Nia Long has had a terrific three-decade career in Hollywood. The Brooklyn-born stunner got her start on television via the comedy series 227 before making her big-screen debut in the 1989 horror movie Buried Alive. Two years later, Long broke out as Brandi in John Singleton's classic coming-of-age drama Boyz n The Hood.
Since then, Long has enjoyed a decorated career in both TV and film. She can currently be seen in The Banker, starring opposite Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson. As the film continues to garner buzz, let's assess where it fits in Long's larger filmography. Here are Nia Long's 10 best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes!
10 The Best Man Holiday (2013) 71%
Long plays the sexy seductress Jordan Armstrong in the blissful ensemble cast of The Best Man Holiday, Malcolm D. Lee's sequel to the 1999 film The Best Man.
15 years after enjoying the memorable wedding celebration, several college friends reunite for a Christmas vacation. Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs) Jordan (Long) and Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) are all back. As the group catches up and reminisces, old wounds are reopened, new alliances formed, and holiday tensions swirl.
9 The Best Man (1999) 72%
Long jumpstarted her role as Jordan Armstrong in The Best Man, Malcolm D. Lee's heartfelt tale of matrimonial tumult. Despite being released 14 years earlier, it only ranks one percentage point higher than the 2013 sequel.
In keeping with her namesake, Jordan tries to strong-arm Robin (Sanaa Lathan), the would-be fiancee of Chicago writer Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs). With the wedding of his best friend Lance (Morris Chestnut) looming, Harper must navigate the pitfalls of love while he's forced to choose between Robyn and Jordan.
8 The Banker (2020) 73%
In a clever way to skirt the institutional racism of the 1960s, Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) and Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) hire modest white man Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult) to front their budding new business. As Matt feigns leadership, the two black men pose as a janitor and chauffeur.
Long plays Eunice Garrett, Bernard's wife, who helps train Matt into becoming a credible business magnate. However, when the feds catch wind of the plot, the whole thing comes crashing down.
7 Love Jones (1997) 73%
The insouciance of free love is explored in Love Jones, in which Long is caught in a tricky triangle between budding new romance, Darius (Larenz Tate), an old flame Marvin (Khalil Kain).
Darius is a cool Chi-Town poet who meets and instantly woos skilled photographer Nina Mosley (Long). Following a one-night stand, the two can't quite figure the status of their new relationship. When Marvin shows up unexpectedly, Nina uses him to test Darius's true feelings. Marvin fails the test, leading to Nina's courtship of his best pal Hollywood (Bill Bellamy).
6 Keanu (2016) 77%
In Key & Peele's irreverent take on the buddy-cop formula—although they aren't policemen—the plot unfolds after an adopted cat named Keanu is criminally sought-after. Seriously, what could go wrong with that?
After being dumped by his lady, Rell (Peele) finds a cat on his stoop one night. He takes the cat in and names it Keanu. The next night, he returns home to find his place ransacked and the cat missing. A rescue mission ensues, putting Rell and his nerdy bestie Clarence (Key) undercover as Oil and Smoke, two wannabe gangsters out for answers.
5 Mooz-Ium (2011) 78%
Long's likely most under-viewed film to date also gave her the chance to stretch her dramatic acting ability. In Mooz-lum, Long plays Safiyah Mahdi, a Muslim woman concerned for son Tariq's treatment in America following 9/11.
When Tariq is admitted to a university in America, the culture shock causes much confusion about how to conduct himself. Then 9/11 occurs, fomenting rabid anti-Muslim sentiment. Struggling to fit in and find a way forward, Tariq turns to those he loves most for guidance.
4 Friday (1995) 78%
Long reunited with her Boyz n The Hood brethren, Ice Cube and Regina King, in the hilarious cult-classic stoner comedy Friday.
When Craig is fired on his day off for stealing boxes, he's left with no plans on a sunny Friday afternoon. Craig's obnoxious homey, Smokey (Chris Tucker), cajoles him into smoking weed for the first time, which ultimately leads to a violent run-in with local dealer Big Worm (Faizon Love). Long plays "cutie-pie" Debbie, the good-girl on the block who tickles Craig's fancy.
3 Soul Food (1997) 81%
George Tillman Jr.'s feelgood family dramedy Soul Food celebrates with great affection the customary mores of the African-American lifestyle.
When Mama Joe (Irma P. Hall) falls ill with diabetes, her traditional Sunday dinners of 40 years come to a halt. As her three daughters bicker over various personal issues, Joe's grandson Ahmad (Brandon Hammond) concocts a scheme to reunite the family around the dinner table for another round of soul food. Long plays Bird, the youngest daughter who is wedded to an ex-con.
2 Baadasssss! (2003) 91%
Mario Van Peebles paints a loving portrait of his father, Melvin, in the biopic Baadassss! about finding your own voice and forging your own path in Hollywood.
Mario portrays his father Melvin in the film, a trailblazing African-American film director who bucked mainstream Hollwyood trends and made the kinds of movies he'd want to see as an audience member. In other words, he made his own movies to see his kind represented on the big screen. His most controversial film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, is the primary topic of discussion in the film, in which Long plays Melvin's girlfriend, Sandra.
1 Boyz N The Hood (1991) 96%
Who can forget the soft smile of Brandi in Boys N The Hood, Tre's (Cuba Gooding Jr.) only sense of salvation amid the gang-violent environment of South Central Los Angeles?
When Tre is relocated to the hood as a young boy, he comes of age alongside eventual gangsters, Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Chris (Regi Green). As teenagers, Tre strikes up a romance with Brandi (Long), a strong-willed and right-headed young woman who, along with his father (Laurence Fishburne), offers his only hope out of danger.
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