The Falcon & The Winter Soldier: Anthony Mackie's Best Roles (Except Sam Wilson), Ranked By IMDb
Although he has been acting for quite some time, Anthony Mackie really became a household name when he made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That came in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where he played the role of Sam Wilson, also known as the Falcon.
He has continued to appear as the character since then and is about to co-headline a Disney+ show in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That makes it a great time to look back at Mackie's impressive career, which dates back to a memorable appearance in 2002's 8 Mile, and see what his best work is outside of the MCU.
10 Half Nelson (7.2)
This emotional drama may have flown under the radar by only grossing $4.9 million at the box office but those who saw it certainly appreciated it. In fact, Ryan Gosling scored the first of his two Best Actor Oscar nominations for his role as Dan Dunne in Half Nelson.
Released in 2006, it tells the tale of a junior high teacher (Gosling) who befriends one of his students after she learns about his history with drugs. Mackie has a role as Frank, a local drug dealer. There's an MCU connection here, as Half Nelson was written by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, who would go on to direct Captain Marvel together.
9 All The Way (7.3)
HBO original films are usually big events for the network and that was the case with All The Way. This 2016 political drama works as a biopic that focuses on former President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, portrayed by the incredible Bryan Cranston.
Based on a play of the same name (which also saw Cranston in the lead role), this was met with widespread acclaim. In it, Mackie takes on one of the toughest roles of his life, playing the legendary Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. It secured eight Emmy nominations but didn't win any.
8 Detroit (7.3)
Kathryn Bigelow has made a name for herself as one of the most accomplished and impressive directors in all of Hollywood. For the second time in her career, she teamed up with Anthony Mackie in 2017's Detroit, an emotionally gripping film based on the Algiers Motel Incident during the 12th Street Riot.
The plot sees rogue police officers interrogate and terrorize everyone at the motel ins search of a sniper, with most of the victims being Black men. Mackie plays Vietnam veteran Karl Greene, who is among those treated unjustly. Detroit didn't do well commercially but was a critical darling and featured a stellar cast.
7 The Banker (7.3)
Exclusively released to Apple TV+, The Banker is arguably the best movie in the streaming service's short tenure. The 2020 film follows Bernard S. Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, who become two of the first African-American bankers in the United States during the 1950s.
Though some didn't love the storyline itself, the performances of the lead actors were praised, with Mackie shining as Garrett. This also worked as another connection between MCU actors, as Mackie's lead co-star is Samuel L. Jackson, who famously plays Nick Fury in the franchise.
6 Desert Flower (7.4)
This is one of the lesser-known pieces of Anthony Mackie's filmography. That being said, it has certainly been met with praise from those who gave it a chance. Released in 2009, Desert Flower is a German biographical film about the life of human rights activist Waris Dirie.
Dirie has a remarkable story as she famously fled Somalia when she was just a teenager, worked at McDonald's, became a top model, and went on to fight against female genital mutilation. Mackie is part of the cast as Harold Jackson, a potential love interest.
5 The Inevitable Defeat Of Mister & Peter (7.5)
It's yet another movie that not a lot of fans seem to know a ton about. The Inevitable Defeat Of Mister & Peter only has just over 5,000 total reviews on IMDb but the majority are strong. It's worth checking out because it's another collaboration between Mackie and director George Tillman Jr.
The second of three movies they share in their history, this 2013 flick follows two inner-city kids who are left on their own when the authorities take their mothers away. Mackie plays Kris, a powerful drug lord within the community.
4 The Hate U Give (7.5)
Speaking of the George Tillman Jr. and Anthony Mackie connection, their most recent work came in 2018's The Hate U Give. One of the most emotionally gripping and powerful movies in recent memory, this centers on the changing life of a high school student who witnesses the police gun down her innocent friend.
Based on a novel of the same name, The Hate U Give dives deep into racial injustice, police brutality, and other important real-world topics. Once again, Mackie's role is that of a powerful villain in the streets, acting as King, the local gang leader. Though shut out from Oscar nominations, many suggested it deserved several nods.
3 The Hurt Locker (7.5)
Anthony Mackie's other notable collaboration with director Kathryn Bigelow came back in 2009 with The Hurt Locker. In fact, he also got to work alongside future MCU actors Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, and Guy Pearce in this critically acclaimed hit.
Centering on a bomb disposal unit during the Iraq War, The Hurt Locker racked up the accolades. At the Academy Awards, it won Best Picture and Best Director, being the first time they went to a film helmed by a woman. Mackie plays Sergeant J. T. Sanborn.
2 Altered Carbon (8.0)
When Altered Carbon premiered on Netflix in 2018, a lot of the talk was about how it was one of the most expensive shows to produce in television history. An adaptation of a novel of the same name, it follows a former soldier investigating a murder in a world where someone's consciousness can be transferred to different bodies.
In the first season, the protagonist Takeshi Kovacs was played by Joel Kinnaman. That changed for the second season, as Anthony Mackie took over as Kovacs' new host body. Although the sci-fi drama was well-received, Netflix canceled it after two seasons.
1 Million Dollar Baby (8.1)
The Hurt Locker was not the first time that Anthony Mackie appeared in a film that went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. That came a few years earlier with 2004's Million Dollar Baby, in which he plays Shawrelle Berry, a boxer whose best friend is played by another future MCU actor in Michael Peña.
Neither character is a huge part of Million Dollar Baby, which centers on an underdog female boxer who gets helped to success by a gruff trainer. Along with Best Picture, it won for Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), and Best Director (Clint Eastwood).
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