TOP-10 films starring Angelina Jolie, ranked from worst to best
Ermolaev Alexey
Angelina Jolie is one of the most striking actresses of our time. Her filmography includes both large-scale blockbusters and profound dramas where she showcases her acting talent. In this selection, we've compiled Jolie's best films, which are a must-see for every film fan.
Playing by Heart
- Release date: 1998;
- Genre: melodrama, comedy;
- IMDb: 6.9.
A romantic comedy with elements of drama. It consists of six different stories. They involve young and older couples, an antisocial woman who goes on a date with a stranger, and a man diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, at a certain moment, these completely different people find themselves in the same place, which leads to unexpected consequences.
Interesting Facts:
- The film's original title was Dancing on Architecture. This is a reference to a line by Angelina Jolie's character, who says, "Talking about music is like dancing on architecture." But without context, it's difficult to understand the meaning of this expression.
- The film was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 1999 Berlin Film Festival.
- Playing by Heart boasts a truly strong cast. Besides Jolie, notable actors include Sean Connery, Gillian Anderson, and April Grace.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
- Release date: 2005;
- Genre: action, comedy;
- IMDb: 6.5.
A stylish action film with elements of comedy, anchored by the chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. As a reminder, they were still married at the time of filming. Their characters are contract killers and, at one point, receive contracts for each other. Naturally, these contracts directly impacted their family life.
Interesting Facts:
- This is far from the only film project with this title. In 1941, Alfred Hitchcock released a film, and in 1996, a TV series. Moreover, the film starring Jolie contains references to these references. In 2024, the action series Mr. & Mrs. Smith began airing.
- Initially, the producers had no plans to cast actors who were married in real life. Johnny Depp and Will Smith were considered for the male lead, and Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Cate Blanchett were considered for the female role.
- To meet the PG-13 rating, a racy scene involving Jolie and Pitt had to be removed. However, the director did retain the S&M scene in which Mrs. Smith undresses a man and whips him.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- Release date: 2001;
- Genre: action, adventure;
- IMDb: 5.8.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is rightly considered one of the best video game adaptations. Simon West, director of Con Air, has crafted a fully-fledged adventure film that's easily accessible even to those unfamiliar with the Tomb Raider series. Angelina Jolie also delivers a stunning performance as Lara: athletic, bold, and confident.
Interesting Facts:
- At the time of its release, the film was the highest-grossing video game adaptation in history. With a budget of $115 million, it grossed $274 million. In the 1990s and early 2000s, most video game-based films flopped miserably.
- Richard Croft was played by Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's real-life father. In 1979, he won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Coming Home.
- By 2001, the popularity of the Tomb Raider series had noticeably declined. The film temporarily revived audience interest in Lara's adventures and attracted a new audience.
- The Buddhist ceremony seen in the film is real.
The best Tomb Raider adaptation
Maleficent
- Release date: 2012;
- Genre: Fantasy;
- IMDb: 6.9.
A live-action reimagining of the Disney animated film Sleeping Beauty. The story is told from the perspective of Maleficent, who was a villain in the original but is now a heroine. The film shouldn't be viewed as a remake of a classic. It's essentially a standalone production that reimagines the events of a familiar fairy tale.
Interesting facts:
- Because of the creepy makeup, almost all the children on set were terrified of Maleficent and didn't even want her to talk to them. Only Jolie's daughter wasn't afraid of her.
- According to producer Joe Roth, if Angelina Jolie had turned down the lead role, the film would not have been made.
- About two thousand costumes were made for the film. It was because of them that the film was nominated for an Oscar.
- Maleficent's character was originally created for the animated film Sleeping Beauty. In fairy tales, she was replaced by an evil fairy. The idea to dedicate a film to the villain arose in the late 2000s, with Tim Burton set to direct. However, in 2011, he abandoned the project.
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Gia
- Release date: 1998;
- Genre: drama, biography;
- IMDb: 6.9.
This biographical film tells the story of fashion model Gia Carangi. Thanks to her striking appearance and ability to transform into different characters, she enjoyed incredible success in the modeling industry. She received lucrative contracts and appeared on the covers of prestigious glossy magazines, but her personal life was not going well. Her difficulties led her to an addiction to illegal substances, with tragic consequences.
Interesting Facts:
- Angelina Jolie initially turned down offers to play Gia Marie Carangi, claiming the model's life was too similar to her own. However, when the actress accepted, she wanted to fully understand her character. To do so, she studied materials about Gia, including personal diaries, and also spent a lot of time with her mother.
- For this role, Jolie won two awards — a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Critics claimed the actress could have been an Oscar contender had the film been made for theaters rather than television.
- At the end of the film, the character is called Angie, a pet name for Angelina.
The Bone Collector
- Release date: 1999;
- Genre: thriller, drama, detective,
- IMDb: 6.7.
A brutal thriller based on the novel of the same name by Jeffery Deaver. It follows the actions of a ruthless serial killer. The criminal leaves clues for the police, but tracking him proves difficult. The film has a unique atmosphere, intertwining the realities of the 1990s with the legacy of the 19th century, such as abandoned subway stations and old railways.
Interesting Facts:
- In one scene, Angelina Jolie appeared completely nude. However, this scene was cut during editing.
- Jeffery Deaver, the author of the original novels about Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, actually practiced law. This helped him write detective stories.
Gone in Sixty Seconds
- Release date: 2000;
- Genre: action;
- IMDb: 6.7.
In the early 2000s, films and video games were fashionable. About a sports car chase through city streets. Gone in 60 Seconds was released before the first Fast & Furious film. The plot centers on a man who steals cars. He wants to quit his criminal ways, but is forced to take on a hit due to threats from crime bosses. Unfortunately, even a carefully crafted plan can go awry due to a series of unfortunate events.
Interesting facts:
- This is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which was incredibly spectacular for its time. It became a box office hit, grossing $40 million against a budget of $150,000. The 2000 film initially included many references to the original, but they were ultimately dropped;
- Nicolas Cage performed almost all of the car stunts himself. Beforehand, he completed special extreme driving training;
- In one scene, Vinnie Jones's character, Sphinx, rams a police car. The script didn't include her falling down. It just happened by accident.
- Timothy David Olyphant turned down the lead role in The Fast and the Furious because his script was too similar to Gone in 60 Seconds.
Original Sin
- Release date: 2001;
- Genre: drama, thriller, melodrama;
- IMDb: 6.0.
A film adaptation of Cornell Woolrich's novel Waltz into Darkness. It tells the story of coffee magnate Luis Antonio's unrequited love for a cunning seductress who exploits his feelings for her own gain. But even such a vile deception doesn't stop the man, whose attraction to Angelina Jolie's character goes beyond all reasonable limits. This film is a must-see for those who enjoy femme fatale images.
Interesting Facts:
- The original novel's author, Cornell Woolrich, is known for more film noirs have been made based on his books than on the works of any other writer.
- Title (Original Sin) differ from the book's title, Waltz into Darkness. It was originally adapted as Dancing in the Dark. But in 2000, Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark was released, and the producers wanted to avoid unnecessary associations with the other film.
- Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas filmed completely nude in the film without the use of stunt doubles. Rumors circulated of an affair between the actors.
- At the height of production on the film, Jolie left Mexico, where filming was taking place, for Hollywood to accept an Oscar. The actress was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for her role in this film.
Girl, Interrupted
- Release date: 1999;
- Genre: drama, biography;
- IMDb: 7.3.
This film is dedicated to girls with mental health issues. It's clearly not for the faint of heart, as the story unfolds, revealing horrific and downright unpleasant things that happen to sick people. Angelina Jolie's talent was particularly evident in Girl, Interrupted. For her role as Lisa Rowe, she won several prestigious awards, including an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Interesting facts:
- The film is based on the true story of Susanna Kaysen, who was treated at McLean Hospital. She was 19 years old at the time. In 1993, she wrote an autobiography. This work easily served as the basis for the film.
- The writer herself criticized the film for being overly melodramatic.
- Angelina Jolie tried to avoid any contact with Winona Ryder, who played the lead role. According to the actress, she was afraid to see anything human in her, as it could ruin her mood for playing a sociopath. Filming took place in a real psychiatric hospital.
- For her role as Lisa Rowe, Jolie won four awards as a supporting actress: an Oscar, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe, and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award. Critics said Jolie stole the show.
Changeling
- Release date: 2008;
- Genre: drama;
- IMDb: 7.7.
While Clint Eastwood was seen as a Western actor in the 1960s, by the 2000s he had established himself as a talented director. Changeling is one of his best works. The film centers on a young woman whose son is kidnapped. Los Angeles police officers attempt to pass off another boy as his son, and when the woman exposes the deception, they decide to get rid of her. It's worth noting that the film is based on true events that took place in 1928.
Interesting Facts:
- The film received three Oscar nominations: for Best Actress, Cinematography, and Set Decoration.
- The title of the film, Changeling, refers to English fairy tales in which elves and trolls kidnapped human children, leaving magical creatures in their place. The parallels with the film's plot are obvious.
- To write the story, J. Michael Straczynski was inspired by real documents related to the Los Angeles City Hall. They were supposed to be destroyed, but were mistakenly thrown away, after which someone stumbled upon them and handed them over to the screenwriter. Clint Eastwood liked Straczynski's work so much that he immediately agreed to make a film based on it.
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Angelina Jolie's talent and charisma have made each of her roles special, and her films unforgettable for audiences worldwide. Which films featuring this actress have stood out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Favorite movie with Angelina Jolie
