Before he stunned at the 2025 Met Gala in a cobalt blue Valentino cape “giving choir, king, and Othello” (as People reported from Vogue’s livestream), Colman Domingo was already royalty to film and TV buffs. His arresting performances and smooth gravitas have turned him into a must-watch actor, writer, and director. And now…cultural icon! Colman Domingo IS the moment.
Whether you first caught him mentoring Rue in Euphoria or saw his searing portrayal of Bayard Rustin in Rustin, Domingo’s range is undeniable.
This year, he’s co-chairing the Met Gala and directing top-tier talents like Tina Fey and Steve Carell in Netflix’s The Four Seasons. “He understands everything actors are going through,” Carell told Tudum.
So if you’re only just discovering him, don’t worry—we’ve got you!
Our list of the top 5 Colman Domingo performances
1) Rustin (2023)
In Rustin, Domingo brings activist Bayard Rustin to a vivid, Oscar-nominated life. The movie tracks Rustin’s behind-the-scenes leadership in the planning of the 1963 March on Washington, and Domingo does not merely play him—he lives in him.
Through monologues and raw scenes, he refines the brilliance and the weight of a visionary largely scrubbed from the pages of history.
This is Domingo: committed, commanding, and unforgettable.
Where to watch: Netflix
2) Sing Sing (2023)
Colman Domingo’s second Oscar nod came from Sing Sing, a prison drama based on a real-life rehabilitation-through-theater program.
His portrayal of Divine G, an incarcerated man rediscovering his self-worth through art, is gut-wrenching. Domingo sifts through trauma and hope with such authenticity that you forget you’re watching fiction.
If Rustin was powerful, Sing Sing is personal. And it shows just how deep his well of empathy runs.
RELATED: Sing Sing and More Underrated Films
Where to watch: Apple TV+
3) Euphoria (2019–present)
As Ali, Rue’s sponsor, and truth-teller, Domingo earned a well-deserved Emmy.
His Euphoria episodes with Zendaya are emotional gut-punches of tough love and aching vulnerability. In a show that thrives on chaos, Ali is the soul, and Domingo plays him with a quiet intensity that stays with the lead, and us.
Fans regularly cite Colman Domingo’s scenes as some of the series’ best.
Where to watch: Max
4) Zola (2021)
Twitter thread meets cinema in Zola, and Colman Domingo steals every scene as the smooth-talking, menacing pimp X. It’s a chaotic, kinetic performance that shifts between hilarious and horrifying.
A24 gave us the weird, wild ride, but Domingo gave it menace and charisma. This is the film that proves he can chew up a role and still leave space for others to shine.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
5) If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Before the world caught on, Domingo was quietly stunning in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk.
As Joseph Rivers, the protective father of a wrongfully accused young man, radiates warmth and resilience. His performance grounds the film with a sense of lived experience, elevating every emotional beat.
It’s subtle and a preview of the powerhouse he’d become.
Where to watch: Plex, Amazon Prime
So whether you’re watching him act, direct, or rule a red carpet, Colman Domingo knows how to show up and show OUT.
