She already has both an Emmy and Grammy to her name. What say you, Oscars?Tiffany Haddishis taking Hollywood by storm, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her. The relentlessly funny stand-up comedian, actress and author gained prominence for her role on the NBC sitcomThe Carmichael Showafter guest-starring on several other TV series. Her breakthrough came in 2017, when she garnered critical acclaim for her performance in themust-see comedy filmGirls Trip. That year, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her work as a host on aSaturday Night Liveepisode, and she even published amemoir titledThe Last Black Unicorn. In 2021, she won her Grammy for Best Comedy Album for her comedy albumBlack Mitzvah, making her the second Black woman to win this prize after Whoopi Goldberg in 1986.
More recently, Haddish’s starring turn inThe Afterpartyon Apple TV+ has hit the masses and is laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to Haddish’s juicy lead detective character. And with news just breaking thatGirls Trip 2is happening, we took a closer look at her finest feature films to date.
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5The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
It had been five years since “everything was awesome” whenThe Lego Movie 2: The Second Parthit the masses. In the sequel’s storyline, the citizens face a new threat with Lego Duplo invaders from outer space, who wreck everything faster than they can rebuild. This acclaimed follow-up to the smash-hitThe Lego Movie(2014) also came after the releases of 2017’sThe Lego Batman MovieandThe Lego Ninjago Movie.Besides stars Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell and others reprising their roles from the previous film,The Lego Movie 2welcomed new cast members, including a standout Tiffany Haddish voicing a scene-stealing Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi. It received generally positive reviews from critics, but the film became the franchise’s second box office disappointment afterThe Lego Ninjago Movie. As a result of this,Warner Bros. sold the film rights ofThe Lego Moviefranchise to Universal Pictures.
4The Oath (2018)
In a politically divided America, a man struggles to make it through the Thanksgiving holiday without destroying his family. Might this predicament sound familiar some folks in this day and age?
In this unique tale, Chris (Ike Barinholtz) and Kai (Haddish) agree not to sign an oath of loyalty to the U.S. for tax incentives. The deadline is Black Friday, and a politically-charged Chris focuses on getting through the holiday with his family while he pours over the news regarding The Oath. The day after Thanksgiving, he and his family are surprised when agents show up to interrogate him. As the situation escalates, they must decide how to stay out of jail and protect their family.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, although Haddish’s performance was praised. “I welcomed her improv, and it gave me some pretty great moments in the movie,“Barinholtz told Colliderabout working with Haddish. “There were moments […] where she pulled something out that was so crazy and funny and different. I just knew, the minute she said some of those things, that it would be going right in the final cut.”
If you’ve got Netflix, tune in forBad TripASAP for a hilarious ride. This mix of a scripted buddy comedy road movie and a real hidden camera prank show follows the outrageous misadventures of two buds (Eric André and Lil Rel Howery) stuck in a rut who embark on a cross-country road trip to NYC. The storyline sets up shocking, real pranks.
Kitao Sakurai also stars Haddish as the criminal sister of Howery’s character. The hysterical ferocity she brings to her supporting role carries the film, in case viewers might want a change of pace from André’s pranking antics along the way. According to André, Haddish apparently had heard about the film during pre-production and reached out to him because she simply wanted to be involved. The rest is history!
Funnily enough,Bad Tripaccidentally leaked on Amazon Prime Videoin 2020 and pirated prior to its official release. The film was later sold to Netflix. “She is comedy on a cellular level,“André toldLooperabout working with Haddish. “There’s a reason she’s a movie star. Every medium of comedy, she does 110%—stand up, hidden camera pranks, comedic acting.”
2Girls Trip (2017)
When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.
Girls Tripis a 2017 American comedy film starring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith in addition to Haddish. The film was written by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver, from a story by the pair and Erica Rivinoja, who based the script on their own experiences with their female friends. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, with many praising the cast performances and the film’s originality. It was also the first time a filmwritten by a Black woman screenwriter had crossed the $100 million markat the box office. The film received multiple awards and nominations from various award and critic organizations, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for a never-better Haddish at the 49th NAACP Image Awards.
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1The Card Counter (2021)
Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’sThe Card Counter. Told with his trademark cinematic intensity, with an ending scene that echos Schrader’s 1980 filmAmerican Gigolgo, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler named William Tell (played by Oscar Isaac) who is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Gaining backing from mysterious gambling financier La Linda (Haddish), Tell goes from casino to casino with her and meets some familiar faces along the way—one of which is played by the reliably excellent Willem Dafoe.
Martin Scorsese serves as an executive producer for some extra A-list support on this small effort from Schrader. Haddish’s sharp supporting turn is awards-caliber stuff—hopefully the Academy comes to its senses! “I’m not big on getting awards, but I’m trying,“Haddish recently toldInsider. “I need someone to get that heat out there.”
