The 40+ Best Dianne Wiest Movies

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Updated May 16, 2024 41 items
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List of the best Dianne Wiest movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Dianne Wiest's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Dianne Wiest movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Dianne Wiest movies will be at the top of the list. Dianne Wiest has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Dianne Wiest movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Dianne Wiest films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Dianne Wiest role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Dianne Wiest performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

The list you're viewing is made up of films like Dan in Real Life and The 10th Kingdom.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Dianne Wiest movies?" and "What are the greatest Dianne Wiest roles of all time?"

Dianne Wiest is no stranger to working with popular directors, including Ron Howard, Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher. If you're a fan of Dianne Wiest, then check out our lists of the best Joan Allen and Brenda Blethyn movies as well.

  • Edward Scissorhands
    1
    Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
    19 votes
    In the peculiar and captivating film Edward Scissorhands, Edward (Johnny Depp), a gentle creation with scissors for hands, navigates life in suburbia after being taken in by Peg (Dianne Wiest). His unusual appearance and talent for topiary artistry stir both fascination and fear among the townsfolk. The eccentric inventor (Vincent Price) who created him passes away before he could complete Edward's hands, leaving Edward to grapple with his incomplete nature. Directed by Tim Burton, this blend of fantasy and romance won a BAFTA for Best Production Design.
  • The Lost Boys
    2
    Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest
    18 votes
    In The Lost Boys, the Emerson family, comprising of recently divorced Lucy (Dianne Wiest) and her two sons, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), relocate to the seemingly tranquil town of Santa Carla. They soon find themselves caught in a sinister undercurrent when Michael is lured into a gang led by the charismatic David (Kiefer Sutherland), who are more than they appear: vampires. As Michael begins transforming, it's up to Sam and two quirky vampire hunters, the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), to save him and their town from these night-time predators. A cult classic, this horror-comedy redefined the vampire genre with its unique blend of thrills and laughs.
  • Footloose
    3
    Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow
    18 votes
    In the heart-thumping movie Footloose, city teen Ren McCormack, portrayed by Kevin Bacon, finds himself in a tight spot in a small Midwestern town where dancing and rock music have been banned. Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow), the town's spiritual guide and law enforcer, stands as his primary obstacle. Threading the needle of rebellion, Ren challenges the ban to revitalize the spirit of the youth, notably Ariel Moore (Lori Singer), the Reverend's rebellious daughter. This musical drama, peppered with foot-tapping numbers and teenage angst, is a rhythmic dance of defiance against unjust norms.
  • The Birdcage
    4
    Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane
    17 votes
    The Birdcage, a comedic drama, is a flamboyant spectacle of love and acceptance. Armand Goldman (Robin Williams), owner of a gay nightclub in South Beach, shares his life with Albert (Nathan Lane), the club's star performer. When Armand's son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing senator, chaos ensues as they try to pass off as a traditional family. Directed by Mike Nichols, this film won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. The Birdcage delves into societal norms with humor, delivering laughs while pushing boundaries.
  • Bullets over Broadway
    5
    John Cusack, Jack Warden, Chazz Palminteri
    13 votes
    Struggling 1920s playwright David Shayne (John Cusack), having failed to secure financing for his latest work, reluctantly makes a deal with mob boss Nick Valenti (Joe Viterelli) : a Broadway debut with the chance to direct, as long as Nick's flibbertigibbet girlfriend, Olive (Jennifer Tilly), plays one of the lead roles. As Olive and star Helen Sinclair (Dianne Wiest) attempt to upstage each other, Olive's gangland bodyguard Cheech (Chazz Palminteri) starts suggesting changes to David's script.
  • Hannah and Her Sisters
    6
    Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Michael Caine
    15 votes
    Hannah and Her Sisters is a captivating drama-comedy, directed by the acclaimed Woody Allen. The narrative revolves around Hannah (Mia Farrow), and her two sisters, Holly (Dianne Wiest) and Lee (Barbara Hershey). Hannah, being the stalwart of the family, often finds herself tangled in the lives of her eccentric siblings. The film intricately weaves their stories over a span of two years, revealing complex relationships and personal transformations. Celebrated for its sharp writing and stellar performances, it clinched three Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay. A compelling exploration of love, infidelity, and ambition.
  • Parenthood
    7
    Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest
    16 votes
    In the heartwarming comedy-drama Parenthood, director Ron Howard explores the chaos, joys, and challenges of raising a family. The film follows the lives of the Buckman clan, headed by Gil (Steve Martin) and Karen (Mary Steenburgen), as they navigate through life's ups and downs. With a large ensemble cast that includes Dianne Wiest, Rick Moranis, and Keanu Reeves, each character offers a unique perspective on parenting. From dealing with rebellious teenagers to managing work-life balance, Parenthood is an insightful portrayal of family dynamics in modern America.
  • Radio Days
    8
    Mia Farrow, Seth Green, Dianne Wiest
    10 votes
    A middle-aged man looks back on his childhood in Rockaway, N.Y., in a series of vignettes focused on the golden days of radio. Joe (Woody Allen), who narrates, is portrayed as a teenager in the film by Seth Green. Eccentric relatives and radio personalities inhabit various stories, including an unlucky aunt (Dianne Wiest), a cigarette girl (Mia Farrow) with career ambitions, and two burglars with excellent timing. Young Joe involves his friends in a scam to earn a decoder ring.
  • Independence Day
    9
    Kathleen Quinlan, David Keith, Dianne Wiest
    11 votes
    A New Mexico waitress (Kathleen Quinlan) with a car-mechanic boyfriend (David Keith) dreams of going to art school in Los Angeles.
  • The Purple Rose of Cairo
    10
    Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello
    13 votes
    Unhappily married Depression-era waitress Cecilia (Mia Farrow) earns the money while her inattentive husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), blows their meager income on getting drunk and gambling. To assuage her loneliness, Cecilia escapes to the picture show and becomes transfixed with the movie "The Purple Rose of Cairo," and especially with its lead character, archeologist Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels). When Tom literally steps off of the screen and into her life, both realities are thrown into chaos.
  • Little Man Tate
    11

    Little Man Tate

    Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd
    8 votes
    Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a 7-year-old with a genius IQ. Single mother Dede (Jodie Foster) worries Fred might have an easier time fitting in around other child prodigies. Despite reservations, she allows Fred to go to a smart summer camp run by child psychologist Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest), a former child prodigy. Fred's studies advance, but, as he prepares for a national TV competition, he is torn between following through with his advanced education or building a normal life.
  • The Horse Whisperer
    12
    Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill
    12 votes
    When teenage Grace (Scarlett Johansson) is traumatized by a riding accident that badly injures her horse, her mother Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), a high-powered New York magazine editor, realizes Grace will only recover once the horse is healed. She takes them both to a secluded Montana ranch, where legendary "horse whisperer" Tom Booker (Robert Redford) begins to heal the horse, and also stirs long-dormant feelings in Annie that lead her to question her marriage and choice of career.
  • Robots
    13
    Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams
    9 votes
    Robots, a delightful animated film, brings to life the vibrant world of Robot City. Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor), an aspiring inventor, embarks on a journey from his humble beginnings in Rivet Town to the bustling metropolis. Encountering an array of unique characters like the charismatic Fender (Robin Williams) and the villainous Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), Rodney's adventure becomes a battle against corporate greed. The movie boasts a star-studded voice cast and was nominated for multiple awards, including Best Animated Feature. A tale of friendship, courage, and innovation, Robots offers an engaging watch for audiences of all ages.
  • Practical Magic
    14
    Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest
    11 votes
    In Practical Magic, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), born into a magical lineage, grapple with the family curse that dooms any man they fall in love with to an untimely death. The sisters' lives take a wild turn when Gillian's abusive boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic), dies unexpectedly. In their quest to hide their misdeeds, they inadvertently resurrect him with sinister consequences. This romantic fantasy film, sprinkled with comedic elements, explores themes of magic, sisterhood and love's resilience against curses. It's a tale of overcoming destiny's cruel hand through unity and the power of ancestral magic.
  • Rabbit Hole
    15

    Rabbit Hole

    Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest
    6 votes
    Eight months after the accidental death of their 4-year-old son, Howie (Aaron Eckhart) and Becca (Nicole Kidman) are trying to overcome their grief. He wants to hold on to everything that reminds him of Danny, while she would rather sell their home and make a fresh start. Cracks begin to appear in the relationship as Howie bonds with a member of his therapy group and Becca reaches out to a teenage boy with telling facial scars. Based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
  • Synecdoche, New York
    16
    Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams
    6 votes
    Life is looking pretty bleak for theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman). His wife and daughter have left him, his therapist is more interested in plugging her new book than helping him with his problems, and a strange disease is causing his body to shut down. Caden leaves his home in Schenectady, New York, and heads to New York City, where he gathers a cast of actors and tells them to live their lives within the constructs of a mock-up of the city.
  • The Associate
    17
    Whoopi Goldberg, Dianne Wiest, Eli Wallach
    8 votes
    Laurel (Whoopi Goldberg) is an intelligent investment banker struggling to succeed on Wall Street. When an unqualified white man (Tim Daly) receives a promotion, she quits her job to start her own business, only to learn that, as a woman, she is not taken seriously. To fool her competitors, Laurel creates a fictitious white man named Robert S. Cutty to manage her financial deals. But as Robert's popularity grows, Laurel realizes that living two lives is harder than she thought it might be.
  • I Am Sam
    18
    Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning
    11 votes
    I Am Sam is a heartfelt drama that centers around Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a man with an intellectual disability, who fathers a daughter named Lucy Diamond Dawson (Dakota Fanning). As Lucy grows older, her mental capacity surpasses Sam's, leading to the state deeming him unfit as a parent. The story unfolds as Sam, aided by lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), fights for custody of his daughter. Directed by Jessie Nelson, this film garnered Penn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Notable for its exploration of love and family in unconventional circumstances, I Am Sam challenges societal norms and perceptions.
  • Passengers
    19
    Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse
    9 votes
    Therapist Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway) receives an assignment by her mentor to counsel the five survivors of a plane crash. She feels particularly drawn to Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most-secretive of the group. Against her judgment, she becomes romantically involved with him, just as the other survivors mysteriously start to disappear. Believing that Eric knows more than he is telling, she vows to find the truth, no matter the outcome.
  • September
    20
    Denholm Elliott, Dianne Wiest, Mia Farrow
    7 votes
    Following an attempted suicide, Lane (Mia Farrow) retreats to her summerhouse in Vermont to rest. However, Lane's residence is not the peaceful haven it should be when her houseguests disrupt the healing process. Lane struggles to deal with her obnoxious mother (Elaine Stritch), who is visiting with her stepfather (Jack Warden). While Lane lusts after a writer (Sam Waterston) who wants her best friend (Dianne Wiest), a friendly neighbor (Denholm Elliott) carries a torch for Lane.
  • Bright Lights, Big City
    21
    Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates
    5 votes
    In this adaptation of Jay McInerney's novel, Jamie Conway (Michael J. Fox) moves from small-town Kansas to New York City to work at a magazine. However, a number of things are making him miserable: He would rather be a writer, his wife (Phoebe Cates) has left him and his mother (Dianne Wiest) has recently died. So he takes to partying with his yuppie friend Tad (Kiefer Sutherland), abusing alcohol and cocaine. But he quickly finds himself becoming more and more dependent on drinking and drugs.
  • The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
    22
    Mary-Louise Parker, Sidney Poitier, Dianne Wiest
    5 votes
    The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn is a 1999 made-for-television film, first broadcast on 9 May 1999 on CBS. This movie stars Sir Sidney Poitier as the title character, a rural Georgia carpenter, Noah Dearborn. George Newbern plays a developer trying to force Dearborn off his land; he tries to enlist the help of his psychologist girlfriend, played by Mary-Louise Parker, a move which backfires badly. Newbern's character tries to have Dearborn declared mentally incompetent; the effort fails, mostly because of the efforts of Parker's character, who realizes why Dearborn is held in esteem by his neighbors. For her performance in The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn, Dianne Wiest was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Miniseries or a Movie.
  • Dan in Real Life
    23
    Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook
    10 votes
    Dan Burns (Steve Carell), a widower and advice columnist, meets a beautiful stranger (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately the woman, named Marie, is already involved with Dan's charismatic brother (Dane Cook). As a weekend family gathering gets underway, Dan and Marie try to hide their mutual attraction, but fall in love anyway.
  • Cops & Robbersons
    24
    Chevy Chase, Jack Palance, Dianne Wiest
    6 votes
    Cops & Robbersons is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie, and starring Chevy Chase, Jack Palance, Dianne Wiest, and Robert Davi.
  • The Odd Life of Timothy Green
    25
    Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest
    6 votes
    Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) live in the town of Stanleyville, home of the Stanleyville Pencil Factory. Though happily married, Cindy and Jim long for a child; unfortunately, they are unable to conceive. They bury a box in their backyard, containing all their wishes for what they hope a child of theirs might be. When a boy named Timothy (CJ Adams) magically appears at their door, the Greens learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts.
  • I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
    26
    Joe Pesci, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest
    4 votes
    I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can is a 1982 American biographical film directed by Jack Hofsiss, starring Jill Clayburgh. The screenplay by David Rabe is based on the memoir of the same title by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Gordon, whose addiction to and difficult withdrawal from Valium serves as the basis of the plot.
  • A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
    27
    Robert Downey, Shia LaBeouf, Chazz Palminteri
    7 votes
    Dito Montiel (Robert Downey Jr.), a successful author, receives a call from his long-suffering mother (Dianne Wiest), asking him to return home and visit his ailing father. Dito recalls his childhood growing up in a violent neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., with friends Antonio (Channing Tatum), Giuseppe, Nerf and Mike.
  • Dedication
    28
    Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore, Dianne Wiest
    5 votes
    When children's author Henry Roth (Billy Crudup) loses his longtime illustrator, his publisher sends him a new artist, Lucy (Mandy Moore). He is a tangle of neuroses and nastiness, and he does everything he can to alienate her, even though he must deliver his latest book in less than a month. Secretly Henry begins to fall in love with Lucy, and at the same time, her ex-boyfriend returns to try to win her back.
  • Falling in Love
    29
    Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Harvey Keitel
    6 votes
    Commuting to Manhattan on the same train, two married strangers (Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep) meet by accident and have an affair.
  • Rage
    30
    Jude Law, Steve Buscemi, Judi Dench
    4 votes
    Rage is a 2009 film written and directed by Sally Potter, starring Jude Law and Judi Dench. The filmmakers said that the film created a new genre in filmmaking, called “naked cinema”.