Best Queen Latifah Movies Ranked
Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah is an American rapper, actress, and singer whose extensive contributions to film and hip-hop earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 (the first rapper to do so). Latifah’s music career began in 1989 with her debut album at the age of 19 and it only went up from there. She made her acting debut in jungle feverwhich led to her getting the lead role in Turn it off. Queen Latifah’s film career continued to develop until she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Bessie Smith bessiewhich received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
Considering Queen Latifah’s acting has spanned the past three decades, it’s safe to say that her filmography is full of good and bad. Between end of the streetAnd The BBQ Party, there’s no shortage of Queen Latifah movies that miss the mark completely. That being said, there are plenty of phenomenal movies where she absolutely nailed it. These are the best Queen Latifah movies, ranked.
10 The Secret Life of Bees
discontinued in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees follows the life of 14-year-old Lily as she flees her abusive father with her friend Rosaleen to South Carolina, where she may find more information about her late mother. There, Lily meets the Boatwright sisters, who teach her about beekeeping and the Black Madonna, leading to the truth about their mother. Queen Latifah plays the role of August Boatwright, one of the sisters who helps Lily. Queen Latifah’s performance earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
9 Wright only
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Queen Latifah plays Leslie Wright in the classic rom-com Wright only. After landing her dream job as basketball star Scott McKnight’s physical therapist, Leslie falls in love with him. However, her attention goes unnoticed by him as he is overly focused on Morgan (Paula Patton), Leslie’s handsome friend who aspires to be a trophy wife. Queen Latifah has been nominated for several awards including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
8th jungle fever
directed by Spike Lee, jungle fever is about married black lawyer Flipper, who begins an affair with his white secretary, Angie. When their secret is exposed, Flipper’s wife throws him out and he pursues his lover romantically despite the disapproval of those around her. Queen Latifah has a small role as a waitress in her feature debut, which garnered her a lot of attention and effectively kick-started her career as a serious actress.
7 hairspray
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name hairspray is about the oversized teenager Tracy, whose only dream is to dance. She becomes an overnight celebrity after joining The Corny Collins Show. Problems arise, however, as Tracy longs to bring racial integration to the show. Queen Latifah plays Motormouth Maybelle Stubbs, a DJ/radio host who hosts a small segment on The Corny Collins Show. Latifah was nominated for a BET Award for Best Actress and received praise for her performance of the song “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
6 Chicago
Chicago follows nightclub sensation Velma Kelly, who is being defended by Billy Flynn after her husband’s murder. Trouble ensues when Billy also takes on Roxie Hart’s murder case and gives the media something to talk about. Queen Latifah plays the role of Matron “Mama” Morton, a corrupt Matron of the Cook County Jail, hence the affectionate nickname “Mama”.
Chicago was critically acclaimed, received a total of 13 Oscar nominations and won Best Picture in 2002. Queen Latifah even received the BET Award for Best Actress and the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones.
5 Hurry
Latifah’s latest film on this list is Hurry. Revolves around basketball scout Stanley (played by Adam Sandler), Hurry follows as he discovers an exceptional player whom he retrieves without his team’s approval. Queen Latifah plays Teresa Sugerman, Stanley’s wife. The film has an approval rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and has received critical acclaim. Queen Latifah’s performance earned her a People’s Choice Award nomination for The Female Movie Star of 2022.
4 bessie
bessie is an HBO-TV biopic that explores the extraordinary life of blues singer Bessie Smith as she rises to stardom despite her many struggles and difficult upbringing. Considering that Smith was one of the finest blues singers of the 20th century, Queen Latifah really proved herself to be a capable actress in the title role. bessie received instant acclaim, becoming the most-watched original HBO film and earning multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a nomination for Queen Latifah for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
3 Turn it off
Queen Latifah plays Cleo in it Turn it off, a vocal lesbian who joins her friends who start robbing banks to ease their individual financial woes. Led by former bank teller Frankie (Vivica A. Fox), Cleo is joined by single mother Tisean (Kimberly Elise) and Stony (Jada Pinkett Smith), who are still grieving the untimely death of their brother. The women are successful in their heists until they attract the unwanted attention of Detective Strode, who is obsessed with catching the women.
2 Last holidays
Last holidays is a gender-biased remake loosely based on the 1950 British film of the same name. Saleswoman Georgia Byrd learns she has a terminal illness and decides to head to Europe, spend all her life savings and quit her job to live like a millionaire and really live life to the fullest. While the film underperformed at the box office, Queen Latifah was acclaimed for her performance, which earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
1 girl trip
Four friends who call themselves Flossy Posse have grown apart, but find an opportunity to reunite when they all travel to New Orleans for business and pleasure at the Essence Music Festival. The girl’s journey rekindles the long-standing friendship between the women as they find fun again. Queen Latifah plays Sasha Franklin, an internet gossip reporter involved in all the tea. Your appearance in girl trip helped the film receive the Women Film Critic Circle Award for Women’s Work: Best Ensemble.
