When it comes to movie stars, Angelina Jolie is one of the most famous. Renowned for her charisma, beauty, and versatility, she can bounce from bombastic action spectacles to gritty psychological thrillers that will leave you wondering if you're even looking at the same person. While her personal life frequently makes the front of tabloids, Jolie's career does, too.
Her latest movie, Couture (2025), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, has already received praise, with some naming Jolie's performance the best in her career. While Couture awaits its wider release, let's revisit some of the highlights of Jolie's filmography. From pop culture staples to award-winning features, here are the 10 best Angelina movies, ranked by her performance, along with where to find them on HBO Max, Apple TV+, and more.
10. Hackers (1995)
Some of you are going to be mad about Hackers' bottom placement on this list. However, it only sits here because Angelina Jolie has done so many bigger and better things since this wild crime thriller. Still, for the right kind of audience, particularly those of you who dig silly popcorn movies steeped in '90s nostalgia, Hackers might be a new favorite. While the actual hacking part is… questionable, the neon-soaked cyber aesthetic (mostly) makes up for it.
Jolie plays Kate Libby, better known by her online handle, Acid Burn. Honestly, Jolie's performance isn't anything to write home about. It's a bit one-dimensional when compared to her later works. Still, her edgy look and questionable pixie cut make her a queer icon among sci-fi fans and hackers everywhere. For that reason, Hackers is worth the watch at least once.
9. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Fans of the Tomb Raider video game series had little to complain about when the news broke of Jolie's casting as the first live-action Lara Croft. Looks-wise, Jolie is spot on. (Google an image of Lara Croft right now and tell me otherwise.) Performance-wise, Jolie also nails it by embodying the same charisma and swagger as her video game counterpart. Not to mention, Jolie performed the majority of her own stunts in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003).
Truthfully, it feels sacrilegious to even put Tomb Raider this low on the list. The movie cemented Jolie as an action star and gave us some of the most perfect casting in cinema history. However, the film itself leaves something to be desired. What matters here is expectations. If you expect a masterpiece, you'll walk away disappointed. However, if you like fun action movies meant to entertain, you're in the right place.
8. The Bone Collector (1999)
If you consider Seven (1995) a personal favorite, then The Bone Collector should be another hit. The film sees Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington), who recently suffered a spinal cord injury, team up with a less experienced patrol officer, Amelia Donaghy (Jolie), to track down a sadistic killer. Like any good mystery, though, nothing is quite as it seems, and the characters get pulled into a compelling forensic mystery.
Dark, atmospheric, and downright tense at times, The Bone Collector's plot is made stronger by Jolie and Washington's performances. Together, the two have rock-solid chemistry, and alone, Jolie conveys Amelia as a flawed but likable protagonist. If you like crime thrillers, especially of the dark and gritty variety, The Bone Collector is an underrated movie that deserves a spot on your watch list.
7. Wanted (2008)
Loosely stemming from Mark Millar and J. G. Jones' comic miniseries, Wanted delves into a secret society of assassins and delivers the kind of fights and kills expected of the subject matter. While Jolie impresses as an expert assassin with that trademark charisma she can't help but exude, James McAvoy remains the true star. For those reasons, it ranks lower on this list than maybe some would agree with.
Even still, Wanted is a well-received and well-loved action thriller that delivers all the spectacle, stunts, and CGI expected of a comic book-inspired movie. (Angelina Jolie shoots off some pretty fancy bullets that can curve around objects!) Silly at times, far-fetched at others. Neither changes the fact that Wanted is pure entertainment for action movie fans in need of a fun watch.
6. Maleficent (2014)
Disney's live-action princess movies might have taken some heat as of late, with Snow White (2025) being a notable mention. However, back in 2014, Disney hit big with Maleficent, a live-action retelling of Sleeping Beauty's big antagonist. Jolie was the first and only contender for the titular role—and it makes sense. One look at her cool and quietly menacing Maleficent, and it's clear she was made to play the role.
If I am being honest, Jolie might be the best live-action Disney villain since Glenn Close stomped around as Cruella de Vil in 1996's 101 Dalmatians. She is easily the best part of Maleficent, which seeks to transform the character from a tropey, one-dimensional villain to a complicated antagonist. While anyone who likes a good fairy tale retelling can appreciate Maleficent, those who enjoyed Disney's other live-action remakes, like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Cruella (2021), will feel right at home.
5. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
Ask anyone what Angelina Jolie's most entertaining movie is, and they'll probably say Mr. and Mrs. Smith. What works so well about this movie is the genre blending. This isn't just a spy thriller; it's a spy thriller with sizable action, laugh-out-loud comedy, and plenty of romance. You can also engage with it on multiple levels. Want a popcorn thriller? You got it. However, those looking for a deeper message can suss out a metaphor about the ups and downs of married life, too.
Jolie is as charismatic as ever, with some solid comedic timing for someone not known for the genre. And, of course, her chemistry and banter with co-lead Brad Pitt is as great as it is infamous. If you want to see the rise of "Brangeline," here it is. If that sentence alone made you roll your eyes, that's okay, too. Putting the behind-the-scenes drama aside, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a fun thriller that might just have you on the edge of your seat.
4. Salt (2010)
Looking for an action-packed thriller with a strong female lead? Then, say hello to Salt. Many people think of Jolie as an action star, and Salt proves why. She, once again, is a magnetic powerhouse who makes the movie's action beats look effortless. Salt was originally written for a male lead, with Tom Cruise actually set to headline the film before writer Brian Helgeland reworked the script for Jolie.
If you like the espionage antics in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Salt elevates the genre with twists, turns, and plenty of suspense. When it comes down to Salt and Wanted, it's a pretty close call. With similar bombastic action, CGI-enhanced stunts, and Jolie in a leading role, they might start blurring together. However, Salt gets an edge because it truly puts Jolie in the driver's seat. Fans of Atomic Blonde (2017) will find a similar vibe here, and if you ever thought, "Hey, I wonder what a female Jason Bourne would be like?" Salt will give you the best clue.
3. A Mighty Heart (2007)
A Mighty Heart might have been a box-office failure, but it's still well worth the watch, especially if you like movies about true stories. Jolie plays Mariane Pearl, the wife of Wall Street Journal reporter David Pearl, who was kidnapped and later killed by a terrorist group while on assignment in Karachi. The documentary style gives the movie a realistic, immersive feel that's hard to look away from, even when the subject matter gets dark. Still, A Mighty Heart doesn't delve into exploitation as it spotlights a true tragedy.
While the movie doesn't have the same widespread appeal as a summer blockbuster, it arguably contains one of Jolie's best performances. Known for her many action flicks, Jolie gets to deliver a more intimate, nuanced performance as Mariane, who remains resilient despite the circumstances. Really, it's a movie more people should see. Whether you want an emotionally gripping narrative or just like Jolie, A Mighty Heart will check both boxes.
2. Changeling (2008)
Like A Mighty Heart, Changeling is based on a true story. Here, director Clint Eastwood delivers a dramatized crime drama about the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders. Jolie takes the lead as Christine Collins, whose reunion with her missing son comes with the realization that he's not actually her child. When she brings her concerns to local authorities, she isn't just dismissed, but actually sentenced to a psychiatric facility.
Again, like A Mighty Heart, Jolie delivers a gripping, vulnerable, and intimate performance that earned her a multitude of award nominations. If you haven't seen Jolie in anything but action, give Changeling a try. It confirms her acting chops extend far beyond the kick-butt female archetype she often plays. Likewise, if you like period-set dramas that take aim at systemic injustice, Changeling should impress. After all, if we know anything about Clint Eastwood, it's that he can make a movie.
1. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
For anyone who thinks Angelina Jolie isn't a serious actress, show them Girl, Interrupted. While A Mighty Heart and Changeling should have already proved the point, Girl, Interrupted truly spotlights her versatility. While embodying diagnosed sociopath Lisa Rowe, Jolie delivers this intense rawness that is as scary as it is captivating. She rightly won Best Supporting Actress, and the movie marked her breakout role, allowing her to step out of the shadow of her father, Jon Voight.
The movie itself remains a cultural touchstone with a raw, unflinching, and honest look into mental illness and the controversies, judgment, and issues that come with it. (Consider triggers before going in.) Although it can wander into One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) territory, don't confuse it for a knock-off. Based on a 1993 memoir by Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted is for viewers unafraid to delve into darker themes about mental health and forced institutionalization, particularly as it relates to women. This is a good one, and a large part of that stems from Jolie's stand-out performance.
