Julia Roberts is an award-winning actress who has starred in some of the most well-known movies of the last three decades. She is a queen of romantic comedy, but she has also proven throughout the years that she can feature in serious dramas, teaming with actors like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and George Clooney. Roberts’ work is diverse, yet she constantly gives outstanding performances.
Pretty Woman, a 1990 romance/comedy directed by Garry Marshall, is the actress’s most adored picture to date. Roberts plays Vivian Ward, a sex prostitute in Los Angeles who meets and falls in love with a wealthy businessman called Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere. Her performance was outstanding, propelling her to a new level in her career, garnering her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Next, Roberts will star alongside Sean Penn in the upcoming Starz limited series Gaslit, which is based on the notorious Watergate incident, as well as in a rom-com starring George Clooney. While we wait for further information on the series, here’s a ranking of Julia Roberts’ top films.
8. Ocean’s Eleven
The tremendously brilliant A-list ensemble of Steven Soderbergh’s crime/comedy Ocean’s Eleven is one of the greatest features of the film. This fan-favorite film stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, and Julia Roberts, and focuses on a humorous and incredibly entertaining robbery. Ocean’s Eleven is the first episode of Soderbergh’s American heist film trilogy. Ocean’s Twelve, which was released in 2004, and Ocean’s Thirteen, which was released in 2007, are still the two films in the series. Roberts returned for the sequel, but not the third, because the screenplay didn’t allow for her character Tess Ocean to play a substantial role in the storyline.
7. Wonder
Wonder is a stunning adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s novel is about a kid born with physical defects who, by his courage and compassion, alters the lives of his family, friends, and classmates. Auggie tries to be accepted by his classmates every day at school, and despite the fact that this is a family film, there are plenty of scenes that make us cry. Jacob Tremblay plays his parents, Isabel and Nate Pullman, opposite Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, respectively, in the film.
6. Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts‘ work in Erin Brockovich was pivotal in her career, earning her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001. This drama/romance, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is based on the actual tale of an American legal clerk who found a coverup concerning groundwater poisoning that was harming a number of California citizens. Brockovich fought the Pacific Gas & Electric Company despite her lack of legal expertise. In addition to Roberts’ triumph, the film was nominated for four additional Oscars, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay.
5. Closer
Julia Roberts plays Anna in filmmaker Mike Nichols’ romance/drama Closer, alongside Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, and Jude Law. The 2004 film follows two couples as they fall in and out of love, as well as everything in between. The film’s main focus is on how these four individuals treat each other, from purposely injuring one another to being bored with where they are in their relationships. Both Portman and Owen were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances in 2005.
4. Charlie Wilson’s War
Tom Hanks is one of the most well-known and renowned performers of his age, having appeared in some of the most memorable films of the last three decades. In Mike Nichols’ drama Charlie Wilson’s War, it is magical to see him and Julia Roberts on the same film. Reminiscing on Roberts’ career, it’s evident that she has a history of returning to the same actors and directors. Her films have a strong sense of chemistry and teamwork, which is one of the reasons for their popularity. Charlie Wilson’s War was well-received from the outset, with a Rotten Tomatoes reviewers score of 82 percent.
3. August: Osage County
August: Osage County follows three sisters, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, and Julianne Nicholson, who return home following their father’s death only to be ripped apart by their cruel mother Violet, played by Meryl Streep. Streep received one of her 21 Academy Award nominations for her role in the picture. An adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play August: Osage County is the drama/comedy by John Wells.
2. Ben Is Back
Roberts’ most recent and praised work, Ben Is Back, is one of his most current and acclaimed works to date. Holly Burns is a heroin addict whose son Ben has recently returned home for the holidays from college. When Ben gets home from school on Christmas Eve, the truth about his addiction is exposed, and Holly does everything she can to heal her son and keep him clean. Ben Burns is played by Lucas Hedges, who gives one of his greatest performances to date.
1. Pretty Woman
The 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman, which is Julia Roberts‘ most iconic film of all time, is considered first on the list. Vivian Ward, a sex worker in California, has a one-night fling with Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, an extremely wealthy businessman. During this humorous two-hour video, what started off as a mistake blossoms into a blooming romance, and the two fall in love. There are numerous memorable sequences and statements from the film, such as “She lowers him to nothing” and “Big blunder. It’s huge “— and which are still used today. This is a romantic comedy classic and a must-see film.
