The bestDonald Glovermovies and TV shows highlight theCommunityandAtlantastar’s incredible talents not only as a performer but as a director and screenwriter too. Born in California in 1983, Donald Glover is an incredibly multi-talented individual. Not only is he just as known for his work behind the camera as in front iof it, but he also has a successful career as a stand-up comedian and musician (under the stage name Childish Gambino).
Donald Glover’s acting career began a few years after he started work as a writer on NBC’s30 Rock.Following appearing in a handful of episode ofLate Night with Conan O’Brienin 2005, Glover appeared in several30 Rockepisodes in various roles. However, it was 2009 that proved to be the pivotal year for his acting career, as this saw him appear as Troyin the Dan Harmon sitcomCommunity.Since then he’s risen to prominence and is currently one of the most respected names in the entertainment industry, and the best Donald Glover movies and TV shows make it easy to see why.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Cast
Spider-Man: Homecoming follows Peter Parker after the events of Captain America: Civil War as he navigates high school challenges and battles the emergence of a new villain, the Vulture. With mentorship from Tony Stark, Peter strives to prove himself while balancing his responsibilities as Spider-Man and a student.
2017’sSpider-Man: Homecomingmarked the first MCU feature-film focusing entirely on Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, and was a resounding success. However, it also ranks among the best Donald Glover movies thanks to theCommunityandAtlantastars brief appearance as Aaron Davis, the criminal also known as The Prowler (a role he also reprised for a cameo in 2023’sSpider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse).
Donald Glover’s appearance may have been incredibly fleeting, almost to the point that it’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” role, but that doesn’t stop it from being memorable. He played a vital role in creating a sense that the world of the MCU’s Spider-Man was already fleshed out by the time the titular hero first appeared inCaptain America: Civil War.There’s also continued demand for Glover toplay a live-action Prowlerin a more prominent capacity, highlighting just how suitable for the role he truly is.
Magic Mike XXL
Magic Mike XXL is a comedy-drama film directed by Gregory Jacobs, with Channing Tatum returning as the titular Mike Lane. Following Mike’s retirement, his fellow dancers are now prepared to do the same three years after the first film’s events. However, they want to perform one last incredible performance in Myrtle Beach with the assistance of Mike himself. This time, the film contains all the dancing expected, with some other moments of fun and character development between the new and returning cast members.
2015’sMagic Mike XXLis thesequel to 2012’sMagic Mike,the comedy-drama about male erotic dancers headlined by Channing Tatum.Magic Mike XXLsaw several new cast members added to the wide ensemble roster, including Donald Glover. Donald Glover plays Andre inMagic Mike XXL.The role is relatively minor, though Donald Glover does still manage to be responsible for some of the bestMagic Mike XXLquotes.
Like a few of Donald Glover’s best movies in which he appeared purely as an actor without having any hand in the story or production,Magic Mike XXLstands out due to his ability to elevate the ensemble cast.While far from the absolute best Donald Glover movie,Magic Mike XXLis still highly recommended viewing for fans of his work seeking to delve into his wider filmography outside the likes ofCommunityandAtlanta.
The Martian
Adapted by Ridley Scott from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, The Martian follows the plight of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) after he finds himself stranded alone on Mars after he is falsely presumed dead during a mission. Unable to communicate with Earth and armed with little more than his scientific expertise as a botanist, Watney must find a way to survive on the barren planet until the next scheduled mission arrives.
2015’sThe Martianwas directed byrenowned director Ridley Scott, known for megahits likeGladiator, Alien,andBlade Runner.Scott is arguably the most esteemed director Donald Glover has worked with so far, making it of little surprise thatThe Martianisone of the best movies of his career so far. While it’s a strong all-around venture, Donald Glover’s screentime as JPL aerodynamicist is relatively limited compared to his other films, meaning it doesn’t rank quite as high when comparing his various performances.
However, while Donald Glover has a relatively minor role inThe Martian,he manages to make every minute of his screen time count. He manages to stand out in an ensemble cast that also includes the likes of Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, and Sebastian Stan to name a few. The fact that he isn’t overshadowed by his fellow cast members is a testament to Glover’s presence on screen, and serves as the perfect example of his ability to elevate any ensemble cast he’s part of.
Guava Island
Guava Island, directed by Hiro Murai, follows musician and dock worker Deni Maroon, played by Donald Glover, as he plans a music festival on a tropical island. Despite facing opposition from the local factory owner, Deni is determined to bring joy and freedom to the island’s inhabitants.
2019’sGuava Islandis an incredibly unique film among the best Donald Glover movies, and mixes his talents as a musician incredibly intimately with his creative abilities as a storyteller and performing skills as an actor. The musical movie stars Glover as Deni Marron, a Cuban musician who sets out to throw an incredible festival for his local community. Glover is joined by Rihanna, Letitia Wright, and Nonso Anozie in the cast, anddespite the short runtime of 51 minutes,Guava Islandis an incredibly charming and memorable viewing experience that isn’t soon forgotten.
Mystery Team
Mystery Team follows a group of childhood detectives, now teenagers, who endeavor to tackle their first real adult case. The film portrays their efforts as they transition from solving elementary mysteries to facing more complex and serious challenges.
Mystery Teamwas directed by Dan Eckman, but it was Donal Glover who co-wrote screenplay and conceived the story alongside him (as well as DC Pierson, Dominic Dierkes, and producer Meggie McFadden). The 2009 comedy marks Donald Glover’s first appearance in a feature-length film, and was also the big screen debut of fellow cast members Aubrey Plaza, Ellie Kemper, Neil Casey, Ben Schwarz, and Bobby Moynihan, all of whom have gone on to have highly successful careers in their own right.
Donald Glover leads the cast ofMystery Teamas Jason Rogers, who, as a child, self-styled himself as the “Master of Disguise”. Jason and his friends formed the titular Mystery Team as children to solve local mysteries like missing toys. However, by the time they reach high school age, they decide to solve a more serious crime - a double homicide.Mystery Teaamis absolutely hilarious and has all the hallmarks of the best Donald Glover TV shows and movies in which he was a member of the creative team.What’s more, his performance more than matches many of his more well-known roles like Troy inCommunityor Earn inAtlanta.
The Lion King
Jon Favreau directs this 2019 live-action adaptation of Walt Disney’s popular film, The Lion King. Starring Donald Glover, Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, this release follows young Simba as he grows up to become a mighty lion and take vengeance on his dastardly uncle, Scar.
Live-action remakes of classic animated films have been a key venture for Disney since the 2010s, and one of the most positively received was 2019’sThe Lion King,which revitalized the 1994 classic with cutting-edge CGI and photorealistic animals. Not only doesThe Lion Kingrank highly among the best Donald Glover movies because of the strength of the film overall, but also because of his prominence in the cast. Donald Glover takes thelead inThe Lion Kingas Simba, the titular monarch of the lions of Pride Rock.
Simba was voiced by Matthew Broderick in the 1994 original, but Donald Glover’s Simba is an altogether different spin on the character. While keeping much of the lighthearted charm of the wayward king of the lions, Donald Glover managed to bring a gravitas to Simba that Broderick’s performance, in many ways, lacked.What’s more,The Lion Kingis one of the few feature-length voice acting roles of Donald Glover’s career, and so also stands as a noteworthy example of how wide his range of talents are.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the early adventures of Han Solo, showcasing his beginnings and key encounters with significant characters in the Star Wars universe. Set in a backdrop of galactic turmoil, the film delves into the origins of his famed relationships and his rise as a rebellious smuggler.
The 2018Star WarsmovieSolo: A Star Wars Storywas divisive among the incredibly passionate fanbase of the franchise. However, while director Ron Howard’sA New Hopeprequel focusing on a young Han Solo didn’t appeal to every viewer or critic, the same can’t be said when it comes to Donald Glover’s performanceas a young Lando Calrissian.
Donald Glover managed to capture everything that made the smuggler and gambler so great when played by Billy Dee Williams inThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi,while also adding his own flavor to the role. Of particular note was Donald’s chemistry with Phoebe Waller-Bridge - an especially impressive feat given that Waller-Bridge was voice-acting as Lando’s droid companion (and implied romantic interest) L3-37.Glover’s performance was one of the few aspects ofSolo: A Star Wars Storythat received near-universal praise, making it worthy of being counted among the best movies of his career.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 2024 TV series about John and Jane, two lonely strangers who abandon their past lives and identities to become partners both in espionage and marriage, navigating their complex personal and professional lives together.
Like many of the best Donald Glover TV shows, the actor also served as a key creative force behind the 2024 spy seriesMr. & Mrs. Smith.Loosely inspired by the 2005 movie of the same name and the novel by Simon Kinberg, the Amazon Prime original sees Glover starring as Michael, an ordinary man who finds himself enlisted as a spy alongside Alana (Maya Erskine). Once hired, the pair masquerade as a married couple - though they soon find their feelings for one another become more than an act.
Like many of Donald Glover’s TV shows,Mr. & Mrs. Smithhas been received incredibly well by critics, currently sitting with a 91% Tomatometer score onRotten Tomatoes.Not only was the performance of Donald Glover the source of near-universal praise, but the hilarious script and innovative interpretation of the source material - which, of course, Donald Glover played a key part in - has also been highlighted as a key strength.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
Many viewers were first introduced to Donald Glover thanks to his hilarious performance as Troy in Dan Harmon’s quirky sitcomCommunity.While Glover didn’t appear in every season of the show (leaving in season 5), he remains one of the most memorableCommunitycharacters, with many fans hoping Glove will return forthe long-teasedCommunitymovie.
Communityreceived numerous awards and accolades during its run, winning a Critics Choice Award, a PrimeTime Emmy, and a Satellite award, among others. Donald Glover appeared in a total of 89Communityepisodes and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Oustanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series due to his hilarious performance, as well as a Satellite Award in a comparable category.While it’s one of the few projects that saw him exclusively appear as an actor,Communityis inarguably one of the best Donald Glover TV shows to date.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a TV series created by and starring Donald Glover as Earnest “Earn” Marks as he navigates life in the Georgia capital. Most of Earnest’s focus is on improving his and his daughter’s life. From attempting to make amends with his former girlfriend Vanessa (Zazie Beats) to helping his cousin Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, Earnest does what he can. Atlanta tends to follow separate story arcs in an anthology-like approach in the later seasons with a surreal style.
The comedy-dramaAtlantais more than deserving of its place as the best Donald Glover TV not just because of his performance as Earn, but also because he created the series and served as the showrunner. Glover’s success is due to his skills as a creative as much as his strength as a performer, and none of his projects blend these two aspects ofhis talent likeAtlanta-and the many accolades and awards the FX series has accrued stand as a testament to this.
Among the dozens of awards and nominationsAtlantahas received for season 1 alone are a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and Best Actor in the same category for Glover.Season 1 ofAtlantaalso received a PrimeTime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Director for Glover (and a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series), and Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Individual Achievement in Comedy for Glover once again.The accolades continued for season 2 and beyond, making it clear thatAtlantais undisputedly the bestDonald Glovermovie or TV show.
