Giancarlo Esposito’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Giancarlo Esposito movies and TV shows feature some incredibly popular TV series among a career of smaller movie roles. Esposito got his start in acting on Broadway in 1968 when he was only 10. He went on to have a successful theater career before he got a chance to start appearing in some movies in the 1980s, including the Stephen King adaptation of Maximum Overdrive and the Abel Ferrara neo-noir King of New York.

He caught Spike Lee’s attention and appeared in several of his movies, including Do the Right Thing, School Daze, and Malcolm X. However, Giancarlo Esposito’s career really took off when he started taking more TV roles, including featured roles in Homicide: Life on the Streets, Girls Club, Breaking Bad, Once Upon a Time, Revolution, and Better Call Saul. It was his television roles that began to reward him with awards and acclaim and even helped him land a role in the Star Wars franchise in The Mandalorian.

10

Okja (2017)

Frank Dawson

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Okja

15+
DramaActionAdventure

Release Date

June 28, 2017

Runtime

120minutes

Director

Bong Joon Ho

Writers

Jon Ronson
, Bong Joon Ho

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Hee-Bong Byun

  • Headshot Of Steven Yeun IN The 35th Annual Producers Guild Awards

    Steven Yeun

  • Headshot Of Jake Gyllenhaal

    Jake Gyllenhaal

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Okja is a 2017 sci-fi fantasy movie that tells the story of a genetically modified super pig and a young girl who goes on a mission to rescue her from the evil meat industry. The movie was written and directed by Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho, who is best known for his 2019 movie Parasite.

Distributor(s)

Netflix

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In 2017, Giancarlo Esposito took on a role in the science fiction film Okja, directed by future Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho. The film is an environmental action-adventure story about a dystopian society that has genetically engineered giant “super pigs.” The pigs are then given to farmers to raise until they bring in all the pigs and determine which is the biggest. However, when one pig, Okja, is taken to the United States, a young girl sets out to save it from the meat industry.

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Giancarlo Esposito stars in the film as Frank Dawson, an executive at the Mirando Corporation, the company who breeds the “super pigs.” While much of the movie follows the protestors and the group setting out to save the pigs and bring down Mirando, Frank is one of the faces of the corporation who puts money ahead of the value of lives. He is a secondary antagonist in the film, which has a high 86% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

9

Malcolm X (1992)

Thomas Hagan

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Malcolm X

PG-13

Release Date

November 18, 1992

Runtime

202 minutes

Director

Spike Lee

Writers

Spike Lee
, Arnold Perl
, Alex Haley

Cast

  • Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24's

    Denzel Washington

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    Angela Bassett

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    Albert Hall

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Malcolm X is a biographical film directed by Spike Lee, depicting the life of the influential African American leader and civil rights activist. Starring Denzel Washington in the titular role, the film chronicles Malcolm X’s journey from his troubled youth to his rise as a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam and his subsequent transformation after a pilgrimage to Mecca. The film captures the complexities and evolution of Malcolm X’s beliefs and activism.

Main Genre

Drama

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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In 1992, Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast of Spike Lee’s Malcom X biopic. The movie starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm X and followed the activist’s life from his rough childhood to his petty criminal days, to his journey to become a spiritual advisor and activist, to his eventual assassination. The cast was top-notch, with Angela Bassett starring as Betty Shabazz and names like Delroy Lindo, Christopher Plummer, and Giancarlo Esposito in supporting roles.

Esposito starred as Talmadge X. Hayer, an NOI member who is part of the five-man group that assassinates Malcolm. The film was a minor box office success and received mostly positive reviews for its story and the cast’s performances. It also picked up two Oscar nominations, including one for Denzel Washington. It has a great legacy as well, as the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry in 2010.

8

Dear White People (2017-2019)

Dr. Edward Ruskins

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Dear White People

ComedyDrama

Release Date

2017 – 2020

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Justin Simien

Directors

Justin Simien

Writers

Justin Simien

Cast

  • Headshot Of Logan Browning

    Logan Browning

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    Antoinette Robertson

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    DJ Blickenstaff

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Dear White People is a Netflix original Comedy Drama that acts as a continuation of the 2014 movie of the same name. Starring Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, and DeRon Horton, Dear White People tells the story of a group of black friends who attend a predominantly white Ivy League school. The series lasted for four seasons on Netflix before ending its run in 2021.

Seasons

4

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Dear White People is a Netflix series based on the 2014 movie of the same name about several Black students in college at an Ivy League institution. The entire purpose of the series (and movie) is to touch on the issues surrounding race relations from a progressive perspective. Justin Simien, who made the film, was who returned to create the series, which ran for four seasons and 40 episodes.

Esposito says in the opening lines of Dear White People…

Giancarlo Esposito not only starred in the recurring role of Dr. Edward Ruskins for the first three seasons, but he also narrated the series. Esposito says in the opening lines of Dear White People, “The writers of this program are depending on my ethnic but non-threatening voice to explain things they are too lazy to set up traditionally.” This is almost more important than his role as Ruskins, a former professor at the university.

7

School Daze (1988)

Julian “Dean Big Brother Almighty” Eaves

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School Daze

R

Release Date

February 12, 1988

Runtime

121 minutes

Director

Spike Lee

Producers

Grace Blake

Cast

  • Giancarlo Esposito Profile Picture

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Julian ‘Dean Big Brother Almighty’ Eaves

  • Headshot Of Laurence Fishburne

    Laurence Fishburne

    Vaughn ‘Dap’ Dunlap

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Tisha Campbell

    Jane Toussaint

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School Daze is a film directed by Spike Lee, set at a historically black college where fraternity and sorority members face off against other students during homecoming weekend. Released in 1988, the narrative explores themes of identity, social structure, and cultural tension within the academic environment.

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Giancarlo Esposito got his first major notice when Spike Lee cast him in his movie School Daze in 1988. In the film, Esposito plays Julian “Dean Big Brother Almighty” Eaves, the president of Mission College’s Gamma Phi Gamma Fraternity chapter. When his old friend Dap (Laurence Fishburne) wants to start an anti-apartheid protest, Julian opposes it, which leads to a fight between them. This is all to set up the story of the clashing of views at a historically Black college.

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The movie was very different at the time. Since Lee based it at an HBCU, he was able to show the mixture of views and values without mixing in the white experience, allowing a unique look at colorism, classism, elitism, sexism, and more. School Daze received mixed reviews, with praise going to the story and the cast, which also included Tisha Campbell, Ossie Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, and many more.

6

The Boys (2019-)

Stan Edgar

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The Boys

TV-MA

Release Date

July 25, 2019

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Directors

Erin Moriarty
, Karen Fukuhara
, Karl Urban
, Jack Quaid
, Eric Kripke

Writers

Eric Kripke

Franchise(s)

The Boys

Cast

  • Headshot Of Karl Urban In The Premiere Of Thor Ragnarok

    Karl Urban

    Billy Butcher

  • Headshot Of Jack Quaid In The 2024 Astra TV Awards

    Jack Quaid

    Hugh Hughie Campbell

  • Headshot Of Antony Starr In The Premier Of The Boys

    Antony Starr

    John / Homelander

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The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.

Main Genre

Action

Creator(s)

Eric Kripke

Seasons

4

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The Boys is the Prime Video anti-superhero series based on the comic books by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. In this show, the superheroes are mostly all villains, using their powers to make money and influence politics. The heroes are a group of men setting out to take out the heroes they feel have gotten out of control. The main conflict is between the superpowered Homelander (Anthony Starr) and The Boys’ leader, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban).

Esposito brought silent confidence and intensity to the role, especially when opposite the terrifying Homelander.

However, the politicians are involved, as they have use of the evil heroes to do their bidding in exchange for their protection. The company that owns the rights to The Seven and mediates with the government is Vought Industries, and Giancarlo Esposito’s Stan Edgar is one of the characters who sits at the top. He replaced Madelyn Stillwell as The Seven’s handler after she died. Esposito brought silent confidence and intensity to the role, especially when opposite the terrifying Homelander.

5

Homicide: Life On The Streets (1998-1999)

Federal Agent Mike Giardello

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Homicide: Life on the Street

Release Date

1993 – 1998

Cast

  • Headshot Of Andre Braugher

    Andre Braugher

  • Headshot Of Daniel Baldwin

    Daniel Baldwin

  • Headshot Of Richard Belzer

    Richard Belzer

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Homicide: Life on the Street is a crime drama series that aired from 1993 to 1999. It follows the detectives of the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit as they investigate gruesome murders while grappling with the complexities of their personal lives. The series is known for its realistic portrayal of police work and complex character development, featuring an ensemble cast led by Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer.

Main Genre

Crime

Creator(s)

Paul Attanasio

Seasons

7

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Based on the book by David Simon, Homicide: Life on the Streets presents a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department. The series ran on NBC from 1993 to 1999 and it was the breakout role for Andre Braugher. It was also the first drama series to ever win three Peabody Awards for Drama (1993, 1995, 1998). That last year was when Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast as Federal Agent Mike Giardello.

Esposito earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for his role.

While he was only on the series for its final season and the movie that followed it, his character remains memorable, an FBI agent who is also the son of Baltimore Police Lieutenant Al Giardello (Yaphet Kotto). His story was a tragic one, as he was unable to save a child while working as a hostage negotiator and resigned from the FBI when they let a mobster arrested for murder to get a leaner plea deal. Esposito earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for his role.

4

The Mandalorian (2019-2023)

Moff Gideon

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The Mandalorian

Fantasy Sci-Fi

Release Date

November 12, 2019

Showrunner

Jon Favreau

Directors

Jon Favreau
, Taika Waititi
, Bryce Dallas Howard

Writers

Jon Favreau

Franchise(s)

Star Wars

Cast

  • Headshot Of Werner Herzog

    Werner Herzog

  • Headshot Of Emily Swallow In The 2024 Astra TV Awards

    Emily Swallow

  • Headshot Of Pedro Pascal In The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Pedro Pascal

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The Mandalorian is set after the Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s emergence in the ever-growing Star Wars universe. The series follows the travails of a lone gunfighter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Acting as the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian has become incredibly popular on Disney+, partly due to Mando’s relationship with Grogu, which the internet dubbed “Baby Yoda” upon his introduction in season 1.

Seasons

3

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In 2019, Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast of the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian. In the series, he plays Moff Gideon, the main antagonist for the first three seasons of the show. He is the leader of the remnant of the fallen Galactic Empire and possesses the Darksaber that he used for the Purge of Mandalore. He is also leading the forces to attempt to capture the Force-sensitive Grogu with the intent of using Grogu’s blood to create clones with Force sensitivity.

Esposito earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the first season.

While he spent most of the first season working behind the scenes, he showed up in the penultimate episode and then was a key player all the way through the second season. Esposito was praised as one of the best villains of the Disney+ shows, with many comparing him to Darth Vader in his appearance and behavior. Esposito earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the first season and a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the second.

3

Godfather Of Harlem (2019-)

Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

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Godfather of Harlem (2019)

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Godfather of Harlem

TV-MA

Release Date

September 29, 2019

Writers

Chris Brancato
, Paul Eckstein

Cast

  • Headshot Of Forest Whitaker

    Forest Whitaker

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    Nigél Thatch

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    Ilfenesh Hadera

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Godfather of Harlem is a crime drama series starring Forest Whitaker as real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson. Set in the early 1960s, the show chronicles Johnson’s return to Harlem after a decade in prison and his bid to regain control. The series intricately weaves historical and fictional events, showcasing his strategic alliances and confrontations, including his partnership with civil rights leader Malcolm X.

Main Genre

Crime

Creator(s)

Chris Brancato
, Paul Eckstein

Seasons

3

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In 2019, Giancarlo Esposito joined the Epix crime drama series Godfather of Harlem. The show is based on the life of Bumpy Johnson, a New York City gangster from the 1960s. A fictionalized version of his life, this follows Bumpy as he returns from prison after a ten-year sentence to find the neighborhood he once ruled over in shambles, controlled by the Italian mob. He then determines he will take over again to help the people in the neighborhood.

Giancarlo Esposito plays Adam Calyton Powell Jr., and he has a main role in season one and a recurring role in the subsequent seasons. He is a politician who represented Harlem in Congress from 1945 until 1971. He was also the first African American man to ever be elected to Congress from any state in the Northeast. The series has received several awards, with Esposito nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2020 and 2022. He also won a Black Reel Award for Television in 2020.

2

Do The Right Thing (1989)

Buggin’ Out

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Do the Right Thing

R

Release Date

June 14, 1989

Runtime

120 minutes

Director

Spike Lee

Writers

Spike Lee

Cast

  • Headshot Of Danny Aiello

    Danny Aiello

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    Ossie Davis

  • Headshot Of Ruby Dee

    Ruby Dee

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Do the Right Thing is Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated film starring himself, Giancarlo Esposito, Bull Nunn, John Turturro, and Ossie Davis. The comedy drama revolves around Spike Lee’s young character Mookie, who is stuck in Brooklyn on the hottest day of summer, where bigotry and hate build before exploding into violence.

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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When Spike Lee discovered Giancarlo Esposito and cast him in his movies, it really helped launch the young actor’s career. This was no more evident in Do the Right Thing, the film that many consider to be Lee’s masterpiece. The movie takes place on a very hot day in a New York neighborhood, where the high temperatures lead to an escalation of violence. Much of this was spurred on by Esposito’s Buggin’ Out, a young man who demanded that Black celebrities be added to the wall of the pizzeria.

It is when Sal, the pizzeria’s owner, rejects this and lashes out at Buggin’ Out and his friend Radio Raheem that the riots start, which leads to Raheem’s tragic murder at the hands of the police. The film was a masterpiece detailing the racial tension of these small neighborhoods, and Esposito’s character was the catalyst. “The riot stuff at the end was scary,” Esposito said (via The Guardian). “When you have to get physical, something takes over. There were some intense moments, with people getting in touch with how they really felt.”

1

Better Call Saul (2017-2022)

Gus Fring

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Better Call Saul

TV-MA
CrimeDrama

Release Date

2015 – 2021

Network

AMC

Showrunner

Peter Gould

Directors

Vince Gilligan
, Thomas Schnauz
, Peter Gould
, Michael Morris
, Adam Bernstein
, Colin Bucksey
, John Shiban
, Michelle MacLaren
, Melissa Bernstein
, Larysa Kondracki
, Terry McDonough
, Gordon Smith
, Minkie Spiro
, Jim McKay
, Daniel Sackheim
, Andrew Stanton
, Norberto Barba
, Rhea Seehorn
, Scott Winant
, Michael Slovis
, Keith Gordon
, Deborah Chow
, Giancarlo Esposito
, Bronwen Hughes

Writers

Ann Cherkis
, Marion Dayre
, Ariel Levine
, Jonathan Glatzer

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Adam Dorn

    Self – Songwriter

  • Bob Odenkirk Profile Picture

    Bob Odenkirk

    Jimmy McGill

  • Headshot Of Jonathan Banks In The 39th Annual PaleyFest LA: 'Better Call Saul' premiere

    Jonathan Banks

    Self – Mike

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Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.

Seasons

6

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The best character that Giancarlo Esposito ever played was Gus Fring. He first appeared in Breaking Bad, and many consider it to be the best show to ever air on TV. However, Esposito reprised the role on Better Call Saul, which showed his road to becoming the man who eventually got his face blown off when he showed up to kill Hector, only to see too late there was a boobytrap set up to kill anyone in the room if he tried.

However, while he was one of Walter White’s most dangerous adversaries in Breaking Bad, he was even more important in Better Call Saul, where he came into conflict with Hector Salamanca for the first time. Giancarlo Esposito earned seven awards nominations for his role on Breaking Bad but received eight for Better Call Saul, including in 2020, where he was nominated for both this show and The Mandalorian in two different categories. Esposito even won an NAACP Image Award for directing an episode in 2023.