Lupita Nyong’o has built one of the most acclaimed film careers of her generation, moving confidently between historical dramas, superhero blockbusters, science fiction, horror, animation and action films. Born in Mexico City and raised in Kenya, Nyong’o trained at the Yale School of Drama before making her feature-film breakthrough in 12 Years a Slave. Her performance as Patsey earned widespread critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, immediately establishing her as a major screen talent. She later became internationally recognized as Nakia in Marvel’s Black Panther films and as the voice of Roz in The Wild Robot. Nyong’o has also portrayed the mysterious Maz Kanata throughout the Star Wars sequel trilogy and taken leading roles in films such as Us and A Quiet Place: Day One. The following Lupita Nyong’o movies by year list covers her released feature films chronologically, while also identifying notable short, documentary, cameo and other non-standard film appearances.
2008 — East River
East River is a short film directed by Marc Grey and represents one of Lupita Nyong’o’s earliest acting appearances. The Brooklyn-set project predates her internationally recognized feature-film debut and came while she was developing her professional career. Nyong’o appears in the film in a supporting role rather than a conventional feature-length leading role. Because it is a short film, East River is included here as an early screen credit rather than as one of her feature films.
2009 — In My Genes
In My Genes is a Kenyan documentary written, directed, produced and edited by Lupita Nyong’o, making it a particularly important project in her early career. Rather than starring as a fictional character, Nyong’o worked behind the camera to document the experiences of Kenyans living with albinism. The documentary examines discrimination, identity and social attitudes toward albinism through the lives of several Kenyan subjects. It is therefore best classified as a documentary and directing project, not a conventional Lupita Nyong’o acting role.
2013 — 12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave marked Lupita Nyong’o’s major feature-film acting debut, with her playing Patsey, an enslaved woman on a Louisiana plantation. Directed by Steve McQueen, the historical drama stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup alongside Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson and Brad Pitt. Nyong’o’s emotionally powerful performance drew exceptional critical praise and earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture, making it the defining breakthrough of her early movie career.
2014 — Non-Stop
In Non-Stop, Lupita Nyong’o plays Gwen Lloyd, a flight attendant caught up in a tense mystery aboard a transatlantic passenger flight. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the action thriller stars Liam Neeson as an air marshal receiving threatening messages during the journey. The film combines mystery, action and suspense as the protagonist tries to identify a hidden threat among the passengers. It was Nyong’o’s first major feature role following her Oscar-winning debut and demonstrated her ability to work within a commercial thriller.
2015 — Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Lupita Nyong’o joined the Star Wars universe in The Force Awakens, providing the motion-capture and voice performance for Maz Kanata, an ancient pirate and owner of a castle on Takodana. Directed by J. J. Abrams, the film stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Adam Driver. Maz becomes an important supporting figure in Rey’s journey and helps connect the new characters with the wider history of the franchise. The movie became a major worldwide blockbuster and introduced Nyong’o to one of cinema’s most recognizable franchises.
2016 — The Jungle Book
In Disney’s live-action/CGI adaptation of The Jungle Book, Nyong’o voices Raksha, the mother wolf who raises Mowgli as part of her family. Directed by Jon Favreau, the fantasy adventure features Neel Sethi as Mowgli and a voice cast that includes Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson. Raksha is a protective and emotionally important figure whose relationship with Mowgli gives the story much of its heart. Nyong’o’s performance also expanded her film work into high-profile animation and voice acting.
2016 — Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe stars Nyong’o as Harriet Mutesi, the determined mother of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Directed by Mira Nair, the inspirational sports drama also features Madina Nalwanga as Phiona and David Oyelowo as chess coach Robert Katende. Based on the true story of Phiona’s rise from Kampala’s Katwe neighborhood to international chess competition, the film emphasizes family, education and ambition. Nyong’o’s performance as Harriet gave the story a strong emotional center and highlighted her connection to African-centered storytelling.
2017 — Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Nyong’o returned as Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson. Her appearance is relatively brief, making this a cameo/supporting appearance rather than a major starring role. Maz provides information to the new generation of characters while remaining connected to the broader mythology established in The Force Awakens. The film continued the sequel trilogy’s story following Rey, Finn and the resistance after the events of the previous installment.
2018 — Black Panther
Black Panther became one of the defining films of Nyong’o’s career, with her portraying Nakia, a skilled Wakandan spy and former partner of T’Challa. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the Marvel superhero film stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and Winston Duke. Nakia is independent-minded and deeply committed to helping people beyond Wakanda’s borders, giving Nyong’o a substantial dramatic role within the superhero story. The film became a landmark cultural and commercial success and earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
2019 — Little Monsters
In the Australian horror comedy Little Monsters, Nyong’o plays Miss Audrey Caroline, a cheerful kindergarten teacher who tries to protect her young students during a sudden zombie outbreak. Directed by Abe Forsythe, the film blends horror, comedy and family-oriented drama with a cast that includes Alexander England and Josh Gad. Nyong’o’s performance deliberately contrasts warmth and optimism with the increasingly violent situation surrounding her character. The role allowed her to explore comedy while still handling the physical demands of a horror film.
2019 — Us
Jordan Peele’s psychological horror film Us gave Nyong’o one of the most demanding performances of her career. She plays Adelaide Wilson as well as Adelaide’s terrifying doppelgänger, Red, opposite Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex. The story follows an American family confronted by mysterious doubles who emerge from underground and begin attacking them. Nyong’o received extensive critical praise for creating two distinct characters within the same performance, and the film became an important entry in modern horror cinema.
2019 — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Nyong’o made her third major Star Wars film appearance as Maz Kanata in The Rise of Skywalker. Directed by J. J. Abrams, the concluding chapter of the sequel trilogy stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and Carrie Fisher. Maz remains a supporting presence as Rey and the Resistance confront the final threat posed by the First Order and Emperor Palpatine. Although her screen time is limited, the character helps preserve continuity with the earlier chapters of the trilogy.
2022 — The 355
In the action spy thriller The 355, Nyong’o stars as Khadijah Adiyeme, a highly skilled former MI6 agent and computer specialist. Directed by Simon Kinberg, the ensemble film brings together Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Fan Bingbing and Édgar Ramírez. The story follows an international team of female agents who must prevent a dangerous weapon from falling into the wrong hands. Khadijah gives Nyong’o another opportunity to combine physical action with a technically capable and intelligent character.
2022 — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Nyong’o reprised her role as Nakia in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ryan Coogler’s sequel to the 2018 Marvel blockbuster. The story explores Wakanda’s response to the death of T’Challa while introducing the underwater kingdom of Talokan and its ruler Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta Mejía. Nyong’o’s Nakia has stepped away from Wakanda’s political life but remains deeply connected to the country and its people. The film marked an emotional continuation of the franchise following Chadwick Boseman’s death and became another major chapter in Nyong’o’s superhero film career.
2024 — A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One stars Nyong’o as Samira, a woman caught in New York City when sound-sensitive alien creatures begin their invasion. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the horror thriller also stars Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou. Samira must navigate a city descending into chaos while learning that silence is essential for survival. The film serves as a prequel to the earlier A Quiet Place movies and gave Nyong’o a physically and emotionally intense leading role.
2024 — The Wild Robot
Nyong’o provided the voice of Roz, an intelligent service robot stranded on a remote island, in DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot. Written and directed by Chris Sanders, the animated science-fiction adventure is based on Peter Brown’s children’s novel and features Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Catherine O’Hara and Bill Nighy alongside Nyong’o. Roz gradually learns to communicate with the island’s animals and becomes a surrogate parent to an orphaned gosling named Brightbill. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with Nyong’o’s voice performance serving as the emotional foundation of the story.
2026 — The Odyssey
The Odyssey is the latest released feature film in Lupita Nyong’o’s movie career as of August 2026. Directed and written by Christopher Nolan, the epic adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, with Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya and Charlize Theron among the ensemble cast. Nyong’o plays two characters, Helen and Clytemnestra, connecting her to the film’s mythological world surrounding the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey home. Released on July 17, 2026, the film represents another major large-scale production in Nyong’o’s increasingly diverse filmography.
Other Notable Released Film Appearances
2020 — Black Is King
Black Is King is a musical film and visual album created by Beyoncé and released through Disney+. Nyong’o appears in the project among its collection of prominent performers and artists. Rather than being a conventional narrative feature in which she plays a central fictional character, it is best classified as a musical visual project. Her participation demonstrates the broader range of screen and entertainment projects associated with her career.
2021 — Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? is a documentary special examining the history and cultural impact of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters. Nyong’o serves as the narrator, providing a voice contribution rather than appearing as a conventional on-screen fictional character. The project combines interviews, archival material and animated sequences to explore the enduring appeal of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts universe. It is therefore listed separately from Nyong’o’s standard feature-film acting credits.
Lupita Nyong’o’s Movie Career
Looking at Lupita Nyong’o movies by year shows how quickly her career developed from an early short-film appearance into major international productions. Her Oscar-winning breakthrough in 12 Years a Slave was followed by roles in franchises such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while films including Us, Little Monsters and A Quiet Place: Day One demonstrated her range outside blockbuster filmmaking. Her voice work in The Jungle Book and The Wild Robot has also become an important part of her screen career. With The Odyssey adding another ambitious production to her filmography in 2026, Nyong’o continues to move between prestige cinema, franchise films, horror, animation and large-scale international productions.
