When I first discovered Mia Goth, I had unknowingly watched two of her movies—Emma. and Pearl—back-to-back without knowing she was in both of them. When I found out, I was mind-blown. From her breakout performance in Nymphomaniac to her most recent release Frankenstein, Goth consistently exudes a magnetic energy that makes it impossible to look away from the screen, whether she’s playing a psychotic murder icon, a violent farm girl, or a femme fatale (and my, that girl has lungs!) If you’ve been sleeping on her work, then I implore you (with love!) to wake up, because she is a powerhouse performer you wouldn’t want to miss.
Buckle up, because here are ten of Mia Goth’s best movies, ranked, and where you can watch them on Netflix, HBO Max, and more.
10. A Cure for Wellness (2017)
When a high-powered executive travels to a remote Swiss spa to find his CEO, he realizes that the wellness center might be plotting some unnatural treatments. A Cure for Wellness is similar to Scorsese’s Shutter Island, only where the Leonardo DiCaprio starrer was interesting, A Cure for Wellness is longer and meandering (and with more eels!)
It’s the kind of movie you watch late at night, half wondering how it’s all going to end, and half wanting to switch the movie off and go to sleep. Mia Goth’s Hannah, a mysterious patient, though not a massive role, is one that brings an eerie but accessible energy that makes sitting through the movie worth it (her oddly calm nature coupled with her humming, gave me goosebumps.) The movie isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (including mine), but if you’re a horror enthusiast who likes an unsettling atmosphere over outright massacres, then you can give A Cure for Wellness a try.
9. Mayday (2021)
A woman finds herself on a mysterious island populated by militant women who communicate with men through distress calls and gun fire (two things I didn’t think could go hand-in-hand.) In Mayday, Goth plays Marsha, a woman who drifts between being panicked and confident, depending on which minute of the film you’re in. Her expressions (especially her micro gestures), are enough to keep you invested, even when the plot sometimes veers into “wait..what?” territory.
Mayday’s unique concept and symbolic storytelling is more intimate and tense, unlike A Cure for Wellness, which relied on spectacle. If you enjoy making your own theories after watching ambiguous films that don’t explain themselves, then Mayday might be for you. However, if you’re someone who wants to understand what’s happening in every moment…well, good luck. Though it’s a lesser-known film in Goth’s filmography, it’s worth a watch if you want to see what she’s capable of outside of slashers and sci-fi.
8. The Survivalist (2015)
For anyone who finds bleak, post-apocalyptic thrillers without heroic speeches and explosions appealing, congratulations! The Survivalist is tailor made for you. Goth plays her character with calculating vulnerability; she commands attention, making every hesitant move riveting, and is largely the reason why you continue watching three grown adults living under the same roof (while two secretly plot to kill the third at the same time.)
I did find the movie to be slightly emotionally distant, and felt it could have benefitted from engaging the viewer on a deeper level, but regardless, Goth dominates every scene, especially the ending. The contrast between her performance in The Survivalist and Emma. is so striking, but Goth adapts (and even thrives!) seamlessly in both worlds. The Survivalist echoes the grim tone of The Road, though the latter has more personal stakes.
7. Emma. (2020)
This is the refreshing break you’ve been wanting after going through the more heavy entries above (there’s more of those coming, don’t worry!) In Emma., an adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic book, Goth steps away from fear, despair, and horror, and proves that she can do lighter fare too, in her role as Harriet Smith, a socially awkward, slightly adrift friend of the titular character, Emma Woodhouse. This film is the lightest entry in Goth’s catalog thus far, and is the bright to Suspiria's moody atmosphere. The movie itself is stylish and hilarious, add to it Goth’s eager to please, uncertain portrayal of Harriet, and you’ve got a wonderful film to cozy up to on a Friday night.
Though some people felt Goth was overshadowed by the louder personalities in the movie (which is to be expected), Goth’s understated, yet dramatic performance still leaves an indelible mark (that scene where Mr. Churchill carries Harriet home? Hilarious!) If you mostly know her from her horror movies and are in the mood for witty social chaos that makes you want to sip tea and throw the TV remote at the same time, then this period comedy is a pleasant recalibration, and I for one would love to see Goth in more comedic roles.
6. Infinity Pool (2023)
A wealthy couple goes on a tropical vacation, but an accident quickly devolves into murder and debauchery (and clones!) Infinity Pool is dark and strange, with a lot of fever-dream like elements that make you wonder if it’s all actually happening, or if it’s a hallucination. Goth, as Gabi, delivers a chilling and unhinged performance (in the best way) where she’s terrifying, flirtatious, and unpredictable, thriving in excess unlike in The Survivalist which was more subdued. She understood the assignment; even in some of the visually overwhelming scenes, Goth is the one who you can’t look away from (also, the bus-and-car scene; that’s all I’ll say.) Of course, the film isn’t easy to watch, but if you’re a horror fan who prefers psychologically twisted movies, kind of like Possessor (also a Brandon Cronenberg film), then you definitely can’t miss Infinity Pool.
5. Suspiria (2018)
In Suspiria, a remake of a horror classic, a young dancer from America joins a prestigious Berlin dance academy, only to discover that it’s run by witches who are more terrifying than any ballet critique (according to me, at least.) Though she wasn’t the central focus, her presence aids in deepening the creeping unease that the movie builds throughout, like an instrument in a very cursed orchestra. Goth’s precision and vulnerability is what sets her apart, and her commitment to making her character human in a world of witches, sells the film’s emotional stakes.
Suspiria isn’t a “clutch your chest and scream” movie, it’s more of a “observe what’s going on and feel unsettled” experience (I say from firsthand experience.) But if you’re a fan of slow-burn tension and lingering intensity (and as a bonus, are a fan of Tilda Swinton playing multiple roles with perfection, and I mean perfection), then Suspiria is for you. I believe that the 2018 movie doesn’t replace the original; it feels like an homage and earns its existence in the horror genre (even with its intimidating runtime.) Where Mayday was messy, Suspiria is colder, and Goth matches that icy atmosphere, which makes this movie worth the ticket.
4. Frankenstein (2025)
If you thought Goth was just a scream-queen (more coming on that in a bit), then you’d be mistaken. Her dual roles in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein prove that she’s a performer who can carry tragedy and emotional darkness with equal weight. Frankenstein isn’t just a simple monster story, it wants you to think about obsession and the real consequences that come with trying to play God. Goth plays Elizabeth with kindness and quiet strength around Victor Frankenstein’s hubris.
Though Goth isn’t the main character as such, her presence anchors the story, even amidst the Gothic architecture and lightning storms. While she played both Elizabeth and Claire (Frankenstein’s mother), it’s easy to differentiate between the two—not just because of the prosthetics, but because of how Goth transforms in each of those characters, stealing the show. Where in Infinity Pool, Goth revels in excess, she is measured and deliberate in Frankenstein. If you’re a fan of Gothic horror movies, or film adaptations of classic literature, then Frankenstein should be next on your list.
3. MaXXXine (2024)
The top three spots on this list have to be taken by Ti West’s X trilogy. MaXXXine is the third and final instalment and is a direct follow-up to X (we’ll talk about it next.) Maxine Minx is back in the spotlight, trying to break into Hollywood in the mid-80s, with all its fame and danger, while a mysterious killer follows her every move. If you love stylish, self-aware thrillers and 1980s glamor, like Body Double, then this movie delivers it in spades, largely thanks to its titular character played by Goth.
She owns Maxine with an effortless mix of humor, audacity, and charisma; she’s part slasher survivor, part Hollywood anti-hero, and entirely unmissable. Sure, sometimes it feels like the film juggles meta commentary on fame and a slasher plot in a way that feels slightly unbalanced, but if you’re looking for a horror sequel that expands a world, while keeping the star in full control, then MaXXXine (and Goth!) own it. While MaXXXine doesn’t have the tight terror of X, the former is flashy and indulgent, and Goth genuinely thrives in it.
2. X (2022)
If you thought Goth’s first dual role was in Frankenstein, then you’ll be surprised to know that she already did it 3 years ago in X, in which she plays the vulnerable final girl Maxine (who’s the main character in MaXXXine), and the elderly Pearl. When a crew of filmmakers go to rural Texas to shoot an adult film, they find that the property owners are deadlier than any of their plot twists. Fans of slasher films with twisted dark humor and high-energy terror will find plenty to love here.
Goth manages to dominate the screen with both her characters, and I personally felt that she carried the film with how seamlessly she handled that duality by shifting between menace and ferocity (and how good is Pearl’s raspy voice?) As Pearl, she gives the audience a taste of what made her so terrifying in the first place in her standalone film we’ll talk about next. Tonally, the film reminds me of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with similar menace and slasher tropes. X is a must watch for modern horror fans, and this one serves unpredictable horror terrain, with a side of blood and zero apologies.
1. Pearl (2022)
Six months after the release of X, Pearl hit the theatres, this time with Goth starring and co-writing the film. Set decades before X, Pearl is a prequel where Goth reprises her role as the protagonist in her twenties. Pearl is an ambitious young woman trapped in a rural farm, dreaming of fame and freedom while grappling with obsession and rage, while slowly descending into madness. This is Goth at her most volatile, and gosh, she’s incredible. She transforms what should be a simple villain origin story into a character study, giving Pearl a depth most horror villains can only dream.
Pearl is the most raw title out of the trilogy, and Goth embodies Pearl, single-handedly carrying the film and taking the audience on a journey that’s both terrifying and mesmerizing (and makes you feel oddly sympathetic to a woman who is a killer, basically.) Pearl can be watched as a standalone, and anyone who likes villain origin stories mixed with tragedy and unhinged energy will love it. It wouldn’t be wrong of me to say that this is THE film people would equate with Goth (I mean, I was so impressed by that monologue and end credits scene) and anyone who underestimated her thus far, won’t again.
