Idris Elba – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 23, 2026

Luther shows what he can do with a fully sustained character across several seasons, Beasts of No Nation is the most devastating film performance here, and Pacific Rim and Thor round out the blockbuster chapter. Cats is a widely mocked but committed motion-capture turn, Molly’s Game makes him a sharp defence attorney in Sorkin’s directing debut, The Suicide Squad gives a mercenary a code of honour, and American Gangster pits him against Denzel Washington. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and The Wire round out the list.

Cats (2019)

TMDB ★ 4.1

Idris Elba takes a widely mocked but committed motion-capture role in the musical adaptation.

Directed by Tom Hooper · 1h 50m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Molly's Game (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 82% Metacritic 71

A former Olympic skier runs the world's most exclusive underground poker game.

Directed by Aaron Sorkin · 2h 21m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar8 wins & 51 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Suicide Squad (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A rebooted, gorier take on the same premise sends a fresh team of villains on a suicide mission.

Directed by James Gunn · 2h 12m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · 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

Thor (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A banished Asgardian god learns humility while stranded powerless on Earth.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh · 1h 55m · 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

The Wire (2002)

TMDB ★ 3.8

A sprawling look at Baltimore through cops, dealers, dockworkers and City Hall over five seasons.

Directed by Armand Lameloise · 0h 43m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pacific Rim (2013)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 72% Metacritic 65

Giant robot pilots defend Earth from a portal spewing out sea monsters one city at a time.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro · 2h 11m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award7 wins & 48 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

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A young boy is recruited into a brutal rebel militia during a civil war in an unnamed West African country.

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga · 2h 17m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Idris Elba gives a commanding, physically demanding performance as Nelson Mandela.

Directed by Justin Chadwick · 2h 21m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Luther (2010)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A brilliant, morally grey detective who bends every rule to catch London's worst killers.

1h 00m

▶ 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.

Idris Elba – 10 Best Movies

Cats (2019)

Molly's Game (2017)

The Suicide Squad (2021)

American Gangster (2007)

Thor (2011)

The Wire (2002)

Pacific Rim (2013)

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

Luther (2010)

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