The 10 Best Margot Robbie Movies, Ranked

At #10 sits Focus, a slick con-artist romance where trust becomes the most dangerous game of all. Will Smith dons the role of the seasoned con-artist Nicky and takes a rookie grifter Jess, played by Robbie, under his wing. Fans of crime capers will find Focus to be a fun watch, with Robbie’s (not just romantic, but competitive) chemistry with Smith being a high point. Margot holds her own against Smith and is immediately confident so early on in her career. 

However, though the movie is stylish, the plot is forgettable which is why it’s at the end of the list, but if that’s exactly the vibe you’re going for, then you’ll enjoy Focus; it doesn’t demand much from you, and the banter and fun twists, like in Ocean’s Eleven (but not as clever), will keep you engaged. It’s not a must-watch film of Robbie’s as such, and doesn’t have the kind of depth I, Tonya does, but it’ll still be a hit during a movie marathon as something that’ll entertain you, and sometimes, that’s exactly what the doctor prescribed. 

“Wuthering Heights”, Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel divided audiences—and for good reason. While some found it to be a worthy take on a beloved classic, others felt it was needlessly modified, taking it away from what made the novel so popular in the first place. But in between all of this discourse, Robbie manages to shine as Catherine. She has the kind of aura that makes her perfect for a period piece, and Robbie takes on her portrayal of the heroine and gives us a performance that is equally volatile and restrained. 

“Wuthering Heights” is intense, and for those who aren’t ready for the darker edges of the movie might not resonate with it. But viewers who love gothic romance and tension, like Crimson Peak, will like what Fennell attempts to do here. The film is erotic, so if what you’re looking for is a more faithful adaptation of the source material, then you might enjoy Wuthering Heights (1978) better. Because I’m a stickler for adaptations being as close to the original material as possible, “Wuthering Heights” falls to the end of the list for me. That said, if you watch it as its own entity, you might enjoy the gothic tragedy of it all. 

If there’s a character of Robbie’s that’s a complete contrast to the loud energy she brought to Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, it’s Ann from Z for Zachariah. The film follows Ann who believes she might be the last survivor on Earth after a nuclear disaster. She navigates isolation and carries much of the weight of the movie, making it a fascinating tone piece, though the rewatchability factor isn’t high, especially when compared to the more dynamic entries on this list. 

Nonetheless, delivering an understated performance, this is Robbie at her most stripped-down version, and fans of quiet, post-apocalyptic or survival dramas will love what Z for Zachariah brings to the table. Along with Robbie, we also have Chris Pine and Chiwetel Ejiofor who end up entering Ann’s world and each have their own psychological dynamic with her (you know, romance, jealousy, the works); the fact that this entire film had a three-hander cast earns it brownie points. The movie is slow-paced, sometimes deliberately so, and if you’re not in the mood for that, then you might find yourself wanting to watch something else. But if plot momentum isn’t a dealbreaker, then Z for Zachariah can be an interesting 95-minute watch.

Reuniting six years after The Wolf of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie star in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, along with Brad Pitt, where a fading actor (DiCaprio) navigates the changing industry with his stunt double (Pitt). Margot Robbie plays the real-life actress Sharon Tate in this ‘60s-set film. OUATIH is a Quentin Tarantino film through and through, which is made very clear with the atmosphere of the film. 

I wish we’d seen more of Robbie in the film, but I appreciated how Tarantino portrays Tate as a real person and focuses on her life and career, and not just as a plot device to show the tragedy that happens to her in real life. Robbie is luminous and warm as Tate, and turns every single moment she appears in into something special, be it her dancing or watching her own movie at the theater (which was such a cute scene). OUATIH is for those who are drawn to immersive cinema where the mood does most of the heavy lifting. It’s similar in spirit to other movies with large casts like The Great Gatsby. Sharon Tate might not be Robbie’s loudest role where she gets to explore her full range, but she still does a lot with the limited space she’s been given, leaving an indelible mark on the audience.

A character that is synonymous with Robbie before Barbie entered the chat, is psychiatrist-turned-anti-heroine Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, which is a hugely important Margot Robbie performance. Robbie fully commits to her role and gives an unleashed performance as Quinn, even when tone-wise, the movie sometimes feels all over the place. Her toxic relationship with Joker was shown in this movie (remember the vat of acid scene?), and they broke up in the spinoff, Birds of Prey (a relationship I’m not a fan of for obvious reasons).

She’s unpredictable and her twisted humor injects so much personality into Quinn, and anyone who enjoys irreverent storytelling with anti-heroes at the helm, or comic book adaptations will love Suicide Squad. If you can’t get enough of Harley Quinn (which makes sense), but you already watched both the aforementioned spinoff and the sequel, The Suicide Squad, then fear not, there’s Harley Quinn, the animated show to indulge in where Kaley Cuoco (of The Big Bang Theory fame) voices our titular heroine. Despite the film’s slight flaws, it was the moment that turned Robbie into something unforgettable, and ended up defining a huge chunk of her career, which is why I’d recommend the watch at least once. 

Loud and indulgent, The Wolf of Wall Street is a film that begs to be remembered, and we still do, even though more than a decade has passed since its release. The movie follows Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who acquires an obscene amount of wealth through fraud, without the consequences that should arrive with it (on time, anyways). Though this is not purely Margot Robbie’s movie, she somehow makes sure that we remember her. 

While DiCaprio’s character is very in-your-face, and as it should be, since he’s the protagonist, Robbie refuses to be pushed into the shadows either, and holds her ground in the scenes she appears in. Their chemistry is volatile in an entertaining way, and in spite of not being able to showcase her versatility as a performer, Robbie still powers through with her sharp and undeniable screen presence. Fans of exaggerated storytelling and high-energy drama with characters who constantly teeter between charisma and disaster (Jordan included) shouldn’t miss The Wolf of Wall Street. If you enjoy Martin Scorsese’s filmmaking style, then this movie should go on your watch lists. 

The one movie on this list that’s going to hit hard, hands down, is Bombshell. A group of women set out to expose a culture of harassment at Fox News. Helmed by power packed performances by Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman, Robbie plays the fictional composite character Kayla, but is no less important, especially as she manages to make her character feel real, even when the movie is filled with recognizable names. 

The film talks about power imbalance and work-place tension, so people who gravitate towards real-world issues spotlighted in their dramas will appreciate how Bombshell balances that seriousness with a kind of accessibility. While Barbie also highlights gender and identity within its story, Bombshell decides to take the uncomfortable realism route, and ends up being just as potent as the message Barbie brought forth. Though an ensemble project, Robbie’s vulnerable performance separates itself from the rest (that scene where Robbie’s on a phone call with Kate McKinnon’s character, was so moving), and quietly lingers in your minds longer than expected. 

After the classic Barbie movies of the 2000s that raised an entire generation, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie had large shoes to fill, especially with Robbie stepping into Barbie’s glittery pink heels. Robbie plays Barbie with sincerity and pulls off something I thought wouldn’t work on paper. Her innocence, confusion, and earnestness are extremely well-conveyed, and while the movie tackles some strong themes about purpose and identity, it does it in a genuine way without sounding too preachy (you know, the kind that first makes you laugh, and then makes you think.) 

Viewers who enjoy pop-culture and commentary, in the way Josie and the Pussycats gave a glaring exposé of the music industry, will love the journey Barbie takes us on. Another plus point of the film is Ryan Gosling’s Ken, who was absolutely the right pick for that role. He quite literally brought Ken to life with his ‘Kenergy’, and his devotion to Barbie got me emotionally invested in a plastic doll’s relationship. All in all, if you want a modern take on the blond-haired girl boss we love so much, then Barbie is a must-watch.

Babylon is a whirlwind, and I’m not mad about it. This one’s for the maximalists, where everything is turned up a notch (or 10). The film follows multiple characters who are chasing fame and survival in Hollywood. Robbie shines as Nellie LaRoy; she’s magnetic and ambitious, and her electric performance is impossible to ignore (that one dance scene itself deserves an award!) 

I placed Babylon at #2 because it might just be the most “go big or go home” entry on this list, and while the movie can be a bit overwhelming because of the way it throws sound, color, and emotion at us in its 3 hour 10 minute runtime, Robbie thrives as someone caught in the glamour and eventual collapse of Hollywood excess. Visual spectacle is delivered in troves here, and Robbie burns bright emotionally and even destructively, giving Nellie a strangely hypnotic portrayal (Robbie especially hits the ball out of the park in the scene where she melts down at a party.) It’s just short of the top spot as I, Tonya is where Robbie’s transformation is more focused and precise, and it’s one of my personal favorite movies of hers. 

Margot Robbie goes all in in I, Tonya, and takes the top spot on this list. The movie traces figure skater Tonya Harding’s rise, fall, and infamous scandal that turns her life into a media frenzy. Here, Robbie carries the film entirely on her shoulders, unlike her supporting but memorable presence in The Wolf of Wall Street. As one of her most demanding roles, her performance elicits a conflicting reaction, where you sympathize with what she’s been through growing up, but are trying to decipher her and the incident without being biased. 

That ambiguity in her portrayal of Tonya is what makes her performance so gripping from the beginning until the end. If character studies with dark humor is your vibe, especially biographical ones, then know that the watchability of I, Tonya is off the charts, with Robbie practically embodying Tonya and her contradictions. While it worked for me, the mockumentary style of the film won’t appeal to everyone, but I do urge you to watch this film at least once even if your usual pick is straightforward biopics, as it is this style of storytelling that makes I, Tonya so distinctive. With its bold and darkly funny tone, it’s no surprise that I had to place this film at #1.