9 Best Angela Bassett Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 7, 2026

Angela Bassett has spent decades bringing commanding physicality and dignity to every role, from historical icons to Wakandan royalty. Black Panther and Wakanda Forever have her as the queen mother leading her nation through grief, Olympus Has Fallen puts her in the middle of a White House crisis, and Akeelah and the Bee has her supporting a gifted daughter. What’s Love Got to Do with It, Waiting to Exhale, Strange Days and Boyz n the Hood round out the list.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

TMDB ★ 6.7

Angela Bassett leads Wakanda through grief and new threats after the king's sudden death.

Directed by Ryan Coogler · 2h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Black Panther (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A superhero epic whose villain has a grievance that cuts deeper than most heroes' arcs.

Directed by Ryan Coogler · 2h 15m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A disgraced Secret Service agent must retake the White House after it falls to terrorists, with Angela Bassett in the cast.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 2h 00m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, AMC, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A gifted young speller from a struggling neighbourhood is coached towards a national competition.

Directed by Doug Atchison · 1h 53m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A successful single mother, played by Angela Bassett, rediscovers passion and joy on holiday in Jamaica.

Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan · 2h 04m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Strange Days (1995)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A former cop investigates a murder tied to an illegal technology that records and replays human experience, with Angela Bassett in the cast.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow · 2h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Angela Bassett features in this drama about four Black women who navigate love, betrayal and friendship while waiting for the right man.

Directed by Forest Whitaker · 2h 07m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Angela Bassett earned an Oscar nomination as Tina Turner, charting the singer's rise through an abusive marriage.

Directed by Brian Gibson · 1h 58m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 93% Metacritic 76

John Singleton's debut follows three friends growing up in South Central and heading for very different fates.

Directed by John Singleton · 1h 52m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars12 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

9 Best Angela Bassett Movies

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Black Panther (2018)

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

Strange Days (1995)

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

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