Lupita Ny'ongo Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Lupita Ny'ongo-whose latest project "The Wild Robot" releases in theaters today.  

Lupita Ny'ongo's Filmography:

12.Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker (D)

11.The Jungle Book (D+)

10.Star Wars: The Last Jedi (B-)

9.The 355 (B)

8.Little Monsters (B)

7.12 Years a Slave (B)

6.Non-Stop (B+)

5.A Quiet Place: Day One (B+)

4.Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (B+)

3.Us (B+)

2.Star Wars: The Force Awakens (A-)

1.Black Panther (A)

Top Dog: Black Panther (2018)

T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and the nation of Wakanda in Captain America: Civil War were the best parts of that key MCU entry. His headlining feature debut 2 years later built upon that impressive introduction and then some. Ryan Coogler brought something a bit different to the table by making a superhero epic that doubled as a political saga and really compelling, emotional family drama. Boseman does terrific work as the reluctant new king of Wakanda trying to navigate his late father's (John Kani) complicated legacy, Michael B. Jordan makes Erik Killmonger a fascinating villain by finding the empathy that exists beyond his diabolical exterior and the Busan casino fight is the single most underrated action setpiece in MCU history.        

Bottom Feeder: Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker (2019)

We're approaching the 5-year anniversary of Rise of Skywalker's entry into the world and the disdain that I carry for this film hasn't dissipated at all. While I've seen plenty of films that I feel are considerably worse than Rise of Skywalker, it is easily the most shamelessly pandering pile of shit I've ever watched. Making what effectively plays like the most expensive fan film ever made in an attempt to win back the incel crybabies that lost their minds over Rey (Daisy Ridley) being revealed to be a Jedi and the handling of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi is one of the most gutless things a studio has done in recent memory. The fact that it wasn't well-liked, made approximately $300 mill less than The Last Jedi did at the global box office and put J.J. Abrams in director's jail for 5+ years (his next project has finally gained traction in recent months and appears set to come out in 2026 or 2027) makes the decision even more pathetic.         

Most Underrated: Non-Stop (2014)

Of all the films that have come from Liam Nesson's post-Taken rebranding as an old man action star, this one is a strong contender for the best of the bunch. Non-Stop makes excellent use of its confined airplane setting to tell a propulsive, twist-heavy story that efficiently builds its way up to an appropriately absurd finale that allows Nesson's newfound skull-cracking skills to shine brightly.    

Most Overrated: The Jungle Book (2016)

The Jungle Book is one of the few Disney "live action" remakes thus far that was met warmly by both critics and audiences. I'm not among this group. Honestly, I think it's only slightly less flat and sterile than Jon Faverau's other entry (The Lion King) in this depressing collection of films from the Mouse House-which won't end anytime soon as they've got a whopping 3 set for release from December through next summer (Mufasa: The Lion King, Snow White, Lilo & Stitch).