Movies Told Through The Perspective Of Children
- 11Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie NewtonOld-school mobster Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson) rules London's underworld with an iron fist and a score of well-greased palms. As big-time gangsters and petty crooks all scramble to get their cut of a Russian mobster's crooked land deal, street-wise hustler One Two (Gerard Butler) tries to play both sides of the fence as the lucrative deal falls into the lap of Lenny's presumed-dead son.More RocknRolla
- 12Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate BlanchettIn the action-packed Marvel movie, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest against his former ally, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Stranded on the alien planet Sakaar without his mighty hammer, he must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarok - the destruction of his homeworld at the hands of the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). In this high-stakes adventure directed by Taika Waititi, Thor must fight for survival and rally against the impending doom. His journey is fraught with unexpected allies, classic Marvel humor, and stunning visual effects that earned the film an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.More Thor: Ragnarok
- Dig Deeper...All The Easter Eggs Hidden In Thor: Ragnarok
- And Deeper...Everything You Need To Know About Ragnarok Before Watching The New Thor Movie
- #55 of 178 onThe 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
- 13Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony KgorogeThe remarkable life of South African revolutionary, president and world icon Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba) takes center stage. Though he had humble beginnings as a herd boy in a rural village, Mandela became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and co-founded the African National Congress Youth League. His activities eventually led to his imprisonment on Robben Island from 1964 to 1990. In 1994, Mandela became the first president of democratic South Africa.
- 14Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom TaylorIn The Dark Tower, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), the last Gunslinger, is locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), also known as the Man in Black. Set in a post-apocalyptic world and inspired by Stephen King's series of novels, this action-packed fantasy film presents a titanic struggle between good and evil. A young boy, Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor), becomes entwined in their conflict after he experiences visions of the Dark Tower - a structure that holds the universe together. As the Man in Black seeks to topple the Tower, it's up to Roland and Jake to protect it, embarking on an odyssey that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.More The Dark Tower
- 15
Molly's Game
Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael CeraThe true story of Molly Bloom, a beautiful, young, Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknown to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led people to believe.More Molly's Game- #14 of 14 onThe Best Movies and TV Shows Written By Aaron Sorkin
- #36 of 94 onThe Best Movies Of 2017
- #77 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
- 16Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris EvansOn a mission deep in the Bolivian jungle, a team of elite commandos (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans) finds itself on the receiving end of a lethal betrayal. Now presumed dead, the men join forces with a mysterious operative named Aisha (Zoe Saldana) to hunt down their enemy and even the score.More The Losers
- #108 of 185 onThe Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
- #5 of 14 onUnderrated Action Movies Based On Graphic Novels
- #23 of 32 onThe Best DC Costume Adaptations Ever
- 17Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy RennerIn the genre-defining horror sequel, 28 Weeks Later, we find ourselves back in the desolate landscape of infection-ravaged Britain. The tale unfolds around Don (Robert Carlyle), a survivor who's managed to escape the deadly virus that decimated his homeland. Now, 28 weeks later, as NATO forces believe they've regained control, Don is reunited with his children, Tammy (Imogen Poots) and Andy (Mackintosh Muggleton). However, their reunion is short-lived as a carrier of the virus enters London, triggering another outbreak. In this gripping narrative, survival becomes a race against time amidst chaos and carnage.More 28 Weeks Later
- #549 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #48 of 162 onThe 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
- #74 of 396 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- 18Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta DevineAt holiday time, family matriarch Ma'Dere Whitfield (Loretta Devine) assembles her large brood for their first reunion in four years. However, family ties show signs of strain when various secrets come to light, especially concerning Marine Claude's (Columbus Short) true military status, Quentin's (Idris Elba) debts and teenage Baby's (Chris Brown) secret plans to become a singer.More This Christmas
- #46 of 468 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #48 of 121 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Black Female Leads
- #26 of 61 onThe Very Best Black Movies Of The 2000s
- 19Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian BaleThor embarks on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced -- a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who -- to his surprise -- inexplicably wields his magical hammer. Together, they set out on a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher's vengeance.More Thor: Love and Thunder
- 20Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris ElbaBrixton Lorr is a cybernetically enhanced soldier who possesses superhuman strength, a brilliant mind and a lethal pathogen that could wipe out half of the world's population. It's now up to hulking lawman Luke Hobbs and lawless operative Deckard Shaw to put aside their past differences and work together to prevent the seemingly indestructible Lorr from destroying humanity.More Hobbs & Shaw
- #153 of 200 onThe 195+ Greatest Adventure Movies
- #27 of 45 onThe 40+ Best Spy Comedies Of All Time
- #22 of 58 onThe 50+ Best Police Comedy Movies
- 21Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl UrbanA surprise attack in outer space forces the Enterprise to crash-land on a mysterious world. The assault came from Krall (Idris Elba), a lizard-like dictator who derives his energy by sucking the life out of his victims. Krall needs an ancient and valuable artifact that's aboard the badly damaged starship. Left stranded in a rugged wilderness, Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the crew must now battle a deadly alien race while trying to find a way off their hostile planet.
- 22Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott GlennSet on an American Army base in 1989, as the Berlin Wall is about to fall, "Buffalo Soldiers" takes a satiric look as these men steal, drink, fight, and make, take, and sell drugs. Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is the brains behind the operation, easily duping his superior (Ed Harris) and sleeping with his wife. But with the arrival of the new sergeant (Scott Glenn), everything changes. The sergeant cracks down; Elwood retaliates by dating his daughter and attempting a big weapons-for-drugs deal.
- 23Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel EdgertonZero Dark Thirty, a gripping military thriller, unfolds the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden. The protagonist Maya (Jessica Chastain), a relentless CIA analyst, drives the narrative with her unwavering pursuit of justice. Marked by intense realism and meticulous detail, director Kathryn Bigelow captures the murky ethics and high stakes of covert operations. This Oscar-winning film features an ensemble cast including Jason Clarke and Joel Edgerton who contribute to its stark portrayal of counterterrorism efforts in the post-9/11 world.More Zero Dark Thirty
- #5 of 26 onThe 25+ Best Movies About 9/11
- #50 of 263 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #85 of 126 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- 24Robert Downey, Chris Hemsworth, Mark RuffaloAvengers: Age of Ultron is a thrilling superhero film, the sequel to 2012's The Avengers. The movie follows Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who inadvertently creates an AI with destructive potential, Ultron (James Spader). As Ultron gains power, threatening human existence, the Avengers - Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) - must unite once more. They face challenges, both internal and external, as they strive to save humanity. Directed by Joss Whedon, this 2015 blockbuster blends action-adventure with science fiction elements in a gripping narrative.
- 25Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica StroupWhen a deranged high-school teacher kills the family of the girl, Donna, that he loves, in a disturbed attempt to force her into a relationship with him, the man is caught and sent to prison. However years later, at her high school prom, Donna is about to come face to face with the murderer once more. Will Donna and her friends escape the psychopath?More Prom Night
- #57 of 64 onThe Best Horror Movie Remakes Of All Time
- #41 of 79 onThe Best Teen Horror Movies Of All Time
- #28 of 43 onThe Scariest Movies Set In Schools
- 26
The Jungle Book
Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben KingsleyThe Jungle Book, an adventure-packed movie, features Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a young boy raised by wolves. Guided by the stern panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the free-spirited bear Baloo (Bill Murray), he embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery. The journey is not without peril, as Shere Khan (Idris Elba), a fearsome tiger, holds a deadly grudge against him. This film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, thanks to its stunning portrayal of the Indian jungle and its anthropomorphic inhabitants. Despite being set in a wild world, it tells a human story about identity and belonging.More The Jungle Book- #77 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
- #73 of 114 onThe Greatest Movie Remakes Of All Time
- #21 of 59 onThe Best Disney Movies Starring Animals
- 27Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Clifton PowellWhile he was once on the way to becoming a minister, David Taylor (Boris Kodjoe) instead chose to become a popular music star, and the hedonism that followed turned his father against him. But despite the gulf between them, David comes home when he finds out that his father is sick. At the church David once stood to inherit, he finds that the Rev. Charles (Idris Elba), who has been groomed to shepherd the congregation after his father's retirement, has ideas that could ruin everything.
- 28Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Ray WinstoneEight years after fleeing the Congo following his assassination of that country's minister of mining, former assassin Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) is back, suffering from PTSD and digging wells to atone for his violent past. After an attempt is made on his life, Terrier flies to London to find out who wants him dead -- and why. Terrier's search leads him to a reunion with Annie (Jasmine Trinca), a woman he once loved, who is now married to an oily businessman (Javier Bardem) with dealings in Africa.
- 29Idris Elba, Ky-Mani Marley, Vas BlackwoodOne Love is a 2003 Jamaican film starring Ky-Mani Marley and Cherine Anderson. It was written by Trevor D. Rhone and directed by Rick Elgood and Don Letts. The film is set in Jamaica and is a romance with reggae. A young Rasta musician falls in love with the gospel-singing daughter of a Pentecostal preacher, meeting her as they both sign up for a music contest.A contest which the winner gets twenty thousand US dollars and a record deal.When they start falling in love her father forbids her from seeing him because he wants her to marry a church member.They face overcoming the preacher's disapproval as well as battling a corrupt record producer.
- 30Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Dermot MulroneyThe Mountain Between Us is a 2017 American romance-disaster film directed by Hany Abu-Assad. After a plan crash, surgeon Dr. Ben Bass (Idris Elba) and photojournalist Alex Martin (Kate Winslet) find themselves stranded in the wilderness.
