This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of Courtney B. Vance Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
19
2
The Hunt for Red October
PG
19
2

At the height of the Cold War, Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius, commanding the latest nearly undetectable nuclear missile submarine Red October, defies orders and sets course for America's east coast. After its presence is briefly detected, Jack Ryan, CIA analyst and former Marine, is given three days to confirm his theory that Ramius plans to defect.

Directed By:
John McTiernan
2. Nothing But the Truth (2008)
14
2
Nothing But the Truth
R
14
2

Nothing But the Truth is a mystery drama film, which revolves around Rachel Armstrong, a journalist, who pens a story that divulges the identity of a secret CIA agent. She also refuses to reveal her source, and therefore she is eventually put in jail.  

Directed By:
Rod Lurie
3. Cookie's Fortune (1999)
16
2
Cookie's Fortune
PG-13
16
2

Cookie’s Fortune is a black comedy film which revolves around a dysfunctional family in a small town and their various responses to the suicide of their elderly wealthy aunt.  One of them, Camille, hatches a plan with her sister to hide evidence and make the death seem like suicide.  

Starring:
Glenn Close, Liv Tyler, Lyle Lovett, Patricia Neal, Julianne Moore, Chris O'Donnell, Charles S. Dutton
Directed By:
4. Hamburger Hill (1987)
18
2
Hamburger Hill
R
18
2

During the Vietnam War in May 1969, for 11 days an infantry squad of 14 soldiers under Lt. Frantz wedges a brutal war to conquer Hill937, making repeated attempts against the Vietnamese holding the fortified hill. Apart from the battle casualties, the soldier must deal with stress of racism between white and African-American soldiers, psychological traumas, including the desperation and the futility of war.

Starring:
Don Cheadle, Anthony Barrile, Michael Boatman, Michael Dolan
Directed By:
John Irvin
5. The Last Supper (1995)
13
2
The Last Supper
R
13
2

Pete is a student who gets a lift from Zack, and he invites the latter for dinner to repay the favor. When Zack praises Adolf Hitler at the dinner, Pete’s liberal roommates kill him. They argue that their action is a favor to humanity. Hoping that such actions would ‘make the world a better place’, they decide to invite other conservative guests for dinner, and if they are unwilling to change their beliefs, they would be killed.

Role:
Luke
Directed By:
Stacy Title
6. Ben is Back (2018)
13
2
Ben is Back
R
13
2

Ben is Back is a drama film which revolves around a young man named Ben, who visits his family for Christmas. This surprises them due to his history of drug addiction.

Role:
Neal Beeby
Starring:
Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Kathryn Newton, Marquise Vilson
Directed By:
Peter Hedges
8. Beyond the Law (1993)
13
2
Beyond the Law
R
13
2

Beyond the Law is a crime drama thriller film which tells the story of an undercover cop who infiltrates a biker gang to nail the people who are behind a drug operation. Things get complicated when he is asked to commit heinous crimes, in order to gain the gang leader’s trust. He is not sure how far ‘beyond the law’ he will need to go.

Role:
Conroy Price
Starring:
Charlie Sheen, Linda Fiorentino, Michael Madsen, Leon Rippy
Directed By:
Larry Ferguson
9. Extraordinary Measures (2010)
14
2
Extraordinary Measures
PG
14
2

Extraordinary Measures is a drama film which tells the story of John and Aileen, whose two children suffer from a rare genetic condition. They try to find a researcher who might be able to find a cure, before the condition results in the death of their children.

Directed By:
Tom Vaughan
10. Space Cowboys (2000)
14
2
Space Cowboys
PG-13
14
2

Frank, Hawk, Tank, and Jerry were top Air force test pilots belonging to Team Daedalus. Trained to become America’s first space travelers, they were later replaced by chimpanzees. Years later, when a failing Soviet communications satellite is in danger of crashing down on earth, NASA approaches Frank for help. He agrees on the condition that the he has the full Daedalus team to help him. 

Directed By:
11. Panther (1995)
14
2
Panther
R
14
2
Role:
Bobby Seale
Starring:
Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Angela Bassett, Kadeem Hardison, Bokeem Woodbine, Joe Don Baker, Tyrin Turner
Directed By:
Mario Van Peebles
12. Dangerous Minds (1995)
13
2
Dangerous Minds
R
13
2

Marine LouAnne Johnson leaves the military life behind to become a teacher. However, she has to struggle to earn the respect of her pupils after she is assigned to a class. 

Role:
Mr. George Grandey
Starring:
Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Robin Bartlett, Beatrice Winde
Directed By:
John N. Smith
13. Terminator Genisys (2015)
12
4
Terminator Genisys
PG-13
12
4

After Skynet sends a terminator from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate Sarah Connor, her son, Human Resistance leader John, sends his right-hand man Kyle Reese to protect her. However, Reese finds himself in an altered timeline where Sarah already has a guardian, a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator, and is planning to time-travel to stop Genisys, the predecessor to Skynet.

Starring:
Emilia Clarke, Lee Byung-hun, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons
Directed By:
Alan Taylor
14. Uncorked (2020)
13
2
Uncorked
TV-MA
13
2
Role:
Louis
Starring:
Mamoudou Athie, Lashun Pollard , Michael Mobley , Robert Cox
Directed By:
Prentice Penny
15. The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993)
14
2
The Adventures of Huck Finn
PG
14
2

Huckleberry Finn, whose father is an abusive drunkard, decides to run away from his home, after faking his death. He is soon accompanied by Jim, a runaway slave. They travel together and follow the Mississippi River to Cairo, Illinois, so that Jim can evade arrest and escape to freedom. They soon learn that Jim has become a wanted man now, falsely accused of murdering Huck.

Role:
Jim
Starring:
Elijah Wood, Jason Robards, Anne Heche, Robbie Coltrane, Ron Perlman
Directed By:
Stephen Sommers
16. Project Power (2020)
11
2
Project Power
R
11
2

After learning about a new pill that gives its users unpredictable superpowers temporarily, a former soldier joins forces with a local cop and a young dealer, in order to find the people responsible for creating it.

Role:
Captain Craine
Starring:
Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
17. The Photograph (2020)
11
2
The Photograph
PG-13
11
2
Role:
Louis
Starring:
Issa Rae, Chelsea Peretti
18. Final Destination 5 (2011)
11
2
Final Destination 5
R
11
2
Starring:
Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe
Directed By:
Steven Quale
19. Office Christmas Party (2016)
11
2
Office Christmas Party
R
11
2

After his sister, who is also the CEO of his company, threatens to shut down his branch, Branch manager Clay throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client, to save the day. However, the party gets way out of control. 

Starring:
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon, T.J. Miller, Olivia Munn
Directed By:
Josh Gordon, Will Speck
20. The Divide (2011)
10
2
The Divide
R
10
2

After a nuclear attack, few survivors are stuck in the basement of their apartment building for several days. As their supplies dwindle and they see no hope of rescue, they become quite hopeless of the situation. However, one of the survivors holds on to a thin chance to escape. 

Role:
Delvin
Starring:
Lauren German, Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Biehn, Ashton Holmes
Directed By:
Xavier Gens
21. The Preacher's Wife (1996)
16
2
The Preacher's Wife
PG
16
2

Henry Biggs is a pastor at a struggling church, in a small poor neighborhood in New York City. He is in pressure from a real estate developer who wants to sell the property of the church to build luxury condos. Meanwhile, his relationship with his wife also seems to be failing. Things get interesting when a man enters his life claiming to be an angel sent by God.

Role:
Reverend Henry Biggs
Starring:
Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Jenifer Lewis, Gregory Hines
Directed By:
Penny Marshall
22. Joyful Noise (2012)
11
2
Joyful Noise
PG-13
11
2

Joyful Noise is a musical comedy drama film which revolves around Rose, a woman who is appointed as the new director of a choir. She takes control of the choir using traditional Gospel style, and this brings her at odds with Sparrow, the previous director’s widow. Sparrow disagrees that this is how their choir should perform at the national competition. When children get involved in the choir, the rivalry heats up further.

 

Starring:
Keke Palmer, Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Jeremy Jordan
Directed By:
Todd Graff
23. The Mummy (2017)
11
3
The Mummy
PG-13
11
3

High priest Imhoptep is sentenced to suffer Hom Dai after murdering Pharaoh Seti I. When he is accidentally resurrected during an excavation in Hamunaputra, he unleashes evil and will not stop until he has resurrected his lover Anck-su-namun. Only Rick O’Connell, Evelyn, Ardeth Bay and a few others stand in his way. 

Starring:
Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe, Jake Johnson, Marwan Kenzari, Annabelle Wallis
Directed By:
Alex Kurtzman
24. D-Tox (2002)
10
2
D-Tox
R
10
2

D-Tox is an American psychological thriller film which revolves around an FBI Agent Jake Malloy, whose girlfriend is killed by the serial killer whom he is pursuing. He becomes depressed and soon descends into alcoholism, and attempts suicide. He is admitted into a rehab but soon it appears that the killer has begun his killing spree again.

Starring:
Sylvester Stallone, Tom Berenger, Kris Kristofferson, Charles S. Dutton, Polly Walker, Mif
Directed By:
Jim Gillespie
25. Holy Matrimony (1994)
10
2
Holy Matrimony
PG-13
10
2
Starring:
Patricia Arquette, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tate Donovan, John Schuck
Directed By:
26. Blind Faith (1998)
13
2
Blind Faith
R
13
2
Role:
John Williams
Starring:
Lonette McKee, Kadeem Hardison, Charles S. Dutton, Garland Whitt
Directed By:
Ernest R. Dickerson
27. Ambushed (1998)
11
3
Ambushed
R
11
3
Role:
Jerry Robinson
Starring:
David Keith, Virginia Madsen, William Forsythe, Jeremy Lelliott
Directed By:
Ernest R. Dickerson
28. Love and Action in Chicago (1999)
14
2
Love and Action in Chicago
R
14
2
Role:
Eddie Jones
Starring:
Kathleen Turner, Ed Asner, Jason Alexander, Edward Asner, Regina King
Directed By:
Dwayne Johnson-Cochran

TV Movie(s)

1. 12 Angry Men (1997)
16
2
12 Angry Men
PG-13
16
2
Role:
Foreman
Starring:
Tony Danza, Jack Lemmon, James Gandolfini, Edward James Olmos, Ossie Davis, Hume Cronyn, George C. Scott
Directed By:
William Friedkin
2. The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
14
2
The Tuskegee Airmen
PG-13
14
2
Role:
Lt. Glenn (as Courtney Vance)
Starring:
Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mekhi Phifer, Vivica A. Fox, Andre Braugher, John Lithgow, Allen Payne
Directed By:
Robert Markowitz
3. First Affair (1983)
13
4
First Affair
13
4
Starring:
Melissa Sue Anderson, Joel Higgins, Loretta Swit, Kim Delaney
Directed By:
Gus Trikonis
4. Let It Shine (2012)
13
2
Let It Shine
TV-G
13
2
Starring:
Tyler James Williams, Dawnn Lewis, Brandon Mychal Smith, Trevor Jackson
Directed By:
Paul Hoen
5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)
12
2
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
TV-MA
12
2
Starring:
Rose Byrne, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sylvia Grace Crim, Reed Birney, Karen Wheeling Reynolds
Directed By:
George C. Wolfe
6. The Boys Next Door (1996)
13
2
The Boys Next Door
PG
13
2
Role:
Lucien P. Singer
Starring:
Mare Winningham, Tony Goldwyn, Nathan Lane, Robert Sean Leonard
Directed By:
John Erman
7. The Piano Lesson (1995)
13
2
The Piano Lesson
PG
13
2
Starring:
Alfre Woodard, Charles S. Dutton, Carl Gordon, Tommy Hollis
Directed By:
Lloyd Richards
8. Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story (2002)
13
2
Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story
R
13
2
Role:
Clarence Brandley
Starring:
Heath Lamberts, Chuck Shamata, Eamonn Walker, Gil Bellows
Directed By:
Tony Bill
9. The Affair (1995)
17
2
The Affair
R
17
2
Role:
Travis Holloway
Starring:
Ned Beatty, Bill Nunn, Kerry Fox, Leland Gantt
Directed By:
Paul Seed
10. Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad (1994)
13
2
Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad
13
2
Starring:
Nigel Bennett, Janet Bailey, Falconer Abraham, Dwight Bacquie
Directed By:
Don McBrearty
11. In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992)
11
2
In the Line of Duty: Street War
11
2
Role:
Justice Butler
Starring:
Peter Boyle, Ray Sharkey, Michael Boatman, Morris Chestnut
Directed By:
Dick Lowry
12. Percy & Thunder (1993)
12
2
Percy & Thunder
12
2
Role:
Thunder
Starring:
James Earl Jones, Mick E. Jones, Ron Shipp, Mike Finneran
Directed By:
Ivan Dixon
13. Naked City: Justice with a Bullet (1998)
10
2
Naked City: Justice with a Bullet
10
2
Role:
Officer James Halloran
Starring:
Eli Wallach, Scott Glenn, Giancarlo Esposito, Kathryn Erbe
Directed By:
Jeff Freilich
14. Naked City: A Killer Christmas (1998)
9
2
Naked City: A Killer Christmas
9
2
Role:
Officer James Halloran
Starring:
Scott Glenn, Barbara Williams, Nigel Bennett, Laura Leighton
Directed By:
Peter Bogdanovich

Animation(s)

Isle of Dogs (2018)
Isle of Dogs
PG-13
Plot:

Isle of Dogs is an animated adventure comedy film, which takes us to Japan, and tells the story of a young boy, who is on a quest to find his lost dog. On his journey, he befriends several other dogs, who decide to help him. 

Starring:
Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblum, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton
Directed By:
Wes Anderson
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008)
The Spectacular Spider-Man
TV-Y7
Starring:
Lacey Chabert, Jane Lynch, Thomas F. Wilson, Danny Trejo, Miguel Ferrer, Keith David, Alanna Ubach
Directed By:
Kevin Altieri, Victor Cook, Michael Goguen, Dan Fausett, Dave Bullock
The Wild Thornberrys (1998)
The Wild Thornberrys
TV-G
Starring:
Christina Pickles, Lynn Redgrave, Marion Ross, Phyllis Diller, Alfred Molina, Tara Strong, Doris Roberts
Directed By:
Cathy Malkasian, Sylvia Keulen, Carol Millican, Steve Ressel, Becky Bristow

TV Shows and Videos

Nova (1974)
Nova
TV-PG
Starring:
Henry Ian Cusick, John Lithgow, Jay O. Sanders, Will Lyman, Neil Ross
American Crime Story (2016)
American Crime Story
TV-MA
Role:
Johnnie Cochran (20 episodes, 2016-2018)
Starring:
John Travolta, Matthew Broderick, Penelope Cruz, Sarah Paulson, Darren Criss, Selma Blair, Dennis Quaid
Directed By:
Ryan Murphy, Anthony Hemingway
Awards:
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
American Experience (1988)
American Experience
Starring:
Linda Hunt, Hal Linden, Werner Klemperer, Len Cariou, Michael Stuhlbarg, Barbara Feldon, Holly Hunter
Directed By:
David Grubin, Stephen Ives, Barak Goodman, Ric Burns, Adriana Bosch
Any Day Now (1998)
Any Day Now
Starring:
RuPaul, Jennifer Morrison, Alexandra Hedison, Louise Fletcher, Lois Chiles, Jeff Dunham
Masters of Sex (2013)
Masters of Sex
TV-MA
Starring:
Lizzy Caplan, Sarah Silverman, Allison Janney, Michael Sheen, Maggie Grace, Judy Greer, Rose McIver
Directed By:
Michael Dinner, Jennifer Getzinger, Michael Apted, Colin Bucksey, Adam Arkin
Revenge (2011)
Revenge
TV-PG
Starring:
Jussie Smollett, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Robbie Amell, Courtney Ford, Courtney Love, Hiroyuki Sanada, Margarita Levieva
Directed By:
Kenneth Fink, J. Miller Tobin, Bobby Roth, Matt Earl Beesley, John Terlesky
Scandal (2012)
Scandal
TV-14
Starring:
Brenda Song, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Kimmel, Portia de Rossi, Kerry Washington, Yara Shahidi, Ann Cusack
Directed By:
Jeannot Szwarc, Regina King, Randy Zisk, Stephen Cragg, Paul McCrane
Picket Fences (1992)
Picket Fences
Starring:
Paul Winfield, Ray Walston, Della Reese, Teresa Wright, Alyson Hannigan, Jane Kaczmarek, Tom Skerritt
Directed By:
Michael Schultz, Bethany Rooney, Michael Pressman, James Frawley, Alan Myerson
ER (1994)
ER
TV-14
Starring:
Alexis Bledel, Dakota Fanning, Alexa Vega, Jared Padalecki, Ewan McGregor, Kirsten Dunst, Stana Katic
Directed By:
Christopher Chulack, Jonathan Kaplan, Richard Thorpe, Stephen Cragg, Lesli Linka Glatter
Law & Order (1990)
Law & Order
TV-14
Starring:
Daniella Alonso, Jennifer Esposito, Aida Turturro, William H. Macy, Timothy Busfield, Corey Stoll, Jeremy Sisto
Directed By:
Constantine Makris, Edwin Sherin, Jace Alexander, David Platt, Richard Dobbs
Graceland (2013)
Graceland
Starring:
Peter Stormare, Vanessa Ferlito, Daniel Sunjata, Aaron Tveit, Serinda Swan, Brandon Jay McLaren
Directed By:
Lucy Liu, Sanford Bookstaver, Stephen Surjik, Duane Clark, Renny Harlin
Flashforward (2009)
Flashforward
TV-14
Role:
Stanford Wedeck / ... (23 episodes, 2009-2010)
Starring:
Seth MacFarlane, Kim Dickens, Joseph Fiennes, Laura Marano, Alex Kingston, Patrick J. Adams, Dominic Monaghan
Directed By:
Constantine Makris, Leslie Libman, Bobby Roth, John Polson, Michael Rymer
The Closer (2005)
The Closer
Starring:
Kyra Sedgwick, Stephanie Beatriz, Daryl Sabara, Jennifer Coolidge, Daniel Baldwin, Gary Cole, Page Kennedy
Directed By:
Michael Pressman, Gloria Muzio, Scott Ellis, Nelson McCormick, Elodie Keene
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV-14
Role:
Ron Carver (111 episodes, 2001-2006)
Starring:
DJ Qualls, Andrew McCarthy, Alison Pill, Michael York, Stephen Colbert, Aaron Stanford, Fran Drescher
Directed By:
Frank Prinzi, Jean de Segonzac, Steve Shill, Darnell Martin, Norberto Barba
Thirtysomething (1987)
Thirtysomething
Starring:
Stanley Tucci, Kevin Pollak, Eddie Albert, Brad Pitt, Mariska Hargitay, Angela Bassett, Timothy Busfield
Directed By:
Scott Winant, Ron Lagomarsino, Peter Horton, Ken Olin, Marshall Herskovitz
Boston Public (2000)
Boston Public
Starring:
Bianca Kajlich, Dennis Miller, Ben Foster, Michael Jai White, Lyndsy Fonseca, Harry Shum Jr., Boris Kodjoe
Directed By:
Michael Schultz, Bethany Rooney, Steven Robman, Jeannot Szwarc, Mel Damski
State of Mind (2007)
State of Mind
Starring:
Chris Diamantopoulos, Cody Christian, Lili Taylor, Kevin Chamberlin, Theresa Randle, Devon Gummersall
Directed By:
Arvin Brown, Adam Arkin
Lovecraft Country (2020)
Lovecraft Country
TV-MA
Role:
George Freeman
Starring:
Michael K. Williams, Tony Goldwyn
State of Affairs (2014)
State of Affairs
TV-14
Starring:
Katherine Heigl, David Harbour, Cress Williams, Alfre Woodard, Adam Arkin, Adam Kaufman, Sheila Vand
Directed By:
Nelson McCormick, Joe Carnahan

Courtney B. Vance Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
American Crime Story Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie 2016