British actor, Idris Elba is in a league of his own. The talented star has amassed a massive fan following for his acting chops, his good looks and obviously that killer British accent that we’ve fallen crazy in love with. For die-hard fans of the handsome actor Googling terms like, “Idris Elba movies,” “Idris Elba best movies,” “Idris Elba wiki,” you’ve come to the right place! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Luther star.
Here are five of Idris Elba’s best movies:
#1 Beasts of No Nation (2015)
The critically acclaimed war drama was based on the book written by Nigerian author, Uzodinma Iweala. It is the story of a young boy named Agu and his struggle for survival as his country in West Africa is torn apart by civil war. The Netflix movie (directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga) was snubbed at the Oscars, giving attention to a heated debate about racism. Elba portrays the role of Commandant who heads a militia of child soldiers, keeping his wards safe and fostering feelings of family out of necessity. Elba’s Commandant is a dark, chilling character as he corrupts the souls of innocent children and turns them into ruthless murderers. A must-watch for fans of the charismatic actor.
#2 Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The American superhero film based on the Marvel comics was a huge commercial success, with Australian actor Chris Hemsworth essaying the role of the Norse God. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh and also starred Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins. Elba played the character Heimdall, an all-seeing, all-hearing mythological deity. Although the role was a small one, it was significant, and Elba signed a four-movie contract with Marvel Studios. The third installment of the Thor franchise, Thor: Ragnarok is currently being shot, and is set to release in the fall of 2017. The casting directors of the movie faced backlash from the comics fans for casting a black man to play the role of a Nordic God. Elba remained calm and did not respond to the rumors, calling them “ridiculous.”
#3 Prometheus (2012)
The sci-fi film directed by Ridley Scott set the box office registers ringing, despite drawing a mixed reaction from critics. The movie also starred Hollywood heavyweights, Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender, along with other actors like Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green and Guy Pearce. Elba essayed the character of Janek, the captain of the spaceship Prometheus. The crew follows a star map in search of the origins of humanity. Janek is a sailor with a military background. A sequel called Alien: Covenant is all set to release next summer.
#4 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Idris Elba portrayed the role of the iconic South African President, Nelson Mandela, in the movie directed by Justin Chadwick, based on Mandela’s autobiography. The film did not fare well at the box office, but garnered Elba critical acclaim for his powerhouse performance as the anti-apartheid revolutionary. Don’t miss this one!
#5 Pacific Rim (2013)
Directed by Guillermo del Tero, the sci-fi monster film was a massive box-office success. The movie also stars Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and Charlie Day in the futuristic movie in which Earth is at war with large monsters. Elba was convincing as Stacker Pentecost, a commanding officer. He did extensive research for his role, watching footage of other leading men in similar roles like Mel Gibson in Braveheart and Russell Crowe in Gladiator. A fantastic movie for sci-fi fanatics!
Idris Elba’s Upcoming Movies
In 2016, Idris Elba had roles in several blockbuster releases like The Jungle book, Finding Dory, Bastille Day and Star Trek Beyond. His upcoming releases are Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and The Dark Tower (2017). To find out more details on the actor’s life, click here.
