The 10 Best Lupita Nyong’o Movies, Ranked

It’s impressive how quickly Lupita Nyong’o has risen to prominence in Hollywood. While many actors take years to earn industry acclaim, Nyong’o garnered immediate recognition with her Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress. Though initially expected to focus solely on prestigious films, she has diversified her portfolio with a range of projects spanning different genres.

Nyong’o has notably joined major franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not every endeavor has been a blockbuster success—such as the horror comedy Little Monsters and the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker—Nyong’o maintains a strong overall track record that few young actors can match. Here’s a ranking of her top ten films to date.

‘The 355’ (2022)

Directed by Simon Kinberg

While it didn’t launch the franchise it aimed to, “The 355” delivered an entertaining action spy thriller showcasing Lupita Nyong’o’s prowess as an action star. Starring alongside Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, and Penelope Cruz, Nyong’o portrayed a skilled espionage agent uniting with others to thwart a traitor (Sebastian Stan). Despite its underwhelming box office performance, Nyong’o shines brightest in “The 355,” elevating her character with emotional depth and demonstrating her exceptional acting skills. Her presence alone makes the film worth watching, leaving hope for more of her in the espionage genre in the future.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Anticipation for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” couldn’t be higher, following its predecessor’s billion-dollar box office success and Best Picture nomination. The sequel faced the challenge of addressing King T’Challa’s absence due to Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing. Despite some moments feeling like setups for future Marvel Cinematic Universe entries, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” stands out as an emotional and grand continuation. It notably delves deeper into Nyong’o’s character Nakia, revealing her poignant mourning and her unexpected connection to T’Challa through their child.

Nyong’o impressively captures Nakia’s grief, perhaps reflecting her own heartfelt emotions. As Marvel Studios navigates its creative path forward, Nakia emerges as a standout creation within the “Black Panther” franchise, signaling promising directions for its future.

‘Non-Stop’ (2014)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

Shortly after her Academy Award win catapulted her to global acclaim, Lupita Nyong’o appeared in the action thriller “Non-Stop,” directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. The film follows an alcoholic air marshal (Liam Neeson) who, during a flight, discovers a hijacking plot but is wrongly accused of being involved. Nyong’o’s role as an experienced flight attendant enhances the film’s dramatic realism, blending influences from Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful thrillers and Die Hard-style action films.

“Non-Stop” proves to be a gripping and enjoyable action thriller that strikes a balance between intensity and levity. Nyong’o once again demonstrates her ability to make a lasting impact with minimal screen time, enriching the film with her presence.

‘Black Panther’ (2018)

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Even for those not deeply entrenched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom, “Black Panther” stood out as a culturally significant milestone in the superhero genre. While Chadwick Boseman’s charisma was undeniable, Lupita Nyong’o’s portrayal of Nakia offered a refreshing take on a superhero character. She embodies a proud Wakandan who also values outreach to other nations, making her a compelling representative of Wakanda’s interests.

“Black Panther” excels in elevating its female characters more than any other MCU installment. It skillfully navigates weighty themes like the arms race, colonialism, and race relations, all while delivering exhilarating action sequences expected of a top-tier superhero film. Surprisingly, the romance between T’Challa and Nakia enhances the narrative, rather than distracting from the main plot, showcasing their relationship as one of the film’s strongest assets.

‘The Jungle Book’ (2016)

Directed by Jon Favreau

While Disney’s live-action remakes often blend into a repetitive cycle, Jon Favreau’s 2016 adaptation of “The Jungle Book” stands out by expanding on its animated predecessor and enriching its characters. Lupita Nyong’o plays a pivotal role as Raksha, an Indian wolf who becomes a maternal figure to the young human Mowgli (Neel Sethi).

Nyong’o brings a soothing and heartfelt presence to Raksha in the early scenes of “The Jungle Book,” anchoring the subsequent action and adventure with genuine emotional depth. Despite her role being entirely vocal, Nyong’o infuses Raksha with more personality and complexity than many live-action characters manage to convey.

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (2024)

Directed by Michael Sarnoski

“A Quiet Place” marked a breakthrough in original science fiction storytelling, while “A Quiet Place: Day One” creatively reimagines the franchise by delving into its apocalyptic origins. Set in the early days of an alien invasion in New York City, the film stars Lupita Nyong’o as a troubled young woman grappling with mental health issues. She teams up with a solitary British man (Joseph Quinn) in a bid to escape the island and join other survivors.

Despite its striking visual effects, “A Quiet Place: Day One” remains remarkably intimate and soulful, focusing on the quiet, poignant moments shared between Nyong’o and Quinn. The film impressively showcases their strong connection despite their characters’ limited means of communication.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015)

Directed by J.J. Abrams

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was a highly anticipated sequel that saw the return of iconic characters like Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels). However, the film’s standout elements included its new characters, notably Lupita Nyong’o as the enigmatic alien Maz Kanata. Despite Maz’s unusual appearance, she possesses deep knowledge of the Force and holds crucial insights into the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

Maz proved to be a delightful addition to the “Star Wars” universe, offering pivotal guidance to Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she navigated visions from her past. Nyong’o’s adeptness in both creating a distinct vocal performance and executing motion capture underscored her readiness to tackle any challenges within one of cinema’s most celebrated science fiction franchises.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017)

Directed by Rian Johnson

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” stands out as the best installment in the saga since “The Empire Strikes Back,” skillfully challenging its themes while honoring its classic elements. Maz plays a pivotal role in the film by delivering crucial information to Finn (John Boyega) about a mysterious thief (Benicio del Toro), essential for infiltrating General Hux’s (Domhnall Gleeson) Imperial Starship.

Maz’s presence in “The Last Jedi” underscores the celebration of a new generation of heroes introduced in the sequel trilogy, resonating deeply with younger viewers discovering the franchise for the first time. Despite her diminutive and quirky appearance, Maz exemplifies that any character within the “Star Wars” universe can rise as a hero by trusting in the will of the Force.

‘Us’ (2019)

Directed by Jordan Peele

In “Us,” Lupita Nyong’o delivers the most dynamic performance of her career, portraying two distinct characters with compelling depth. Jordan Peele’s gripping horror thriller features Nyong’o as a devoted mother whose family confronts malevolent doppelgangers while on vacation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear these doppelgangers are part of a larger scheme to usurp their surface-world counterparts.

Nyong’o’s portrayal is a testament to her versatility, seamlessly embodying both a resilient “final girl” and one of the most chilling slasher villains in recent memory. “Us” stands out as one of the most endlessly rewatchable horror films of the 2010s, enriched by its layers of hidden details that reveal themselves with each viewing. Despite horror’s historical underrepresentation at the Oscars, Nyong’o’s performance deservedly captured attention, showcasing her talent for both dramatic depth and visceral intensity.

‘12 Years a Slave’ (2013)

Directed by Steven McQueen

“12 Years a Slave” stands as one of cinema’s most poignant and heart-wrenching films, depicting the brutality of slavery and its profound dehumanizing impact like few historical epics before it. While Chiwetel Ejiofor’s portrayal of Solomon Northup anchors the narrative, it is Lupita Nyong’o who deeply resonates with audiences as Patsy, a slave subjected to relentless abuse by the plantation owner (Michael Fassbender).

Nyong’o’s performance is marked by extraordinary bravery, delving into the emotional and physical torment her character endures with profound depth. “12 Years a Slave” is a challenging yet essential viewing experience, offering a crucial portrayal of America’s past horrors that demands attention from every citizen. Both the film and its performances stand as significant contributions to cinematic history, underscoring their enduring importance.