9 Best Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies

By Vlad Zakh · December 30, 2025

Chiwetel Ejiofor built a reputation as one of Britain’s most controlled dramatic actors long before an Oscar nomination made the rest of the world catch up. 12 Years a Slave, in which he plays a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery, earned that nomination. Dirty Pretty Things sees an undocumented hotel worker uncover an organ-trafficking scheme in London, Doctor Strange gives him a sorcerer with a hidden allegiance, and The Lion King (2019) voices a scheming lion. Children of Men, Love Actually, Kinky Boots, American Gangster and 2012 round out the list.

The Lion King (2019)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Chiwetel Ejiofor voices the power-hungry lion who schemes to seize the throne by any means necessary.

Directed by Jon Favreau · 1h 58m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Doctor Strange (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 89% Metacritic 72

A brilliant but arrogant surgeon is trained in the mystic arts after a career-ending accident.

Directed by Scott Derrickson · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar21 wins & 68 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

12 Years a Slave (2013)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 95% Metacritic 96

A free Black man is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War South.

Directed by Steve McQueen · 2h 14m · Rated R

Won 3 Oscars244 wins & 338 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An immigrant hotel worker, played by Audrey Tautou, uncovers a dark trade happening under her own roof.

Directed by Stephen Frears · 1h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

2012 (2009)

IMDb ★ 5.9 RT 40% Metacritic 49

A string of global catastrophes sends humanity into a last-ditch scramble to survive on giant arks.

Directed by Roland Emmerich · 2h 38m · Rated PG-13

5 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, Philo, YouTube TV, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Gangster (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 81% Metacritic 76

A Harlem drug lord builds his empire on a discipline the cops chasing him don't expect.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 37m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars12 wins & 38 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Children of Men (2006)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 92% Metacritic 84

Humanity has been infertile for eighteen years, and one miracle pregnancy changes everything.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón · 1h 49m · Rated R

Nominated for 3 Oscars49 wins & 89 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kinky Boots (2005)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A struggling shoe factory owner partners with a drag queen to design a daring new line of boots.

Directed by Julian Jarrold · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Love Actually (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 65% Metacritic 55

Ten overlapping London love stories converge in the weeks before Christmas.

Directed by Richard Curtis · 2h 15m · Rated R

Won 1 BAFTA Award11 wins & 30 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or 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 Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies

The Lion King (2019)

Doctor Strange (2016)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

2012 (2009)

American Gangster (2007)

Children of Men (2006)

Kinky Boots (2005)

Love Actually (2003)

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