Brian Tyree Henry’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Brian Tyree Henry’s best movies and TV shows have helped launch his spectacular career, making him one of the most exciting actors of his generation. Henry was born in North Carolina in 1982 and began working on screen in the late 2000s. While he made a solid career with guest starring roles in shows like Law & Order, The Good Wife, and Boardwalk Empire, Henry’s breakout role came when he was cast as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles in the acclaimed series Atlanta.

From there, Henry has become a sought-after actor in Hollywood with an incredibly versatile career. He has shared the screen with the likes of Brad Pitt, Viola Davis, and Jennifer Lawrence while also working for acclaimed filmmakers like Barry Jenkins and Steve McQueen. He has starred in big blockbusters while also shining in smaller dramas. He has found box office success and has even been nominated for an Oscar. While there are surely plenty of projects ahead for the star, Brian Tyree Henry’s best movies and shows to date showcase an already impressive career.

10

Eternals (2021)

As Phastos

Brian Tyree Henry had the opportunity to play the first LGBTQ+ hero in the MCU as Phastos in Eternals. The ambitious movie brings the little-known Marvel team to the big screen with Eternals following a group of genetically enhanced superheroes who have been serving as the guardians of Earth since the early days of humanity, protecting them from the monstrous Deviants. After centuries spent separated, the team reunites to face a new threat.

Henry brings humor, warmth, and strength to the character of Phastos, a brilliant hero who gifts humanity with inspiration for inventions, only to be heartbroken when he sees them use it for destruction. Though viewed by many as one of the lesser MCU efforts, it is a movie that improves with time. It also features some of the most beautiful images in any MCU film, courtesy of Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, as well as an amazing cast.

9

Godzilla Vs Kong (2021)

As Bernie Hayes

Brian Tyree Henry stepped into another big cinematic universe with the Monsterverse. Not only that, but he made his debut in the franchise’s much-anticipated team-up movie. Godzilla vs Kong delivers on the teases that have been put in place early in the franchise as the two iconic movie monsters are put on a collision course with each other. Meanwhile, humanity seeks to understand where these monsters are coming from and if they can coexist with them on Earth.

Henry plays Bernie Hayes, a podcaster and conspiracy theorist who has been exploring the monsters and uncovering some of the government’s biggest secrets. While the human characters in these movies often feel unnecessary, Henry brings a lot of comedy to the role. Of course, the highlight of the movie is the promised showdown between the monsters with a lot of destructive fun, as well as some legitimately big surprises.

8

The Fire Inside (2024)

As Jason Crutchfield

One of Brian Tyree Henry’s latest movies, The Fire Inside is a sports movie based on a true story. It stars Ryan Destiny as Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a young boxer from Flint, Michigan who came from a struggling background and overcame plenty of opposition in order to become the first American female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games. Henry plays Jason Crutchfield, Shield’s coach who pushes her to achieve more in the ring and supports her with her struggles outside it.

The Fire Inside is a heartwarming look at Shield’s dedication to becoming the best and the touching way she had a community behind her in her journey. However, it also takes a look at the reality of how winning the gold medal didn’t solve all of her problems. Henry elevates the movie, which was written by Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins, with his nuanced performance as the coach who wants the world to recognize his fighter’s talents.

7

Transformers One (2024)

As D-16 / Megatron

Brian Tyree Henry has delivered several excellent voice-over performances in his career thus far with Transformers One showing his rare villainous side. The latest Transformers movie serves as an origin story for some of the most iconic characters as it explores how two overlooked robots became the Transformers known as Optimus Prime and Megatron, while also showing how their brotherly bond soured and led to them being enemies.

This is the first animated Transformers movie in decades and shows how the format is ideal for these characters. Chris Hemsworth brings humor and heroics to the role of Optimus, but Henry gives the most powerful voice performance in the movie. He makes Megatron’s corruption terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. While that central relationship is intense, the movie is a fun and vibrant adventure that is perfect for younger audiences.

6

Bullet Train (2022)

As Lemon

As the title would suggest, Bullet Train is a fast-paced and wild action movie with great comedic energy. Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, a reluctant assassin who takes a seemingly easy job of retrieving a package from a train. Unfortunately, he finds himself stuck on the speeding locomotive with a collection of dangerous criminals who also want the package. Brian Tyree Henry plays Lemon, a dry-witted hitman who boards the train with his “brother” (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Bullet Train is a relentless action ride with some great fight scenes. However, it is also laugh-out-loud funny with Pitt delivering a great comedic performance and Henry also providing big laughs as the sensitive criminal. It makes for a highly entertaining popcorn movie with some fun cameos peppered throughout, including Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, and Ryan Reynolds.

5

Causeway (2022)

As James Aucoin

Brian Tyree Henry earned his first Oscar nomination for his powerful performance in Causeway. The intimate drama stars Jennifer Lawrence as a young soldier who returns home from combat after suffering a head injury. As she deals with the trauma she experienced and tries to make sense of her new reality, she meets James (Henry), a mechanic who is dealing with his own sense of loss, and the two form a friendship.

Causeway is a quiet and beautiful story of friendship emerging out of pain and helping people deal with such things together. At the heart of the movie, Henry gives an understated but commanding performance as James, creating a fully developed person with his own complex story. Henry and Lawrence make for a captivating duo and their dynamic is what makes the movie so special.

4

Widows (2018)

As Jamal Manning

Brian Tyree Henry was a standout in the star-studded cast of Widows. Directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen, Viola Davis stars as Veronica Rawlings, a woman whose bank robber husband is killed in a heist gone wrong, along with the rest of his crew. Henry plays Jamal Manning, the mob boss the crew stole from who demands his money be returned. Davis must then assemble the other wives of the dead men in her husband’s crew to pull off a heist themselves.

Henry is great in the villain role, playing the menacing antagonist while also infusing him with layers as a man with bigger ambitions. Henry stars alongside the likes of Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson, Daniel Kaluuya, Colin Farrell, and Cynthia Erivo. The ensemble of talented actors helps to elevate the thrilling heist movie with more complexity than shootouts and car chases.

3

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)

As Jefferson Davis

Brian Tyree Henry reprised his role as Jefferson Davis, the father of Miles Morales, in the animated sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The second movie finds Miles brought into the Spider-Verse and exposed to the expansive truth of the legacy of every Spider-Man. However, he is also exposed to the disturbing truth about the sacrifices he and every other Spider-Man is expected to make, putting him at odds with his fellow heroes.

The sequel surpasses the excellent original movie in terms of animation and storytelling, making what some feel is the best Spider-Man movie yet. It also gives Henry more to do in his role, as Miles’ relationship with his father is one of the key aspects of the second movie. While fans are still waiting for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, this wild ride is a blast to rewatch.

2

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

As Daniel Carty

If Beale Street Could Talk is Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to his Best Picture winner Moonlight, which cemented him as a visionary filmmaker of modern Hollywood. Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk follows a young Black couple living in 1970s Harlem who are about to start a family together when their future is torn apart by an act of injustice and racism. Henry has a brief by powerful appearance in the movie as Daniel, a friend of the couple who was recently released from prison.

Despite essentially appearing in only one scene, Henry’s part is one of the highlights of the movie. His explanation of the dehumanizing experience of prison is chilling and heartbreaking. The movie is a frustrating look at systemic racism and the anger over not seeing justice served. However, it is also a beautiful love story between two young people.

1

Atlanta (2016-2022)

Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles

The show that helped make Brian Tyree Henry a star, Atlanta is not only his best project to date but one of the most influential television shows in recent years. Created by and starring Donald Glover, he plays Earn, a struggling father who finds a chance to make something for himself when his cousin, Alfred aka Paper Boi (Henry), becomes a rap star overnight. Earn works his way into becoming his manager, trying to make sense of the business as he goes.

Atlanta might seem like it has a simple premise, but that was just the launching point for the show to do some truly inventive, genre-defying, and brilliant television storytelling. Henry gives a layered performance as Alfred, showing him as the tough artist persona while also being hilarious and even heartbreaking at times. The show earned widespread acclaim and an Emmy nomination for Brian Tyree Henry.