8 Best Taraji P. Henson Movies

By Vlad Zakh · December 30, 2025

Taraji P. Henson has moved between broad studio comedy and prestige drama for two decades, anchored by a warmth that makes even her toughest characters approachable. Hidden Figures follows one of three Black mathematicians crucial to NASA, Empire makes her a formerly imprisoned matriarch fighting for control of a hip-hop label, Proud Mary unravels a hitwoman’s life after taking in an orphaned boy, and No Good Deed finds an escaped killer in her home. Think Like a Man, Hustle & Flow, Baby Boy and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button round out the list.

Empire (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Taraji P. Henson leads as a formerly imprisoned matriarch fighting for control of the hip-hop label she helped build.

Directed by Oleg Stepchenko · 2h 08m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Proud Mary (2018)

TMDB ★ 5.2

Taraji P. Henson plays a hitwoman whose carefully controlled life unravels after she takes in the orphaned son of a victim.

Directed by Babak Najafi · 1h 28m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, 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

Hidden Figures (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 93% Metacritic 74

Three Black women mathematicians become essential to NASA's early space race successes.

Directed by Theodore Melfi · 2h 07m · Rated PG

Nominated for 3 Oscars37 wins & 94 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

No Good Deed (2014)

TMDB ★ 5.6

Taraji P. Henson plays a woman home alone with her children who realises the charming stranger she let in is a dangerous escaped convict.

Directed by Sam Miller · 1h 24m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, Starz Apple TV 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

Think Like a Man (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Kevin Hart had an ensemble rom-com role that helped establish him as a leading man.

Directed by Tim Story · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, 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

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A man born looking like an old person ages in reverse, growing younger as everyone around him gets older.

Directed by David Fincher · 2h 46m · Rated PG-13

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

Hustle & Flow (2005)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Taraji P. Henson plays the hopeful, pregnant partner of an aspiring Memphis pimp turned rapper.

Directed by Craig Brewer · 1h 56m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, MGM Plus · 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

Baby Boy (2001)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A young mother tries to push her immature boyfriend towards responsibility as he clashes with her family.

Directed by John Singleton · 2h 10m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, 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.

8 Best Taraji P. Henson Movies

Empire (2015)

Proud Mary (2018)

Hidden Figures (2016)

No Good Deed (2014)

Think Like a Man (2012)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Hustle & Flow (2005)

Baby Boy (2001)

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