From her breakout dramatic role in Winter’s Bone to her raunchy comedic turn in No Hard Feelings, Jennifer Lawrence has shown off her full acting range in a wide variety of great movies. Lawrence is one of the world’s highest-paid actors and one of the world’s highest-grossing actors, and she’s appeared on both Time and Forbes’ lists of the world’s most influential celebrities. She’s won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Film Award, and three Golden Globes. Throughout her career, Lawrence has played such iconic roles as Katniss Everdeen, Tiffany Maxwell, and Joy Mangano.
Lawrence is one of the last remaining movie stars in the franchise age. At a time when superheroes and other IPs rule Hollywood, Lawrence is a bona fide A-lister who can draw audiences to a movie based on her involvement alone. She has appeared in a few franchises, like X-Men and The Hunger Games, but she also finds plenty of time to make smaller, more experimental movies like mother! and Causeway. Lawrence has starred in such critically lauded gems as Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, but not all of her movies have been so acclaimed.
25
The Devil You Know (2013)
As Young Zoe
Whenever an actor rises to stardom, as Jennifer Lawrence did in the early 2010s, their unreleased early-career movies tend to resurface to cash in on their newfound fame. The Devil You Know is a thriller that stars Rosamund Pike as Zoe Hughes, the daughter of a famous actress (Lena Olin) whose big break is overshadowed by her mother’s comeback role. As the tension in their relationship escalates, Zoe uncovers dark secrets in her mother’s past.
Lawrence filmed her role in The Devil You Know in 2005, playing the younger version of Zoe Hughes, but the movie wasn’t released until 2013. When it was finally unleashed from the vault, The Devil You Know was widely panned by critics. It’s a mystery thriller that doesn’t do much to intrigue the audience. Also, Lawrence’s role is so brief that it is not even worth watching for die-hard fans.
24
House At The End Of The Street (2012)
As Elissa Cassidy
Many actors started in horror movies, and like Jennifer Lawrence, many of those early horror movies are better left forgotten. Lawrence stars in House at the End of the Street as teenager Elissa Cassidy, who moves to a new neighborhood with her mother and becomes fascinated with a nearby house where a gruesome double homicide was committed.
It is impressive that Lawrence is able to carry the movie in the lead role, showing early signs of her movie star potential…
Although Lawrence brings her A-game to the lead role, House at the End of the Street received negative reviews from critics for its generic premise, lazy execution, and complete lack of genuine scares. It is impressive that Lawrence is able to carry the movie in the lead role, showing early signs of her movie star potential, but the rest of the movie lets her down.
23
Garden Party (2008)
As Tiff
The low-budget indie production of Garden Party marked Jennifer Lawrence’s film debut with the role of Tiff. The movie takes a look at a variety of different characters on their path to success in the big city, some of them struggling to find their way to break through, some just looking to get by, and some second guessing what their success has cost them.
Revolving around a sprawling ensemble of lost souls trying to make their way in Los Angeles, Garden Party is a half-baked take on the Short Cuts formula. Whereas that movie’s characters were endlessly compelling, Garden Party’s were seen as dull and uninteresting by critics. Lawrence’s role is another brief one that doesn’t give her enough to do to really stand out.
22
Serena (2014)
As Serena Pemberton
Based on the novel of the same name by Ron Rash, Serena stars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper as a pair of newlyweds running a timber business in Depression-era North Carolina. While Cooper’s George Pemberton is an ambitious man who sees the empire he could build, Serena (Lawrence) has an even more take-charge attitude. As their business grows, their ambition becomes clouded.
Serena was an unsuccessful attempt to recapture the magic of Silver Linings Playbook by pairing Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper for another romance. Lawrence gives a strong performance in the complex role that brings some fire to the movie, but the rest of Serena is a disappointing attempt at making a sweeping romantic epic. The movie was panned by critics, scoring just 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it bombed at the box office.
21
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
As Raven Darkhölme / Mystique
Jennifer Lawrence made her final appearance as the Marvel character Mystique in X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Set in the 1990s, the sequel charts Jean Grey’s transformation into the Phoenix. The mutant heroes are forced to choose sides and fight against each other as one of their own joins some powerful new enemies and becomes one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
Released on the heels of Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox — and, with it, the film rights to the X-Men characters — Dark Phoenix marked the unceremonious end of the franchise. This was the series’ second botched adaptation of the seminal “Dark Phoenix Saga” comic after the similarly underwhelming X-Men: The Last Stand. Lawrence especially sticks out in the large cast as seeming to be done with the franchise and eager to move on to something new.
20
The Burning Plain (2008)
As Young Mariana
In just her third movie, Lawrence starred alongside a pair of Oscar winners in a film that sadly wasn’t worthy of the talent on screen. The Burning Plain is a small, intimate drama that examines a fractured relationship between a mother and daughter with lasting impacts. Charlize Theron is a self-destructive woman looking for redemption while looking back on her youth (as played by Lawrence) as she found early love and discovers a secret about her mother, played by Kim Basinger.
With Guillermo Arriaga at the helm, The Burning Plain is well-made and further elevated by the strong performances from the main cast. The script is very intricately structured, telling its story out of order with interwoven narrative threads, but it relies too much on sappy melodrama to truly succeed.
19
The Poker House (2008)
As Agnes
Jennifer Lawrence made her second movie appearance in The Poker House, an indie drama based on first-time director Lori Petty’s own childhood in the 1970s. Lawrence plays Agnes, the oldest of three children who are abused and neglected by their drug-addicted mother, with Chloë Grace Moretz and Sophi Bairley in the roles of her younger sisters.
While it’s too slow-paced to be a true masterpiece, The Poker House is carried by a poignant story and strong performances.
The Poker House wasn’t a huge commercial success, but it was warmly received by critics. While it’s too slow-paced to be a true masterpiece, The Poker House is carried by a poignant story and strong performances. Lawrence was the standout of the movie with her performance earning her an Outstanding Performance Award from the Los Angeles Film Festival.
18
Passengers (2016)
As Aurora Lane
Jennifer Lawrence stars alongside one of the other biggest names in Hollywood in a sci-fi movie with a lot of potential but some misguided ideas. Chris Pratt stars in Passengers as an interstellar traveler who is mistakenly woken from cryosleep years before the ship arrives at its destination. Facing the rest of his life all alone on the empty vessel, he decides to awaken another passenger (Lawrence).
Passengers is a well-shot and well-acted sci-fi romance, but the film is ruined by a fundamental flaw in its premise. Pratt’s character is framed as a supposedly sympathetic protagonist, but by waking up Lawrence’s character and hiding the truth from her, he coerces her into a relationship, which makes for uncomfortable viewing. Passengers‘ ending could have been an interesting play on the moral dilemma at the center of the story, but it ends up going for a safe conclusion that makes the whole movie fall apart.
17
Red Sparrow (2018)
As Dominika Egorova
Jennifer Lawrence stepped into the spy thriller genre with this underrated movie. Lawrence plays ballerina-turned-spy Dominika Egorova in Red Sparrow. Dominika is recruited by a spy agency and tasked with making contact with a CIA agent in the hope of identifying a mole. She soon finds herself wrapped up in a passionate and dangerous affair with the opposing agent, played by Joel Edgerton.
While Lawrence’s performance was widely praised as usual, the film was overall criticized for favoring style over substance and relying too much on sex and violence. However, for fans of the Jason Bourne movies or the thrillers of John le Carré, Red Sparrow provides a tense, seductive, and gripping entry into the genre. It also shows a new side of Lawrence and the kind of characters she can play.
16
The Beaver (2011)
As Nora
Jodie Foster selected Jennifer Lawrence to join her directorial effort in a controversial yet underrated off-beat drama. Mel Gibson stars in The Beaver as a man with depression named Walter, who uses a beaver hand puppet he found in the trash to communicate with his family and work through his issues. Lawrence plays Nora, the love interest of Walter’s son, Porter, played by the late Anton Yelchin.
The Beaver bombed at the box office, but it was praised by critics for its cast’s performances and Jodie Foster’s compassionate direction. Some reviewers found the premise to be a little absurd, but the acting is convincing enough to buy into it. Gibson is especially effective in a role quite different from his typical work. Lawrence also brings a lot of humor and heart to her role as the popular girl who has more going on than it seems.
15
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
As Raven Darkhölme / Mystique
The penultimate entry in the X-Men prequel series, X-Men: Apocalypse squanders one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel universe on a formulaic plot. Oscar Isaac plays the titular ancient mutant, who is reawakened in 1983 with plans to wipe out civilization. As he assembles his own team of powerful mutants, including Storm and Magneto, the X-Men recruit new members, including Cyclops and Jean Grey, to fight him.
X-Men: Apocalypse performed very well at the box office and gets points for the performances of Lawrence and Isaac and for keeping its focus on the theme of fatherhood in all the major story threads. However, the sequel is let down by many of the pitfalls of comic book movies: CG-riddled action scenes, an overstuffed cast, and stakes that are set way too high to be relatable.
14
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014-2015)
As Katniss Everdeen
Jennifer Lawrence capped off what is perhaps her most iconic role with the end of the Hunger Games movie franchise. Hunger Games: Mockingjay was actually split into two movies, telling the story of Katniss becoming a key figure in the rebellion against President Snow as well as attempting to reunite with Peeta who had been captured by the Capitol.
The third book in the Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay, was needlessly split into two movies. The book isn’t significantly bigger than its predecessors and its story has a similar scope, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn made it the norm to adapt the last book in a series as two movies. There are great performances and some eye-popping action sequences in both parts of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, but the movies were padded out with too much filler to be as great as their predecessors.
13
Joy (2015)
As Joy Mangano
Jennifer Lawrence won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Joy Mangano, the single mother who invented the self-wringing Miracle Mop, in Joy. The movie saw Lawrence reuniting once again with her frequent filmmaking collaborator David O. Russell for this unique biopic that examines the ambitious and inspiring determination of this underdog character.
Lawrence’s performance was acclaimed, but the execution was criticized.
As its 60% Rotten Tomatoes score would suggest, Joy was well-received by some critics but wasn’t exactly met with unanimous praise. Lawrence’s performance was acclaimed, but the execution was criticized. In Joy, a great true-life entrepreneurial underdog story is squandered on a dreary, by-the-numbers biopic.
12
Mother! (2017)
As mother
Jennifer Lawrence took on one of her most polarizing movies with this collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. Lawrence stars as the title character in mother! alongside Javier Bardem as her husband, a struggling artist looking for inspiration. As she attempts to build the ideal home for her family, her husband keeps bringing in unexpected guests who gradually corrupt the home and life that she has been building.
mother! is a deeply disturbing Biblical allegory styled as a psychological horror film. The religious elements often come across as unsubtle and heavy-handed, but it’s an undeniably fascinating movie. It divided critics and audiences, but like all great movies, it provoked strong reactions on both sides. Some felt it was convoluted and unfocused while others found it to be a powerful horror movie. However, Lawrence’s performance received a lot of praise.
11
No Hard Feelings (2023)
As Maddie Barker
Jennifer Lawrence is mostly known for intense and prestigious dramas, but she really embraced her comedic side in this R-rated comedy. Lawrence stars in No Hard Feelings as Maddie Barker, an Uber driver whose car is repossessed. She answers a Craigslist ad to date an introverted 19-year-old boy named Percy Becker in exchange for a Buick Regal.
No Hard Feelings wasn’t met with universal acclaim, but its 66% Rotten Tomatoes score indicates a mostly positive critical response. It’s a fun throwback to raunchy ‘80s comedies with a surprising amount of depth. Lawrence shows off her comedic chops and also brings nuance to the film’s more dramatic turns. She fully commits to the role, including a hilarious nude scene in No Hard Feelings that has already become one of the most iconic moments in the actor’s career.
10
Like Crazy (2011)
As Sam
Jennifer Lawrence teamed once again with the late Anton Yelchin for an underrated romance drama. In Like Crazy, stars Felicity Jones as a British exchange student’s relationship with an American (Yelchin) is forced to become long-distance when she’s denied re-entry into the U.S. for staying in the country longer than her visa allowed.
Like Crazy is a heartbreaking romantic drama led by Yelchin and Jones’s powerful performances, with Lawrence in a standout supporting role as a new love interest who complicates the central relationship. The film’s contrived visa plot is redeemed by the authentic ring of its semi-improvised dialogue. Lawrence handles the naturalistic approach to the movie with a performance that feels loose and authentic.
9
Causeway (2022)
As Lynsey
Causeway stars Jennifer Lawrence as a soldier who is sent home to New Orleans following a brain injury, and the movie follows her as she struggles to readjust to civilian life while staying with her estranged mother. Brian Tyree Henry gives a terrific supporting turn as James, a man who is similarly dealing with trauma and befriends her.
Well-received by critics, Causeway is a thoughtful, meditative drama about the traumatic effect of war and a strained mother-daughter relationship. Henry steals the show with a soulful performance that earned him an Oscar nomination, but Lawrence’s reserved performance is also key to the movie’s success. It is an admirably low-key look at the lingering effects of trauma on a person, making for a powerful and grounded story.
8
X-Men: First Class (2011)
As Raven Darkhölme / Mystique
Jennifer Lawrence gave her first performance as Mystique in X-Men: First Class, a prequel filling in the origins of the X-Men and introducing a new cast of actors as the younger incarnations of the iconic mutants. Set in 1962, X-Men: First Class folds the true-life events of the Cuban Missile Crisis into its superhero origin story. It deals with the new friendship formed by Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr as well as their shared connection to Mystique.
After the disappointments of X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: First Class marked a return to form for the franchise. Director Matthew Vaughn brought a fresh, vibrant new perspective to the X-Men universe. The movie was further elevated by the cast with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy confidently stepping into their iconic roles while Lawrence made Mystique a more complex character than she ever had been before.
7
American Hustle (2013)
As Rosalyn Rosenfeld
Jennifer Lawrence plays Rosalyn Rosenfeld in an ensemble that also includes Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Bradley Cooper in American Hustle, a darkly comedic crime caper loosely based on a wild true story. American Hustle is a fictionalized account of the FBI Abscam operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
She stands out in the strong ensemble with her fiery performance, which is hilarious at times and heartbreaking at others.
When it was released in 2013, American Hustle quickly became a huge critical and commercial hit, and Lawrence earned her third Oscar nomination among the movie’s ten nominations, including Best Picture. She stands out in the strong ensemble with her fiery performance, which is hilarious at times and heartbreaking at others. It hasn’t had much lasting cultural impact in the years since, but it still holds up as a delightfully dark crime comedy.
6
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
As Katniss Everdeen
Jennifer Lawrence returned to the role of Katniss Everdeen, cementing herself as the face of the massive blockbuster Hunger Games movies and launching her as a true superstar in Hollywood. The first sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire sees Katniss and Peeta targeted by the Capitol after their unprecedented victory in the Games leads to rebellion across Panem.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire recaptures everything that made the original movie so great: powerful performances, brutal action scenes, and hard-hitting emotional depth. It doesn’t just re-tread the first film’s storyline; it takes the themes even further. Lawrence continues to bring depth to the movie with her strong performance, and the film adds some terrific new actors to the ensemble, including the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jeffrey Wright.