Jeffrey Wright’s 10 Best Movies, According To Letterboxd

Over the past several decades, Jeffrey Wright has cemented himself as one of the best character actors working in movies today. His latest role as James Gordon in The Batman continues to show his incredible talents as well as his tendency to choose compelling projects that often find considerable acclaim.

Wright seems just as comfortable as part of a large ensemble or in a leading role. Likewise, he could appear in an intimate drama, a big blockbuster, or a crowd-pleasing comedy. Just looking at his top-rated movies on Letterboxd offers a glimpse at Wright’s impressive career thus far.

10 Game Night (2018) – 3.49

It is not often Wright gets the opportunity to show his sillier side in movies, but he does occasionally lend some gravitas to a comedy. Such was the case in Game Night which follows a group of friends whose murder-mystery game night suddenly turns very real and very dangerous. Wright quickly pops up as a fake detective working the make-believe case.

The movie is a very fun mix of a mystery thriller populated with hilarious characters. It is further elevated by an exceptional cast that includes Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, and Jesse Plemons.

9 Lackawanna Blues (2005) – 3.52

Based on the autobiographical one-man show from actor Rueben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues tells the story of a young man living in a boarding house. Through the blues music of the 1960s and the colorful characters who populate the house, the young boy’s life is shaped.

Wright plays a convict living in the house and he is joined by a strong cast including Delroy Lindo, Mos Def, and Terrence Howard as well as a commanding lead performance from S. Epatha Merkerson as the house’s motherly owner.

8 No Time To Die (2021) – 3.54

Throughout Daniel Craig’s run as James Bond, Wright has occasionally appeared alongside him in a supporting role as 007’s CIA ally Felix Leiter. Wright joined Craig in his final outing as Bond in No Time to Die which sees a new enemy emerging who threatens to destroy Bond’s entire world.

The movie delivers on the usual big action sequences and high stakes plot. But the real draw of the movie is how it makes for a fitting and satisfying end for Craig’s popular tenure as the iconic super-spy.

7 Broken Flowers (2005) – 3.54

With Wright’s incredible talents as an actor, it is no surprise that he has worked with a number of amazing filmmakers. Broken Flowers is the comedy-drama from indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch which stars Bill Murray as a man who receives an anonymous letter from a former lover telling him he has a son.

Wright has a great supporting role as Murray’s neighbor and an amateur sleuth who encourages him to go out and find this mystery son. It is a funny and touching small story that is a great showcase for Murray’s charming persona.

6 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) – 3.54

While Wright does not often attach himself to big franchises, he does seem to find some interesting ones to be a part of. He joined the stellar cast of the second Hunger Games movie which finds Katniss rejoining the deadly competition along with past winners of the games. Wright plays one of the former winners, Beetee.

The movie takes the intriguing dystopian setting of the first movie and tells a more riveting story within it. Jennifer Lawrence continues to lead the franchise with her powerful performance as Katniss while Wright joins the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Clafin as interesting new characters to the story.

5 The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013) – 3.61

Wright lent his considerable talents and famous name to the indie drama The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete. The movie follows a young boy who is on his own after his mother is arrested and is forced to fend for himself along with his new friend.

Wright joins big-name actors like Anthony Mackie and Jennifer Hudson who appear in smaller roles as the two young child actors take the spotlight in this engrossing and grounded coming-of-age drama.

4 Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) – 3.77

Wright reteamed with Jim Jarmusch again for a very different project than Broken Flowers. Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as two ancient vampires who share a long history together as one of them begins to grow tired of their immortal life. Wright gets a small comedic role as a doctor working at a blood bank.

Though much less concerned with gore and violence than other vampire movies, Only Lovers Left Alive offers a much more intimate look into the genre. Its story of love and life is further elevated by the stellar cast.

3 The French Dispatch (2021) – 3.79

Wright worked alongside another acclaimed indie auteur as part of Wes Anderson’s star-studded cast of The French Dispatch. The movie focuses on an influential publication and tells various stories from its team of eccentric writers. Wright plays one of the journalists detailing a bizarre tale of a prison chef and a kidnapping plot.

The movie features many of Anderson’s trademarks including his distinct style, dry humor, and endless charm. In the massive cast of famous faces, Wright steals the show with his funny, compelling, and oddly moving performance.

2 Casino Royale (2006) – 3.93

In Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond, Wright was also introduced as Felix in Casino Royale. The movie tells the story of Bond’s first mission as 007 in which he competes in a high-stakes poker game against a dangerous arms dealer.

The movie remains the top-rated Bond movie on Letterboxd and made for a raucous debut for Craig in the role. The action was also bigger and more intense, helping make this gritty reboot just what was needed for the franchise.

1 The Batman (2022) – 4.24

The Caped Crusader’s latest big-screen adventure has certainly struck a chord with many audiences. The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as the titular hero as he investigates a series of murders committed by The Riddler which expose the long history of corruption within Gotham City. Wright gives a nuanced and strong supporting performance as Gordon, one of the few honest cops in the city.

Under the direction of Matt Reeves, the movie took the iconic character of Batman and used his world to tell a dark detective story that explored new aspects of the crime-fighter.

About The Author

Colin McCormick
(2045 Articles Published)

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

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