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Idris Elba

Idris Elba

56 movies on Netflix

Biography

Idris Elba is an English actor, producer and DJ who trained at London's National Youth Music Theatre before building a career across British television and Hollywood. Born in the London Borough of Hackney, he first drew notice as Tim in Family Affairs and as Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire (2002 to 2004), then as DCI John Luther in Luther, which won him a Golden Globe. He earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for Beasts of No Nation (2015) and a Golden Globe nomination for playing Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013). His films include American Gangster (2007), Prometheus (2012), Pacific Rim (2013) and Molly's Game (2017), and he portrayed Heimdall in Marvel films beginning with Thor (2011). He voiced Chief Bogo in Zootopia and Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, and made his directorial debut with Yardie (2018).

54years old

Turns 55 on September 6in 319 days

  • Born London Borough of Hackney
  • Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
  • Idrissa Akuna Elba (birth name)Also credited as Big Driis the Londoner, DJ Big Driis and Idrissa Akuna Elba Obe

Movie Career

Films
56
Career span
25 years2001 to 2026

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Idris Elba, photo 1 of 3
  • Idris Elba, photo 2 of 3
  • Idris Elba, photo 3 of 3

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Did you know?!

  1. A role that slipped away

    Elba was cast as the title character in a reboot of the Alex Cross film franchise in 2010, but was replaced by Tyler Perry the following February.

  2. Own stunts

    Elba trained in kickboxing and mixed martial arts for twelve months under Muay Thai coach Kieran Keddle, then won his first professional kickboxing fight against Lionel Graves at York Hall.

  3. A first

    Elba voiced the character Truck in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which came out in 2011 and was the first video game he appeared in.

Idris Elba movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Zootopia2016 Action, Adventure, Animationas Chief Bogovoice

    IMDb rating 8.0650K votes

  2. The Suicide Squad2021 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Bloodsport

    IMDb rating 7.2466K votes

  3. Pacific Rim2013as Stacker Pentecost

    IMDb rating 6.9564K votes

  4. Prometheus2012as Janek

    IMDb rating 7.0707K votes

  5. Thor: Ragnarok2017as Heimdall

    IMDb rating 7.9913K votes

  6. Thor2011as Heimdall

    IMDb rating 7.0984K votes

  7. The Dark Tower2017as Roland

    IMDb rating 5.6157K votes

  8. Molly's Game2017as Charlie Jaffey

    IMDb rating 7.4206K votes

Most often with

Taika Waititi directed two of these films, Ridley Scott two and Byron Howard two. Chris Hemsworth appears in seven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Chris Hemsworth, 7 films togetherSee the 7 films with Chris HemsworthZoe Saldana, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Zoe SaldanaTom Hiddleston, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Tom HiddlestonAnthony Hopkins, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Anthony HopkinsStellan Skarsgård, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Stellan SkarsgårdScarlett Johansson, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Scarlett JohanssonTaika WaititiDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Taika WaititiRidley ScottDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Ridley ScottByron HowardDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Byron Howard

Films together

Box office

What Idris Elba's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$15.5 billion

43 of the 56 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 56 films: 43 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 4 never in cinemas; 4 streaming, short cinema run; 4 figure not found.

  • 43Worldwide figure
  • 1US gross only
  • 4Never in cinemas
  • 4Streaming, short cinema run
  • 4Figure not found

Top grosser

Avengers: Infinity War2018as Heimdall$2.1 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 64% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Avengers: Infinity War2018as Heimdall
    $2.1B13.2% of the total
  2. 2
    Zootopia 22025as Chief Bogo (voice)
    $1.9B12.0% of the total
  3. 3
    Avengers: Age of Ultron2015as Heimdall
    $1.4B9.0% of the total
  4. 4
    Finding Dory2016as Fluke (voice)
    $1.0B6.6% of the total
  5. 5
    Zootopia2016as Chief Bogo (voice)
    $1.0B6.6% of the total
  6. 6
    The Jungle Book2016as Shere Khan (voice)
    $967M6.2% of the total
  7. 7
    Thor: Ragnarok2017as Heimdall
    $855M5.5% of the total
  8. 8
    Thor: Love and Thunder2022as Heimdall
    $761M4.9% of the total
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), $760 millionThor: The Dark World (2013), $645 millionSonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), $492 millionThor (2011), $449 millionPacific Rim (2013), $411 millionSonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), $405 millionPrometheus (2012), $403 millionStar Trek Beyond (2016), $343 millionAmerican Gangster (2007), $270 millionThe Suicide Squad (2021), $169 millionGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), $133 millionMasters of the Universe (2026), $114 millionThe Dark Tower (2017), $113 millionTakers (2010), $80.2 millionCats (2019), $77.3 millionThe Unborn (2009), $76.5 million

$5.6 billionfrom the other 35 films with a worldwide figure, 36% of the total

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1988 to 2026.

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Idris Elba's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
2026Knight BachelorWon
2022Honorary doctorateHonorary
2016Officer of the Order of the British EmpireWon
1988The King's TrustWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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