Actor, comedian, filmmaker, producer; those are just a few of the achievements of world-class talent Don Cheadle. With an illustrious career spanning more than three decades, Cheadle’s phenomenal range in acting is evidenced by his success in a variety of film genres.
With so many career hits to choose from, we’ve created a Top 10 of the highest rated, by audiences and critics alike. Ranked from good to great, if there are films on this list you haven’t seen, it’s safe to say you won’t regret giving them a look.
10. Reign Over Me
Reign Over Me is a 2007 comedy-drama with an uplifting story at its core. Starring Adam Sandler as Charlie Fineman, and Don Cheadle as Alan Johnson, this buddy tale is centred around the reacquaintance of two childhood friends who are both unsatisfied with their lives.
Charlie, suffering the loss of his family, is struggling to cope with the aftermath of his ordeal. Stumbling into Alan by chance, the old friends begin to help each other through life’s many struggles. Sandler’s portrayal of a grief-stricken man is definitely a change from his usual roles, and Cheadle perfectly captures the role of a good-natured man helping a friend in need.
9. Traffic
Traffic is an intensely political movie, more so than your average big budget blockbuster. Exploring the illegal drug trade from multiple angles, Traffic uses collage-like storytelling to tie three different stories together. This expertly edited movie, by director Steven Soderbergh and crew, has earned multiple awards for its fresh filmmaking formula.
Don Cheadle plays an undercover DEA agent in one Traffic’s three storylines. Loosely based on actual people and events, Traffic sees Cheadle’s character Montel Gordon take on a high-stakes investigation, filled with intense bouts of tension, action, and espionage.
8. Crash
Inspired by a real-life event, Crash is one of only four movies to have won three awards at the 78th Academy Awards. Praised by critics and moviegoers alike, Crash was 2004’s best crime drama, featuring a star-studded cast in a gritty tale of life’s many fateful encounters.
Cheadle wasn’t just a star actor in Crash, he is also featured in the credits for his role as producer. Cheadle’s career extends beyond the spotlight to behind the camera, which is an achievement few actors have attained.
7. Ocean’s Eleven
The first film in what would eventually become a popular franchise, Ocean’s Eleven features an ensemble cast of Hollywood heavyweights. With actors like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and of course, Don Cheadle, this is one casino movie you don’t want to miss.
Joining a team of criminal specialists, Cheadle’s character Basher Tarr is an explosives expert. Basher’s role is to provide the team with the linchpin of their heist; an elaborate plan to rob a premium casino of over $150 million in cash.
6. Captain America: Civil War
2016 saw the release of many hit movies, one of them being the first film of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) third phase. Captain America: Civil War continues the unprecedented success of comic book movies as the 13th instalment in the MCU.
Cheadle reprises his role as War Machine, the human equivalent of a heavy weapons platform. In classic Marvel style, the film is equal parts humor, emotion, and action, and has been praised for its action-filled story.
5. Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights focuses on a nightclub dishwasher named Eddie Adams (played by Mark Wahlberg) who enters the porographic industry in the early 1970’s. Released in 1997, this comedy-drama chronicles the main character’s rise to pornographic fame.
Boogie Nights is a period piece with an ensemble cast, featuring the likes of Mark Walhberg, Julianne Moore, and a young Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It would be easy for a role like Don Cheadle’s side character Buck Swole to get lost in that sea of talent, but Cheadle stands out due to his nuanced portrayal of a man suffering from inner turmoil.
4. Hotel Rwanda
Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo star in this thriller based on the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Exploring themes of violence and political corruption, 2004’s dramatic Hotel Rwanda follows hotelier Paul Rusesabagina and his wife Tatiana, played by Cheadle and Okonedo respectively.
Rusesabagina provides shelter for more than a thousand refugees while under siege from genocidal armed forces. Nominated and winning multiple awards at the time of its release, Hotel Rwanda is a stark portrayal of a real tragedy.
3. Avengers: Infinity War
With an estimated budget of around $400 million, Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most expensive films ever made. Infinity War sees the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy join forces to stop a galactic warmonger from attaining ultimate power; a magical device known as the Infinity Gauntlet
Cheadle rejoins a star-studded cast for Infinity War, most of whom reprised their roles from previous MCU movies. The first superhero film to earn $2 billion worldwide, Infinity War was the highest-grossing film of 2018.
2. Avengers: Endgame
Released in 2019, Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of years of MCU story and character development. The 22nd film in the MCU, Endgame picks up right where Infinity War left off, with the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy dealing with the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame.
When pre-sale tickets first became available, avid fans crashed ticket sales on numerous vendor websites. The film was the most-viewed Wikipedia page for 2019, one of the only films to have accomplished such an achievement.
1. La Source
Don Cheadle’s most highly-rated casting might surprise you. Narrating a documentary might not be his usual gig, but Cheadle pulls off a magnificent exposition as the voice of this heartwarming true story. In La Source, viewers follow two Haitian brothers on a quest to save their village.
An impoverished village in Haiti is facing a water shortage crisis, and we’re taken on the journey as these brothers work to bring safe water to their people. La Source is an Omaha Film Festival winner, and has moved many viewers with its empowering tale of family and community.