Chiwetel Ejiofor (1977-) is an Oscar®-nominated English actor. Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, for which he received Academy Award® and Golden Globe® Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. In the Cogerson household he was known for supporting roles in two of our favorite movies of the last 20 years….2003’s Love Actually and 2006’s Children of Men. His IMDb page shows 50 acting credits since 1996.
In the table below, Ultimate Movie Rankings ranks 26 of his movies in 6 different sortable columns. Television roles, cameos, shorts and straight to DVD movies were not included in the rankings on the table, but have a spot near the bottom of the page. This comes from a request by bob cox.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies by movie title and movie trailers.
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies by co-stars of his movies.
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations each Chiwetel Ejiofor movie received and how many Oscar® wins each Chiwetel Ejiofor movie won.
- Sort Chiwetel Ejiofor movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | The Martian (2015) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon & Jessica Chastain |
228.40 | 338.7 | 934.40 | 8 | 88 | 07 / 00 | 99.5 | |
| 2 | 12 Years a Slave (2013) AA Best Picture Win AA Best Actor Nom |
Michael Fassbender & Brad Pitt |
56.70 | 87.1 | 288.60 | 62 | 85 | 09 / 03 | 98.3 | |
| 4 | American Gangster (2007) | Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe |
130.20 | 236.5 | 484.10 | 18 | 81 | 02 / 00 | 97.7 | |
| 3 | Doctor Strange (2016) | Benedict Cumberbatch & Rachel McAdams |
232.60 | 336.2 | 979.40 | 13 | 81 | 01 / 00 | 97.5 | |
| 5 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) | Benedict Cumberbatch | 411.30 | 459.0 | 1,062.50 | 4 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 95.9 | |
| 7 | Inside Man (2006) | Denzel Washington & Jodie Foster |
88.50 | 168.1 | 350.30 | 23 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 95.5 | |
| 6 | The Lion King (2019) Voice Only |
Seth Rogen & James Earl Jones |
543.60 | 741.9 | 2,260.60 | 2 | 70 | 01 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 8 | Salt (2010) | Angelina Jolie & Liev Schreiber |
118.30 | 187.4 | 465.00 | 22 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 92.1 | |
| 12 | Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) | Angelina Jolie & Michelle Pfeiffer |
113.90 | 155.5 | 668.20 | 24 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 88.7 | |
| 8 | 2012 (2009) | John Cusack & Thandie Newton |
166.10 | 276.9 | 1,282.80 | 15 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 87.9 | |
| 11 | Amistad (1997) | Anthony Hopkins & Directed by Steven Spielberg |
44.20 | 120.5 | 177.90 | 48 | 73 | 04 / 00 | 87.8 | |
| 10 | Children of Men (2006) | Michael Caine & Clive Owen & Ju |
35.60 | 67.5 | 132.90 | 87 | 90 | 03 / 00 | 87.7 | |
| 13 | Love Actually (2003) | Hugh Grant & Keira Knightley |
59.70 | 123.7 | 511.90 | 49 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 85.6 | |
| 14 | Four Brothers (2005) | Mark Wahlberg | 74.50 | 145.5 | 180.40 | 31 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 84.5 | |
| 15 | Serenity (2005) | Nathan Fillion | 25.50 | 49.8 | 49.80 | 103 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 80.4 | |
| 16 | Venom: The Last Dance (2024) | Tom Hardy | 139.80 | 139.8 | 474.80 | 18 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 79.9 | |
| 16 | Dirty Pretty Things (2002) | Audrey Tautou | 8.10 | 17.5 | 17.50 | 148 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 73.1 | |
| 17 | Talk to Me (2007) | Don Cheadle & Martin Sheen |
4.50 | 8.2 | 8.70 | 174 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 65.5 | |
| 19 | The Life of Chuck (2025) | Tom Hiddleston | 4.70 | 4.7 | 5.40 | 117 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 61.5 | |
| 19 | Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025) Peacock |
Renée Zellweger & Hugh Grant |
0.10 | 0.1 | 129.80 | 237 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 57.8 | |
| 21 | The Old Guard (2020) Netflix |
Charlize Theron | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 227 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 56.0 | |
| 22 | Redbelt (2008) | Directed by David Mamet | 2.30 | 4.1 | 4.70 | 183 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 55.0 | |
| 23 | Z for Zachariah (2015) | Margot Robbie & Chris Pine |
0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 209 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 53.7 | |
| 24 | Kinky Boots (2005) | Joel Edgerton | 1.80 | 3.6 | 3.60 | 189 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 48.1 | |
| 25 | Rob Peace (2024) | Mary J. Blige | 0.30 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 182 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 47.8 | |
| 26 | Eleanor the Great (2025) | June Squibb | 2.50 | 2.5 | 2.50 | 134 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 46.5 | NP |
| 25 | Triple 9 (2016) | Woody Harrelson & Kate Winslet |
12.60 | 18.3 | 33.40 | 130 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 42.0 | |
| 26 | Melinda and Melinda (2004) | Will Ferrell & Directed by Woody Allen |
3.80 | 7.7 | 40.40 | 173 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 32.5 | |
| 27 | Half Of A Yellow Sun (2013) | Thandie Newton | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.50 | 279 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 29.7 | |
| 28 | Phil Spector (2012) HBO Movie |
Al Pacino & Helen Mirren |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 333 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 28.7 | |
| 31 | Sherlock Gnomes (2018) Voice Only |
Johnny Depp & Michael Caine |
43.20 | 59.0 | 118.50 | 69 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 28.2 | |
| 32 | Endgame (2009) | William Hurt | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 374 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.9 | |
| 33 | Come Sunday (2018) Netflix |
Jason Segel | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 491 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 24.8 | |
| 34 | Savannah (2013) | Jim Caviezel | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 357 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 23.1 | |
| 33 | Slow Burn (2005) | Taye Diggs | 1.20 | 2.4 | 2.40 | 205 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 22.7 | |
| 35 | Mary Magdalene (2018) | Rooney Mara & Joaquin Phoenix |
0.10 | 0.2 | 16.00 | 247 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 22.6 | |
| 35 | Secret in Their Eyes (2015) | Julia Roberts & Nicole Kidman |
20.20 | 29.9 | 51.70 | 95 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 22.1 | |
| 36 | Infinite (2021) Paramount |
Mark Wahlberg | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 286 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 8.1 | |
| 37 | Locked Down (2021) HBO Movie |
Anne Hathaway | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 307 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 7.1 | |
| 39 | The Old Guard 2 (2025) Netflix |
Charlize Theron & Uma Thurman |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 250 | 43 | 00 / 00 | 6.1 | |
| 41 | She Hate Me (2004) | Woody Harrelson | 0.40 | 0.7 | 3.10 | 234 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 1.7 |
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Chiwetel is number 877 on the 2016 Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list (he’s up to 771). These are the other actors on the 2016 list who have appeared in a film with him;
7 WILLEM DAFOE Inside Man (2006)
10 MICHAEL CAINE Children of Men (2006)
11 MARTIN SHEEN COME SUNDAY (2018)
11 MARTIN SHEEN Talk to Me (2007)
12 MORGAN FREEMAN Amistad (1997)
16 LIAM NEESON Love Actually (2003)
26 CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER Inside Man (2006)
31 JOHN TURTURRO She Hate Me (2004)
32 ANTHONY HOPKINS Amistad (1997)
34 ALFRED MOLINA SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
39 DANNY GLOVER 2012 (2009/I)
44 STELLAN SKARSGARD Amistad (1997)
46 MATT DAMON THE MARTIAN (2015)
53 PAUL GIAMATTI 12 Years a Slave (2013)
68 RAY LIOTTA Slow Burn (2005)
74 WILLIAM HURT Endgame (2009/I)
75 WOODY HARRELSON 2012 (2009/I)
75 WOODY HARRELSON She Hate Me (2004)
75 WOODY HARRELSON TRIPLE 9 (2016)
79 BRAD PITT 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
90 JOHN CUSACK 2012 (2009/I)
94 XANDER BERKELEY Amistad (1997)
98 ARMAND ASSANTE American Gangster (2007)
100 PATRICK BAUCHAU 2012 (2009/I)
113 TRACEY WALTER SAVANNAH (2014)
119 BRUCE MCGILL Slow Burn (2005)
149 OLIVER PLATT 2012 (2009/I)
154 ELTON LEBLANC 12 Years a Slave (2013)
168 STAN LEE DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)
171 JULIA ROBERTS SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
173 JOSH BROLIN American Gangster (2007)
173 JOSH BROLIN Melinda and Melinda (2004)
175 JULIANNE MOORE Children of Men (2006)
191 JOE MANTEGNA Redbelt (2008)
193 BILLY BOB THORNTON Love Actually (2003)
204 KEVIN CORRIGAN American Gangster (2007)
212 JON POLITO American Gangster (2007)
214 NICOLE KIDMAN SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
221 CYNTHIA LEBLANC 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
230 DANNY HUSTON Children of Men (2006)
246 BAI LING She Hate Me (2004)
261 MARC MACAULAY 12 Years a Slave (2013)
266 DON CHEADLE Talk to Me (2007)
278 SIMON RHEE REDBELT (2008)
281 SLIM KHEZRI SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
281 SLIM KHEZRI THE MARTIAN (2015)
294 ANTHONY MACKIE SHE HATE ME (2004)
294 ANTHONY MACKIE TRIPLE 9 (2016)
295 MARK WAHLBERG Four Brothers (2005)
302 DAVID BOSTON MELINDA AND MELINDA (2004)
307 DAVID PAYMER Amistad (1997)
307 DAVID PAYMER Redbelt (2008)
316 AUSTIN PENDLETON Amistad (1997)
324 LIEV SCHREIBER Salt (2010)
339 WALLACE SHAWN Melinda and Melinda (2004)
344 RUSSELL CROWE American Gangster (2007)
356 TILDA SWINTON DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)
361 DENZEL WASHINGTON American Gangster (2007)
361 DENZEL WASHINGTON Inside Man (2006)
378 CUBA GOODING JR. American Gangster (2007)
379 MICHAEL PENA THE MARTIAN (2015)
381 JOHN HAWKES American Gangster (2007)
401 JEFF DANIELS THE MARTIAN (2015)
405 FISHER STEVENS SLOW BURN (2005)
406 RITCHIE MONTGOMERY 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
427 GEORGE SEGAL 2012 (2009/I)
443 CARLA GUGINO American Gangster (2007)
452 GENE LEBELL Redbelt (2008)
453 ANGELINA JOLIE Salt (2010)
460 BRIAN DENNEHY She Hate Me (2004)
477 MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY Amistad (1997)
484 WILL FERRELL Melinda and Melinda (2004)
486 ANTHONY J. SACCO TRIPLE 9 (2016)
487 YUL VAZQUEZ AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
489 JODIE FOSTER Inside Man (2006)
494 BILL NIGHY Love Actually (2003)
495 SEAN BEAN THE MARTIAN (2015)
507 TED LEVINE AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
539 TERRENCE HOWARD Four Brothers (2005)
551 EMMA THOMPSON Love Actually (2003)
555 TOMAS MILIAN Amistad (1997)
558 SAM SHEPARD SAVANNAH (2014)
561 PAUL GUILFOYLE (II) Amistad (1997)
565 JOHN H. TOBIN AMISTAD (1997)
573 KATE WINSLET TRIPLE 9 (2016)
586 PETER GERETY INSIDE MAN (2006)
600 DON HARVEY SHE HATE ME (2004)
610 HAL HOLBROOK SAVANNAH (2014)
615 MICHAEL ARTHUR SALT (2010)
618 JOHN ORTIZ AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
618 JOHN ORTIZ AMISTAD (1997)
621 STEVEN WEISZ INSIDE MAN (2006)
621 STEVEN WEISZ SALT (2010)
626 EMILY MORTIMER REDBELT (2008)
637 DJIMON HOUNSOU AMISTAD (1997)
641 NORMAN REEDUS AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
641 NORMAN REEDUS TRIPLE 9 (2016)
644 PEDRO ARMENDARIZ JR. Amistad (1997)
661 MATT MALLOY REDBELT (2008)
662 DEREK JACOBI Endgame (2009/I)
664 ALAN RICKMAN LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
667 PETE POSTLEWAITE Amistad (1997)
680 JOHN CENATIEMPO AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
709 COLIN FIRTH Love Actually (2003)
713 ROBERT BIZIK INSIDE MAN (2006)
713 ROBERT BIZIK SALT (2010)
719 JOE MORTON AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
745 LAURA LINNEY LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
747 MARK STRONG ENDGAME (2009/I)
769 LARRY PINE MELINDA AND MELINDA (2004)
770 JOE GRIFASI Slow Burn (2005)
773 DOUGLAS M. GRIFFIN 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
820 EDWARD FURLONG 3 BLIND MICE (2003)
823 STEPHEN MCHATTIE 2012 (2009/I)
845 CLIVE OWEN Children of Men (2006)
845 CLIVE OWEN Inside Man (2006)
854 IDRIS ELBA AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
859 ELLEN BARKIN She Hate Me (2004)
874 JOHN ROBERT REDBELT (2008)
891 IVANA MILICEVIC LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
901 BENJAMIN BRATT DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)
915 J.D. EVERMORE 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
916 JOHN MCCONNELL 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
930 OLEK KRUPA SALT (2010)
945 THANDIE NEWTON 2012 (2009/I)
945 THANDIE NEWTON HALF OF A YELLOW SUN (2014)
945 THANDIE NEWTON It Was an Accident (2000)
946 OSCAR ISAAC MAKING A SCENE (2013)
953 ALFIE WOODARD 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
957 DAVID KRUMHOLTZ SERENITY (2005)
959 HUGH GRANT Love Actually (2003)
972 PAMELA FISCHER SALT (2010)
984 MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
984 MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS TRIPLE 9 (2016)
The following actors on the original list in 2000 have fallen off but appeared with Chiwetel in a film;
577 OSSIE DAVIS She Hate Me (2004)
622 JIM BROWN She Hate Me (2004)
656 ALLAN RICH Amistad (1997)
677 DANIEL VON BARGEN Amistad (1997)
841 NIGEL HAWTHORNE Amistad (1997)
955 KENNETH WELSH Four Brothers (2005)
Chiwetel has appeared with 20 Oscar winners;
ANGELINA JOLIE Salt (2010)
ANTHONY HOPKINS Amistad (1997)
CASEY AFFLECK TRIPLE 9 (2016)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER Inside Man (2006)
COLIN FIRTH Love Actually (2003)
CUBA GOODING JR. American Gangster (2007)
DENZEL WASHINGTON American Gangster (2007)
DENZEL WASHINGTON Inside Man (2006)
EMMA THOMPSON Love Actually (2003)
HILARY SWANK Red Dust (2004)
JODIE FOSTER Inside Man (2006)
JULIA ROBERTS SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
JULIANNE MOORE Children of Men (2006)
KATE WINSLET TRIPLE 9 (2016)
LUPITA NYONG’O 12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY Amistad (1997)
MICHAEL CAINE Children of Men (2006)
MORGAN FREEMAN Amistad (1997)
NICOLE KIDMAN SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2015)
RUSSELL CROWE American Gangster (2007)
WILLIAM HURT Endgame (2009/I)
Hey Dan. Not only is he in the Top 1000…..but he would as Billboard used to say…#771 with a bullet….meaning rising fast. Looks like Woody Harrelson is his most frequent co-star when looking at the other actors in the Top 1000. For a pretty young actor, he is off to a good start when looking at Oscar winning co/stars. Great information as always. Thanks for sharing it with the UMR audience.
An underrated actor. He has been providing quality performances for years. Hopefully the success of Dr. Strange will lead to even more success. 12 Years As A Slave is a great performance. Thanks for this.
Hey Marian W. I agree, he is an underrated actor for sure. His Top 10 is pretty impressive for sure. I also agree with you about 12 Years a Slave too…great performance in that movie. Thanks for visiting our page.
I can just about pronounce that name Bruce, looks like an anagram. 🙂
The name might not be very familiar, but the face should be.
I’ve seen 28 of the 26 films on the chart. [Stop it Steve!] oh okay I’ve seen… 14 out of 26. That’s not too bad eh? I bought some of those on blu-ray – The Martian, Dr. Strange, Serenity, American Gangster, 2012 and Salt.
Chiwetel was excellent in 12 Years a Slave, but it’s not a film I’ll sit thru again. I haven’t seen Amistad in ages, I think I only saw that one twice. Wasn’t there a computer company called Amistad? Hang on…. no that was Amstrad, sorry.
Another expert page Mr. Cogerson. Vote Up!
Hey Steve. 28 out of 26 is stellar….but I have you beat as I have seen 35 out of 26…..lol. Actually I am at 19. You are so right….people can not pronounce his name but they know his face. Actually I have seen 19 of his movies. 12 Years was a one and done movie for me too….but I agree he was excellent in the movie.
Children of Men? No mention? Figured that would be one of your favorites and part of your movie collection. Thanks as always for the kind words, visit and comment.
thank you. saw top 12. five favorites( top 130) 12 years a slave. dr strange, love actually, serenity, children of men. but I gave 9( not 10/top 500/great movie but second 500/very good) to love actually and serenity. gave a 10 to Amistad but not a favorite. salt is good . 2012 is bad but I love john cusack and this included some incredible escape scenes and a beautiful effort by woody harrelson who I don’t usually appreciate. I gave a 9 to inside man and to the martian. I will watch them all 12 again, time allowing, even American gangster to remember why I did not like it.
serenity is the hidden sci fi gem.
Hey Bob……I have seen the Top 16….my first miss happens at #17 Kinkly Boots. Overall I have seen 19 of these movies….with two involving me going to the theater/cinema to see: #1 The Martian and #9 Children of Men. I am right there with you on Children of Men and Love Actually…..was not as impressed with 12 Years A Dr. Strange….both are good but not anywhere my favorites. Being a Cusack fan myself….in some ways I am happy he has a monster hit like 2012 on the resume….but that is a horrible movie. As for Serenity….it has a massive following…I thought the movie was ok….and an attempt to watch the tv show stopped after one or two episodes. Good thoughts on Mr. Ejiofor.