The Best Cameron Diaz Movies, Ranked
Cameron Diaz has had roles in some of Hollywood’s best and most underrated movies. She may not always have the leading role in all of them, but she will be the cast member who leaves a lasting impression. She is such an expressive performer that it’s almost a given that I will be drawn into any role she plays. Plus, Diaz has such a handle on practically every genre.
She can do raunchy comedies like Bad Teacher (2011) and The Other Woman (2015). She is also charming and hilarious as the female lead in a romantic comedy, like in What Happens in Vegas (2008). She’s an incredible action star opposite Tom Cruise in Knight and Day (2010). But she also showed her range as Miss Hannigan in Annie (2014) before returning to acting with Netflix’s aptly titled Back in Action (2015), in which she starred opposite Jamie Foxx again. Needless to say, there’s a great chance you’ve seen a Cameron Diaz movie and fallen for her incredible work. You can watch the following 7 Cameron Diaz movies on Hulu, Peacock, and more.
There’s Something About Mary, directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, is the movie that proved Cameron Diaz’s comedic chops. She holds her own opposite more established comedic talents like Ben Stiller and Matt Dillon. It’s such a well-known movie that I think I was aware of it through the hair gel scene way before I’d ever actually watched There’s Something About Mary.
Of course, there are some elements of There’s Something About Mary that don’t age well. The male characters practically stalk the titular character. Therefore, I don’t think the movie earns its happy ending for Mary (Diaz) and Ted (Stiller). There’s Something About Mary also has far too many problematic punchlines at the expense of Warren’s (W. Earl Brown) neurodivergence, which is why I’d place it last on this list. While a great snapshot at the rise of Diaz’s career, I’m going to lean more towards Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) if I’m looking for a feel-good but raunchy romantic comedy.
Cameron Diaz completely disappears into the role of Lotte Schwartz, Craig’s (John Cusack) wife, in Being John Malkovich. The cosmetic details, like her wig and brown contacts, certainly help, but it’s also down to Diaz’s dramatic performance, too. This movie is such a great, surprising follow-up after her film debut opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994).
After that, Diaz has done more comedic roles, so Being John Malkovich represented her range at an earlier point in her career. Both movies are better vehicles for the men—Cusack, a meta performance from John Malkovich, and Carrey. While they may be the main focus, Diaz’s talent makes her a mesmerizing scene stealer. She is the breakout star of both movies, all while proving to the film industry and its viewers that she will keep everyone guessing in her roles.
It’s a testament to everyone involved in My Sister’s Keeper that I have only watched this movie once after reading Jodi Picoult’s book, on which it is based. Its meditations on ethics, morals, medicine, and “savior siblings” stuck with me from a very impressionable age. Then and now, I am blown away by Cameron Diaz’s dramatic work as Sara Fitzgerald, Anna and Kate’s mother.
I can still close my eyes and see that scene where she tries to stop her husband, Brian (Jason Patric), from taking Kate to the beach. This movie may come across as heavy-handed or melodramatic to some viewers, but I find it incredibly impactful and moving. Then again, after watching A Walk to Remember (2002) and later, The Fault in Our Stars (2014), maybe I was always meant to be drawn to intensely dramatic and sentimental stories that feature young people and their loved ones struggling with the reality of a medical condition.
This may be a controversial opinion, but I like Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle more than Charlie’s Angels (2000). In fairness, I also like the original. It’s just that the sequel has much more fun with the entire concept of these iconic characters. It commits to bigger, better action sequences. That scene with the Angels and Madison (Demi Moore) on the roof is camp gold.
Again, I don’t know how this movie can go wrong with the trio at its core—Dylan (Drew Barrymore), Alex (Lucy Liu), and Natalie (Cameron Diaz). Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle gets to spend even more time with them and their friendship, and that’s for the best. I also really love Natalie and Pete’s (Luke Wilson) romance; I find it incredibly sweet and supportive—exactly what an Angel needs. I realize that this movie is goofy, but I believe that it uses that to its advantage.
What’s better than a Nancy Meyers movie? The aesthetic of The Holiday, which is up there with It’s Complicated (2009) for me, alone makes it one of Cameron Diaz’s best movies. It’s also such an excellent holiday romantic comedy that I have to watch it every year, like Elf (2003). It’s also a nostalgic watch with details like the movie trailer voiceover extending to Amanda’s life.
The chemistry between the ensemble is as good as that between the couples. Diaz’s Amanda and Jude Law’s Graham have such an instant attraction that develops into a really beautiful love story that kind of knocks both characters off their feet. I absolutely adore Diaz’s performance when Amanda finally cries and runs back to Graham—it’s such a sweet, rewarding gesture.
My Best Friend’s Wedding is one of my favorite movies of all time and one of the best romantic comedies ever. I’m obsessed with how it subverts the genre’s established expectations. Julianne (Julia Roberts) is positioned as the protagonist, but she’s also the movie’s antagonist. Because she’s in love with her best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), Julianne spends the entire movie trying to break up Michael and Kimberly’s (Diaz) relationship before their wedding.
For example, the karaoke scene is meant to be an embarrassing scene that causes chaos for the couple, but it just makes Kimmy look better and Julianne worse. The rom-com really tests the audience’s loyalty to the supposed protagonist because Kimmy is so kind, warm, and genuinely likable. In a different actress’s hands, there would be no moral dilemma, but Cameron Diaz makes it too easy to root for Kimmy and, in turn, her happy ending with Michael. The only rom-com that has tried to come close to a similar concept is Made of Honor (2008).
Shrek 2 is a masterpiece, so it must take the number 1 spot on this list. Of course, Shrek (2001) is great. It won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature—that’s outstanding. But the sequel just raises the bar with another brilliant twist on a fairy tale. Cameron Diaz returns as Fiona, opposite Mike Meyers as Shrek and Eddie Murphy as Donkey, as the movie tries to answer the question of what a Happily Ever After looks like. On that journey, the franchise gains some brilliant characters and cast members.
Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), and Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) complement the franchise’s efforts to expand with the Far Far Away Kingdom. The “Holding Out for a Hero” musical number may be one of the best things I’ve ever seen in any film ever. The jokes in the movie get better every time I rewatch it, which is a lot. I also really love Fiona and Shrek’s arcs of self-acceptance. It’s just an excellent movie through and through, so it’s no wonder that Shrek The Third (2007) and Shrek Forever After (2010) struggle to live up to it. It will be curious to see where Shrek 5 (2027) lands when it releases next year.
