Julianne Moore is a seasoned artist who has appeared in numerous films over the last three decades, playing a variety of characters. Here are the 15 best Julianne Moore movies of all time:
15. Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
The plot of Vanya on 42nd Street is so straightforward that it almost seems radical. A cast of performers gathers at a run-down Manhattan theatre to practice the play “Uncle Vanya.” Moore portrays Yelena, who is desired by the irate Uncle Vanya and married to an aged Serybryakov.
This movie/theater hybrid strips drama down to its bare bones, capturing the essence of what makes stories so engaging.
14. Maggie’s Plan (2015)
A young woman who gets sick of courting an arrogant writer tries to get him to get back with his ex-wife in the strange romantic comedy Maggie’s Plan.
Moore is frequently recognized for her parts in dramatic dramas, and now she has also demonstrated that she is equally adept at showcasing her humorous side. It is a light-hearted movie which is a great watch.
13. Children of Men (2006)
Children of Men portrays a dismal picture of our futures that seems more foreboding with every passing year. The only beacon of hope is Kee, who is the manifestation of new life. Twenty years of infertility and a lack of repopulation have left society in 2027 on the verge of collapse. Kee, a pregnant refugee, is protected by a civil servant Theo, who goes to unthinkable lengths to save them.
Moore plays the ex-wife of Theo and an activist, who believes in her cause to the fullest. Her screen presence in this movie is quite small, yet, she leaves her mark with her convincing performance.
12. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Kingsman is an action-packed trilogy which features a lot of action and drama. It is very different from the rest of Moore’s filmography, but a great addition nonetheless. She plays the character of a wealthy and deranged drug smuggler who needs to leave her mark on the world.
Moore plays her part to perfection by becoming a perfect villain for the movie.
11. Gloria Bell (2018)
Gloria, a divorcee, is a free-spirited and independent lady who enjoys drinking and dancing in nightclubs. She meets Arnold one night. Gloria, however, quickly becomes concerned about Arnold’s obligations to his former family and his lack of commitment, which impedes their courtship.
Moore truly shines as Gloria in the movie. She effortlessly captures the character’s individuality and fears. Despite a new man in her life humiliating and hurting her, she continues to live her life as she pleases.
10. Magnolia (1999)
Image Source: IMDb
“Magnolia” is a captivating mosaic of suffering and optimism that isn’t easily ignored. A three-hour epic about the intertwined lives of numerous South Californians dealing with love, grief, death, and frog rain, is at once intimate, expansive, passionate, and amusing.
Julianne Moore manages to inspire empathy despite the unlikability of her character. The film pays homage to Robert Altman’s Short Cuts by portraying the repentant spouse of a dying TV producer.
9. Hannibal (2001)
The movie centers on the cannibalistic activities of its title character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Mason Verger, a wealthy child predator whom Lecter rendered paralyzed and deformed, seeks retribution and designates FBI Agent Starling (Moore) to apprehend the physician. As the story develops, Starling comes to understand that Lecter is cunning and can avoid capture with ease given his knowledge and wit.
Julianne Moore serves as the ideal counterpoint and support to Anthony Hopkins’ incredible performance as Hannibal. The ruthless Mason Verger is evil and rabid for retribution, which ultimately brings him to ruin.
8. Boogie Nights (1997)
In this historical drama, Eddie Adams, who enters the porn industry with great success and a laidback lifestyle, gets exposed to narcotics, which sets him on a downhill trajectory. The movie also emphasizes other people and where they fit into the industry.
The film is Moore’s first-ever Oscar nomination. The actress portrays Amber Waves, a prominent lady, and Jack Horner’s girlfriend. She gives this group of misfits her maternal love as she is engaged in a custody dispute with her ex-husband. These people came together as a surrogate family after their real families abandoned them.
7. The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Laser and Joni are both born to the same unnamed anonymous sperm donor by the lesbian couple Nic and Jules. Laser enlists the aid of his sister to see his real father because he is curious. They eventually meet Paul, their biological father, who decides to become engaged in their life. Jules and Paul’s attraction to one another causes the happy couple to fall apart and causes difficulties among the family members.
The Kids Are All Right is a charming look at the concept of marriage. Moore’s outstanding portrayal of the romantically dissatisfied yet conflicted Jules earned her quite a praise.
6. Carrie (2013)
Margaret White, Carrie’s mother, is portrayed by Julianne Moore as a very terrifying figure. She has lived in extreme isolation with her daughter for her whole life, and the government has only recently made her cease homeschooling her child. Although Moore is frightening in her role as Margaret, she is grounded by her humanity and desire to do something for her child. She is a sophisticated and complex villain as a result.
Moore gives a standout performance, and there are some thrilling special effects. It’s exciting to watch “Carrie” because the plot is fantastical – a shy girl realizes she has telekinetic abilities after being tormented on prom night. This version of “Carrie” also demonstrates how versatile Moore is, making it an essential component of the actresses’ filmography.
5. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski is unquestionably the most recognizable movie in the Coen brothers’ filmography. Moore portrays Maude, as the daughter of the wealthy man. Even though the guys take center stage in this crazy comedy, Moore manages to hold her own.
As Maude Lebowski, Moore plays the part with a hilariously ludicrous deadpan attitude. Moore, who portrays the utterly honest and pretentious modern artist, steals every scene she is in and grows funnier throughout the movie as she engages with Jeff Bridges’ bumbling character, “Dude.”
4. Suburbicon (2017)
Gardner Lodge, his handicapped wife Rose, her identical sister Margaret, and their son Nicky are the main characters of the movie. Gardner is driven by passion and greed to take bold, rash actions that have serious repercussions.
Gardner tries to get away from his acts in an environment that is racially charged, unfair, and unjust in the hopes of finding salvation. Moore deserves special praise for playing two parts so skillfully; it is difficult to conceive a polite and dignified Moore changing into a ruthless, conniving character.
3. Safe (1995)
Todd Haynes has used Moore as his artistic inspiration. She portrays Carol White, a wealthy LA housewife who unexpectedly gets various chemical intolerances in the 1980s. She withdraws to a strange desert retreat when everything around her renders her helpless. The movie served as a metaphor for the AIDS crisis.
With Julianne Moore playing the lead part, it’s a quirky, bizarre movie that could be Todd Haynes’ greatest. The underappreciated masterwork Safe explores themes of contemporary capitalism and the fixation with wellness and beauty.
2. Far From Heaven (2002)
Far From Heaven is set in 1950s Connecticut and centers on a housewife who, after falling in love with her gardener, encounters a marriage crisis and escalating racial tensions.
Todd Haynes’ film compels us to consider our past and present prejudices. Julianne Moore brings all the elegance and grace of Hollywood’s Golden Age to a story relevant to today’s culture. Moore performs of a lifetime in Far From Heaven.
1. Still Alice (2014)
Julianne Moore won the Best Actress Oscar for this simple, tear-jerker movie. She portrays Alice Howland, a middle-aged professor of linguistics whose life is turned upside down by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her best attempts fall short of halting the disease’s disastrous progression. It addresses the difficult topics with grace and dignity.
Moore spent four months getting ready for the part, even though she was already the director’s first choice. She gave an incredibly moving performance that was tragic enough to bring the crowd to tears. This is undoubtedly her best performance yet; it is sincere and sensitive.
Honorable Mentions
- A Single Man (2009)
- Short Cuts (1993)
- Chloe (2009)
What are your favorite movies of Julianne Moore? Share with us in the comments!
