Top 10 Idris Elba Performances: Movies And TV Shows Ranked

Idris Elba is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood and his best movie and TV series roles showcase that. On the small screen, Elba appeared in a few of the most critically acclaimed dramas ever and had a recurring part on one of the most popular comedies in history.

In terms of movies, Elba has kind of done it all. He's lent his voice to some hugely popular and well-received animated projects, appeared in multiple films that grossed over $1 billion, and starred in everything from Westerns to superhero fare to biopics. That makes it tough to truly nail down the best work of his storied career.

Molly's Game (2017)

Molly's Game is one of the most intriguing biopics in recent memory. Rather than tell the story of some major star, it focuses on Molly Bloom, a former skier and Olympic hopeful who ran an illegal gambling ring that featured several major celebrity players, leading to an FBI investigation.

The directorial debut by acclaimed screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, Molly's Game features Jessica Chastain in the titular role, which landed her a Golden Globe nomination. The film was met with strong critical praise, to the tune of an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Idris Elba has the most significant supporting role as Charlie Jaffey, Molly's lawyer. He and Chastain share some tremendous scenes together, with Elba's performance being one that received strong reviews from critics.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (2024)

In 2022, Idris Elba joined the Sonic the Hedgehog sequel as the voice of Knuckles the Echidna. He had his biggest role in the series in that film, though it wasn't met with reviews that were as strong as what the follow-up, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, received.

This third entry allowed Elba to actually portray one of the heroes for the entire runtime. Elba's deep voice is perfect for the demeanor of the Echidna, as Knuckles is the most serious member of the core trio. The way he plays off of Sonic and Tails makes him the ideal partner for them.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continued to expand the franchise's lore, introducing Shadow the Hedgehog, one of the main villains from the games. The film was another hit, even if Knuckles had a smaller role. That said, fans of Elba's Knuckles should check out his self-titled Paramount+ series.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Disney has made many attempts to redo their animated classics in a more realistic setting over the years. When they did so with The Jungle Book, it was considered live action, though most of the characters were still animated through CGI means.

This new version of The Jungle Book follows the same story beats as the original but adds a handful of things, leading to a longer runtime. Reviews were sparkling, with the film holding a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than the animated original and winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

As he has shown throughout his career, Elba does great work as a voice actor. Here, he plays Shere Khan, the villainous and fearful tiger who is out to kill Mowgli, the protagonist. Again, this is a case where Elba's powerful voice is the best fit for a character.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

One of the earliest members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Idris Elba played Heimdall since the first Thor film back in 2011. He reprised the role for several sequels and a couple of the billion-dollar Avengers movies, but it was in Thor: Ragnarok where he got the most to do.

For starters, Thor: Ragnarok is widely conisdered to be the best entry in the God of Thunder's film series, with Taika Waititi finding creative ways to utilize the protagonist and inject some comedy into things. Heimdall remained one of the more serious characters, though.

He got more heroic bits than ever before, stepping up to protect and save the people of Asgard. That said, he still isn't one of the main characters so that holds Thor: Ragnarok, no matter how great it is, from ranking higher in Elba's filmography.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

A valid argument could be made on whether Thor: Ragnarok or The Suicide Squad is a better film but regardless of which side of that discussion you sit on, there's no denying that Idris Elba plays a bigger role in the latter. He's kind of the co-lead alongside Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.

In The Suicide Squad, Elba plays Robert DuBois, better known as Bloodsport. He has a technologically advanced suit that allows him to turn almost anything into a weapon. He's also the heart of the film, as a character with something to fight for as he looks to keep his estranged daughter safe.

While 2016's Suicide Squad was widely panned, this sequel changed things up and, with the direction of James Gunn, delivered one of the better superhero movies of the 2020s. We haven't seen more of Elba's Bloodsport yet but there's hope that he'll be back soon.

Beasts Of No Nation (2015)

Whenever people discuss the biggest, best, and most notable Netflix original films, they don't mention Beasts of No Nation enough. The movie was incredibly important as it was Netflix's first original release and let the world know that they meant serious business.

While Beasts of No Nation wasn't some monster hit with billions of streaming minutes, it was a project that was met with rave reviews and established the platform. The movie focuses on a young boy who becomes a child soldier during a civil war in his country in Africa.

Idris Elba has a prominent role as Commandant, the leader of the battalion that brings the child soldier on board. This is one of the most celebrated Elba performances of his career, with him winning the SAG and Film Spirit Awards for supporting actor, while also getting nominated at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes.

The Harder They Fall (2021)

The Harder They Fall is one of the most criminally underrated movies of the 2020s. This Netflix original is a unique Western in that it features an all-Black cast and is directed by the debuting Jeymes Samuel, who is more known for his music career.

We've seen Idris Elba play plenty of heroic characters throughout his career but in The Harder They Fall, he portrays the villain. He's Rufus Buck, based on a real outlaw from the 19th-century American West. The film was met with positive reviews to the point of an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Elba is great as Rufus Buck but he's far from alone as the entire cast is fantastic. Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Lakeith Stanfield, and Danielle Deadwyler are just some of the stars to deliver powerhouse performances.

Luther (2010-2019)

The longest-running role in Idris Elba's career is that of the titular John Luther in this BBC One television series. The show spans five seasons, yet there are only 20 episodes, allowing an intriguing story to unfold over just about a decade.

Luther focuses on Elba's Detective Chief Inspector working for the Serious Crimes Unit. He's obsessive and sometimes violent, often getting consumed by the dark nature of his crimes. He also has a complicated relationship with a murderer named Morgan (Ruth Wilson).

Idris Elba completely embodies John Luther throughout all five seasons. His work led him to be nominated for accolades at the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes, among others. Elba also reprised the role for a spin-off film in 2023.

Zootopia (2016)

As noted, Idris Elba has appeared in multiple billion-dollar box office hits. Alongside Avengers: Infinity War, he lends his voice to a pivotal character in Zootopia. The film is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, and focuses on a rabbit police officer who befriends a con artist fox.

Elba voices Chief Bogo, an African buffalo who is in charge of the Zootopia Police Department. Again, it's a case where Elba's signature deep voice helps to add to the character's intimidation factor. He's meant to be the tough leader who doubts the protagonist.

Of course, a character like Chief Bogo ultimately gets proven wrong by the main character and learns that she is a valuable asset to the team. Elba's voice acting also nails that part of the story, showing off his versatility. He also plays the character again in the sequel.

The Wire (2002-2004)

In the eyes of many, The Wire is the greatest show in the history of television. The HBO crime drama is set in Baltimore, Maryland, focusing on the drug scene in the city through the eyes of law enforcement officers and the criminals.

Idris Elba plays Stringer Bell, a key member of Avon Barksdale's drug empire. While Barksdale (Wood Harris) was the ruthless side of things, Bell was the business end and together, they are a cunning, dangerous, and wildly successful duo.

The Wire was heavily praised for its level of realism, especially since creator David Simon was a journalist in Baltimore and had real experience of what the drug scene was like. The series deserved more love from institutions like the Emmys, yet its status as an all-time great series holds up decades later.