Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is making waves with his powerful performance as Simon Williams in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s hit new series, Wonder Man (2026). Audiences and critics are hailing Wonder Man as one of the MCU’s best projects in recent years, largely due to Abdul-Mateen’s subtle but powerful performance, which imbues the miniseries with a personal touch and sense of heart that’s been missing from the franchise.
While many are just discovering Abdul-Mateen's talent, he has been here in Hollywood all along and has made an impression in several other major franchises. From horror to drama to superhero action, Abdul-Mateen has done just about everything in an incredibly short amount of time. If you’re eager to get further acquainted with the rising star, use our guide to find out where to watch his best TV shows and movies, ranked to the best based on project quality and Abdul-Mateen’s performance, on platforms like Max, Disney+, and more.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman marks another small but potent role for Abdul-Mateen. In the film, he portrays W. D. Wheeler, an acrobat and Anne Wheeler's (Zendaya) older brother. He’s quiet, but protective of his sister, and the pair share the same fear and desire for acceptance. The Greatest Showman was one of Abdul-Mateen’s first major movie performances, and he proves his knack for packing a lot of emotion in a short amount of time. Although Zendaya takes the spotlight, Abdul-Mateen complements her role nicely.
The Greatest Showman is an excellent watch for viewers seeking a feel-good musical, reminiscent of Wonka (2023). It features excellent characters, dazzling performances, and a strong message about acceptance and success. However, the movie often forsakes truth for a lighthearted, inspiring story. Between its historical revisionism and Abdul-Mateen’s relatively minor role, The Greatest Showman takes last place on this list.
Us (2019)
Abdul-Mateen boasts a small role in the horror film Us. In the film, he appears in flashbacks as the main character Adelaide’s (Lupita Nyong’o) father, Russel. Although it’s a small role, it’s quite impactful, helping viewers understand Adelaide’s background, including the tension between her bickering parents and their cluelessness about how to cope with her disappearance. Us as a whole is an excellent and thought-provoking horror movie. It induces the perfect amount of fear, horror, and anxiety, and is a genuinely chilling watch.
However, Us also goes beyond the typical horror movie, seeking not just to horrify audiences but to make them think about social inequality and the nature of disparity. Like Get Out (2017), Us offers a lot to think about while still delivering excellent horror. The only reason it ranks low on this list is that Abdul-Mateen’s role was so small that it’s easy to miss him.
Black Mirror (2011-present)
Abdul-Mateen appears in Season 5, episode 1 of the anthology series Black Mirror. In the episode “Striking Vipers,” he portrays Karl, a young man who begins to have a virtual affair with his friend Danny (Anthony Mackie) via the video game Striking Vipers, even though Danny is married and has a child. “Striking Vipers” is an interesting installment in the Black Mirror series, delving into love triangles and virtual infidelity, and it feels very different from other episodes that explore more intense dystopian and sci-fi concepts.
However, Abdul-Mateen and Mackie make the episode work, perfectly capturing the confusion of two men exploring their sexuality through a video game. It leaves many aspects ambiguous and raises interesting questions of infidelity, sexuality, and the ethical implications of virtual relationships. Since the episode is mainly from Danny’s point of view, though, Abdul-Mateen’s performance is a little more subdued to fit the more flat characterization of Karl.
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-2025)
The Handmaid’s Tale season 2, episode 3, “Baggage,” marks the best guest appearance of Abdul-Mateen. He appears in the episode as Omar, a member of the resistance who secretly practices Islam and attempts to help smuggle June (Elisabeth Moss) into Canada. Although he means well, he’s torn between helping June and keeping himself and his family safe. As “Econopeople,” he and his wife have everything to lose by helping June, but they try to do so anyway.
Omar perfectly captures the struggles of someone who isn’t brave, yet still tries their best to be. His family’s story is brief, but deeply moving, as people who strive to help not just themselves but people less fortunate than them. As always, Abdul-Mateen packs a lot of emotion and power into a small role, while the episode helps propel the haunting, unforgettable world of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Aquaman (2018)
Abdul-Mateen stars in Aquaman as the villain Black Manta opposite Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry. Abdul-Mateen brings Black Manta to life flawlessly. He adds depth to Black Manta through the emotion he infuses into his relationship with his father and the way he conveys grief. However, he also beautifully demonstrates how that grief begins to shift into a madness that more closely aligns with his comic book counterpart, packing in quite a bit of brutality and ferocity.
Still, I believe the story restricted him a bit, keeping him from going all in on the role, both to make room for the other antagonist and to keep the tone lighthearted. The lighthearted tone works well for the movie as a whole, giving Aquaman the charm and appeal of other movies like Shazam! (2019) and Blue Beetle (2023), though it leaves one feeling like Abdul-Mateen could’ve done even more as Black Manta if given the chance.
Candyman (2021)
Abdul-Mateen is the lead star of Candyman, in which he portrays an artist, Anthony, who becomes obsessed with the legend of a hook-handed killer dubbed Candyman. His performance as Anthony reminds me a lot of his performance as Wonder Man. He has a knack for playing the role of a man so dedicated to his art that it manifests as obsession and anxiety, and slowly becomes all-consuming. Of course, his unraveling goes to much greater heights in Candyman than it does in Aquaman or Wonder Man.
Abdul-Mateen adds depth and backstory to the Candyman film series while meticulously balancing a complicated character who is human, flawed, sympathetic, and terrifying all at once. However, how well Candyman resonates with viewers depends on whether they’re open to this new interpretation of the legend or if they prefer a successor that stays truer to its roots.
First Match (2018)
First Match is one of Abdul-Mateen’s most underrated movies. The Netflix film tells the story of Monique (Elvire Emanuelle), who joins her school’s boys’ wrestling team in a bid to win her father Darrel’s (Abdul-Mateen) approval. It’s a poignant, tear-jerker film that strives to capture the experiences of foster children and of those who feel they must win their parents’ approval. Abdul-Mateen offers a great performance as Darrel, turning what could’ve been a typical deadbeat father role into something more complex about a man trying to live through his daughter after giving up his own dreams.
At times, Darrel is unlikable, but at other times, viewers can see his perspective. It’s not an easy role to balance, but Abdul-Mateen pulls it off. First Match reminds me of movies like I, Tonya (2017) and The Fire Inside (2024) that capture the complicated parental relationships many athletes shoulder, but differentiates itself by offering a little more hope in the end.
Watchmen (2019)
Abdul-Mateen stars in the Watchmen miniseries as Cal Abar, Angela Abar’s (Regina King) husband and the alter ego of Doctor Manhattan. He makes a fantastic Doctor Manhattan, playing the role of a powerful, omnipotent entity with conviction. Meanwhile, he plays the kind, introspective role of Angela’s husband with equal conviction, sounding thoughtful and deep enough to give some viewers an early suspicion of his true identity. Like much of the Watchmen cast, he fleshes out the character with a complexity not seen in the 2009 movie.
Watchmen is an excellent watch if you enjoyed Candyman. Not only does it deliver on the superhero action and work well as an extension of the comic book series, but it also delivers on political and cultural commentary. Watchmen offers the social commentary of Candyman and The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) encased in an excellent superhero adaptation.
Wonder Man (2026)
Wonder Man sees Abdul-Mateen take on the role of Simon Williams, a struggling actor auditioning for the role of Wonder Man while trying to conceal his real-life superpowers. Just as he did with his Candyman role, Abdul-Mateen flourishes as he makes a superpowered man surprisingly human. He really builds Simon bit by bit, establishing this startlingly sympathetic and relatable figure with anxiety, loneliness, and personal quirks.
Wonder Man avoids the pitfalls of most superhero projects by foregoing spectacle for an intimate character-driven story and centering the human experience over the superhero experience. Abdul-Mateen gets the chance to take the spotlight and go all out with his acting prowess, complemented by Ben Kingsley’s excellent performance. It’s a fantastic series and a fantastic performance, second only to one of Abdul-Mateen’s previous, even more potent roles.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
In The Trial of the Chicago 7, Abdul-Mateen stars as Bobby Seale, one of the seven defendants arrested and charged with crossing state lines for participating in an anti-Vietnam War protest. The film is a riveting dramatization of one of the most infamous trials in U.S. history. It’s a sharp, intense, and startlingly relevant courtroom drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, it's Abdul-Mateen’s role as Bobby that largely gives the film its depth and power.
He shines as the intelligent, unbreakable Bobby, though the disparity in his treatment compared to the other defendants makes for some of the movie's most sobering, harrowing scenes. Abdul-Mateen portrays Bobby with the utmost delicacy, telling his story, but while ensuring viewers come away knowing his strength and dignity. With an intense courtroom drama to rival the likes of 12 Angry Men (1957) and a standout performance from Adul-Mateen, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is his best movie.
