It seems like Brian Tyree Henry is an actor who is starting to pop up all over the place. Like several of his co-stars on a certain hit FX series, Henry has managed to land roles in some of the biggest and most well-received movies and television shows around.
There are some blockbuster films including a new MCU entry, there are animated flicks to which Henry lends his voice, and there are smaller but still critically-acclaimed independent movies. Henry’s filmography is quickly filling up with great work that makes him a rising star in Hollywood to keep an eye on.
10 White Boy Rick (2018) – 6.5
- Stream on IMDb TV
Loosely based on a true story, White Boy Rick is something of a cautionary tale. The film follows Richard Wershe Jr., who is most famous for being the youngest FBI informant in recorded history, becoming one at just 14 years of age. For the most part, reviews of the film were mixed.
Although some aspects of the screenplay had most of those criticisms, a lot of praise was heaped onto the cast. Matthew McConaughey was considered the scene-stealer as Richard’s father, while Tyree Henry shined in a smaller role as Mel “Roach” Jackson, a vice detective.
9 Crown Heights (2017) – 6.6
- Stream on Amazon Prime and Paramount+
As noted, Brian Tyree Henry is one of several actors from Atlanta who have broken out as budding stars. He got to team up with one of them again in the small crime drama Crown Heights, which sees Lakeith Stanfield play the lead character.
Adapted from the This American Life podcast, the film focuses on Colin Warner, a man who was unjustly convicted of murder, and his best friend who spent his life fighting to prove it. Crown Heights won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and Tyree Henry had a small role as a man named Massup.
8 Vivo (2021) – 6.7
- Stream on Netflix
Some of Henry’s best work has come from voice acting and that was evident in 2021. He gave a quality vocal performance as a member of the talented cast of Netflix’s Vivo. Other actors included were Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, and Gloria Estefan.
The plot centers on a kinkajou with a penchant for musical performances as he embarks on a journey to deliver a song to the loved one of his old friend. Henry had a minor part as Dancarino, a roseate spoonbill who the titular Vivo helps find romance with Valentina (Nicole Byer). Vivo was praised for the animation style and music aspects.
7 Widows (2018) – 6.9
- Stream on FXNow
It’s always appreciated when audiences get to see two Black actors together who are both incredibly talented and getting recognition throughout Hollywood. That happened in Widows as Brian Tyree Henry shared nearly every scene with Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya.
They portrayed Jamal and Jatemme Manning, the crime boss and his brother at the center of the film’s main plot, which follows a group of women who must pull off a heist to get out of the debt their fallen husbands put them in. Henry did well in his role but this film belonged to the likes of Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo.
6 Eternals (2021) – 6.9
- Watch in theaters
The most recent addition to Brian Tyree Henry’s filmography is also the biggest blockbuster that he’s been a big part of. Not only that but it’s a pretty significant role as he became the MCU’s first LGBTQ+ superhero, complete with an on-screen kiss with his husband shown.
Henry takes on the role of Phastos in Eternals, a member of the powerful family with a brilliant mind and a knack for impressive technological inventions. Although critics were mixed on the film for a lack of character development among other things, audiences seem to enjoy it more. For the most part, it was the cast, including Henry, who was cited as the high point.
5 If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) – 7.1
- Stream on Hulu
One of the most talked-about films of 2018 was If Beale Street Could Talk. For starters, it was the anticipated follow-up film from Barry Jenkins after his Best Picture-winning Moonlight. On top of that, it was adapted from a great 1974 novel of the same name and featured some stellar performances.
The most notable of those was Regina King, who took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The film tells the tale of a woman seeking to clear the name of her wrongly charged boyfriend, Fonny. Brian Tyree Henry showed up as Daniel, a recent parolee and close friend of Fonny.
4 Vice Principals (2016-2017) – 8.0
- Stream on HBO Max
Although it only lasted two seasons on HBO, both critics and audiences alike considered Vice Principals to be a hit. The dark comedy centered around vice principals (Danny McBride and Walton Goggins) and their often wacky misadventures as they scheme.
Brian Tyree Henry wasn’t part of the show’s main cast but he did make appearances in three episodes. He played the ex-husband of the show’s powerful principal Dr. Belinda Brown. This might not be the most prominent or well-known bit of Henry’s career but the series is certainly impressive.
3 Joker (2019) – 8.4
- Rent on Vudu
Similar to the aforementioned Crown Heights, this is a film that pairs Brian Tyree Henry back up with one of his co-stars from Atlanta. This time around, it was with Zazie Beetz in Joker. She played Sophie Dumond, a woman with who Arthur Fleck imagines an intimate relationship.
Obviously, the movie sees Arthur at the center as he slowly descends into madness and becomes the titular DC Comics villain. Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for his lead performance and the film grossed over $1 billion at the box office. Henry has a small part as a clerk at Arkham State Hospital who has a short interaction with Arthur.
2 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) – 8.4
- Stream on FXNow
Eternals wasn’t Brian Tyree Henry’s first foray into Marvel Comics and Joker wasn’t even his first comic book film. That came a year earlier in the Best Animated Feature Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, although he didn’t lend his voice to a superhero or a villain.
Instead, he played Jefferson Davis, the police officer father of the protagonist, Miles Morales. Jefferson is against the idea of vigilantes but ultimately works with his son and their relationship is sometimes the heart of the story. The success of the film has set up a 2022 sequel.
1 Atlanta (2016-Present) – 8.6
- Stream on Hulu
Like Zazie Beetz and Lakeith Stanfield, Brian Tyree Henry broke out thanks to FX’s Atlanta. The Donald Glover created series focuses on a college dropout (Glover) who tries to make it big by becoming the music manager for his cousin (Henry) who is a rapper in the titular city known as Paper Boi.
Most of the time, the show manages to expertly blend comedy and drama with the surreal, creating one of the most unique shows on television. The series has earned Glover two Emmy Awards and the performances of the cast have helped most of them land roles in other major projects.
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