Few actors have received the critical acclaim that Julianne Moore has in her incredible career. From very early on, she would stand out even in smaller part. Her talents were impossible to ignore, having incredible range and displaying amazing versatility with each new role.
Moore is an Oscar winner and has three more nominations that highlight her amazing work. She is the kind of actor who seems to improve any project she is a part of, and will always give a compelling performance. Her filmography is filled with some of the best and most acclaimed films in recent memory. Here are Julianne Moore’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Cookie’s Fortune (1999) - 86%
Moore has had the privilege of working with the great director Robert Altman on two occasions, and Cookie’s Fortune was their final collaboration. Set in a small town filled with colorful characters, the death of a well-known resident causes a variety of reactions from those who knew her.
Once again, Altman assembles an incredible cast for a wacky and fun crime caper. The film takes a light approach to the story, with plenty of humor and charm to put a smile on your face even when dealing with a murder investigation.
Maggie’s Plan (2015) - 87%
Moore is often known for her roles in intense dramas, but she has proven to be just as effective when showing off her comedic side. Maggie’s Plan is an unusual romantic comedy about a young woman (Greta Gerwig) who, after getting tired of dating a pretentious writer (Ethan Hawke), attempts to get him to return to his ex-wife (Moore).
Critics seemed to enjoy the film’s ability to play around with rom-com conventions and tell a new story while still being funny and charming. Gerwig also got a lot of praise for her predictably charming performance.
Far From Heaven (2002) - 88%
Moore has that rare ability to seem natural in a story from just about any era. In Far from Heaven, she plays a housewife in the 1950s living a seemingly idyllic life in the suburbs. After making a shocking discovery about her husband, she begins a relationship with an African-American man.
Moore scored her fourth Oscar nomination for her powerful yet subdued performance as a woman living a false life. The beautiful and heartbreaking film wonderfully explores the idea of intolerance and pain that can be hiding just under the picturesque surface.
Vanya On 42nd Street (1994) - 89%
After years of impressing critics and audiences in smaller roles, Moore finally got the chance to be front and center in this unique film. Vanya on 42nd Street is based on the play Uncle Vanya, and follows a group of actors meeting in a dilapidated theater to rehearse it. Moore is one of the central actors.
The movie takes a loose and subtle approach, making everything feel very authentic, like we’re eavesdropping. The performances are also wonderful, charming and funny with Moore standing out from the pack.
Gloria Bell (2018) - 91%
Moore can be great in supporting roles, but it’s always nice to see her carrying her own movie, as with Gloria Bell. Moore plays the titular character, a free-spirited woman who spends her nights dancing at clubs where she meets a new man (John Turturro) and begins an unexpected romance.
The movie is the perfect vehicle for Moore and thrives off her wonderful performance. She is funny and sweet but also completely authentic. It is also a refreshingly honest look at love and the insecurities that go along with it.
Children Of Men (2006) - 92%
Children of Men was not a massive box office hit but it has gradually become regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Set in a not-too-distant future in which the human race has stopped being able to produce babies, Clive Owen plays a man tasked with helping a pregnant refugee escape a war-torn area. Moore plays an activist at the center of the mission.
Director Alfonso Cuarón creates a grounded and gritty look into the future, and immerses the audience in it. The story is powerful and compelling while the film presents harrowing action sequences that make you feel like you’re in the middle of this dangerous world.
The Kids Are All Right (2010) - 93%
Moore has an amazing ability to play characters that feel extremely authentic yet always captivating. This is certainly on display in the wonderful family comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right. Moore and Annette Bening play a married couple raising two children who suddenly ask to meet their biological father (Mark Ruffalo).
With a top-notch cast like this, it’s no surprise that the performances are a highlight of the film. Everyone feels perfect in their complex roles while the shifting dynamics within the family make for fun, engrossing but grounded drama.
Boogie Nights (1997) - 93%
Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most acclaimed auteurs working today, and many people believe Boogie Nights is his masterpiece. The film is set in the porn industry of the 1970s and follows a group of people in the industry who form an unconventional family. Moore plays one of the actresses who struggles with the consequences of her career.
The epic storytelling of the film is dazzling, and Anderson always maintains a fast pace and exciting energy. Moore and the rest of the all-star cast are wonderful with Burt Reynolds especially giving a fun performance. It is a funny, disturbing and mesmerizing film.
Short Cuts (1993) - 95%
Moore worked with Robert Altman for the first time in another one of his amazing all-star films. Short Cuts stars the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Tim Robbins, Lily Tomlin, and Jennifer Jason Leigh among many others in a look at the various lives of people living in Los Angeles.
The movie touches on various themes and topics with all the individual stories. Altman manages to handle all these tales and deliver a delightfully satisfying movie that feels complete.
The Fugitive (1993) - 96%
Even before she was getting those starring roles, Moore was still finding notable projects to be a part of. The Fugitive stars Harrison Ford as a doctor wrongfully convicted of murder who goes on the run to prove his innocence and bring the real killers to justice. Moore has a memorable role as a doctor who has a run-in with Ford.
The movie is an extremely well-made action film that delivers the thrills from beginning to end. Ford is a heroic yet grounded lead while Tommy Lee Jones is excellent as the lawman hunting him down. The Fugitive is exciting, intense and smart.
