7 of Idris Elba’s best movies

Idris Elba is one of the best leading men working today. He’s got the suave demeanour of James Bond, as well as the physicality of Superman. He’s also the type to deliver an inspiring speech in one film and a terrifying one in the next. Adept at playing the hero or the villain, he is as prolific an actor as they come. For your next Elba marathon, here are his best movies.

1. Beasts of No Nation

Not many actors will go as far as playing a role like a commandant in Beasts of No Nation. Elba plays a warlord who takes children and turns them into his own personal soldiers. It may be gruesome, but it gained Elba a Golden Globe nomination for Best-Supporting Actor.

2. Jungle Book

While not as hard to watch as the commandant, Elba lends his voice to the terrifying portrayal of Shere Khan. Though it’s solely a vocal performance, it doesn’t take away from his screen presence. The Jungle Book is one of Disney’s classics, and Elba makes this modernised version a must-watch.

3. Pacific Rim

Some movie moments will forever be remembered. Indiana Jones running from a boulder; Roy Scheider’s request for a bigger boat. Pacific Rim has Elba to thank for its legendary moment, with his unforgettable “Cancelling the apocalypse” speech.

4. Concrete Cowboy

If you’ve ever wanted to see Elba on a horse, Concrete Cowboy is the film to watch. The actor plays a stern father tasked with raising his estranged son. He’s harsh but charming, and his relationship with young star Caleb McLaughlin ends up tugging at your heartstrings before the credits roll.

5. Molly’s Game

If you had to enter a courtroom, you could do much worse than Elba as your attorney. Aaron Sorkin’s film about a poker empress in legal trouble is a fascinating true story, and Elba keeps it grounded with his no-nonsense performance while being effortlessly magnetic.

6. Star Trek Beyond

In his most unrecognisable role to date, Elba seems to be having the most fun in Star Trek Beyond. He’s sympathetic as Captain Balthazar Edison and takes a by the numbers villain role and turns it into a fun and threatening presence.

7. Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

In the role he and Morgan Freeman were born to play, Elba takes on the monumental task of portraying one of humanity’s best. He makes the role his own, giving Mandela a ferocity as he tackles the injustice of apartheid. While the movie might not be the greatest, Elba does justice to the legend.

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.