How often does an actor get to portray their real-life parent? Melissa Rivers played her mom, the iconic Joan Rivers, in Joy (2015). And that same year, O'Shea Jackson Jr. did the deed for Straight Outta Compton. Since then, Jackson has been on a roll, having starred in both indie efforts and recent blockbusters.
He's reliably superb in his supporting roles over the years, and it helps that Jackson's projects are typically critically and/or commercially successful. And as we await the release of Den of Thieves 2 and other upcoming films of his, here's a closer look at Jackson's finest projects to date, ranked.
7 Cocaine Bear (2023)
Inspired by a wild true story, with a real-life documentary now in the works, Cocaine Bear is a riot from start to finish — and was totally worth seeing in a rowdy movie theater, mind you. It all starts with a plane crash caused by a rowdy drug runner, who we later learn is linked to Jackson's scene-stealing character as he goes searching for the missing drugs in the forest alongside his bumbling coworkers. Elizabeth Banks directed this laugh-out-loud B-movie that will leave you wanting more — a sequel, perhaps?
"I heard about it via a tweet," Jackson once told Forbes regarding the original concept behind the film. "I saw that Elizabeth [Banks] got the rights, I clicked on it, and it piqued my interest. And I was like, 'Yo, there's no way that they're letting this movie happen,' but I tweeted, 'Take my money now,' or something like that, just praising the movie. Elizabeth saw it and was like, 'We've got to get O'Shea.' She already had me."
Related: Cocaine Shark Trailer Lets the Bear Know There's a New Drug-Fueled Animal in Town
6 Long Shot (2019)
Speaking of laugh-out-loud films — next on our list is one better than Cocaine Bear. Long Shot imagines a reality where Charlize Theron has the hots for...Seth Rogen. Here, he plays Fred Flarsky, a trouble-making journalist who's got a smooth-talking colleague buddy, played by Jackson. And when Fred unexpectedly runs into his long-lost babysitter-turned politician (Theron), he turns to Jackson for life advice. Jackson's scenes with Rogen are hilarious. And overall, Long Shot is a wildly inappropriate but solid effort that also shows off Theron's comedic chops.
5 Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Jackson also extended his reach to high-profile franchises over the years, and that includes the galaxy far, far away. He had a fun little role in Disney+'s miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi, centering on Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi following the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Jackson plays Roken, an engineer and smuggler who helps get Jedi to safety. In last year's limited series, Obi-Wan (Ewen McGregor) enlists the skeptical Roken to help with rescuing young Princess Leia. It's a juicy supporting turn for Roken, and we wouldn't be surprised if his character resurfaces in later Star Wars films or TV shows.
Related: Star Wars: Why Rey Is the Perfect Jedi Master to Lead the New Movie
4 Swagger (2021)
Kevin Durant's Phoenix Suns may have gotten knocked out of this year's NBA playoffs, but fans of the basketball great can now tune into a series on Apple TV+ that's inspired by his youth basketball career. Swagger follows a basketball prodigy, and Jackson plays a former superstar who helps the young talent along the way. It's a heartfelt turn by Jackson, and we can't wait to see what the second season brings.
"Basketball, it's got so many layers to it," Jackson once told Looper regarding the essence behind Swagger. "Of course, first and foremost, it's fun. But second, it teaches you at a young age what it's like to have people who aren't family, or you might not even know them for long, but for 48 minutes, you are depending on these people. You are depending on these guys to lift you up when you fall, and you're supposed to be there for them as well. And it builds the team dynamic, and how beautiful that is and what a lesson that is — to feel okay to ask for help, to feel okay with needing somebody else and realizing that a collective with the same common goal can be something very powerful."
3 Just Mercy (2019)
Inspired by the true story of Bryan Stevenson's efforts, Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan (Creed) as the young lawyer and his battle for justice in Alabama. There, he comes to defend Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who was sentenced in the 80s to death for the alleged murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite all the evidence proving his innocence.
Jackson plays a fellow inmate who is well-meaning and looks out for his imprisoned comrades, particularly the ill-fated Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan). The sense of brotherhood that comes Jackson's scene-stealing performance might just bring you to tears. Overall, Just Mercy is a triumph that's enhanced by an A-list cast.
Related: Jamie Foxx Has Been Out of the Hospital for Weeks, His Daughter Reveals
2 Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Jackson's filmography demonstrates that he can easily navigate between drama and comedy. Ingrid Goes West is perhaps his funniest role to date, as a vape-toking landlord who falls for the titular character (played to perfection by Aubrey Plaza). Jackson's chemistry with Plaza is a riot. You'll die laughing when he shamelessly plugs his (aspiring) screenwriter's career with the help of Batman-themed business cards. Spot-on performances by Elizabeth Olsen, as the socialite Ingrid adores, and Billy Magnussen, as her brother, make the indie comedy a hilarious ride from start to finish.
1 Straight Outta Compton (2015)
"What up, Dre? I got somethin' to say." Straight Outta Compton takes us back to the 80s with a true story of the N.W.A. hip-hop group and all the trials and tribulations the O.G. members endured to get their music out to the world. As earlier mentioned, Jackson's turn as his real-life dad will keep you double-taking throughout the entire movie — that hard look that Ice Cube birthed back in the day is reimagined to perfection by his son. Featuring other stellar performances by Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell and Paul Giamatti, Straight Outta Compton is a wildly entertaining and insightful look at the group's origins.
"I smile a whole lot more than my dad. I might really laugh at your joke. You might get a good conversation out of me," Jackson once told Collider about the real-life differences between him and his dad. "But, he’s always been that way. It’s something that I had to flip. To my dad, all of you are guilty until proven innocent. To me, you’re cool until I figure out why you’re not cool. So, I had to flip that throughout the movie, constantly playing chess and thinking. He would tell me, every day, what was on his mind, at that time and point. On the bus, for instance, I asked him what he was thinking when somebody got on a bus with a gun, and he said, 'Oh, that I’m gonna die.' He said, 'You really have to go there. This could be it. So, tense up.'"
