Trevante Rhodeshas proven to be a fantastic actor, and his best movies and TV shows throughout the course of his career are a testament to that. He started off in a number of smaller roles in movies and shows, with Tyler Perry’sIf Loving You Is Wrongbeing his first recurring role in a series. In 2016, Rhodes had a massive breakthrough with theOscar-winning filmMoonlight, establishing himself as one of the best up-and-coming actors.
Since hisMoonlightperformance, Rhodes has starred in several major films, includingBird Box,The United States vs. Billie Holiday, and he joinedthePredatorfranchisewith 2018’sThe Predator. His most recent project was 2024’sMea Culpa. Trevante Rhodes will soon be behind the camera as he makes his directorial debut withT, which he also wrote and will star in, taking his career in a fascinating new direction.
The sixth film in thePredatorfranchise,The Predatorfocused on a group of soldiers with PTSD teaming up with a scientist to fight off an invading pair of Predators. While the film might not reach the same cinematic heights as other entries in the series, likePredatororPrey,The Predatortook the franchise in some interesting directions while having some great action set pieces featured throughout.
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While the story overall left something to be desired withThe Predator, the performances, for the most part, were quite strong. This includes Trevante Rhodes, who plays “Nebraska” Williams. Nebraska is a former Marine who joins Quinn’s (Boyd Holbrook) Predator-hunting operation, becoming his closest ally in the process.Rhodes proves himself capable of having a significant role in a major blockbuster franchise, as his performance as Nebraska is one of the most compelling in the entire film.
A solid crime drama in its own right,Smartassrevolves around a 15-year-old girl who was recently released from jail, finding herself becoming intimately acquainted with California’s “Murder City”, where she uses her wit and charm in hopes of surviving. Joey King is the star ofSmartass, but the film itself does a pretty solid job of setting up its unique vision and tone from the very beginning.
Along with Joey King as Freddie,Smartass’biggest draw is the variety of characters that she meets throughout the film, with many being dangerous, volatile, and quite intriguing. Trevante Rhodes does a fantastic job as a character named Mike C during the limited screen time he gets in the film,adding another unique character to the rich tapestry inSmartass, as he helps elevate the entire thing.
Excelling with impressive, high-octane action,12 Strongis a decent enough war film that revolves around U.S. Army Special Forces that are sent to Afghanistan immediately after the September 11th attacks. Often thrilling and buoyed by impressive performances from most of the cast,12 Stronglargely succeeds at what it is trying to do, even if it may lack a little nuance and depth as it explores some of its heavier ideas about war and patriotism.
12 Stronglargely succeeds at what it is trying to do, even if it may lack a little nuance and depth.
Among the stellar cast, though, is Trevante Rhodes, who plays Sergeant First Class Ben Milo. He is a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in ODA 595, led by Chris Hemsworth’s Captain Mitch Nelson. The Special Forces group is often put in incredibly harrowing positions andeach member of the group has their own role to play in their missions, including Rhodes' Ben Milo, who does an excellent job embodying him throughout the film.
Based on the bookChasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugsby author Johann Hari,The United States vs. Billie Holidayrevolves around the legendary jazz musician and the Federal Department of Narcotics operating an undercover sting operation against her. The operation is led by Jimmy Fletcher, whom Billie Holiday had a tumultuous affair with. The film does an admirable job at examining who Billie Holiday was, alongside her addiction, romantic endeavors, and her lasting impact on the music industry as a whole.
Alongside Andra Day as Billie Holiday, Trevante Rhodes plays Jimmy Fletcher, the Black agent tasked with going after her, as the two begin a romantic relationship. Jimmy Fletcher is an incredibly complex character, charged with taking down Billie Holiday, not for her drug use but for her ability to challenge the status quo as a major Black celebrity.Rhodes does some of his best work as Jimmy Fletcher, as he is able to portray his complexities with great skill.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Cast
If Loving You Is Wrong is a drama series that explores the complex relationships of husbands and wives living on the same street. Despite diverse backgrounds, they share common challenges, including raising children and maintaining romance, while underlying secrets and deceptions threaten their lives.
Tyler Perry has built a massive media empire during his impressive career, which includes producing, writing, directing, and starring in a variety of projects, mostly focusing on, and giving opportunities to, Black actors and crew members.If Loving You Is Wrongis another example of that, as the series follows a group of five husbands and wives who happen to all live on the same street. Heavily leaning into the soap opera genre,If Loving You Is Wrongis enjoyable TV.
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Prior to his first big breakout role,If Loving You Is Wrongwas actually Trevante Rhodes' first recurring role in a television series, and the biggest role of his career at that point. He plays Ramsey Walters, the new neighbor to Edwina Findley’s Kelly Isaacs, whom she finds herself attracted to. Though he is eventually killed by Kelly’s love interest, Rhodes made a strong impression with his character inIf Loving You Is Wrong, proving that he could take on even bigger roles going forward.
Ambitious but a little uneven,Mikeis the unauthorized look at the legendary boxer Mike Tyson, both in the ring and out of it. Tyson is one of the most fascinating boxers to ever live with, with no shortage of controversy to his name.Mikeis able to explore who he is to great effect, while also honoring the incredible talent he was as an athlete. The strong performances across the board and the look of the series really elevate it as a whole.
While also being one of the executive producers onMike, Trevante Rhodes stars as the titular character as well.He disappears into the role of Mike Tyson more than virtually anything else he has ever done. Tyson’s speech and the way he carries himself are emulated perfectly by Rhodes, and his electric performance outshines everyone else around him, similar to how Mike Tyson was during his boxing career.
Bird Box
Bird Box shows the apocalypse through the ears of Malorie Hayes (Sandra Bullock), a mother of two who tries to get her children to safety after realizing that the demonic entities who are ravaging the world only affect their victims through their eyes. The 2018 Netflix hit is based on Josh Malerman’s 2014 novel of the same name.
When it was initially released on Netflix,Bird Boxbecame a phenomenon, becoming one of the most-watched original films of all time for the streaming giant. The movie revolves around Sandra Bullock’s Malorie Hayes, who attempts to protect herself and her two children against entities that cause people to kill themselves if they look at them. It is based on the novel of the same name by Josh Malerman, and the premise alone makes for a tense apocalyptic horror film that is full of atmosphere.
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Alongside Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes is one of the best aspects ofBird Box. He plays Tom, a survivor who helps get Malorie by taking her to a house with six other people. He eventually forms a relationship with her and helps to lead them to safety five years into the apocalypse. Rhodes is always an incredible talent in any role he takes on, and the humanity he instills in Tom is some of his best work.
Burning Sands
Burning Sands is a drama film centered on a college student’s struggle during fraternity pledging rituals. Released in 2017, it explores the protagonist’s internal conflict between loyalty and confronting the harsh realities and escalating violence of hazing within the fraternity’s secretive environment.
Burning Sandsis a wild journey from start to finish as it explores a famous African American fraternity at Frederick Douglas University that has taken its hazing rituals underground following the school’s new anti-hazing rules. Because of this, the rituals have become even more extreme as the fraternity descends into a drunken, vicious pack.Burning Sandsis a compassionate look at those trying to find their place in the world, and learning about how much they might endure to try to find it, exploring social issues plaguing the country in the process.
Trevante Rhodes plays Fernander inBurning Sands, an older member of the fraternity who actually shows some compassion and a bit more heart than the rest of them. It’s not the most significant role in the film, but Rhodes once again does an incredible job in it, andhe is perfectly able to show the empathy his character begins to feelonce the hazing truly falls apart into madness.
Focusing on the mentorship between a mysterious drifter named Porter and a teenager named Darius caught up in the crossfire of his parent’s tumultuous marriage,Bruiseris an insightful and poignant coming-of-age story. It explores the ideas of manhood and masculinity through the lens of being a Black male in America. It’s a gorgeous film with some truly incredible cinematography that only enhances the outstanding performances and nuanced story featured throughout.
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Miles Warren’s Bruiser is methodical in its commitment to building tension, and the result is a fascinating portrait of youth in revolt.
One of the best roles of his entire career, Trevante Rhodes is downright unbelievable inBruiseras Porter. Free-spirited and perhaps a bit coarse at first, Porter is incredibly complex andBruiserslowly reveals who he truly is as a person, with Rhodes doing some terrific work along the way. It’s a heartfelt, empathetic performance that continues to prove how formidable of a talent he really is.
The film that truly thrust Trevante Rhodes into the spotlight,Moonlightis a remarkable cinematic achievement. It explores three distinct time periods of Chiron’s life as he faces difficulties as a gay Black man, including both physical and emotional abuse he had to endure growing up. It is based on the stage playIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blueby Alvin McCraney and is largely considered one of the best movies of the 21st century. It’s an emotionally powerful look at a person rarely shown in media.
Moonlightwas Trevante Rhodes' breakout role, and it is easy to see why, ashe plays the adult version of Chiron, nicknamed “Black”, with such power and tenderness. Chiron is a quiet individual andTrevante Rhodesis able to convey so much emotion and pain through just the physical aspects of his performance. It’s the best performance of his career, and one that will endure for a very long time.
