Tessa Thompson is currently back in the spotlight, thanks to the newest Netflix mystery series His & Hers. She stars in the show with Jon Bernthal, and despite some mixed reviews, the show is a streaming hit; moreover, Thompson and Bernthal are great in it, as they are usually.
To focus on Thompson’s movie career rather than TV, she’s had quite the experience over the years. Over time, she also became a producer for the projects she starred in, putting her stamp on what she believed in. Besides great recognition, Thompson can brag about her Rotten Tomatoes top 10 being one of the most successful of any actor out there. Here are the best Tessa Thompson movies, ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes from the lowest fresh score to the highest.
10
‘Hedda’ (2025)
Tomatometer Score: 89%
Hedda is the latest feature film Thompson got involved in, and it’s her second collaboration with Nia DaCosta, who’s been having a pretty good year lately, with the release of Hedda and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Hedda was based on Henrik Ibsen‘s play, Hedda Gabler, and it’s a bold reimagining of the story that DaCosta planned on making since her college years. Hedda is a hypnotic film—visually bold and beautiful, and filled with a talented ensemble that could have only been led by Thompson. This is her most visceral and astonishing performance thus far, and it’s a shame audiences only gave the film a 56% score, labeled now as rotten on RT.
Hedda is set in 1950s England and takes place during a soirée hosted by Hedda Tesman (née Gabler) and her academic husband, George Tesman (Tom Bateman). George is vying for a professorship, so the party is meant to impress the man who would give him the job; but, when George’s competitor for the role, Dr. Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), arrives at the party, it’s revealed that her and Hedda have history. Hedda unfolds as a play on-screen and compels from start to finish; Thompson, especially, stuns and is the movie’s strongest point, together with DaCosta’s direction.
9
‘Dear White People’ (2014)
Tomatometer Score: 91%
Before Dear White People was a multi-season Netflix series, it was a feature film, and the lead role of Sam White that Logan Browning portrays in the series belongs to Thompson in the feature film. Sam is the game-changer and a force to be reckoned with in the film, and the best person to portray her was, undoubtedly, Thompson, whose spirit oozes through the screen. She’s not overly dramatic or loud, either—Sam’s anger and self-discovery moments are equally laced with Thompson’s ability to show restraint and light a spark, sometimes in the very same scene.
Dear White People is set in a fictional university named Winchester, where a radio talk-show host, sharp-tongued Sam White, causes commotion by calling out racism on campus. The story follows her and other Black students trying to get a leg up in the world but having to deal with personal issues, family drama, and even pushback from the university’s white students. The Rotten Tomatoes critics called Dear White People “a welcome new voice to cinema’s oft-neglected discussion of race,” and it was a pretty popular film when it came out because of this necessary change. Thompson is the star of the film, despite everyone in it being great; she’s joined by Tyler James Williams and Teyonah Parris, among others.
8
‘Passing’ (2021)
Tomatometer Score: 91%
Passing is a film that went under the radar when it came out, mostly because it went to Netflix almost immediately upon release. Had it reached theaters widely, it’d have been seen by more people; this way, the movie had a limited theatrical release before streaming. Passing was based on the novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, and written and directed by Rebecca Hall in her directorial debut. Hall’s mother was mixed race, and she used her family history and the novel to create an intriguing and visually stunning film.
Passing follows Irene (Thompson), who encounters her white-passing childhood friend Clare (Ruth Negga) after years of not seeing each other. Clare and Irene begin spending more time together, though Irene feels unsettled by some of Clare’s qualities. The movie was shot in black-and-white, to purposefully force viewers to rely on personalities and context over issues of skin color; Negga as Clare is outwardly and charismatic, while Thompson as Irene is introspective and restrained, providing a contrast to each other from the start. Overall, it’s a strong directorial debut, and one of Thompson’s greatest roles of the past five years.
7
‘Sorry to Bother You’ (2018)
Tomatometer Score: 93%
Sorry to Bother You is reminiscent of Severance and BlacKkKlansman, full of symbolism and critique of the social, racial, and financial consequences and aspects of capitalism. The film was written and directed by Boots Riley, and it’s his directorial debut; he describes Sorry to Bother You as an absurdist black comedy with magical and science fiction elements, and as a former telemarketer, he took personal experiences and wrote them into a story that feels surreal yet grounded and realistic. LaKeith Stanfield is the lead, and he stars alongside Thompson, Omari Hardwick, and Danny Glover, among others.
Sorry to Bother You follows Cassius “Cash” Green (Stanfield), who gets a job at RegalView as a telemarketer. He realizes, to be successful at his job, he must adopt a “white voice,” which quickly makes Cash one of the best-earning telemarketers in his company. Thompson plays Cash’s girlfriend, Detroit, and she’s secretly an activist protesting Cash’s company. The chemistry between Thompson and Stanfield is awesome, and their scenes together are electric. The movie is a brilliant comedy in which every single element works well, resulting in one of the greatest social commentary and satire films of the past decade.
6
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)
Tomatometer Score: 93%
One of the best characters in the MCU is undoubtedly Valkyrie, whom Thompson plays across several movies. She first appeared in Thor: Ragnarok, the third Thor movie and the first directed by Taika Waititi; his personal brand of humor and quirkiness contributed to Ragnarok being a marvel in every sense of the word, garnering loads of attention and great ratings across the board. It was a time when the ’80s aesthetic was prevalent and there was no fatigue from it yet; Ragnarok is set in modern times but feels distinctly retro in visuals and music.
Thor: Ragnarok follows the events after the Battle of Sokovia, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned. With the knowledge that a prophesied apocalypse called Ragnarok will soon take place, Thor escapes and tries to find his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Odin reveals the existence of Thor and Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) older sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), who will return after his death and cause Ragnarok. Thor joins forces with Loki and an ancient female warrior, Valkyrie (Thompson), whose army was killed by Hela, to defeat her and save Asgard. Valkyrie is tough, fun-loving, and brave; she’s an inspirational character and with Thompson portraying her, she gains a lot more relevance and respect among Marvel’s heroes.
5
‘Sylvie’s Love’ (2020)
Tomatometer Score: 94%
Sylvie’s Love is a period piece and a romantic drama that combines love, music, and dreams. Thompson portrays the titular Sylvie, and she’s also the film’s executive producer, and this movie, like Passing, didn’t really do as well as it should have, considering its distribution rights were purchased by Amazon, and it went direct to streaming after a limited theatrical run. Sylvie’s Love is a love letter to music and romance, but it also deals with the passage of time and inevitable changes that make us rethink our life’s path and loyalties.
Sylvie’s Love is set between 1957 and 1962, and follows Sylvie (Thompson), a woman pursuing a career in production, and Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a jazz musician. The two meet after Robert gets hired by Sylvie’s father at his record store, and, despite Sylvie being engaged to a man currently fighting in the war, her and Robert experience a once-in-a-lifetime connection. The movie follows their personal and professional lives, and how they impact each other, whether they’re together or apart. Thompson is outstanding in this stylish and beautiful romance, showing off a gentle and confident side.
4
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Tomatometer Score: 94%
Thompson returned as Valkyrie in Avengers: Endgame, a movie with a massive production that gathers most of the MCU’s characters introduced until then. Endgame is a pretty entertaining and overwhelming conclusion to The Infinity Saga, and with all the characters we fell in love with returning to leave a stamp of their own, it’s also an endlessly rewatchable film. Endgame comes after Captain Marvel as the 22nd film in The Infinity Saga, and among everyone who appears, Thompson’s Valkyrie also enters the picture as one of the defenders of Asgard.
Avengers: Endgame is set after the events of Infinity War, when Thanos (Josh Brolin) gathered all the Infinity stones and caused half of the world’s population to disappear into dust. Endgame shows the remaining Avengers grappling with the events emotionally, but also trying their hardest to reverse the events and bring everyone back. For the final battle against Thanos’ allies, the Avengers must gather as many allies as possible; Thor invites Valkyrie to join him, and she becomes a part of the fight, showing once again, what a cool character she is.
3
‘Little Woods’ (2018)
Tomatometer Score: 95%
Little Woods is interesting because it has an RT critics score of 95%, and it’s even labeled as fresh, but the audience score is rotten, sitting at a low 54% rating. Little Woods is a pretty grim thriller, showing off the hardest sides of life and people struggling to secure even the most basic things for themselves; in that respect, it’s perhaps too realistic and audiences didn’t like its bleakness and darkness. This movie is Nia DaCosta’s directorial debut, and Thompson delivers outstanding work, and one of her best performances.
Little Woods follows sisters Ollie (Thompson) and Deb (Lily James), who both struggle to make enough money for their needs. Ollie is on probation but crosses state borders for a job, while Deb is pregnant again and living in a trailer that’s been illegally parked the whole time. The sisters try their best to help each other and survive the night; many problems arise, each with massive stakes, and the movie becomes quite stressful to watch at some points. Thompson leads with certainty and confidence, and her performance is not just believable, but hypnotizing, making viewers cheer for her.
2
‘Creed’ (2015)
Tomatometer Score: 95%
Creed is a very hypnotizing movie. It glues you to the screen with beautiful cinematography, brilliant writing, and captivating actors; it’s a masterpiece among sports movies and a film that should be proud to belong to one of the world’s greatest movie franchises, Rocky. Ryan Coogler co-wrote and directed Creed, while his frequent collaborator, Ludwig Göransson, composed the original soundtrack, and his other frequent collaborator, Michael B. Jordan stepped into the lead role. Thompson appears as Bianca, Adonis’ love interest, and their romance is pretty healthy and interesting, spanning across the trilogy; Bianca is sometimes a tool for Adonis’ progress, but she’s also a well-developed character regardless.
Creed follows Adonis Creed, the son of famous boxer, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), who was once a rival and then a great friend to Philadelphia’s boxing legend, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Adonis wants to get into boxing but under his own name, believing that the surname Creed will impose massive expectations. He asks Balboa to train him, and his journey from amateur to pro is labeled with a fight for self-acceptance and self-worth. Thompson’s Bianca is a counterpart to Adonis, a woman who is secure and knows who she is—this is why he falls for her easily, and why she becomes a vital emotional pillar of his journey.
1
‘Selma’ (2014)
Tomatometer Score: 99%
Selma still stands tall as one of the greatest period pieces of our time. Ava DuVernay‘s Oscar-nominated film describes Martin Luther King Jr.’s protest march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital, Montgomery, which took place in 1965, across a 54-mile journey. DuVernay uses artistic portrait shots and realistic storytelling to bring the truth into the fiction, and so Selma is a stunning portrayal of King and his associates, as well as the importance of the march. Thompson portrays one of those associates, Diane Nash, who is still alive and deemed one of the best civil rights activists, with an astonishingly high success rate for her campaigns.
Selma follows Martin Luther King (David Oyelowo), sparking his Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) associates and Black citizens of Selma, Alabama to walk to the state capital of Montgomery as a form of a peaceful protest. Their aim is to show the eagerness of Black citizens in Alabama to earn the right to vote, and many players take it upon themselves to try and ruin King’s private life to hinder the success of the march. It’s a powerful film about activism that doubles as a stunning private portrait of one of the greatest freedom fighters in history.
