From intense drama movies to thrilling series, David Oyelowo’s best movies and shows showcase his amazing career which has been steadily growing over the years. Starting his acting journey on stage, Oyelowo started appearing in movies and television shows in the early 2000s. While he was impressive in supporting roles in a number of projects, Oyelowo’s commanding presence on screen could not be ignored, and it wasn’t long before he was taking on more substantial roles in Hollywood.
Oyelowo has proven himself a true chameleon, able to take on any type of role in any genre, whether it be in the starring role or as part of a larger ensemble. He has worked for acclaimed and legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, while also sharing the screen with some of the biggest stars in the world, such as Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey. He has also proven he is not scared of taking on iconic historical figures, bringing the necessary gravitas and power to these types of roles.
You are watching: David Oyelowo’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows
10 Lincoln (2012)
As Ira Clark
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8.5/10 Lincoln PG-13DramaHistoryBiography
From director Steven Spielberg, Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the titular 16th president of the United States. The film portrays the final months of Lincoln’s life and focuses on his attempts to get the 13th amendment passed by the US Congress in order to abolish slavery in the aftermath of the Civil War. Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tommy Lee Jones also star.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date November 9, 2012 Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , David Strathairn , Sally Field , Tommy Lee Jones , Daniel Day-Lewis Runtime 150minutes
While Lincoln is an acclaimed Oscar-winning movie, it isn’t the best display of David Oyelowo’s talents, as he only appears in a single scene in the historical drama. However, it is still a notable performance as Oyelowo commands the screen against one of the greatest actors of all time and sets the stage for the entire movie. Daniel Day-Lewis stars in Steven Spielberg’s movie as Abraham Lincoln as it explores the President of the United States’ historic decision to end slavery in the country.
Oyelowo appears in the first scene of Lincoln as Ira Clark, a Union soldier who meets Lincoln when he comes to speak with the soldiers. Ira is a proud and bold soldier, and while the others are in awe of Lincoln, he challenges and perhaps inspires the president to do more. It is a powerful scene with Oyelowo making himself incredibly memorable in such a brief role.
9 Jack Reacher (2012)
As Emerson
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8/10 Jack Reacher PG-13ActionThriller
After a mass shooting takes place, homicide investigator Jack Reacher digs into the case to hunt down the sniper who committed the heinous act. Jack Reacher stars Tom Cruise as the titular character and was directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The success of the 2012 film led to a sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, releasing in 2016.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher McQuarrie Release Date December 21, 2012 Cast Tom Cruise , Werner Herzog , Jai Courtney , David Oyelowo , Rosamund Pike , Richard Jenkins Runtime 2h 10m
Long before the Reacher series was thrilling fans, Lee Child’s hero from his hit novels was brought to the big screen with Tom Cruise in the lead role. Cruise stars in Jack Reacher as the titular hero, a former army police officer who, upon hearing that a former soldier he helped put away was responsible for a horrific public attack, begins an investigation of his own. This leads Reacher to discover a bigger conspiracy at hand with enemies all around him.
David Oyelowo is part of the excellent supporting cast of the movie as Emerson, a local police detective who is investigating the case and has to contend with the rebellious Reacher conducting his own investigation. Oyelowo manages to make the simplistic character more interesting with his layered performance. Despite some controversy over Cruise’s casting in the main role, Jack Reacher is a fun, gritty, and action-packed ride even if plans for a Jack Reacher movie franchise failed to take off.
8 Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)
As Louis Gaines
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5/10 The Butler pg-13Drama
The Butler is a historical drama directed by Lee Daniels, featuring Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African American butler who serves eight presidents in the White House. The film spans several decades, highlighting Gaines’s unique perspective on significant events in American history while navigating his personal struggles and evolving family dynamics. The cast includes Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
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*Availability in US Director Lee Daniels Release Date August 16, 2013 Cast Forest Whitaker , Oprah Winfrey , David Oyelowo , John Cusack , Jane Fonda , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Mariah Carey , Terrence Howard , Lenny Kravitz , Aml Ameen , Michael Rainey Jr. , James Marsden , Alex Pettyfer , Vanessa Redgrave , Alan Rickman , Liev Schreiber , Robin Williams , Yaya DaCosta , David Banner , Colman Domingo , Nelsan Ellis , Nealla Gordon , Elijah Kelley , Minka Kelly Runtime 132 Minutes Expand
David Oyelowo joins a star-studded cast and gives one of the best performances in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. The movie is inspired by a true story and stars Forrest Whittaker as Cecil Gaines, a man who begins working as a butler in the White House during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration and spends more than three decades in the role. His job allows him to see the various presidencies coming through and the ways America changes over the years.
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The movie features the likes of Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, and John Cusack in cameos playing various presidents, but Oyelowo gets one of the most complex roles as Cecil’s son, Louis. As his father works for the people in power, Louis grows disillusioned with the way the government treats their community, causing a strained relationship between father and son.
7 Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)
As Steven Jacobs
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6.8/10 Rise of the Planet of the Apes pg-13Action Sci-FiDrama
A prequel and reboot to the Planet of the Apes franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes stars James Franco as pharmaceutical chemist Will Rodman. While working with apes, Rodman befriends Caesar (Andy Serkis), a particularly intelligent chimpanzee. Not all humans are as gentle with the apes as Rodman, however, and Caesar is destined to start the line of super-intelligent apes that will one day inherit the Earth.
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*Availability in US Director Rupert Wyatt Release Date August 5, 2011 Cast James Franco , Andy Serkis , Tom Felton , John Lithgow Runtime 105 Minutes
The Planet of the Apes franchise had long been dormant when Rise of the Planet of the Apes reignited it in a thrilling way. The prequel movie explores the events leading to the apes becoming the most intelligent creatures on the planet and the fall of the human race. James Franco stars as a scientist working on a cure for Alzheimer’s with the drug proving to increase the intelligence of apes, especially Caesar (Andy Serkis). However, Caesar soon realizes the apes are mistreated by humans and starts a rebellion.
David Oyelowo steps into the main villain role of the movie as Jacobs, the boss of the pharmaceutical company whose greed is largely responsible for the mayhem that comes. Once again, Oyelowo elevates a fairly one-dimensional role with his committed performance. The movie makes for an exciting, clever, and visually impressive return to the franchise with the apes in the spotlight.
6 Les Misérables (2018-2019)
As Javert
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Les Misérables TV-14DramaRomance
Les Misérables is a miniseries adapted from Victor Hugo’s classic novel, starring Dominic West as Jean Valjean. The series explores the social and political struggles in 19th-century France, following Valjean’s journey from convict to hero. With David Oyelowo as Javert and Lily Collins as Fantine, the miniseries blends personal stories with broader historical events, capturing the resilience of the human spirit.
Cast Dominic West , David Oyelowo , Adeel Akhtar , David Bradley , Emma Fielding , Enzo Cilenti , Olivia Colman , Lily Collins Release Date April 14, 2019 Seasons 1
David Oyelowo has taken on several villain roles in his career, but he tackled one of literature’s most notorious antagonists in the television miniseries Les Misérables. Instead of the musical version that has become so iconic, this is a straightforward adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, taking place in early 1800s France. Dominic West stars in the miniseries as Jean Valjean, a convict who is released from prison and seeks to start a new life while being hunted for decades by the ruthless lawman, Javert (Oyelowo).
Javert is one of the most fascinating villains in history and one who has inspired myriad fictional characters. He is a man who believes that he is a vessel for justice in the world and that he is punishing villains. However, his unsympathetic and uncaring views conflict with Valjean’s genuine attempts at redemption. The miniseries offers a sweeping and impactful take on the story with a fantastic cast that also includes Lily Collins, Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor, and Joseph Quinn.
5 Nightingale (2014)
As Peter Snowden
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Nightingale DramaCrime
Nightingale, directed by Elliott Lester, centers on a psychologically troubled man who obsessively addresses his unseen video log audience regarding his fixation on a former army friend. The film explores themes of isolation and mental instability.
Cast David Oyelowo , Barlow Jacobs , Heather Storm Release Date June 17, 2014 Director Elliott Lester Runtime 83 Minutes Main Genre Drama
It is an actor of rare talent who can carry a film solely on their own, but David Oyelowo does just that in the riveting HBO movie, Nightingale. Oyelowo stars as Peter, a troubled man who kicks off the story by confessing to killing his mother. The movie then follows him throughout his day as he prepares to have a friend over for dinner and start a new chapter in his life while concealing the horrible crime that he just committed.
Not only is Oyelowo the center of the entire story, but he has to start with the audience already being appalled by Peter and then make them care about his journey. It is a gripping examination of this complex character, with Oyelowo finding the nuances in the quieter moments as well as the moments of rage and grief. It was hailed as a brilliant performance which earned Oyelowo an Emmy nomination.
4 Silo (2023)
As Holston
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9/10 Silo TV-MAScience FictionDrama
Based on Hugh Howey’s Wool novel series, Silo is a sci-fi drama series created for Apple TV and follows an engineer named Juliette, who lives in a dystopian future. With the surface poisoned and the world all but ruined, the residents live in a silo deep underground. When the community sheriff breaks protocol and leads to the death of several residents, Juliette begins to discover the dark truth of the silo.
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*Availability in US Cast Rebecca Ferguson , Rashida Jones , David Oyelowo , Common , Tim Robbins , Harriet Walter Release Date May 5, 2023 Seasons 1 Showrunner Graham Yost
While David Oyelowo has been starring in movies for years, he is also currently on one of the best sci-fi shows on television. Silo is a smart and captivating dystopian series that explores the remains of human civilization in a post-apocalyptic world. The remaining population lives in a silo that extends far underground, with the community being subjected to a harsh rule which is said to be for their own survival. Rebecca Ferguson stars as one of the silo’s engineers who begins questioning the society they are in.
The strong cast also features Oyelowo in one of the main roles, playing Holston Becker, the sheriff of the silo. Oyelowo brings gravitas and intensity to the complex role, playing a man who strives to help his community and keep them safe, which is put in conflict with the rising distrust of the overall system. The show is one of the great sci-fi stories that uses bold and unique concepts to comment on the real world in insightful ways.
3 Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023)
As Bass Reeves
Lawmen: Bass Reeves TV-MADramaWestern
Continuing the expanded universe of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a western drama that acts as a spin-off of 1883 and follows the titular lawman who became the first black Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River. The show will follow his journey to becoming the lawman he was known to be, all while fleshing out the greater Yellowstone universe.
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*Availability in US Cast David Oyelowo , Dennis Quaid , Forrest Goodluck , Lauren E. Banks , Barry Pepper , Grantham Coleman , Demi Singleton , Garrett Hedlund Release Date November 5, 2023 Seasons 1 Showrunner Chad Feehan , Taylor Sheridan
Taking place outside of his Yellowstone universe of shows, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is another epic Western tale from Taylor Sheridan with David Oyelowo as the titular figure of Old West legend. Bass Reeves has become an icon in history as the first African American US Marshal. The series follows his journey from being enslaved to starting his career in the law to becoming one of the greatest heroes of the era.
While the movie features the stirring action and memorable dialogue that Sheridan’s projects have become known for, Oyelowo’s performance is essential to making the show work. He grounds the incredible story of Reeves’ life, making him a man who became a legend. He is reserved and stoic as the Western hero, but there is also vulnerability and tenderness to the character that makes him well-rounded.
2 Queen Of Katwe (2016)
As Robert Katende
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10/10 Queen of Katwe PGDrama
An uplifting biographical drama that follows the incredible journey of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the slums of Katwe, Uganda. When Phiona discovers her extraordinary talent for chess through a local missionary and coach, Robert Katende, her life takes an unexpected turn. Despite the immense challenges posed by poverty and societal norms, Phiona’s dedication and natural skill propel her to national and international chess tournaments.
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*Availability in US Director Mira Nair Release Date September 23, 2016 Cast Ronald Ssemaganda , Peter Odeke , David Oyelowo , Martin Kabanza , Edgar Kanyike , Nicolas Levesque , Philip Luswata , Madina Nalwanga , Nikita Waligwa , Ivan Jacobo , Hope Katende , Lupita Nyong’o , Ethan Nazario Lubega , Taryn Kyaze , Esther Tebandeke Runtime 124 Minutes Expand
There are not too many movies about chess, and while it is a subject that could sound dull to a lot of people, Queen of Katwe uses it to tell an inspiring true story. This Disney drama follows Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl living in the slums of Uganda. However, when she is introduced to the game of chess by Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), she discovers she has an unexpected talent that gives her the opportunity to leave her life behind.
The movie is a stirring and heartwarming underdog story about this young girl finding the confidence and strength inside of herself to achieve goals few others thought she could. Oyelowo delivers a strong performance as one of the people who convinces Phiona that she is capable of doing the seemingly impossible. It is a heartwarming journey that the whole family can enjoy.
1 Selma (2014)
As Martin Luther King Jr.
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6/10 Selma PG-13HistoryDramaBiography
Selma is a historical drama film that retells the tumultuous three-month period when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched with others from Selma to Montgomery to rally for voting rights in a historically significant march for civil rights. The film chronicles the prejudice and challenges faced by Dr. King and the violent opposition he faced in the name of peace and equal rights.
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*Availability in US Director Ava DuVernay Release Date December 25, 2014 Cast Tim Roth , Carmen Ejogo , David Oyelowo , Tom Wilkinson Runtime 128 Minutes
David Oyelowo found his breakout role playing one of the most revered figures in American history. From director Ava Duvernay, Selma tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. (Oyelowo) as he launched a Civil Rights campaign to secure equal voting rights. The movie chronicles the behind-the-scenes efforts of the movement as well as the violent confrontations leading up to the fight, culminating in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
King is known as one of the greatest orators in history and a man whose influence on American history cannot be overstated. For Oyelowo to step into such a role and carry the entire production is a sign of his confidence and talents as an actor. He is also brilliant in the movie’s quieter moments, including its exploration of some of King’s faults as a man. It makes for an epic and powerful examination of history with elements still relevant today.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment