It’s a heavy lift, honestly. Imagine being twelve years old and your first "day at the office" involves playing your own father—a global icon—in a major Hollywood biopic. That was the reality for Christopher Jordan Wallace. Most people know him as the son of The Notorious B.I.G., but if you look closely at CJ Wallace movies and tv shows, you see a kid who spent a decade trying to find a voice that didn't just echo his dad's.
He didn't even want the part at first. His grandmother, Voletta Wallace, basically had to nudge him into the audition room for Notorious. He was worried about the "obviousness" of it all. You know, the "Biggie’s son plays Biggie" headline that writes itself. But he did it. And since that 2009 debut, his path through Hollywood has been anything but predictable.
The Breakout and the Will Ferrell Connection
After Notorious, most kids would have stayed in the "biopic lane." CJ didn't. He went in the opposite direction. He showed up in Everything Must Go (2010), playing a kid named Kenny who befriends a relapsing alcoholic played by Will Ferrell.
It was a weird, quiet, indie drama. Not exactly the "Bad Boy Records" vibe people expected.
Working with Ferrell actually changed how he saw the craft. He’s gone on record saying that hanging out with Will on set—even hitting the batting cages in Arizona late at night—was where he realized acting could be a job, not just a tribute act. He played Kenny as this awkward, observant loner, and it proved he had actual range beyond just mimicking his father’s mannerisms.
The Genre Pivot: From Kicks to Scream
There was a massive gap in his filmography after those early years. School took over. Life took over. It wasn't until 2016 that he really jumped back in with Kicks.
If you haven't seen Kicks, you're missing out on one of the better "sneaker culture" movies ever made. CJ plays Albert, the loud-talking, funny best friend. It’s a gritty look at inner-city life in Richmond, California, but it’s mostly about the weight we put on material things.
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Then came the TV shift.
In 2019, he joined the cast of Scream: Resurrection (the third season of the Scream series). He played Amir Ayoub, a "good kid" whose parents were super strict. It was a main role, and seeing him in a slasher setting was... different. He wasn't the "tough guy." He was the clean-cut, musically talented kid trying to survive a masked killer. It felt like he was finally stripping away the "Lil Biggie" label that the industry kept trying to pin on him.
Why the Credits Stopped Rolling So Frequently
You might notice that the list of CJ Wallace movies and tv shows isn't as long as you'd expect for someone with his connections. There's a reason for that. Around 2019, his focus shifted toward social entrepreneurship and his brand, Think BIG.
He started looking at his father’s legacy through a different lens—specifically through cannabis and social justice. He launched the Frank White brand (named after one of Biggie's aliases) but used it to advocate for criminal justice reform.
He’s been pretty open about why he isn't in five movies a year:
- The Weight of the Name: Every time he stepped on set, people saw his dad. He had to work twice as hard to be seen as "CJ."
- Business Ventures: Between Think BIG and his social justice initiatives, acting became a secondary passion.
- The Family Legacy: He spent time helping with the Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell documentary and other projects that required him to be a steward of the estate rather than just an actor for hire.
The Full Screen History (So Far)
When you look at his actual credits, it’s a mix of indie darlings and cult TV hits. Here’s the breakdown of what he’s actually done:
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Notorious (2009) This is the one everyone knows. He plays the young Christopher Wallace. It’s raw because he’s literally discovering his father’s history while filming it. He spent time in his dad’s old apartment in Brooklyn just to catch the vibe.
Everything Must Go (2010) A dramatic turn next to Will Ferrell. He plays Kenny, a neighborhood kid who helps a man lose everything. It’s a slow-burn movie that showed CJ could handle heavy, quiet dialogue.
Kicks (2016) As Albert, he provides the comic relief and the heart of the film. It’s a "coming-of-age" story centered around a pair of Air Jordans. Honestly, it’s probably his most "authentic" feeling performance.
Monsters and Men (2018) A smaller role as Kael, but a powerful film about police shootings and the aftermath in a community. This fits right into the social justice work he does now.
She’s Missing (2019) He played Taylor in this indie thriller. It’s a bit under the radar, but it shows his willingness to take on "niche" projects rather than chasing blockbusters.
Scream: Resurrection (2019) His biggest TV role. He was a series regular for Season 3, playing Amir. It was a total departure from his previous "street" or "indie" roles.
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What’s Actually Next for CJ?
Honestly, the acting world has been a bit quiet for him lately because he’s been building an empire elsewhere. He’s more likely to be seen at a social equity summit or a brand launch than on a movie set these days. However, he hasn't officially "retired."
He’s expressed interest in getting behind the camera. He’s mentioned wanting to go to film school or direct music videos. It feels like he’s done playing the "son" and is ready to be the "creator."
If you want to catch up on his work, start with Kicks. It’s where you see the most "CJ" and the least "Biggie." After that, watch Notorious just to see the incredible weight he carried as a twelve-year-old. It’s a wild trajectory, going from playing a legend to becoming a businessman who just happens to act when the right story hits.
To really understand his evolution, you should track down his 2023 appearance in MTV's Family Legacy. He appears as himself, and you can hear him talk about the transition from the screen back to the "real world" of business and family.
Check out Kicks on streaming platforms like Tubi or Pluto TV, as it often rotates through their free-to-watch libraries. It's the best entry point for anyone wanting to see what he's actually capable of as a performer.