Teyana Taylor is a multi-talented actor, dancer, model, and singer who continues to increase her popularity across the entertainment industry. Beyond her music videos, Taylor made her big-screen debut in the musical dance movie Stomp the Yard: Homecoming in 2010, leading to an impressive filmography that shows no signs of slowing down in 2023.
With Taylor earning rave reviews for her performance in the 2023 movie A Thousand and One, there’s no better time to examine her filmography and see how it stacks up according to Rotten Tomatoes. From musicals and comedy sequels to hard-hitting dramas, Teyana Taylor continues to shine on the silver screen.
10 The Love Section (2013) – 29%
Directed by Ronnie Warner, The Love Section is a romantic comedy that follows Ali (Lawrence B. Adisa), a playboy real estate agent who has trouble committing and settling down. However, his outlook begins to change when he meets his match, a single mother named Sandrine (Davetta Sherwood). Taylor plays Sandrine’s best friend, Steph, who is suspicious of Ali’s motives.
Although The Love Section does not have a Tomatometer score from critics, the audience score suggests it’s a bit underwhelming as far as memorable romantic comedies are concerned. Then again, those who do support the film claim it’s a must-see for immature men who treat their so-called loved ones poorly. Adisa’s performance was also praised and his screenwriting role warrants keeping an eye on his projects in the future.
9 Gang of Roses II: Next Generation (2012) – 30%
Gang of Roses II: Next Generation is a low-budget western available on Tubi that tracks four women attempting to rob a train and the male bandits who chase them down for the loot. Taylor plays Candi Baxter, one of the train robbers who steal the show alongside Amber Rose, Eurika Pratts, and Kellita Smith.
While some claim the movie is a slight improvement over the original, most agree that the restricted budget and limited resources ended up hurting the movie too much to overcome. The lack of acting experience among the cast of musicians strained the overall credibility of the story. However, for fans of movie westerns and those who love the cast members, Gangof Roses II is worth a peek.
8 Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming (2010) – 34%
Taylor made her big-screen debut in Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. The popular dance movie sequel concerns Chance Harris (Collins Pennie), a talented dancer who struggles to balance his employment and scholastic responsibilities with his desire to compete in a major tournament during Truth University’s homecoming week. Taylor plays a supporting character named Rena.
Although the movie is absent from Taylor’s Rotten Tomatoes page, most fans felt that, while the movie does not live up to the original, the catchy music and dazzling dance numbers are worth the price of admission. Some even preferred the story in the sequel to the original, with many singling out Columbus Short as the most valuable player.
Released during a time when dancing movies were all the rage, Stomp the Yard 2 may have gotten lost in the shuffle and suffered critically as a result.
7 Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011) – 38%
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family is a popular comedy that follows Mabel Simmons (Madea) attempting to bring her family closer after her niece Shirley has a medical scare. In her first substantial speaking role, Taylor plays Sabrina, the manager of Snax and the girlfriend of Brian who continues to give him a hard time as a large family dinner takes place.
Despite taking a critical drubbing for being too broad and cartoonish, the movie was received far better by general moviegoers, with a 74% audience score. The biggest plaudits for the movie include Perry’s ability to transition between gross-out humor and heartfelt pathos from scene to scene, with the cast doing their best to make the family feel real and relatable.
Tyler Perry’s Madea movies are an acquired taste with their own built-in fanbase anyway, with Madea’s Big Happy Family unlikely to sway the unconverted.
6 Honey: Rise Up and Dance (2018) – 41%
The fourth film in the Honey franchise, Rise Up and Dance is an energetic dance movie that marks Taylor’s first real starring movie role. Taylor plays Skyler, a street dancer who emerges from the shadow of her talented sister Tosha and enters a fierce competition to win a college scholarship. Built around her immense talents as a singer and dancer, Taylor shines in a pitch-perfect performance.
Although some criticized the rote story beats and formulaic dance movie clichés, others were able to overlook them thanks to Taylor’s electric screen presence and unforgettable dance moves. Most fans agree that the movie is a clear improvement over the previous two sequels, with the pop songs and exhilarating choreography genuinely making viewers want to dance as soon as the credits roll.
It’s no surprise that Taylor’s movie opportunities expanded following such a commanding turn.
5 The Trap (2019) – 44%
Another movie oddly missing from Taylor’s Rotten Tomatoes page, The Trap is a comedy that follows Sonny (Tip Harris), a stand-up gentleman who must return to Atlanta to help his family’s struggling restaurant. Much of the humor comes from the witty interplay between Sonny and his irresponsible brother, Dutch (Mike Epps). Meanwhile, Taylor makes her presence felt as a character named Sherri.
Described as a silly but entertaining diversion that has some replay value, The Trap stands out most for its Atlanta-based talent. Watching popular rappers like T.I., Big Boi, and 21 Savage make hilarious cameos gives the Netflix comedy movie a distinct homegrown Atlanta vibe that goes a long way in creating a specific time and place. While it may not reinvent the comedy wheel, The Trap shows Taylor can hold her in nonmusical material.
4 Coming 2 America (2021) – 49%
Produced 33 years after the beloved original, Coming 2 America is a polarizing love-it-or-hate-it comedy sequel. This time, the African Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) assumes the throne of Zamunda, returns to the U.S. to find his long-lost son, and learns how to become a loving father. Taylor shines as Bopoto Izzi, the daughter of General Izzi (Wesley Snipes), the ruler of Nexdoria who wants to become part of Akeem’s kingdom.
Although the movie works best as a familiar dose of nostalgia, most critics agree that Coming 2 America spent too much time rehashing old jokes and dwelling too long on reestablished characters without introducing enough compelling new ones. Murphy and Arsenio Hall drew plaudits for their committed performance playing multiple characters, but the consensus suggests that the anticipated sequel came too late and offered too little to really resonate.
3 Brotherly Love (2015) – 50%
Written and directed by Jamal Hill, Brotherly Love is an underrated sports movie that concerns Segio, a basketball player in Philadelphia who navigates the pressures of fame. Sergio vows to become the player his older brother June had the potential to be before giving up his dreams to take care of the family. Keke Palmer gives a standout turn as Sergio’s sister Jackie, while Taylor shows up as a minor character named Zip.
Despite being absent from Taylor’s Rotten Tomatoes page, the movie was lauded for its gritty depiction of Western Philadelphia citizens doing their best to negotiate the environment while following their dreams. At its core, the movie has a hefty Shakespearean tragedy that lingers long after the story concludes. Although Taylor shows up briefly, the movie is worth seeing for Palmer’s precocious performance.
2 A Thousand and One (2023) – 96%
Written and directed by A.V. Rockwell, A Thousand and One stars Taylor as Inez de la Paz, a woman who brazenly kidnaps her son from the New York foster care system and decides to raise him on her own as a single parent. Taylor gives a career performance in arguably the best movie she’s starred in thus far, earning rave reviews for an honest and deeply affecting tour-de-force turn for the ages.
With few bad words to be found on Rotten Tomatoes, the most common plaudit highlights how convincing Taylor is in the role of a single mother willing to do any and everything she can to give her son a better life. As a mediation on motherhood and marginalized communities who blaze their own path to success, the movie makes a profoundly impactful statement.
Taylor proves that she not only belongs but can carry the emotional heart and soul of any movie as well as any bona fide A-list actor.
1 Entergalactic (2022) – 97%
Entergalactic is a Netflix original animated movie that celebrates Black style and culture with inspiring artistic results. Created as a visual companion to Kid Cudi’s album of the same name, the story follows Jabari (Kid Cudi), an artist trying to figure out his place in the world as he pursues a romance with a photographer named Meadow (Jessica Williams). Taylor voices the role of a boxing instructor whom Jabari encounters.
With vibrant and vivid animation that has drawn comparisons to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Entergalactic is an experimental visual expression that defies description. With a 92-minute runtime, the loosely plotted romance has the narrative thrust of most movies, yet transcends various artistic disciplines to become something altogether new. It may not feature Taylor at the top of her game like A Thousand and One, but it’s a must-see for anime fans.
