Jeffrey Wright’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Jeffrey Wright’s best movies and TV shows give a glimpse at the career of one of the best character actors working today. The Oscar-nominated American actor began his career on the stage in the early 1990s while also earning small roles on television and in movies. However, Wright broke out with his first acclaimed leading man role in the biopic Basquiat. From there, Wright’s career grew with him selecting roles that would allow him to constantly be changing as a performer and inhabiting fascinating characters.

Wright has been known to work with indie filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson. However, he has also found the opportunity to give impactful performances in big franchises, like the DC Universe and the Hunger Games movies. He excels in scene-stealing supporting roles, but can certainly carry a movie when given the chance. While his upcoming projects include a Batman sequel, a Spike Lee-Denzel Washington collaboration, and season 2 of The Last of Us, Wright’s career is already filled with greatness.

10

What If…? (2021-2024)

As The Watcher

What If season 3 poster

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79

7.6/10

What If…?

SuperheroAnimationActionAdventure

What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse. 

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Release Date

August 11, 2021

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson
, Stanley Tucci
, Michael Douglas
, Sean Gunn
, Mark Ruffalo
, Karen Gillan
, Tom Hiddleston
, Jeffrey Wright
, Michael B. Jordan
, Toby Jones
, Sebastian Stan
, Paul Rudd
, David Dastmalchian
, Natalie Portman
, Josh Brolin
, Dominic Cooper
, Jeff Goldblum
, Hayley Atwell
, Djimon Hounsou
, Chadwick Boseman
, Taika Waititi
, Chris Hemsworth
, Neil McDonaugh
, Jeremy Renner
, Michael Rooker

Seasons

3

Showrunner

Ashley Bradley

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While Jeffrey Wright is better known for his role in the DC universe, he made for a compelling character in the MCU as The Watcher in What If…? The animated series takes inspiration from the lesser-known Marvel Comics titles that imagine different scenarios that could happen in an alternate reality of the Marvel universe with the iconic heroes taking new paths. The Watcher is an all-seeing being who looks down on these alternate events in the MCU timeline, which range from Peggy Carter taking the super-soldier serum to T’Challa becoming Star-Lord to zombies taking over the superhero world.

Wright’s The Watcher initially only seems like a narrator to these stories, but the role gradually becomes more involved and more intriguing until he gets the chance to be a hero in his own right. While some of these stories are more engaging than others, it is a lot of fun seeing the MCU able to take a looser approach to the stories with several key actors returning to voice their characters. While What If…? ended with its third season, there is a possibility that The Watcher could appear elsewhere in the MCU.

9

Hunger Games – Catching Fire (2013)

As Beetee

Hunger Games Catching Fire Movie Poster

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8/10

8.8/10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

PG-13
Action Sci-Fi

The second entry into the Hunger Games film franchise and based on Suzanne Collins’ book of the same name, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up shortly after the events of the first film. Returning home to District 12 after their victory at the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) begin to sense an imminent rebellion against the oppressive Capitol.

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Release Date

November 1, 2013

Cast

Jennifer Lawrence
, Josh Hutcherson
, Sam Claflin

Runtime

2h 26m

Director

Francis Lawrence

While Jeffrey Wright is a character actor who has appeared in a lot of smaller movies throughout his career, he also found opportunities to appear in bigger blockbusters and franchise projects, such as The Hunger Games movies. The Hunger Games – Catching Fire takes place in the aftermath of Katniss and Peeta winning the past games, only for President Snow to announce the next games will feature past winners from each district, throwing Katniss back into the deadly arena.

One of the best aspects of the sequel is that Katniss finds a number of new allies, including the tech expert Beetee, played by Wright. It is an understated performance that gives gravitas to the movie alongside other acclaimed actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman. Wright appeared in the next two Hunger Games movies, but with its action-packed story and thrilling twists, Catching Fire is often seen as the best of the franchise.

8

Broken Flowers (2005)

As Winston

Broken Flowers poster

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Broken Flowers

R
ComedyDocumentaryDramaMysteryRomance

Devoutly single Don Johnston learns he may have a son after receiving an anonymous letter following a breakup.

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Release Date

August 5, 2005

Cast

Bill Murray
, Julie Delpy
, Heather Simms
, Brea Frazier
, Jarry Fall
, Korka Fall

Runtime

106 minutes

Director

Jim Jarmusch

Jeffrey Wright collaborated with filmmaker Jim Jarmusch for the first time while also starring alongside comedy legend Bill Murray. Broken Flowers stars Murray as a man whose latest failed relationship causes him to look back on his many romances that ended while also receiving word from one of his anonymous former partners that they have a grown son together. This causes Murray to seek out his son by visiting his exes.

Despite the fact that he is sharing the screen with Murray, it is Wright who gives the standout comedic performance of the movie.

Wright plays Winston, Murray’s neighbor who encourages him on his quest. Despite the fact that he is sharing the screen with Murray, it is Wright who gives the standout comedic performance of the movie, stealing every scene with his lively and entertaining performance. The movie is a funny, intimate, and touching story of a late-in-life coming-of-age tale that shows the simplicity yet effectiveness of Jarmusch’s writing.

7

Angels In America (2003)

As Belize

Angels in America TV Show Poster

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Angels in America

DramaFantasy

Angels in America is a miniseries adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Directed by Mike Nichols, the 2003 drama explores the intersecting lives of several characters during the 1980s AIDS crisis. Key figures include Prior Walter, a man living with AIDS, played by Justin Kirk, and Roy Cohn, a powerful lawyer portrayed by Al Pacino. The series is noted for its exploration of politics, religion, and the human condition.

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Release Date

December 7, 2003

Cast

Al Pacino
, Meryl Streep
, Mary-Louise Parker
, Jeffrey Wright
, Emma Thompson
, Patrick Wilson
, Justin Kirk
, Ben Shenkman

Seasons

1

After winning a Tony Award as part of the original Broadway cast, Jeffrey Wright won an Emmy for the star-studded television adaptation of Angels in America. Like the play, the miniseries deals with the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s through the perspective of a variety of characters who are impactful by the disease. One of the central stories involves right-wing fixer Roy Cohn dying of AIDS while in the care of gay nurse Belize (Wright).

Wright actually takes on several different characters in the story, but his role as Belize is the most impactful. Not only does Wright hold his own against Pacino, but they create a fascinating relationship between the two characters. Cohn’s unwillingness to address his own homosexuality causes him to lash out with homophobia, but while Belize may despise him, he treats Cohn with compassion. It is a powerful and emotional story with a cast that also includes Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and Patrick Wilson.

6

Westworld (2016-2022)

As Bernard Lowe

Westworld Season 4 Poster

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6/10

6.4/10

Westworld

Sci-FiThrillerWestern

HBO’s Westworld is a dystopian science fiction western that is based on the Michael Crichton-directed film, Westworld. The series centers on high-paying guests who visit a western theme park full of human-like androids to live out wild fantasies. Westworld would later introduce a futuristic mid-21st century where the world is run by an artificial intelligence called Rehoboam. The series was incredibly popular during its four-season run but was canceled by HBO in November 2022.

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Release Date

October 2, 2016

Cast

Anthony Hopkins
, Evan Rachel Wood
, Shannon Woodward
, Ed Harris
, James Marsden
, Jimmi Simpson
, Jeffrey Wright
, Tessa Thompson
, Thandie Newton
, Rodrigo Santoro

Seasons

4

Showrunner

Jonathan Nolan
, Lisa Joy

The ambitious sci-fi HBO series Westworld featured one of the most star-studded casts on television, with the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Tessa Thompson, Ed Harris, and Evan Rachel Wood. However, Wright consistently delivered the best performance. Westworld is set in the near future in which a popular theme park allows guests to visit an immersive and expansive Old West world filled with robotic “hosts” who are there as disposable objects for the guests’ pleasure. However, things change when the hosts begin developing a consciousness of their own.

Wright plays Bernard, who is introduced as one of the overseers of the hosts but who makes stunning discoveries about the park and himself, which makes him one of the most complex characters. Though Westworld was canceled before it had a chance to complete its story, it is still a massive and exciting exploration of sci-fi ideas that grow to some unexpected places.

5

The Batman (2022)

As Jim Gordon

The Batman Poster

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8/10

135

8.6/10

The Batman

PG-13
CrimeActionDrama

The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.

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Release Date

March 4, 2022

Cast

Robert Pattinson
, Zoë Kravitz
, Jeffrey Wright
, Colin Farrell
, Paul Dano
, John Turturro
, Andy Serkis
, Peter Sarsgaard
, Barry Keoghan
, Jayme Lawson
, Gil Perez-Abraham
, Peter McDonald
, Con O’Neill
, Alex Ferns
, Rupert Penry-Jones
, Kosha Engler
, Archie Barnes
, Janine Harouni
, Hana Hrzic
, Joseph Walker
, Luke Roberts
, Oscar Novak
, Stella Stocker
, Sandra Dickinson
, Jack Bennett
, Andre Nightingale
, Richard James-Neale
, Lorraine Tai
, Joseph Balderrama
, James Eeles

Runtime

176 minutes

Director

Matt Reeves

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Jeffrey Wright stepped into the live-action superhero world, taking on one of the most iconic DC characters in The Batman. Matt Reeves’ reinvents the Caped Crusader with Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in the early days of his crime-fighting in Gotham City. However, Batman is faced with a new challenge when a serial killer begins targeting some of the most powerful members of Gotham society with a mystery that seems to be linked to Bruce Wayne himself.

Not yet a commissioner, Gordon is a rare honest cop in the city and the only one who sees Batman as an ally.

Wright is excellent as the latest version of Jim Gordon. Not yet a commissioner, Gordon is a rare honest cop in the city and the only one who sees Batman as an ally. Reeves’ dark noir take on the material is a thrilling new approach with Pattinson fitting nicely into the vigilante role. There is also a great supporting cast that includes Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell as The Penguin.

4

Casino Royale (2006)

As Felix Leiter

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8/10

40

8.6/10

Casino Royale

PG-13
ActionAdventureCrimeThriller

The twenty-first film in Eon’s James Bond franchise, Casino Royale, stars Daniel Craig as secret agent 007. Introducing Craig to the role with an origin story, Casino Royale shows Bond earning his MI6 codename before being tasked with infiltrating a casino in Montenegro in order to bankrupt a terrorist financier known as Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). However, Bond’s assignment is more complicated than it seems, as Le Chiffre seems to have inside knowledge of the MI6 agent’s plan.

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Release Date

November 14, 2006

Cast

Daniel Craig
, Eva Green
, Mads Mikkelsen
, Judi Dench
, Jeffrey Wright
, Giancarlo Giannini

Runtime

144 minutes

Director

Martin Campbell

Though there have been several actors to play Felix Leiter in the James Bond franchise over the years, Jeffrey Wright safely owns the role after debuting in one of the best 007 movies to date. Casino Royale offered a much-needed reboot for the franchise, bringing in Daniel Craig as Bond at the beginning of his MI6 career as he enters into a high-stakes poker game against a dangerous arms dealer (Mads Mikkelsen) while aided by the skeptical but alluring Vesper Lynn (Eva Green).

He brings a coolness to the role that makes him feel like an equal to Bond rather than a sidekick.

Wright steps into the role of the CIA man who becomes an ally to Bond. He brings a coolness to the role that makes him feel like an equal to Bond rather than a sidekick. It always felt as though Wright could have led his own spinoff adventure in the role. Casino Royale offered a gritty and grounded return to form for Bond while also cementing Craig as one of the best actors to take on the role.

3

The French Dispatch (2021)

As Roebuck Wright

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4/10

7.8/10

The French Dispatch

R
ComedyRomanceDrama

The French Dispatch is an anthology comedy from director Wes Anderson. The story takes place in 1975 France when The French Dispatch magazine’s editor dies of a sudden heart attack. His last wish is for a final issue to be published, which includes four articles, “The Cycling Reporter,” “The Concrete Masterpiece,” “Revisions to a Manifesto,” and “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner.” Like most Wes Anderson movies, The French Dispatch has a substantial cast, including Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Léa Seydoux, to name a few.

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Release Date

October 22, 2021

Cast

Owen Wilson
, Timothée Chalamet
, Bill Murray
, Tilda Swinton
, Lea Seydoux
, Stephen Park
, Benicio Del Toro
, Adrien Brody

Runtime

103 minutes

Director

Wes Anderson

Jeffrey Wright is a relatively new member of Wes Anderson’s large troupe of actors, but he has proven impressive right away. His first movie with Anderson was the star-studded anthology film, The French Dispatch. The movie centers around a French newspaper run by several expatriate journalists who are attempting to put together a collection of the top stories from their many issues as part of their final publication. Wright plays Roebuck Wright, a food journalist behind the final story in the film.

As to be expected with Anderson’s movies, there are so many big-name stars appearing, such as Timothée Chalamet, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Frances McDormand, and Edward Norton. However, Wright gives the performance of the movie as an eloquent and suave wordsmith. Wright shows the joy Roebuck gets from telling his story but also conveys the sadness of the man. It is a movie that will not win over Anderson’s harsher critics but is a funny, quirky, and moving story that celebrates storytelling and art.

2

Basquiat (1996)

As Jean-Michel Basquiat

0144087_poster_w780.jpg

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Basquiat

R
DramaHistory

Basquiat is a biographical film depicting the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a New York street artist who rose to fame in the 1980s. The 1996 film explores his challenges with celebrity, substance abuse, and personal identity amid the complexities of the contemporary art world.

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Release Date

August 9, 1996

Cast

Jeffrey Wright
, Michael Wincott
, Benicio Del Toro
, Claire Forlani
, David Bowie
, Dennis Hopper
, Gary Oldman
, Christopher Walken
, Willem Dafoe
, Jean-Claude La Marre
, Parker Posey
, Elina Löwensohn
, Paul Bartel
, Courtney Love
, Tatum O’Neal
, Chuck Pfeiffer
, Rockets Redglare
, Lola Schnabel
, David McDermott
, Michael Chow
, Stella Schnabel
, Steven Randazzo
, Michael Badalucco
, Francis Dumaurier
, Joseph R. Gannascoli

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Julian Schnabel

Expand

Jeffrey Wright found his breakout role and one of his earliest leading roles playing one of the most celebrated figures of the modern art world. Basquiat is the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a street artist who rose up to become a respected and acclaimed artist in mainstream culture. The biopic maps this incredible and aspiring rise to fame while also detailing how it took a toll on the artist and contributed to the drug addiction that would cut his life tragically short.

Wright is able to disappear into the role, taking on the unique aspects of Basquiat while also avoiding simply making him a caricature. Despite it being such an early role for him, he carried the movie with confidence and a commanding central performance, even alongside established performers like Gary Oldman and David Bowie.

1

American Fiction (2023)

As Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison

American Fiction Poster

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8/10

9/10

American Fiction

Not Yet Rated
Drama

Based on the novel by Percival Everett, American Fiction is a drama film that stars Jeffrey Wright as author and English Professor Thelonious “Monk” Ellison. With his students lacking cultural sensitivity and publishers rejecting his novels, believing them not to be “Black enough,” Monk returns to his hometown where he witnesses a new young Black author who has created an instant best seller. As he attempts to ignore the success of another, he reunites with his family, where tragedy and chaos begin to consume them.

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Release Date

September 8, 2023

Cast

Jeffrey Wright
, Tracee Ellis Ross
, John Ortiz
, Erika Alexander
, Leslie Uggams
, Adam Brody​
, Keith David
, Issa Rae
, Sterling K. Brown

Runtime

117 Minutes

Director

Cord Jefferson

Jeffrey Wright has always managed to shine in supporting roles, but given the opportunity for a rare leading part in a movie, the actor scored his first Oscar nomination. American Fiction stars Wright as Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison, an author who is frustrated with being constantly encouraged to write a book about the “Black experience.” He takes his frustrations out by writing a book that uses the most obvious and tired Black stereotypes to create a soulless story. However, Monk’s anger only intensifies when his book and the fake author he created for it become hits.

American Fiction is a sharp, witty, and thought-provoking satire that celebrates voices of the minority communities while also criticizing a public that will only let them be voices for that community. Wright gives his best performance to date, showing his comedic side but just as easily bringing out the drama of the story with Monk’s personal struggles. It is a hugely entertaining movie that won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.