Lupita Nyong’o is an award-winning actor from Kenya who has appeared in mega-franchises, small indies and everything in between in her relatively short career, and many of Lupita Nyong’o movies have an argument for being called her best. Nyong’o’s first big Hollywood break won her an Oscar and rocketed her into stardom. This was followed by a Broadway debut in Eclipsed that earned her a Tony nomination, then Sulwe, a children’s book that became a New York Times Best Seller, and she has even found time to be one of the surprisingly few actors starring in both the MCU and Star Wars saga.
The wide variety of genres Nyong’o appears in is a testament to her range. She has a powerful presence as an action star, showcased in the Black Panther series and her roles in Us, The 355, and Non-Stop show her comfort in the genre. At the same time, Nyong’o plays incredibly emotional and deep parts in movies like Queen of Katwe and 12 Years a Slave. For her acting, Nyong’o has earned an Academy Award, a Golden Globe nomination, four SAG nominations, and one Tony nomination. The best Lupita Nyong’o movies allow her the space to utilize her impressive versatility.
9 Non-Stop (2014)
Non-Stop stars Liam Neeson as an Air Marshal who is framed for a crime and has to clear his name — in midair. Lupita Nyong’o’s role as Gwen, a flight is woefully underused, especially considering the fact she had her Oscar win for 12 Years a Slave only a few months earlier. However, the little screen time she does have makes it clear she has action-star chops. She slides in perfectly to the role and doesn't get lost in the action. Lupita Nyong’o movies often put her in the spotlight, but she gives strong work in supporting parts too.
- Non-Stop is available to stream on Tubi.
8 The 355 (2022)
The 355 is an action spy thriller starring Lupita Nyong'o as Khadijah Adiyeme, a former British MI6 agent. She's joined by an ensemble that includes Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, and Diane Kruger. These five women represent their respective nations' spy agencies, and they have to work together to stop a terrorist plot from going global. The 355 only received a 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is the worst reviewed of all Lupita Nyong’o’s movies. But there is still fun to be found in the chemistry between the leads, and Nyong’o in particular seems adept at taking down bad guys around the globe.
- The 355 is available to stream on Peacock.
7 Little Monsters (2019)
Little Monsters is a brilliant horror-comedy starring Nyong’o as a kindergarten teacher who teams up with a washed-up musician to protect a group of schoolchildren from an outbreak of the undead. Lupita Nyong’o movies rarely allow the actor to play so comedic and this side of her is refreshing to see in Little Monsters. It’s an oddball film in a unique setting (a farm), with a unique group of probable victims (school children), and the real issue isn’t the zombies but the will-they, won’t-they romance between Nyong’o’s Miss Caroline and Dave Anderson (Alexander England).
- Little Monsters is available to stream on Hulu.
6 The Jungle Book (2016)
Jon Favreau’s retooling of 1967’s The Jungle Book is one of Disney’s earlier live-action remakes, and also one of its best. By tightening up the plot and livening up the visuals and making the scenes more connected to one another, Favreau’s movie actually made some improvements on the original. Nyong’o provides the voice for Raksha, the gentle mother wolf who adopts Mowgli. Nyong'o stands out amongst the star-studded cast, and The Jungle Book proves she doesn't need to be on-screen to be a commanding presence.
- The Jungle Book is available to stream on Disney Plus.
5 Queen of Katwe (2016)
Queen of Katwe is a biopic based on an ESPN magazine article by Tim Crothers about the life of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl who grew up in a poor neighborhood in Katwe. She learned how to play chess, won games at the World Chess Olympiads, and then went on to become a Woman Candidate Master. One of the more inspiring Lupita Nyong'o movies, Queen of Katwe has the feel of a sports drama, but presents a different setting and "sport" from the norms of the genre. Nyong’o’s radiant screen presence as Phiona’s mother, Nakku Harriet, boosts this film from standard biopic fare to something much more powerful and resonant.
- Queen of Katwe is available to stream on Disney Plus
4 Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (2015, 2017, 2019)
Lupita Nyong’o movies succeed best when the actor is put right in the middle of the story. Unfortunately, in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and the Rise of Skywalker, Nyong’o is only given a few scenes as the CGI character Maz Kanata. The movies were a massive box office hit earning over $4 billion collectively (via Box Office Mojo). Maz is brought to life by Nyong’o’s voice work and motion capture acting, giving Maz's scenes an air of authenticity and making them real highlights of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
- All Star Wars sequel trilogy movies are available to stream on Disney Plus.
3 Us (2019)
Jordan Peele’s sophomore directorial feature Us is full of hidden meanings, and the movie hinges on Nyong’o’s incredible dual lead performance. Us is a spectacular horror movie about “the Tethered,” doppelgängers who were created by the U.S. government to control people’s minds and then left stranded. Nyong’o plays Adelaide and her tethered doppelgänger Red. This may be the most screentime any of Lupita Nyongo’s movies have ever held for her, and she puts it to mesmerizing use as the loving but aloof Adelaide, and as the apoplectic hoarse-voiced Red. When watching Nyong’o interact with herself in scenes, it almost appears that there are two different actors playing the parts.
- Us is available to rent on Apple TV or Prime Video.
2 Black Panther And Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2018, 2022)
In Ryan Coogler’s groundbreaking, beautifully designed superhero blockbuster Black Panther, Lupita Nyong’o plays Nakia, an undercover Wakandan agent and former lover of T’Challa. She also appears in a reduced role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The first film is widely considered one of the best MCU movies and the second film holds a respectable 84% on Rotten Tomatoes despite having the monumental responsibility of continuing the story without the late Chadwick Boseman.
Lupita Nyong’o movies don’t require her to play the main character to be successful. Black Panther has her sharing supporting duties with Danai Gurira as Okoye and Letitia Wright as Shuri, but she still manages to stand out in that talented company. Nakia is fierce and hardheaded but Nyong’o plays her with a playfulness that separates her from the other warriors in Wakanda, and makes her steal every scene she's in.
- Both Black Panther movies are available to stream on Disney Plus.
1 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Adapted from Solomon Northup’s harrowing memoir, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave is a powerful historical drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup. Nyong’o is heartbreaking as the tortured Patsey, an enslaved woman whom Northup meets when he is sold to a brutal plantation owner (Michael Fassbender), and her strength in the face of incredible brutality is etched on her face in every scene. 12 Years a Slave won the coveted Best Picture award at the Oscars, along with Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Nyong’o. This part would inform all Lupita Nyong’o movies to come and establish her as one of the most prominent talents of her generation.
- 12 Years a Slave is available to rent on Apple TV or Prime Video.