Riley Keough’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Riley Keough movies and TV shows capture the magnetic blend of vulnerability and fierce spirit that defines her as an actress. Born in 1989, in Santa Monica, Riley Keough (the granddaughter of Elvis Presley) has carved out an incredible career that’s all her own. She first made waves in Hollywood with roles that showcased her depth beyond her famous lineage, landing breakout performances in indie hits and critically acclaimed dramas. With her striking screen presence and fearless choice of roles, Keough quickly became a fan favorite for audiences who love grounded, emotionally charged performances.

Over the years, Riley Keough has shown she’s anything but predictable. Whether she’s playing a cunning escort, a haunted stepmother, or a free-spirited rock star, she brings an intensity and authenticity that’s impossible to ignore. She has become beloved for her ability to transform for every part, blending into sprawling ensemble casts or leading projects entirely on her own. The best Riley Keough movies and TV shows not only showcase her wide range but also prove why she’s one of the most exciting performers of her generation. From horror to heartfelt drama, there’s truly nothing she can’t do.

10

The Runaways (2010)

Riley Keough Plays Marie Currie

In 2010’s The Runaways, Riley Keough steps into the role of Marie Currie – not the scientist, but a fictional composite character who adds to the gritty coming-of-age story about the rise and fall of the legendary all-girl rock band. Directed by Floria Sigismondi, this electric biopic centers on Joan Jett and Cherie Currie’s whirlwind journey to fame in the 1970s. Although Keough’s part is smaller compared to the leads, her grounded performance adds texture to the chaotic, rebellious world that the movie captures so well.

Sharing the screen with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning in The Runaways cast, Keough holds her own, bringing a quiet, emotional realism to her scenes. The Runaways is packed with style, energy, and a killer soundtrack, but it’s the commitment of its stars (Keough included) that makes it sing. Even with limited screen time, Keough’s early turn in The Runaways hinted at the raw talent that would later define the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows. It’s a fitting glimpse of the powerhouse performer she was destined to become, wrapped up in one of the coolest rock biopics of the 2010s.

9

The Devil All The Time (2020)

Riley Keough Plays Sandy Henderson

The Devil All The Time

5/10

Release Date

September 16, 2020

Runtime

138 minutes

Director

Antonio Campos

Writers

Paulo Campos, Antonio Campos

The Devil All The Time is a dark, twisty tale of corruption and violence in small-town America, directed by Antonio Campos. Set across a post-World War II backdrop, the Netflix thriller weaves several grim storylines together, and Riley Keough makes a chilling impression as Sandy Henderson, a waitress turned reluctant accomplice to serial murder. Her nuanced performance captures both Sandy’s guilt and desperation, making her one of the 2020 movie’s most tragic figures.

Riley Keough stars in The Devil All The Time alongside a stacked cast that includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Sebastian Stan, yet she manages to shine even in the film’s most unsettling moments. The Devil All The Time stands out not just for its grim storytelling but for how committed every actor is to their flawed, haunting characters. Keough’s work earned widespread praise, further cementing her status in the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows. Watching Keough navigate Sandy’s moral decay is brutal, fascinating, and unforgettable all at once.

8

Zola (2020)

Riley Keough Plays Stefani

Zola

Release Date

June 30, 2021

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

Janicza Bravo

Writers

Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris

In Zola, Riley Keough delivers one of her most daring performances as Stefani, a reckless and manipulative dancer who drags the titular character into a chaotic road trip from hell. Directed by Janicza Bravo, Zola is based on the viral Twitter thread that captivated the internet, blending surreal comedy with tense drama. Keough fully transforms into the larger-than-life Stefani, complete with a wild accent and even wilder energy, stealing almost every scene she’s in.

Opposite Taylour Paige’s Zola, Riley Keough’s commitment to the chaotic spirit of the story of Zola is absolutely electric. The 2020 movie is stylish, hilarious, and frequently uncomfortable, and it thrives because of the fearless performances at its center. Riley Keough received a Chicago Film Critics nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her work, and it’s easy to see why. The best Riley Keough movies and TV shows often showcase her fearlessness, and Zola is a brilliant example of how she dives headfirst into outrageous, unforgettable roles.

7

The Terminal List (2022)

Riley Keough Plays Lauren Reece

The Terminal List

5/10

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Showrunner

David DiGilio

Directors

Paul McCrane

Writers

​Chris Pratt2, David DiGilio

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2022’s The Terminal List, based on the novel by Jack Carr, is an intense military thriller series created by David DiGilio. Riley Keough joined The Termina List cast in season 1 as Lauren Reece, the loving and supportive wife of Chris Pratt’s Navy SEAL operative James Reece. Though her time onscreen is limited, Keough makes an indelible impact, providing an emotional anchor in a world filled with betrayal, violence, and conspiracy.

Keough’s chemistry with Pratt brings a genuine warmth to the Prime Video series, making her character’s fate even more gut-wrenching. The Terminal List blends action with emotional stakes, and her performance is a big part of what makes the series resonate. With a cast that includes Constance Wu and Taylor Kitsch, Keough still manages to leave an unforgettable mark, and it’s this that cements The Terminal List as one of the best movies or TV shows of her career so far.

6

It Comes At Night (2017)

Riley Keough Plays Kim

It Comes at Night

Release Date

June 9, 2017

Runtime

97minutes

Director

Trey Edward Shults

Writers

Trey Edward Shults

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Directed by Trey Edward Shults, It Comes At Night is a moody, slow-burn horror that plays more on psychological dread than jump scares. Riley Keough stars as Kim, a young woman seeking shelter with her family after a mysterious apocalypse ravages the world. Her subtle, emotional performance anchors the movie’s more surreal, anxiety-inducing moments, making the fear and paranoia feel all too real.

Sharing the screen with Joel Edgerton and Christopher Abbott in the It Comes At Night case, Riley Keough proves she can command even the most understated horror narratives. It Comes At Night is bleak and deeply unsettling, and Keough’s portrayal of a mother trying to survive gives the narrative its aching humanity. Many of the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows involve her digging into complex emotions, and in It Comes At Night, she manages to terrify and move audiences without a single scream. It’s an unforgettable performance in one of the most haunting indie horrors of the 2010s.

Related

Why It Comes at Night Divided Critics & Audiences

Despite receiving rave reviews from critics, A24’s 2017 film It Comes at Night proved much less popular with horror fans and audiences overall.

5

Logan Lucky (2017)

Riley Keough Plays Mellie Logan

Logan Lucky

8/10

Release Date

August 18, 2017

Runtime

118 Minutes

Writers

Jules Asner

Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky is a hilarious and charming heist movie set in the heart of West Virginia, and Riley Keough shines as Mellie Logan, the fiercely smart and sassy sister to Channing Tatum and Adam Driver’s bumbling leads. Mellie isn’t just another side character, she’s essential to the crew’s elaborate plan to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Keough’s razor-sharp timing gives the film much of its heart and humor.

With a cast that includes Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, and Seth MacFarlane, it would be easy to get lost, but Keough stands out thanks to her down-to-earth charisma and pitch-perfect comedic instincts. Logan Lucky is a feel-good caper that never tries too hard, and Keough’s effortless performance is a huge part of why it works so well. It’s another brilliant entry in the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows, showing off her lighter side without losing any of her signature depth.

4

The Lodge (2019)

Riley Keough Plays Grace Marshall

The Lodge

Release Date

February 7, 2020

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

Writers

Severin Fiala, Sergio Casci, Veronika Franz

In The Lodge, Riley Keough delivers one of her most intense performances as Grace Marshall, a woman grappling with dark memories during a terrifying winter retreat. Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the psychological horror movie traps its characters – and the audience – in a claustrophobic nightmare where reality blurs with hallucinations. Keough’s portrayal of Grace’s unraveling sanity is chilling, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from.

Acting alongside Jaeden Martell and Richard Armitage, Riley Keough’s performance in The Lodge earned widespread acclaim for its raw vulnerability. The Lodge is relentlessly grim, but it’s Keough’s layered, empathetic portrayal of Grace that keeps it grounded in human emotion. It’s a standout in the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows, and a testament to how deeply she can immerse herself in a character. Keough’s work in The Lodge is haunting – and lingers long after the credits roll.

3

American Honey (2016)

Riley Keough Plays Krystal

American Honey

Release Date

September 30, 2016

Runtime

163 Minutes

Director

Andrea Arnold

Producers

Trudie Styler, Celine Rattray, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Thomas Benski, Lucas Ochoa, Rose Garnett, Charlotte Ubben, Pouya Shahbazian, Hardy Justice, Marisa Clifford, Melissa Hook

Andrea Arnold’s American Honey is a sprawling, sun-soaked odyssey through the heartland of America, and it was an incredibly important career milestone and launchpad for Riley Keough. She is magnetic in American Honey as Krystal, the no-nonsense leader of a crew of young magazine sellers. Krystal is tough, manipulative, and often cruel, but Keough injects her with enough charisma and complexity to keep her compelling rather than cartoonish.

Starring alongside Shia LaBeouf and Sasha Lane, Keough’s performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female. American Honey is raw, beautiful, and often heartbreaking, capturing a side of America rarely seen on screen. The best Riley Keough movies and TV shows thrive on her ability to explore flawed characters, and her work as Krystal is a masterclass in balancing toughness with vulnerability. It’s a performance that feels as freewheeling and alive as the movie itself.

2

Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)

Riley Keough Plays Daisy Jones

Daisy Jones & The Six

Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Directors

Scott Neustadter

Writers

Scott Neustadter

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Daisy Jones & The Sixis a glitzy, emotional trip back to the 1970s rock scene, based on the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid and inspired heavily by the real-life story of Fleetwood Mac. Riley Keough leads the series as Daisy Jones, the wild, free-spirited singer who skyrockets to fame alongside her band. Created by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the show captures the highs and lows of stardom with infectious energy and genuine heartbreak.

Riley Keough’s performance is nothing short of electric. She sings her own vocals, captures Daisy’s self-destructive spirit, and anchors the show’s emotional arc with a performance that’s both larger-than-life and heartbreakingly real. Daisy Jones & The Six is one of the best Riley Keough movies and TV shows, showing off her star power like never before. Alongside Sam Claflin and Camila Morrone, Keough makes Daisy unforgettable – a messy, magnetic icon in her own right.

1

The Girlfriend Experience (2016)

Riley Keough Plays Christine Reade

In The Girlfriend Experience, Riley Keough takes on the bold, mesmerizing role of Christine Reade, a law student who moonlights as a high-end escort. Created by Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimetz, the Starz series is sleek, provocative, and daring – and Keough’s performance anchors more or less every scene. Her portrayal of Christine earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and it remains one of the most fearless and layered performances of her career.

Throughout The Girlfriend Experience season 1, Keough transforms Christine into one of television’s most enigmatic antiheroes – intelligent, cold, vulnerable, and endlessly fascinating. The Girlfriend Experience is stylish and unsettling, and Keough’s work elevates it into something unforgettable. The best Riley Keough movies and TV shows often see her tackling morally complex characters, and here, she proves she can lead a series with staggering confidence and depth. It’s a performance that proved her standing as one of the most compelling actresses of her generation.