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Kimberly Elise

Kimberly Elise

Actor · Born April 17, 1967 (59) · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Kimberly Elise Trammel (born April 17, 1967) is an American actress. Elise studied film and acting at the University of Minnesota and earned a BA in Mass Communications. She made her feature film debut in Set It Off, and later received critical acclaim for her performance in Beloved. During her career, Elise has appeared in films such as John Q (2002), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), The Great Debaters (2007), For Colored Girls (2010), Dope (2015), Almost Christmas (2016), Death Wish (2018), and Ad Astra (2019). She received a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in the 2004 drama film, Woman Thou Art Loosed, and played the leading roles in a number of made for television movies. Elise also starred in the CBS crime drama series Close to Home (2005–07), and in 2013 starred in the VH1 comedy-drama series, Hit the Floor.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 17, 1967 (59)
From
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 43 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Kimberly Elise's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
25%
Bonds
22%
Self
19%
Survival
16%
Society
9%
Power
9%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 8 · Dark 9

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 19 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 13 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 15
Hero
5 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Threshold guardian
2 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
12
Warm
9
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
5
Other
23

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kimberly Elise's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kimberly Elise's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

43 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Little Angels(2025)

    as President Markee

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Snowy Day in Oakland(2023)

    as Theona

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Mosquito Coast(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Special Agent Estelle Jones

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Love Life(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Suzanné Hayward

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Carole's Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Carole Jordan

  • Ad Astra(2019)

    as Lorraine Deavers

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Death Wish(2018)

    as Detective Jackson

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Star(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dianne

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Almost Christmas(2016)

    as Cheryl

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Confirmation(2016)

    as Sonia Jarvis

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Dope(2015)

    as Lisa Hayes

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Back to School Mom(2015)

    as Mary Thomas

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Apple Mortgage Cake(2014)

    as Angela Logan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Day Late and a Dollar Short(2014)

    as Djanel

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • And Then There Was You(2013)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Highland Park(2013)

    as Toni

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hit the Floor(2013)

    Show 32 episodes · as Sloane Hayes

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Alpha Alert(2013)

    as Blau

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Hannah's Law(2012)

    as Stagecoach Mary

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Ties That Bind(2011)

    as Theresa Harper

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • For Colored Girls(2010)

    as Crystal / Brown

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story(2009)

    as Sonya Carson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • The Great Debaters(2007)

    as Pearl Farmer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Angie Paget

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Pride(2007)

    as Sue Davis

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Close to Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 44 episodes · as Maureen Scofield

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Rebecca Swender

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Diary of a Mad Black Woman(2005)

    as Helen McCarter

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Woman Thou Art Loosed(2004)

    as Michelle Jordan

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Manchurian Candidate(2004)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Jasmine Gardens / Police Detective

  • John Q(2002)

    as Denise Archibald

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Bojangles(2001)

    as Fannie

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Bait(2000)

    as Lisa Hill

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Girlfriends(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Reesie Jackson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Estella

  • The Loretta Claiborne Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Loretta Claiborne

  • Beloved(1998)

    as Denver

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Ditchdigger's Daughters(1997)

    as Jeanette

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Set It Off(1996)

    as Tisean

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Sentinel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Candace Blake

  • Hellbent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Karina McCallum

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 43 titles, 42 of them dated from 1996 to 2025; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Ad Astra (2019)

$127M worldwide

Highest rated

The Great Debaters (2007)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Death Wish (2018)

Film career

19962025

Peak 2006 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting42 of 43: 42 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stOther crew1 of 43: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s4 · acting2000s17 · acting2010s17 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 18% of 17 roles
9606

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Kimberly Elise's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Little Angels (2025)

99th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Great Debaters (2007)

Midcredits 93rd · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kimberly Elise's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles47–90 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles7–62 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles36–87 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles7–57 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles50–85 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kimberly Elise work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kimberly Elise's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Danny Glover shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers