Though he is iconic in the music world, Ice Cube's best movies highlight the impressive acting career he has had over the years, resulting in some true classics. Born O'Shea Jackson in Los Angeles, California, on June 15, 1969, Ice Cube gained fame as one of the of the groundbreaking and influential rap group NWA, alongside the likes of Dr. Dre and Eazy-E. As his fame grew, Cube turned his talents towards acting and proved to be one of the most successful rappers-turned-actors.
Cube made his impressive acting debut in the award-winning drama Boyz n the Hood, establishing his screen presence. He continued to surprise people with a variety of roles over the years in all kinds of different genres. He showcased his comedic side in the likes of Friday and 21 Jump Street. He became an action hero in xXx: State of the Union and Ghosts of Mars. Cube even starred in a number of family-friendly movies, including Are We There Yet? Decades into his acting career, Cube continues to show new sides of his talents in great movies.
10 Anaconda (1997)
As Danny Rich
Anaconda
- Release Date
- April 11, 1997
- Runtime
- 90minutes
- Director
- Luis Llosa
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Luis Llosa
Ice Cube shared the screen with Jennifer Lopez and some deadly serpents in the creature feature Anaconda. Cube and Lopez star as of a documentary film crew who travel into the Amazon jungle for a new feature. However, when they pick up a stranded and eccentric man seemingly marooned in the jungle (played by Jon Voight), the crew unwittingly become part of his hunt for a rare and dangerous snake.
While certainly not one of the most critically acclaimed movies in Cube's career, Anaconda is one movie that has remained part of the pop culture consciousness, more so than some of his other projects.
While certainly not one of the most critically acclaimed movies in Cube's career, Anaconda is one movie that has remained part of the pop culture consciousness, more so than some of his other projects. There is even a comedy version of Anaconda on its way, starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd. It is the kind of movie that is a lot of fun if you don't take it seriously, and its box office draw of over $130 million proves there was a lot of fun to be had.
9 Ride Along (2014)
Det. James Payton
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Ride Along
- Release Date
- January 17, 2014
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Director
- Tim Story
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Greg Coolidge, Jason Mantzoukas, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
- Sequel(s)
- Ride Along 2
While Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson have become a favorite movie pairing, the chemistry Hart shares with Ice Cube helped make Ride Along a huge success. Hart stars as Ben, a security guard who wants to prove himself to his girlfriend's disapproving cop brother, James (Cube). As Ben s James on a 24-hour Ride Along through Atlanta, he gets more than he bargained for as the two men find themselves in one dangerous situation after another.
Ride Along 3 was in the works but with no word on when it might happen.
Ride Along hilariously delivers a comedic version of Training Day with Hart as the inexperienced enger on this wild ride with Cube's intimidating cop. The duo works wonderfully together, with Cube once again proving his comedic talents. While Ride Along was dismissed by critics, audiences showed their love for Cube and Hart's pairing, with the movie becoming a surprise box office hit and earning a sequel.
8 Higher Learning (1995)
As Fudge
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Higher Learning
- Release Date
- January 11, 1995
- Runtime
- 128 Minutes
- Director
- John Singleton
Cast
Omar EppsMalik Williams
Kristy SwansonKristen Connor
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- John Singleton
After making his acting debut in John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood, Ice Cube reteamed with the filmmaker for another hard-hitting drama. Higher Learning takes a look at race and cultural collisions within the setting of a college. Starring the likes of Omar Epps, Jennifer Connelly, Cole Ha, and Regina King, the movie follows various people on a college campus, struggling with identity, meeting new people, and confronting the realities of becoming an adult in the modern world.
Cube has a ing role in the ensemble but steals many scenes as Fudge, a politically minded student who goes by his own rules. While the movie doesn't hit quite as hard as Boyz n the Hood, it is still a complex and fascinating story that takes the audience to some unexpected places. It has also gained more of an appreciation over time, with its Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 74% ranking far higher than the critical score of 46%.
7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
As Superfly
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
- Release Date
- August 4, 2023
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
- Director
- Jeff Rowe
Cast
Nicolas Cantu
Micah Abbey
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Brendan O'Brien
Ice Cube's most recent movie is one of his best and something fans don't usually get from him; an animated role. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the latest entry into the TMNT franchise and has been called the best movie to date featuring the heroes in a half shell. The animated film explores the Ninja Turtles as actual teenagers, struggling with growing up, unable to interact with people above the surface. However, their world is opened up more with their friendship with April O'Neil as well as the discovery of more mutants.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Review: A Charming, Entertaining Animation
With an excellent voice cast, stylish animation that stands out, and a fun, decent story, Mutant Mayhem aims to please and succeeds.
Ice Cube delivers a terrific voice performance as Superfly, the leader of a group of mutant creatures looking to take revenge on the human world that rejected them. While he is the villain of the movie, Cube is able to make Superfly sympathetic and funny. The film's vivid animation style makes it a visual treat, while it is also laugh-out-loud funny and a true love letter to these beloved characters.
6 22 Jump Street (2014)
As Captain Dickson
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22 Jump Street
- Release Date
- June 5, 2014
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Director
- Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Cast
Jonah Hill
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel, Rodney Rothman, Jonah Hill, Patrick Hasburgh, Stephen J. Cannell
- Prequel(s)
- 21 Jump Street
- Franchise(s)
- 21 Jump Street
22 Jump Street capitalized on the surprise success of the first movie, delivering a sequel that is nearly as good as the original. The anticipated follow-up sees Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum returning as undercover police officers and best friends, Schmidt and Jenko, who are now going undercover in college to stop a new drug operation that has cropped up. However, their friendship is tested when they find themselves going down different paths and making new connections.
Ice Cube's Highest-Grossing Movies |
||
|---|---|---|
Movie |
Role |
Worldwide Box Office |
22 Jump Street (2014) |
Captain Dickson |
$331.3 million |
21 Jump Street (2012) |
Captain Dickson |
$202.8 million |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) |
Superfly |
$180.3 million |
Ride Along (2014) |
James Payton |
$153.7 million |
Anaconda (1997) |
Danny Rich |
$137 million |
Ice Cube makes a hilarious return as well, with Captain Dickson getting an expanded role. This leads to Cube delivering the funniest moment in the film as it is revealed that the classmate with whom Schmidt has formed a relationship is actually Dickson's daughter. The sequel was an even bigger hit than the first installment, earning over $300 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo), becoming Cube's highest-grossing movie to date.
5 Barbershop (2002)
As Calvin Palmer
Barbershop
- Release Date
- April 1, 2002
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
- Director
- Tim Story
Cast
Cedric the Entertainer
Sean Patrick Thomas
WHERE TO WATCH
Calvin inherits a barbershop but has no interest in running the business, so he sells it to a local dealer planning to turn it into a nightclub. However, Calvin soon realizes he was too quick to let it go, as the barbershop holds deep significance for many people in the neighborhood.
Ice Cube kicked off another comedy franchise with Barbershop while also mixing in some effective dramatic elements. Barbershop stars Cube as Calvin Palmer, a man running the neighborhood barbershop inherited from his father. Struggling with the idea of selling it, Calvin goes through one long day working at the business alongside the colorful characters working there and the various regular customers.
Barbershop takes a very simple premise and finds a lot of charm in it. The movie does well to capture how these small barbershops can be central to a neighborhood as a place where people talk about everything from politics to music to life in general. Where the film truly excels is in the scenes of these conversations. It became a surprise box office hit and spawned two solid sequels as well as the spinoff, Beauty Shop.
4 Three Kings (1999)
As Sgt. Chief Elgin
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Three Kings
- Release Date
- September 27, 1999
- Runtime
- 114 minutes
- Director
- David O. Russell
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- John Ridley, David O. Russell
While still relatively early in his acting career, Ice Cube held his own, starring alongside some legitimized movie stars in one of his most critically acclaimed movies. Three Kings was a breakout movie for director David O. Russell and takes place during the First Gulf War. Cube stars alongside George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg as soldiers during the dying days of the war, who learn about Saddam Hussein's secret stash of gold in the desert and plan to steal it.
Mark Wahlberg was also a rapper before shifting to a movie career.
Cube and the rest of the cast do an excellent job pulling off the unique tone of the film as it mixes in irreverent humor and wild action with some deeper themes. It ranks as one of the most critically successful movies of Cube's career, earning 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is one of the most unique and exciting war movies ever made.
3 21 Jump Street (2012)
As Captain Dickson
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21 Jump Street
- Release Date
- March 14, 2012
- Runtime
- 109 minutes
- Director
- Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Cast
-
Jonah Hill
-
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Michael Bacall
- Sequel(s)
- 22 Jump Street
- Franchise(s)
- 21 Jump Street
Many doubted if remaking the teen crime series 21 Jump Street was a good idea, but the comedy movie surprised by being a huge success. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star in 21 Jump Street as two mismatched cops who are tasked with going undercover in a high school as students in order to expose a new drug operation. Ice Cube steals many scenes in the comedy with his hilariously brash performance as Captain Dickson, the duo's commanding officer.
Ice Cube steals many scenes in the comedy with his hilariously brash performance as Captain Dickson, the duo's commanding officer.
Serving as the live-action debut for directing partners Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the outrageous comedy still manages to have their irreverent and special visual style. Hill and Tatum make for a surprisingly great comedic team and the movie has a lot of fun poking loving fun at action movie tropes. 21 Jump Street was a box office hit, grossing over $200 million worldwide (via crossover.
2 Friday (1995)
As Craig Jones
Friday not only showcased new sides of Ice Cube's acting talents but also proved that he was a talented screenwriter as well. The cult comedy stars Cube as Craig, a young man who spends his Friday hanging out in his neighborhood with his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), as they try to find jobs, meet girls, and come up with the money that they owe to a local drug dealer. Cube takes the slacker lead role and makes Craig a funny and likable hero in the story.
Chris Tucker didn't return for any of the Friday sequels.
Friday was not only a hit with critics and audiences at the time, but its popularity has only grown in the decades since then. It helped spawn a comedy franchise with Ice Cube appearing in every Friday movie to date, while a fourth and final entry is being planned. It also remains a beloved part of pop culture with many lines still quoted to this day, including Cube's famous delivery of "Bye Felicia!"
1 Boyz N The Hood (1991)
As Darin "Doughboy" Baker
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Boyz n the Hood
- Release Date
- July 12, 1991
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
- Director
- John Singleton
Cast
-
Hudhail Al-Amir
-
Lloyd Avery II
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- John Singleton
Despite the fact that Ice Cube has made a number of excellent movies since his career began, his debut still remains his best project to date. Cube starred in the hugely influential drama Boyz n the Hood from John Singleton, which looks at the lives of three young friends growing up in South Central Los Angeles as they deal with the many hardships of their community, including police brutality and gang violence. Cube stars as Doughboy, one of the three friends who seems destined to embrace the gang lifestyle.
Ice Cube’s Cult Favorite Comedy Franchise Dominating Netflix Charts As Its Final Movie Remains In Development Hell
Multiple installments from one of rapper and actor Ice Cube's most beloved comedy franchise trend simultaneously on the Netflix streaming charts.
Cube gets to fit into a persona that is familiar to the one he became famous for, playing a tough and intimidating young man. However, he also brings depth to the role, showing that Doughboy laments the paths he has chosen and hopes that his friends can find another way out of their community. The movie was a surprise hit at the box office and also earned two Oscar nominations, including Best Director, making Singleton the youngest person to be nominated in his category and the first African-American.
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