Teyonah Parris is an American actress known for bringing depth and versatility to both independent films and major studio productions. A Juilliard graduate, she began building her screen career with a supporting role in the 2010 romantic comedy How Do You Know, before gaining wider attention through television and independent cinema. Her breakthrough film performance came in Dear White People (2014), where she played the ambitious Colandrea “Coco” Conners. She later delivered a memorable leading performance as Lysistrata in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq and appeared in acclaimed dramas including If Beale Street Could Talk. Parris eventually became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Monica Rambeau, while continuing to take on distinctive roles in films such as Candyman and They Cloned Tyrone. This guide to Teyonah Parris movies by year covers her officially released feature-film appearances in chronological order, while also identifying her notable non-theatrical film work.
2010 — How Do You Know
Teyonah Parris made her feature-film debut in How Do You Know, a 2010 romantic comedy-drama written and directed by James L. Brooks. She played Riva in the film, which starred Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson. The story follows a complicated love triangle involving a professional softball player and a businessman as they navigate relationships and uncertainty. Although Parris had a relatively small supporting role, the film gave her an early opportunity to appear alongside an acclaimed ensemble cast.
2013 — A Picture of You
In 2013, Parris appeared in the independent drama A Picture of You as Mika. Directed and written by J.P. Chan, the film stars Jo Mei and Andrew Pang as siblings who travel to uncover more about their deceased father’s life and confront complicated family memories. Parris is part of the supporting cast in this intimate character-driven story. The film was particularly notable as an early independent project in Parris’ film career and received positive critical attention on the festival and independent-film circuit.
2014 — Dear White People
Dear White People became one of the most important early films in Teyonah Parris’ career. Written and directed by Justin Simien, the comedy-drama is set at a fictional prestigious university where racial tensions intensify among students from different backgrounds. Parris plays Colandrea “Coco” Conners, an ambitious student who hopes to turn her experiences at the university into a career in reality television. The film also stars Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner and Dennis Haysbert, and its sharp examination of race, identity and campus culture helped establish Parris as a rising film performer.
2014 — They Came Together
Parris also appeared in the 2014 romantic comedy They Came Together, directed by David Wain and written by Wain and Michael Showalter. She plays Wanda in the deliberately exaggerated parody of conventional romantic-comedy storytelling, which stars Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. The film follows a couple who recount their relationship while poking fun at familiar rom-com clichés and formulas. Parris’ role is part of the film’s large ensemble, which also includes Cobie Smulders, Bill Hader, Ellie Kemper and Christopher Meloni.
2015 — Five Nights in Maine
Five Nights in Maine is a restrained independent drama directed and written by Maris Curran. Parris plays Penelope in the film, which stars David Oyelowo as a grieving man who travels to rural Maine following the death of his wife to confront his complicated relationship with his mother-in-law, played by Dianne Wiest. The movie premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, although its limited theatrical release took place in August 2016. Because the film is commonly identified with its 2015 festival release, it is included here under 2015 in chronological filmographies.
2015 — Where Children Play
Parris starred as Bellissima McCain in Where Children Play, a 2015 drama written and directed by Leila Djansi. The film follows a young woman who returns to her hometown after her mother’s death and is forced to confront painful memories involving her abusive father. Macy Gray, Brian White and Leon Robinson are among the other principal cast members. The film gave Parris another demanding dramatic role, placing her at the center of a story dealing with family trauma, forgiveness and emotional survival.
2015 — Chi-Raq
One of Parris’ most significant early movie roles came in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq. She plays Lysistrata, a woman living amid gang violence on Chicago’s South Side who organizes a sex strike in an attempt to persuade the men in the community to stop killing each other. The film is a bold modern adaptation of Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata, combining drama, satire, music, poetry and social commentary. Parris’ central performance was widely recognized as a major breakthrough and placed her opposite Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson.
2016 — Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
In 2016, Parris portrayed R&B and jazz singer Miki Howard in Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story. Directed by Christine Swanson, the biographical musical drama chronicles Howard’s difficult early life, abusive relationships, struggles with addiction and eventual rise as a recording artist. Gary Dourdan, Darius McCrary, Amari Cheatom, LisaRaye McCoy and Vanessa Bell Calloway also appear in the cast. This was a television biographical film rather than a conventional theatrical feature, and Parris was also credited as a producer.
Note: Parris also appeared in the 2016 short film 90 Days as Jessica. Because it is a short film rather than a feature-length movie, it is not counted among her feature-film releases.
2018 — If Beale Street Could Talk
Parris returned to major dramatic cinema with Barry Jenkins’ acclaimed adaptation of James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk. She plays Ernestine Rivers, the older sister of KiKi Layne’s Tish Rivers, in a story about love, family and injustice in 1970s Harlem. The ensemble includes Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo, Michael Beach and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with Regina King winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making Parris’ supporting performance part of one of the most celebrated films of her career.
2019 — Point Blank
In 2019, Parris appeared in the action thriller Point Blank, directed by Joe Lynch. She plays Taryn, the pregnant wife of Anthony Mackie’s character Paul, a nurse who becomes caught in a dangerous conspiracy after helping an injured criminal. Frank Grillo and Marcia Gay Harden are also featured in the Netflix action movie. The film combines crime, action and thriller elements and gave Parris a different type of role from the character-driven dramas that had defined much of her earlier movie work.
2020 — Charm City Kings
Parris played Terri in Charm City Kings, a 2020 coming-of-age drama directed by Ángel Manuel Soto. Inspired by the documentary 12 O’Clock Boys, the movie follows a Baltimore teenager who dreams of becoming a dirt-bike rider and gets pulled into the city’s motorcycle culture. Parris appears alongside Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Will Catlett and rapper Meek Mill, who plays the motorcycle rider Blax. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before being released on HBO Max, and its combination of youth drama, family relationships and Baltimore street culture made it a distinctive entry in Parris’ filmography.
2020 — The Photograph
In Stella Meghie’s romantic drama The Photograph, Parris plays Asia, a supporting character connected to the film’s intertwined family stories. The movie stars Issa Rae as Mae Morton and LaKeith Stanfield as journalist Michael Block, whose romance develops while Mae investigates the life of her late mother. Parris’ role contributes to the film’s exploration of relationships, family history and the ways personal memories shape love. Released on Valentine’s Day 2020, The Photograph gave Parris another opportunity to work within an ensemble built around a contemporary romantic drama.
2021 — Candyman
Parris took on one of her most prominent genre roles in the 2021 horror film Candyman. Directed by Nia DaCosta and produced with Jordan Peele among its key creative figures, the movie reimagines the mythology of the original Candyman while returning to Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood. Parris plays Brianna Cartwright, an art-gallery director and partner of artist Anthony McCoy, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The film combines supernatural horror with themes of race, gentrification, violence and historical trauma, and it became one of Parris’ most recognizable big-screen performances.
2023 — They Cloned Tyrone
Parris delivered a particularly memorable performance as Yo-Yo in the 2023 science-fiction comedy mystery They Cloned Tyrone. Juel Taylor directed the film in his feature directorial debut, with Parris starring alongside John Boyega and Jamie Foxx as an unlikely trio investigating a bizarre cloning conspiracy. Yo-Yo is a sharp, ambitious and outspoken character who becomes an essential part of the investigation as the group uncovers a sinister operation hidden beneath their neighborhood. The Netflix film was praised for blending science fiction, mystery, comedy, Blaxploitation influences and social commentary, while Parris’ energetic performance became one of its highlights.
2023 — The Marvels
The Marvels marked Parris’ biggest superhero-film role to date, as she returned as Monica Rambeau. Directed by Nia DaCosta, the Marvel Studios production brings together Parris’ Monica with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. Monica is now an astronaut working with S.A.B.E.R. and possesses powerful abilities connected to electromagnetic energy, making her a central member of the film’s superhero team. The 2023 action-adventure science-fiction movie expanded Parris’ Marvel role beyond her earlier appearance in WandaVision and established Monica as an important figure in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2023 — Dashing Through the Snow
Later in 2023, Parris appeared in the Disney Christmas fantasy comedy Dashing Through the Snow. Directed by Tim Story, the film stars Lil Rel Howery as a social worker who unexpectedly becomes involved in an adventure with Santa Claus, played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. Parris plays Allison Garrick, adding a family-centered dimension to the holiday story alongside Madison Skye Validum. Released on Disney+ in November 2023, the movie combines Christmas fantasy, family comedy and adventure and represents one of the lighter roles in Parris’ filmography.
Teyonah Parris Movies by Year: Conclusion
Teyonah Parris’ movie career has developed across a notably broad range of genres, from romantic comedies and intimate independent dramas to socially conscious films, psychological horror, science fiction and superhero blockbusters. Her early appearances in How Do You Know, A Picture of You and Dear White People established her screen presence, while Chi-Raq and If Beale Street Could Talk demonstrated her ability to carry more substantial dramatic material. Her later work in Candyman, They Cloned Tyrone and The Marvels further expanded her range and introduced her to larger international audiences. With a filmography that combines independent cinema and major studio productions, Teyonah Parris movies by year show a steady progression from supporting roles to prominent lead and franchise performances.
