“My favorite is Napoleon Dynamite. That movie has my heart. I didn’t see it in theaters, but my mother got it for me on DVD. I would always watch it on my sister’s Hello Kitty television.”
Okonma — also known as Tyler, The Creator — openly stanned the 2004 feature on an episode of A24 x Letterboxd: The List. “I thought all the characters were perfect. I love the coloring. I love the tone,” he revealed.
He had merch. “My mom bought me a ‘Vote for Pedro’ shirt,” he exclaimed, “and I wore it religiously.”
The movie’s soundtrack also had his heart. “Jamiroquai is one of my favorite bands since I was, like, nine years old, so ‘Canned Heat’ being played in it was incredible.”
Okonma’s admiration for the film is so fierce, it actually turned obsessive, according to his best friend and longtime collaborator, DJ and hype man Jasper Dolphin. “I watched that on tour in 2013 or 2015, seven times in a row. Jasper begged me to turn it the f#&@ off,” he confessed.
Appreciation for the weird, colorful, and culturally defining is why Okonma’s feature film acting debut is in the new flick, Marty Supreme.
He plays Wally, a street-smart friend and fellow ping-pong player of Marty Mauser, in a movie inspired by the real-life ping-pong legend Marty Reisman. It’s directed by Josh Safdie, whose creative absurdity Okonma admires. Stepping into the role gave him a creative challenge beyond music, but the “See You Again” singer didn’t make it easy on himself. He shot the film immediately after his CHROMAKOPIA album drop in 2024, all for the love of expanding his artistic craft.
The list goes on with some other films, for a truly eclectic selection.
“I love ATL. [Director] Chris Robinson was doing some really cool stuff,” he continued.
“The angle from Evan Ross in the car with the girl from outside is incredible. And then they do the weird rear-view mirror joint with Big Boy. Oh, man. It was some really cool shots … I wish Robinson leaned more into the weirdness, but I love that movie. The scene of them in the car when Aaliyah plays is so romantic. And I think, because the music I grew up on and where I grew up at, that scene felt so, ‘oh, I know that scene.’ Like, I’ve been in that scene.”
And then there’s Waiting to Exhale, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “That DP knew how to shoot Black skin, bro. And one of the greatest soundtracks ever.”
Here’s Okonma’s full, flavorful and fully satisfied list:
Looper — 2012
Shutter Island — 2010
Funny Games (US remake) — 2007
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins — 2008
Running Scared — 2006
Lucky Number Slevin — 2006
ATL — 2006
Mr. & Mrs. Smith — 2005
Wedding Crashers — 2005
Shrek 2 — 2004
A Series of Unfortunate Events — 2004
The Butterfly Effect — 2004
Bad Boys II — 2003
The Italian Job — 2003
School of Rock — 2003
Paid in Full — 2002
Antwone Fisher — 2002
Pootie Tang — 2001
Ocean’s Eleven — 2001
Y Tu Mamá También — 2001
Scary Movie 2 — 2001
Why Do Fools Fall in Love — 1998
Rush Hour — 1998
Good Burger — 1997
Don’t Be a Menace… — 1996
Set It Off — 1996
Matilda — 1996
Tales from the Hood — 1995
Se7en — 1995
The Inkwell — 1994
Crooklyn — 1994
The Wood — 1999
Jungle Fever — 1991
Little Monsters — 1989
Cornbread, Earl and Me — 1975