Before he passed away in 2020, the late US actor Chadwick Boseman built up a solid career in film. After making his way into the industry he delivered an enviable collection of performances playing characters ranging from a sports star and a music icon, to a much-loved Marvel super hero.
Having delivered superb performances in a series of high-profile movies, he was fast becoming the go-to actor for critics and audiences alike. And although Boseman was unable to fulfil his full potential, because his time was cut short, he still managed to leave behind a lasting legacy of work.
If you’re unfamiliar with Boseman’s work then chances are you’ve missed out on some excellent films, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of time to catch up. Set out below is a run-through of the best Chadwick Boseman movies, covering all his big pictures and more, so you can seek out some stand-out performances.
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21 Bridges (2019)
First up is the slick action-thriller, 21 Bridges. The movie – directed by Brian Kirk – follows the story of Andre Davis, a New York Police Detective who shuts down the 21 river crossings in Manhattan to aid him in a manhunt for two suspected cop killers.
In the film, two small-time crooks attempt to steal 30kg of cocaine in Brooklyn, but when things don’t go to plan they gun down a group of police officers. Once Detective Davis arrives on the scene he calls for all exit bridges to be temporarily locked down, in order to contain the killers as best as possible while a city-wide hunt takes place.
In 21 Bridges, Boseman plays the role of the no-nonsense Davis opposite a cast which includes Sienna Miller, Keith David, and J. K. Simmons. The film was one of Boseman’s last few films before he passed away, and even though he was clearly unwell off screen, he doesn’t bring his illness to the role and demonstrates his strength as an action star.
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42 (2013)
Up next is the biographical sports drama, 42. Directed by Brian Helgeland, the film tells the real-life story of Major League Baseball (MLB) player, Jackie Robinson.
Boseman leads the film as Robinson, portraying the first black athlete to play in the MLB. His co-stars in the picture include Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, and Lucas Black.
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Marshall (2017)
Another biographical story for this next film, but this time it is the Reginald Hudlin-directed legal drama, Marshall. Based on a true story, the movie revolves around a real-life legal case from 1940, in which an African-American chauffeur was accused of raping his boss – a wealthy white woman.
Boseman takes on the role of Thurgood Marshall for the film, playing the part of the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. The supporting cast includes Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, and James Cromwell.
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Message from the King (2016)
In action-thriller, Message from the King, Boseman takes on the role of Jacob King – a young man from Cape Town who travels to Los Angeles to track down his estranged sister. In the movie, King receives a message informing him his sister Bianca is in trouble, prompting him into action.
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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Up next is George C. Wolfe’s drama, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The film – based on a book of the same name by August Wilson – is inspired by the career of influential jazz singer, Ma Rainey, and details the events of a difficult recording session back in 1927.
Boseman takes on the role of trumpeter Levee Green for the film, opposite Viola Davis as Ma Rainey. Both actors deliver superb performances and both were nominated for Academy Awards following the film’s release.
Sadly, as he passed away three months prior to the movie’s debut, Chadwick Boseman didn’t get to see the nominations, nor did he see how well the film was received by critics. However, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom went on to win two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hair, and the film is dedicated to his memory.
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Get On Up (2014)
Directed by Tate Taylor, Get On Up is a biographical musical picture about the life of legendary singer, James Brown. Boseman takes on the lead role, playing the larger than life musician, appearing alongside an ensemble cast which includes Viola Davis, Dan Aykroyd, Craig Robinson, Nelson Ellis, and Octavia Spencer.
Upon release, the film wasn’t a financial hit, however it did prove popular with critics. Most important of all, Boseman’s performance was cited as a particular highlight.
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Da 5 Bloods (2020)
The penultimate movie on this list lands at the feet of the war drama, Da 5 Bloods – an ensemble picture from director Spike Lee. The film tells the story of a group of four ageing Vietnam veterans who search for the remains of their fallen squad leader, in addition to hunting down some buried treasure.
Boseman plays the role of ‘Stormin’’ Norman Earl Holloway in the picture, alongside a cast which includes Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, and Jean Reno. Da 5 Bloods was the last of Boseman’s films to be released during his lifetime.
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Black Panther (2018)
And finally, onto a film which not only received critical and commercial success, but stands as arguably Boseman’s legacy picture. The movie is Marvel Studios’ Black Panther – a superhero film which touched a generation of movie-goers and cemented Boseman as a hero to all.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther tells the story of King T’Challa – ruler of the African nation of Wakanda. The film picks up shortly after the death of T’Challa’s father, with T’Challa’s place on the throne challenged by his cousin, Killmonger.
Released in 2018, Black Panther was a huge hit, grossing over $1.3 billion at the worldwide box-office. The movie was also a critical success and received seven nominations at the Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Picture (the first super hero movie to ever receive this nomination).
Although it didn’t pick up the Best Picture award, Black Panther went on to win three Academy Awards in total, including Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. Super hero movies tend to get overlooked by the Academy, but few could overlook Black Panther’s success.
Upon release the film was viewed as a cultural phenomenon and a milestone for cinema, and all these years on it remains a significant entry in Boseman’s film legacy. It is not an overstatement to say Black Panther means a great deal to millions of people around the world, and so too does Chadwick Boseman.
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Recap
So, those are the eight best Chadwick Boseman movies. To save you from having to scroll back up, here are the titles of all the movies in one handy list:
- 21 Bridges (2019)
- 42 (2013)
- Marshall (2017)
- Message from the King (2016)
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
- Get On Up (2014)
- Da 5 Bloods (2020)
- Black Panther (2018)
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about the must-see Chadwick Boseman movies on It’s A Stampede!. For more posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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