Top 10 Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies That Are Worth Watching

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a British actor, director, and writer best known for portraying Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave, for which he was nominated for an Oscar.

For his outstanding performances in renowned movies, including Kinky Boots and Dirty Pretty Things, Chiwetel Ejiofor has won several awards, including the British Independent Flim, Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, and San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards.

In addition to his acting career, he has also directed and written some well-known movies, including The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Rob Peace, and Columbite Tantalite.

Furthermore, Chiwetel Ejiofor will appear in the upcoming latest installment of the Venom franchise, Venom: The Last Dance.

Ejiofor has also worked as a voice actor in movies like The Lion King and Sherlock Gnomes and starred in series like The Man Who Fell to Earth, Dancing on the Edge, and The Shadow Line.

With his versatility in acting and genres, Ejiofor has won the hearts of millions; here is the list of top 10 movies of Chiwetel Ejiofor that you must watch.

10. Inside Man

Inside Man is an American crime drama mystery movie directed by Spike Lee and written by Russell Gewirtz.

It stars Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the leading roles.

The movie follows Dalton Russell (Clive Owen), a mastermind robber who directs a bank heist on Wall Street that turns into a hostage situation where hostages are forced to wear masks to hide their identities.

To negotiate with Dalton, the NYPD’s hostage negotiators, Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) and Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), are sent to the bank. The movie depicts the fear and struggle inside the bank.

The movie has won several awards, including the Image Award, AFI Awards for Movie of the Year, Black Movie Awards, and Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards.

Furthermore, it has received positive reviews from critics worldwide for its direction and performances of the actors.

9. Doctor Strange

Doctor Stange is an American superhero film directed by Scott Derrickson and based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Strange, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Benjamin Bratt, and Mads Mikkelsen in the leading roles.

The movie follows Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a well-known neurosurgeon who, after a car accident, loses his ability to use his hands and leaves his career behind.

Dr. Strange then learns about Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt), who mysteriously regained the use of his legs. To learn about Pangborn’s healing process, Strange visits Kamar-Taj, where he meets Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a sorcerer under the Ancient One who later becomes his mentor.

Furthermore, the movie describes the journey of Dr. Strange in physical and spiritual healing into the world of the mystic arts.

The movie has received critical acclaim worldwide for the performance of the actors and its overall direction.

It was nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for best achievement in visual effects and received several awards, including Annie Awards, Hollywood Film Awards, Golden Trailer Awards, and Golden Schmoes Awards.

8. Children of Men

Children of Men is a dystopian action thriller drama directed and co-written by Alfonso Cuaron. The movie is based on P.D. James’ 1992 novel The Children of Men.

It stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Charlie Hunnam in the leading roles.

The movie follows the dystopian world of 2027 London, where humans are incapable of reproducing and suffering from war and global depression, leading to the collapse of human civilizations.

Furthermore, the movie depicts the story of Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a former activist turned bureaucrat who is abducted by the Fishes, a militant immigrant group led by Theo’s estranged wife, Julian Taylor; she offers Theo money to acquire transit papers for a young refugee woman named Kee.

While on their journey of transiting Kee, Kee reveals to Theo that she is pregnant, making her the only known pregnant woman in the world, and is taken to the Human Project to find out the cure for humanity’s infertility. On the way, Julian is shot by some random gang.

Things unravel about Fishes when Theo learns that Julian’s demise was intentional and that Kee’s baby will be used as a political tool.

The movie was nominated for three Oscars and has won several awards, including the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, BAFTA, and Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Chiwetel Ejiofor portrayed Luke, a member of Fishes who intentionally homicides Julian to become the leader.

7. Dirty Pretty Things

Dirty Pretty Things is a British crime drama thriller directed by Stephen Frears and written by Steven Knight.

It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sergi Lopez, Sophie Okonedo, and Benedict Wong in the leading roles.

The movie follows Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Nigerian immigrant and a doctor who, after being blamed for taking his wife’s life, starts living in London as an undocumented immigrant by sharing living quarters with Turkish emigre Senay (Audrey Tautou).

Okwe works as a cab driver during the day, works at the front desk of a hotel at night, and provides medical treatment to other poor immigrants. Things change when he uncovers a darker side of his boss, Juan (Sergi Lopez), and his illegal activities.

The movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing and has received positive reviews worldwide.

Millions praised Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance in the movie, and he won the 2003 British Independent Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Okwe.

6. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is an African biography drama history movie written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and It is his feature directorial debut.

The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

It stars Maxwell Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Lily Banda in the leading roles.

The movie follows a young schoolboy, William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba), who comes from a family of farmers in Kasungu, Malawi. William also has a talent for fixing radios and other electrical devices for his neighbors.

In the mid-2000s, the village suffered from drought, which resulted in crop failure, and people soon began abandoning the village to survive. Willing to save his village from this devastating situation, William plans to build a windmill to power the town’s broken water pump.

Although William becomes successful in his work, he needs a larger windmill for which he needs the permission of his father Trywell (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to dismantle the family bicycle, which is also the only bicycle in the village and his family’s last asset.

The movie depicts the journey of a father and son in developing a windmill to save the people of the village from starvation.

It received widely positive reviews, with praise for Ejiofor’s direction and acting. For the movie, Chiwetel won the Family Film Award for Outstanding Actor and the Image Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture.

5. The Martian

The Martian is a Sci-Fi, adventure, and drama movie directed by Ridley Scott. It is based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name.

It stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the leading roles.

The movie follows Dr. Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is sent on a mission to Mars, after a dangerous storm hits Mars; he is left behind by his crew, presuming the storm took his life.

Furthermore, the movie depicts Mark’s struggle to survive on Mars and NASA’s effort to bring him back to Earth.

The movie has received critical acclaim worldwide, was nominated for seven Oscars, and won several renowned awards, including the Christopher Awards, Golden Globes, and Hugo Awards.

Talking about Chiwetel Ejiofor, he played the role of Vincent Kapoor, NASA’s Director of Mars Missions.

4. Serenity

Serenity is an American action-adventure Sci-Fi movie written and directed by Joss Whedon in his feature directorial debut.

The movie continues Whedon’s short-lived 2002 Fox television series Firefly. It stars the same cast and takes place after the events of the final episode.

Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Chiwetel Ejiofor can be seen in the leading roles.

The movie follows the crew of the spaceship Serenity, led by Captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his mate Zoe (Gina Torres), who entangled with a psychic passenger named River Tam (Summer Glau), who harbors a dangerous secret.

Furthermore, the movie depicts how the ship’s crew, Serenity, tries to evade an assassin sent to recapture River.

The movie has won several awards, including the Hugo, SFX, and Golden Schmoes Awards, and received positive reviews worldwide.

Chiwetel Ejiofor played the role of Operative in the movie and was nominated for the Black Reel Awards for Best Supporting Actor.

3. American Gangster

American Gangster is a biographical crime drama directed by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian.

The movie is loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina.

It stars Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ted Levine, and John Ortiz in the lead roles.

The movie follows the year 1968, where after the demise of Harlem mob boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, his right-hand Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) enters the world of substance trading and becomes the superior dealer in the market.

Furthermore, the movie depicts the dedication of an honest cop, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who tries everything possible to take Frank down.

With positive reviews worldwide, the movie was nominated for two Oscars and has won several awards, including BET Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and World Stunt Awards.

Chiwetel Ejiofor Played the role of Huey Lucas, Frank’s brother, who helped him with his smuggling.

2. Kinky Boots

Kinky Boots is a British comedy-drama movie based on a true story. It is directed by Julian Jarrold and written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.

It stars Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah-Jane Potts, and Jemima Rooper in the leading roles.

The movie follows Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) as he attempts to save the family shoe factory in Northampton, England, which had been facing loss after his father’s demise.

On his business trip to London to sell the remaining stocks, Price encounters Lola, a drag queen performer (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Seeing Lola struggle because her high heels snap easily, he creates high heels supporting a greater range of foot sizes and body types.

Furthermore, the movie illustrates the collaboration between Price, his assistant Lauren (Sarah-Jane Potts), and Lola in saving the business by creating the boots.

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance in the movie was praised worldwide, and he was nominated for various awards, including the British Independent Film Awards, Golden Globes, Black Reel Awards, and Black Movie Awards.

1. 12 years of slaves

12 Years a Slave is a biographical drama history movie directed by Steve McQueen and is based on the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.

It Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, and Paul Dano in the leading roles.

The movie follows Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an African American man who was abducted in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into Slavery.

Furthermore, the movie depicts Solomon’s struggle while working as a slave on plantations in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before being free.

The movie received positive reviews worldwide and is regarded as one of the most outstanding movies ever. The movie has also won three Oscars.

Chiwetel Ejiofor was nominated for Oscars for his amazing performance and won several awards, including the Saturn Award, Hollywood Award, Bet Award, BSFC Award, and BAFTA Award.