From sci-fi to comedy, there’s a Rihanna movie here for every kind of fan
Rihanna is a lot of things: a singer, a fashion icon, a beauty mogul, a mother of two. But, did you forget that she’s also an actor?
Indeed, Rihanna has graced the big screen on a number of occasions throughout her decades-spanning career, from doing voice work on the animated film Home to starring alongside Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway in Ocean’s Eight.
Want to catch up on the superstar’s filmography? Luckily for you, Bazaar has rounded up all of her best films below. Keep scrolling to see them all.
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Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
For the third installment of the Bring It On cheerleading franchise, Rihanna plays herself as different cheerleading teams compete for a chance to perform in her “Pon de Replay” music video. Her other 2000s hit single, “SOS,” is also featured in the movie.
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Battleship (2012)
The singer made her feature film debut in Battleship, a sci-fi action flick based off of the popular board game of the same name. Starring alongside Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, and Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna plays Petty Officer Cora ‘Weps’ Raikes, a weapons specialist working on the USS John Paul Jones who helps combat an impending alien invasion.
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This Is the End (2013)
Rihanna joins James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, and a bevy of other A-listers who play themselves for this apocalyptic horror-comedy. The movie follows the celebrities as they try to survive an eery disaster that has decimated most of Los Angeles. But, Rihanna’s scene-stealing cameo came during a house party scene. Memorably, she “smacked the fucking shit out of” Michael Cera in response to him slapping her bottom. The Juno actor later fondly recalled the moment to Rolling Stone: “I encouraged her to do it, though. I wanted her to hit me really hard.”
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Home (2015)
We may not see Rihanna in Home, but we do hear her. The Grammy winner makes her voice acting debut in this kids’ sci-fi comedy flick. She plays Tip Tucci, a young girl who befriends an alien outcast named Oh, voiced by Jim Parsons. Other cast members of note include Steve Martin and Jennifer Lopez.
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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Rihanna’s cinematic affinity for aliens continued with a supporting role in sci-fi film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, which also starred Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan. Rihanna plays Bubble, a alien who pulls off an otherworldly cabaret-like performance thanks to her shape-shifting capabilities.
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Ocean’s 8 (2018)
Gary Ross’s spin-off of the Ocean’s heist series assembles a jaw-dropping all-star cast that included the likes of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, and Helena Bonham Carter. Among these screen-savvy women, Rihanna returned to Hollywood to play Leslie “Nine Ball,” a hacker who helps the team pull off a robbery of a $150 million Cartier necklace.
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Guava Island (2019)
Donald Glover shares the screen with Rihanna in this musical dramedy. They play Deni and Kofi, a couple who lives on the fictional Guava Island. Deni, a musician, plans to throw a music festival for their small community in order to encourage others to rise up against the tyrannical Red family, who pockets the wealth of the island’s main export (blue silk) while forcing everyone else to labor in sweatshops. Meanwhile, Kofi dreams of leaving Guava Island altogether, but is unsure if Deni will follow after her.
