Trevante Rhodes’ 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, Ranked

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for Mea Culpa.

Since 2014, Trevante Rhodes has starred and co-starred in a diverse range of movies and TV shows, and with him most recently being part of the cast of Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa, is continuing his impressive body of work. Although Rhodes’ first official acting credit is from the 2012 short film, I Came Back, as Dr. Peter Montgomery, his feature-length debut was in 2014’s Open Windows, as Brian alongside Elijah Wood. Since then, Rhodes has developed a reputation in the industry for participating in projects that explore the nuances and challenges intrinsic to the Black American experience.

Mea Culpa‘s reviews might not be the best, but Rhodes delivers a performance in the movie that demonstrates what he can bring to a role despite the quality of the script. Regarding Rhodes’s work in TV, despite it not being as expansive as his film credits, his charm, swagger, and acting prowess have still left memorable impressions on audiences more partial to the small screen. From Rhodes’s debut movie appearance to his most recent, the actor has demonstrated time and again that he’s one of Hollywood’s most consistently hard-working talents today.

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10 Mea Culpa (2024)

Rhodes excels as a man suspected of murder in Tyler Perry’s 2024 legal thriller.

Mea Culpa sees Rhodes as the popular artist, Zyair Malloy, a man notable in the Chicago area for his charming good looks and his impeccable paintings that have multiple meanings. While the movie isn’t exempt from Perry’s usual brand of over-the-top melodrama and absurdity, it does feature strong performances from its leading and supporting cast, rich cinematography that hearkens back to the romance thrillers of the 1980s and 1990s, and enough sexually charged tension to sustain interest throughout its 120-minute runtime. Rhodes’s performance shines in Mea Culpa, and the revelation of his innocence only works because of how subtle he is.

Mea Culpa (2024)

R

Mea Culpa is a 2024 dramatic crime thriller written and directed by Tyler Perry. A criminal defense attorney takes up a domestic murder case when an artist is believed to have murdered his girlfriend – all hoping for the level of the case to propel them to the position of partner at their firm.

Director

Tyler Perry

Release Date

February 23, 2024

Cast

Kelly Rowland , Trevante Rhodes , Nick Sagar , Sean Sagar , RonReaco Lee , Shannon Thornton , Kerry O’Malley , Arianna Barron

Runtime

120 Minutes

9 If Loving You Is Wrong (2015 – 2016)

Rhodes’s first collaboration with Perry sees him as the protagonist’s new neighbor whom she’s attracted to.

Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong is a TV show that centers around five different groups of husbands and wives and the challenges they race regarding faithfulness and loyalty. Rhodes’s recurring role as protagonist Kelly Isaacs’s neighbor, Ramsey Walters, sees him in his first collaboration with Perry. Between his extended shirtless scenes and the chemistry between Rhodes and Kelly actress Edwina Findley, Rhodes demonstrated far earlier in his career what Mea Culpa presented to viewers of the 2024 legal thriller. Moreover, Rhodes excels in Perry’s formulaic melodrama TV series, further highlighting the rapport between the actor and director.

8 Candy Cane Lane (2023)

Candy Cane Lane sees Rhodes trading comedy jabs with Eddie Murphy.

Candy Cane Lane centers around the chaos that ensues after a family man accidentally brings the twelve days of Christmas to life while trying to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest. Featuring hilarious performances from Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, Candy Cane Lane is as heartwarming and endearing as it is funny. Rhodes stars in Candy Cane Lane as Tre, a weather forecaster who trades comedic jabs with the movie’s comedy legend lead. In addition to Candy Cane Lane‘s humorous sensibilities, the movie is also a solid cautionary tale about the importance of family over materialistic pursuits.

Candy Cane Lane

PG

Comedy

Christmas

Fantasy

Candy Cane Lane is a Prime Video original movie starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy plays Chris Carver, an ordinary man who is determined to win his neighborhood’s Christmas decoration contest. But his life only becomes more complicated after making a deal with an elf who brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life.

Director

Reginald Hudlin

Release Date

December 1, 2023

Cast

Eddie Murphy , Tracee Ellis Ross , Jillian Bell , Ken Marino , Nick Offerman , Robin Thede , Chris Redd , Thaddeus J. Mixson , Anjelah Johnson-Reyes , Lombardo Boyar , D.C. Young Fly , Danielle Pinnock , Timothy Simons , Riki Lindhome , Stephen Tobolowsky , Genneya Walton , Madison Thomas

7 The Predator (2018)

The Predator features Rhodes as Nebraska Williams.

Directed and co-written by Predator actor, Shane Black, The Predator demonstrates Rhodes’s range, as his character, Nebraska Williams, is a brash and borderline toxic former Marine officer. Along with the rest of the men in Group 2, Rhodes is part of an experiment designed to combat the forces of an alien invasion. Perhaps the movie’s strongest scene consists of Rhodes’s Nebraska introducing himself and the rest of the crew to the movie’s protagonist, Quentin “Quinn” McKenna. It demonstrates the fun dynamic between the rag-tag group of ex-soldiers early, and it highlights Rhodes’s charisma in a more action-driven context.

6 Mike (2022)

The controversial biographical miniseries sees Rhodes as former boxing Heavyweight Champion, Mike Tyson.

Mike is a Hulu miniseries that loosely tells the real-life story of former boxing heavyweight champion of the world, Iron Mike Tyson. While the depiction of some of Tyson’s more controversial moments are addressed, Mike is truly polarizing because it was made without Tyson’s consent or involvement. In addition to Tyson not receiving any compensation for Mike, the show favors the controversies that he was involved in during the twilight of his boxing career more than depicting the nuances of his decisions. Nevertheless, Rhodes delivers a solid performance that captures the essence of the boxing legend.

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5 12 Strong (2018)

12 Strong sees Rhodes alongside Chris Hemsworth in an action-war movie set against the international unrest of 9/11.

Based on Doug Stanton’s non-fiction book, Horse Soldiers, 12 Strong centers around the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While the movie benefits from the chemistry of its ensemble cast and its commitment to realism, it’s bogged down by its heavy-handed approach to getting across its central themes. Nevertheless, Rhodes stars alongside Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon as Sergeant First Class Ben Milo, the team’s Weapons Sergeant, and delivers a grounded and engaging performance that strongly supports the movie’s themes of camaraderie and perseverance.

12 Strong

R

12 Strong tells the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11; under the leadership of a new captain, the team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban. This film is based on a true story, using Doug Stanton’s book, Horse Soldiers, as its primary source of inspiration.

Director

Nicolai Fuglsig

Release Date

January 16, 2018

Cast

Michael Pena , Trevante Rhodes , Geoff Stults , William Fichtner , Austin Stowell , Taylor Sheridan , Michael Shannon , Rob Riggle , Elsa Pataky , Chris Hemsworth , Yasmine Aker

Runtime

130 minutes

4 The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

Rhodes stars as Jimmy Fletcher in the biographical drama, The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a biographical drama based on the struggles jazz singer Billie Holiday wrestled with at the height of her singing career. Rhodes plays Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, and excels in what is essentially a dual role, as one part of his character is meant to help the Federal government bring Billie down, and the other part gradually falls in love with the legendary singer. Filled with soothing jazz music and rich cinematography, The United States vs. Billie Holiday is an excellent tragedy that is significantly improved by the chemistry of its leads.

3 Bird Box (2018)

The post-apocalyptic survival movie sees Rhodes and Sandra Bullock enduring a unique virus.

Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman, Bird Box centers around a mysterious presence that compels people to commit extreme acts of self-harm if their eyes aren’t covered. Rhodes stars alongside Sandra Bullock as Tom, a tough yet compassionate man who not only goes out of his way to help Bullock’s Malorie and her kids, but anyone else who might be in a crisis. While Rhodes’s Tom eventually meets his untimely demise in Bird Box, the bravery, leadership, and genuine compassion that he demonstrates throughout the movie enhances its storytelling.

2 Bruiser (2022)

Bruiser examines the unique intersection between Black masculinity and fatherhood.

Bruiser sees Rhodes as a mysterious drifter named Porter who finds himself mentoring a Black teenager named Darious who’s caught in between his parents’ tumultuous marriage. With beautiful cinematography that hearkens back to the works of Wong Kar Wai, Bruiser is an exceptional examination of Black manhood and masculinity while also being a strong addition to the coming-of-age genre. Whereas Darious’s father is more conservative and family-oriented, Porter lives a free-bird lifestyle that inspires Darious to explore both sides of his individuality to discover who he truly is.

Bruiser

Not Rated

Director

Miles Warren

Release Date

February 24, 2023

Cast

Trevante Rhodes , Shamier Anderson , Jalyn Hall , Shinelle Azoroh

Runtime

97 minutes

1 Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama centering around a homosexual Black man in three different phases of his life.

Moonlight centers around a young boy whose homosexuality earns him the ire of his peers and mental and physical abuse from his mother. Told across three distinct periods in protagonist Chiron’s life, Moonlight highlights an often overlooked element of the Black male experience – that being one’s homosexuality and the acceptance of such from his community. While Rhodes’s portion of the film is told exclusively in the third act, he delivers an understated performance that highlights his character’s sensitivity despite his imposing appearance and life as a drug dealer in Florida.

From the delivery of his lines that demonstrate to the audience the level of pain he constantly endures because of his sexuality to the charisma he displays while interacting with other drug dealers, Moonlight rightfully stands as the best entry in Rhodes’s filmography. In addition to being the first A24 film to win an Oscar, Moonlight is Barry Jenkins’s best movie because it shows his maturity as a storyteller while also demonstrating his ability to craft a beautiful and technically sound piece of art. While Trevante Rhodes‘ filmography continues to grow, Moonlight remains the best performance he’s delivered in a movie.