5 Best Caleb McLaughlin Movies to Watch

Caleb McLaughlin is an American actor best known for his role in the Netflix series "Stranger Things" (2016). Playing the character of Lucas in the series elevated Caleb's name and career to new heights.

Now, instead of focusing on the TV dramas that Caleb McLaughlin has starred in, Showpoiler will explore the movies that have featured Caleb throughout his impressive career.

Caleb McLaughlin, who started his acting journey in 2012, has appeared in several movies. These movie titles may not be well known especially in Asian cinemas, but they offer the perfect entertainment to watch on the weekends due to their light and fun storylines. Curious as to which movies are included? Find out in the article below!

1. Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars (2023) is a biopic portraying the life of American teenage athlete LeBron James. Directed by Chris Robinson, the movie is based on the memoir of the same name, published in 2009, which chronicles James' experiences.

In the movie, Caleb McLaughlin acts as Drew Joyce III, a young member of LeBron James' basketball team and his best friend. Together with two other friends, they manage to get a scholarship to enter a prestigious college.

Drew Joyce III can be said to be the heart of the basketball team, as he is the most mature among his four friends. He showed tremendous effort and determination, guided his friends effectively, and led them to the right path.

On the other hand, Drew faces his own complex problems. Growing older, he has to independently navigate various personal crises, learning to be less dependent on his parents and struggling to control his emotions, which can sometimes be quite overwhelming.

Plus, Drew begins to experience the complications of love, which introduces ups and downs into his life. Fortunately, Drew is cool-headed and pragmatic, carefully considering his actions, which keeps him from creating unnecessary problems.

2. High Flying Bird

Still related to sports, Caleb McLaughlin took a supporting role in the movie High Flying Bird (2019). In this movie, Caleb plays Darius, a local basketball athlete. Although his appearance is quite short, you might not immediately notice Caleb's presence in one of the scenes.

High Flying Bird (2019) tells the story of Ray Burke (André Holland), an agent working at a sports agency in New York. Ray finds himself facing financial challenges and the closure of his basketball team during the lockout period. He is unable to use credit cards or company funds.

As the agency admits to losing sponsors and clients, the athletes he represents are in danger of losing their careers. Determined to secure their future, Ray seized the opportunity to attend Backcourt Day, an annual event featuring local basketball players.

Initially, Ray clashed with one of the athletes' mothers, but this confrontation opened his eyes to a new possibility for popularity and financial support. He had the idea of broadcasting basketball games through paid platforms such as Snapchat, YouTube, or Netflix.

However, to achieve this, Ray had to make personal sacrifices, which led to his dismissal from the company. Nevertheless, he managed to achieve his main goal of safeguarding the careers of the athletes he cares so much about.

3. Concrete Cowboys

Concrete Cowboys (2020) is an American film directed by Ricky Staub, based on the novel "Ghetto Cowboy" by Greg Neri. The movie aims to portray the African-American horseback riding culture that flourished in Philadelphia.

Caleb McLaughlin takes the lead role in the movie, playing a character named Cole, a 15-year-old boy. Facing problems while attending school in Detroit, Cole's mother decides to move him to North Philadelphia for a fresh start.

In North Philadelphia, Cole lives in isolation with his father, Harp (Idris Elba). The strict rules imposed by his father frustrate Cole immensely, leading him to defy them and hang out with other troubled kids.

Everything changes for Cole when he meets a horse named Boo in his home. Despite being known as a difficult horse to tame, Boo surprisingly allows Cole to stay in his stable when the boy runs away from home.

As Cole spends time with Boo, he forms a unique bond with the sensitive horse. Determined to ride Boo, Cole begins working at the stables, a task that proves far from easy. However, his father's lack of concern for him leaves Cole feeling unwanted and neglected. As a result, he rebelled, and his actions almost led to him being arrested by the police.

Although "Concrete Cowboys" (2020) is a fictional story, it introduces viewers to real equestrian communities, such as the Fletcher Street community, which plays a supporting role in the movie.

4. Noah Dreams of Origami Fortunes

Do you still remember the origami fortune teller that was once popular among children? It turns out that fortunes written on origami paper can come true. This interesting revelation was revealed in a short film called Noah Dreams of Origami Fortunes (2012).

Directed by Royce Dunmore, the movie tells the story of Noah (Caleb McLaughlin), an introverted boy who faces various challenges at school.

Unlike his friends, Noah is not a jolly boy; instead, he prefers to be alone and finds solace in playing with his favorite origami fortune teller. One day, while absorbed in his origami, his brother Rory (Ron J. Rock) rudely snatches it away.

However, the day takes a very important turn when Noah meets a kind and caring teacher at school, Mrs. Marshall (Shana Solomon). As Rory and Mrs. Marshall discuss Noah's school problems, he secretly takes the origami paper.

In an unexpected turn of events, the origami reveals a prophecy that tasks Noah to bring love between the two people in front of him - Rory and Ms. Marshall. Determined to fulfill the prophecy, Noah tries to make it happen, but his efforts anger his brother.

Unfortunately, Rory misinterprets Noah's actions, dismissing them as bad behavior stemming from an obsession with the origami prophecy. Disappointingly for Noah, the confrontation escalates, causing him to faint in fear after being yelled at by Rory.

5. The Book of Clarence

The Book of Clarence (2023) is a classic Hollywood epic movie that takes inspiration from the biblical period. The movie is directed by Jeymes Samuel, and Caleb McLaughlin takes a supporting role in this amazing project.

The story is set in the year 29 AD, at a time when many people were becoming followers of Jesus Christ. It revolves around a man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), who was born and raised in Jerusalem.

Clarence's life is far from fortunate, and in his quest for a better life, he devises a plan to impersonate the Messiah. Witnessing Jesus' immense popularity, Clarence seized the opportunity to impersonate the Savior.

Amazingly, his plan to disguise himself as the Messiah brought about a significant change in his life. With his new identity, Clarence had the power to rule anyone he pleased. He manipulated the image of the Messiah to fulfill his personal desires.

However, his deceitful act as messiah and priest takes an unexpected turn, taking Clarence on a spiritual journey he never expected. As events unfold, he faces consequences that challenge who he is. How long can he maintain this false Messiah facade?

Besides "The Book of Clarence", here are some other movie recommendations featuring Caleb McLaughlin. These movies show his acting progression over time. After browsing through the synopsis of movies starring Caleb McLaughlin, is there any that you are curious about?