F. Gary Gray’s success with 2015’s Straight from Compton introducing moviegoers to a new generation of talented actors. Everything from Corey Hawkins’ classically trained background to O’Shea Jackson Jr.s consistent work ethic has proven that the right project can make or break an actor’s career. In addition, the film’s success reinforced Hollywood’s need to fulfill its promise to tell stories with different voices.
O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s performance as his father and legendary West Coast rapper Ice Cube instantly made him popular with the public. Despite the praise the performance received upon release, Jackson Jr. booked and kept busy since the film’s release, and has since taken on an eclectic array of roles. In this article, we look at some of Jackson Jr.’s lesser-known performances.
10 Cocaine Bear
Elizabeth Banks’ 2023 horror comedy Cocaine Bear was released earlier this year and grossed nearly $100 million against a budget of $35 million. The film follows the hijinks of an American black bear who comes across a few blocks of cocaine, swallows it and goes on a killing spree in the American South. Loosely based on a true story, the film has drawn comparisons Snakes in an airplane due to the similar themes between humans and nature and outrageous comedic moments.
In Cocaine Bearplays Jackson Jr. a fixer named Daveed. Daveed is on a mission to recover the cocaine for Syd White, his employer. This role is notable for Jackson Jr. as he secured the part via Twitter rather than an audition. In addition, fans of Ice Cube and Jackson Jr. comparisons to this film and Cube’s 1997 thriller Anacondaa film in which Cube and Jennifer Lopez face off against a scheming anaconda in the Amazon.
9 Obi Wan Kenobi
At Disneys Obi Wan Kenobi, played Jackson Jr. Path commander Kawlan Roken, a man in charge of a guerrilla group fighting against the Empire. Despite appearing in only three episodes, Jackson Jr.’s portrayal of the leader was one of the show’s highlights. Loyal, intelligent, and always ready for war, Kawlan earned Obi-Wan’s respect almost immediately after meeting him. Even in the face of certain death, Kawlan commits to assisting Kenobi in his fight against Reva and Darth Vader. In return for this display of bravery, Kenobi will do whatever it takes to ensure that Kawlan and the Path escape Vader safely.
8 Now
The Miniseries Now was a comedy series created by Bobby and Peter Farrelly and premiered on Roku Channel in 2021. Starring Dave Franco, Daryl Hannah and Bill Murray, the show is about a young man who struggles with suicidal thoughts and decides to stop dwelling on the past to live and dwell on the future and focus on the present – whether the now. Jackson Jr. appeared in nine of the show’s fourteen episodes as Coop.
Coop is a police officer and is a more determined character in Now. Whenever Ed or Hal, Coop’s friends, are in trouble, he bails them out. Despite seemingly getting his composure together, Coop is dealing with complications in his personal life. However, he puts his struggle under his belt to help his friends through theirs. Jackson Jr. excels in his role in this comedy, adding to the show’s theme of laughing in hard times.
7 Ingrid goes west
Daniel “Dan” Pinto is an aspiring LA screenwriter obsessed with Gotham’s very own Batman. Ingrid goes west was Jackson Jr.’s first feature film role. after the success of Straight from Compton. Director Matt Spicer’s 2017 black comedy Ingrid goes west tells the story of obsession and what it can do to a person in the social media dominated world we live in.
Only grossing around $3.3 million at the box office, not many people knew about Jackson Jr.’s involvement in the movie, but fans of Ingrid have praised it for its story and cast. Jackson Jr. stands out in the film as Dan, as his character is warm and empathetic despite never being required to. On multiple occasions, the titular Ingrid finds herself in an awkward or dangerous situation that Dan usually bails her out of. If forgiving someone for crashing your truck while under the influence doesn’t make you a good friend, preventing them from committing suicide after a nervous breakdown does. And in Dan’s case, he does both.
6 Small chance
Jonathan Levine’s 2019 romcom Small chance stars beloved comedic actor Seth Rogen and acting virtuoso Charlize Theron. Rogen plays Fred, an unemployed journalist with strong liberal leanings, and Theron plays Charlotte Field, the Secretary of State. The film was a moderate success with critics and audiences and was particularly praised for its cast and humor.
Jackson Jr. played Lance, a thriving tech entrepreneur and Lance’s best friend. Confident, charming and solvent, Lance is everything Fred isn’t. Despite their differences, the two get along well, and Lance constantly offers Fred advice with career and relationship advice. The audience praised Jackson Jr.’s performance. because it deviated from the more dramatic roles the actor typically accepts. Plus, the movie features a hilarious scene about African-American Republicans taking Jackson Jr.’s comedic chops. to show.
5 Thieves hideout
Christian Gudegast’s 2018 action heist film Thieves hideout see Jackson Jr. performing alongside industry professionals such as Gerard Butler, Pablo Scheiber and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Set in Jackson Jr.’s hometown of Los Angeles, California, the film follows a group of LAPD cops trying to stop a group of ex-Marines from robbing the Federal Reserve Bank of Downtown Los Angeles. The film grossed $80.5 million against a budget of $30 million, spawning a sequel, Thieves’ Den 2: Panterawould be out sometime next year.
In the heist film, Jackson Jr. Donnie Wilson, a meek bartender who ends up working as an informant for Nick and his team. As the film progresses, the audience discovers that Donnie is a skilled getaway driver, despite his initial claims that he only worked in a bar. This revelation makes him an asset to both factions, and it soon becomes clear to sharp-eyed viewers that there’s more to Donnie than meets the eye.
At the end of the film, Donnie’s claims that he is just an unsuspecting getaway driver fall apart when he reveals that he is the mastermind behind the film’s robbery. With the sequel underway and Butler once again attached to the lead role, here’s hoping he takes on Jackson Jr. as the criminal mastermind.
4 Just grace
Destin Daniel Cretton’s 2019 biographical legal drama Just grace was well received upon release. The film features acclaimed performances from Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson alongside Jackson Jr. A tale of struggle and forgiveness, the film follows attorney and social activist Bryan Stevenson as he fights assiduously for the freedom of a wrongfully convicted man in 1980s Alabama.
Jackson Jr. plays Anthony Ray Hinton, an innocent man wrongfully convicted of the murder of two people in the mid-1980s. Jackson Jr.’s Screen Time in this film is the least of all our entries, but his ability to capture the pain and contempt a man experiences when he is wrongly accused of a heinous crime he did not commit stands on a par. Praised by the real life Anthony Ray Hinton for his portrayal, Jackson Jr. even more impressive considering he never met Hinton before filming.
3 Drunk history
Comedy Centrals Drunk history was an educational comedy that falsified American history. Every episode was hosted by a drunk host who, in their buzzed or drunken state, would narrate a pivotal moment in America. Another interesting aspect of the show was that each actor would lip-sync their dialogue instead of speaking it.
Jackson Jr. appeared alongside Brian Tyree Henry, Method Man and Jaleel White in an episode about the birth of hip-hop. Jackson Jr. plays DJ Kool Herc, one of the founders of Hip-Hop, in a hilarious bit where he perfectly lip syncs Questlove’s drunken ramblings. Moreover, in this episode, he has good chemistry with his co-stars and once again shows his range in comedies.
2 Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Michael Dougherty’s 2019 American monster movie Godzilla: King of the Monsters was a huge box office success grossing nearly $400 million worldwide. Critics and audiences praised the movie for its stunning visuals and special effects, reduced focus on the human subplots, and of course, seeing Godzilla and King Ghidorah fight to the death. With the success of this movie and the one of 2021 Godzilla against Kongwe think it’s safe to assume there won’t be a shortage of Godzilla-based movies anytime soon.
Jackson Jr. plays in this movie. Chief Warrant Officer Jackson Barnes, the senior officer of the film’s G Team, an elite military team that helps neutralize monsters. Even though we pay to see the monsters in these movies, it can be refreshing if the human characters are well written and contribute more than just a quick death to the story. In the case of Chief Warrant Officer Barnes, his leadership and bravery stood out among many of his co-stars, who were either stunned with fear or eaten. Jackson Jr. has stated that he is a lifelong fan of Godzilla and confessed to being in a Godzilla movie was a dream come true.
1 Swagger
Apple TV+s Swagger is a sports drama loosely inspired by Kevin Durant’s experiences entering the NBA. The show explores the world of youth basketball, its players and the hurdles they face in playing basketball professionally. Additionally, Swagger explores themes of violence, corruption, hope and ambition and how these things affect young people.
With season 2 on the way, it’s safe to say the show is doing well and finding its audience. The chemistry between Jackson Jr. and co-star Isaiah Hill is a point of praise from audiences. In addition, Jackson Jr. praise from critics and audiences for his performance as Ike “Icon” Edwards for his credibility as a stern yet loving youth basketball coach.