Taissa Farmiga, the younger sister of actress Vera Farmiga, is an American actress known for her numerous appearances in horror films. Farmiga was encouraged to begin acting by her sister and made her debut appearance in her sister’s film, Higher Ground. Afterwards, she rose to prominence from her various roles in the anthology series American Horror Story, starring in the seasons Murder House, Coven, Roanoke, and Apocalypse.
Thanks to her appearances in several horror films and TV series, Farmiga is widely known as a scream queen. While most of her works are based in the horror genre, she does have several titles that are outside the genre. Here are Taissa Farmiga’s best movies and TV shows, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score.
15 Wicked City — 18%
Wicked City is an American procedural drama that aired from October 27, 2015 to December 15, 2015. The series consisted of one season with eight episodes, and focuses on two LAPD detectives as they search for a pair of romantically-linked serial killers terrorizing the Sunset Strip. Farmiga plays Karen McClaren, a journalist who helps the detective before going missing herself.
Wicked City has received negative reviews from television critics, gaining an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series has an average rating of 4.07/10.
14 The Nun — 25%
The Nun is an American gothic supernatural horror film released in 2018. It is a prequel to 2016’s The Conjuring 2 and the fifth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. Farmiga plays the starring role as Sister Irene who, with Father Burke (Demian Bicher) and Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), work to uncover an unholy secret in at a monastery in 1952 Romania.
The film received generally mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Nun received a 25% score, with an average rating of 4.4/10. Critics cite strong performances from the actors and a spooky atmosphere, but call out the inconsistent logic and narrative slackness. Farmiga is set to reprise her role as Sister Irene in the upcoming sequel, The Nun 2, which will be released on September 8, 2023 (via Digital Spy).
13 Anna — 30%
Farmiga plays the titular character of Anna Greene in the 2013 mystery drama Anna. The film is set in a world where memory detectives are used to resolve psychological conflicts and occasionally exonerate someone from a crime. John Washington, portrayed by Mark Strong, is tasked with getting 16-year-old Anna to start eating again. However, the simple job becomes much more challenging as he has to determine whether she is a victim of trauma, or a sociopath.
Anna received mixed and average reviews, gaining a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews praise Farmiga’s performance in an otherwise stale sci-fi premise filled with cliches and outrageous plot twists.
12 At Middleton — 61%
At Middleton is a 2013 rom-com starring Andy Carcia, Vera Farmiga, Taissa Farmiga, and Spencer Lofranco. Farmiga plays Audrey Martin, the highly strung daughter of Edith, played by Farmiga's older sister Vera. The film is set on the Middleton College campus, where Audrey and Lofranco’s character Conrad are touring the college. Condrad’s father, George and Edith wander off from the tour and end up bonding (and falling in love) as they try to reunite with the tour group.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 61% rating, with an averaging weight of 5.9/10.
11 The Mule — 70%
The 2018 crime drama film The Mule stars Clint Eastwood, who plays drug mule Earl Stone. Earl is a broke 90-year-old man facing the foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive. Unbeknownst to him, Earl just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. He does very well, and is assigned a handler. His past mistakes weigh on him, and he’s struggling to right those wrongs before law enforcement catches up to him. Farmiga plays Ginny, Earl’s estranged granddaughter.
The film has a fairly good rating on Rotten Tomatoes, at 70%, with a weighted average of 6.2/10. The Mule is based on the true story of the Sinaloa Cartel’s 87-year-old drug mule Leo Sharp.
10 The Final Girls — 74%
The Final Girls is a 2015 comedy horror film starring Farmiga and Malin Akerman. Farmiga plays Max Cartwright, the daughter of actress Amanda who dies in a car accident on the way home from an audition. Two years later, Max and her friends attend a double-feature of Camp Bloodbath 1 and 2, films that her mother starred in. At the theater, a fire ignites, and the group cut a hole in the screen and go through to get away. They are inexplicably transported into the Camp Bloodbath universe and must find a way to save as many characters as they can, including themselves.
With a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Final Girls received positive reviews from film critics. With a weighted average of 6.29/10, the site’s critical consensus cites the film as affectionate nod towards slasher tropes with a layer of genuine emotion.
9 6 Years — 74%
6 Years is a romantic drama released in 2015. The film stars Farmiga, Ben Rosenfield, Lindsay Burdge, Joshua Leonard, Peter Vack, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. The film shows two weeks in the relationship of Farmiga’s character Melanie Clark and Ben Rosenfield’s character Dan Mercer. The young couple seemingly has the ideal relationship, but in the two weeks shown in the film, their six-year relationship goes down a violent and volatile path that threatens the future they had always imagined.
With a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 6 years received generally positive reviews. Critics cite the film as a tiny story that feels as big as the world, and an emotional rollercoaster with real, undeniable intimacy.
8 In a Valley of Violence — 77%
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In a Valley of Violence is a dark comedy Western thriller released in 2016. Starring Ethan Hawke, Farmiga, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, and John Travolta, the film is about a mysterious stranger and a random act of violence that drags a town of misfits and nitwits into a bloody revenge plot. Farmiga plays Mary-Anne, the innkeeper who becomes close to Ethan Hawke’s lead character, Paul.
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 77% approval rating and critics gave positive reviews, calling In a Valley of Violence a homage to classic Westerns.
7 American Horror Story — 77%
American Horror Story is an anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Each season is a self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters and settings in the same fictional universe. Many actors appear in more than one season, often playing new characters. Farmiga portrays three different roles in American Horror Story. Her first role was as troubled Teenager Violet Harmon in the first season Murder House, and her second role was as Zoe Benson, a promising young witch in the third season, Coven. Farmiga would later reprise both her roles as violet and Zoe in the eighth season, Apocalypse. Her third role was as Sophie Green in the sixth season Roanoke.
As whole, American Horror Story received a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Murder House received a positive 72%, Coven received 85%, Roanoke received 74%, and Apocalypse received 79%.
6 Justice League vs. Teen Titans — 80%
Justice League vs. Teen Titans is a 2016 animated superhero film starring the voices of Jon Bernthal, Taissa Farmiga, and Jason O’Mara. The film is about Robin, who the Justice League sends to work with the Teen Titans after his unpredictable behavior botches a mission. The Titans must then face the demon Trigon who possesses the League and threatens to conquer the world. Farmiga voices Raven, a powerful empath who can control her soul-self, use magic, and is the daughter of Trigon.
Rotten Tomatoes gave Justice League vs. Teen Titans an approval rating of 80%, citing that it captured the essence of the Titans with a more adult feel.
5 Higher Ground — 82%
Higher Ground is a 2011 drama directed by and starring Vera Farmiga in her directorial debut. Vera plays Corinne Walker, while Taissa plays the teenage version of Corinne. Farmiga persuaded her younger sister to take the role due to their genetic and physical similarities. The film is also Taissa Farmiga’s acting debut. The film is a chronicle of Corinne Walker’s lifelong struggle with her faith.
Rotten Tomatoes gave a positive review, with an 82% approval rating and weighted average of 7.04/10.
4 Teen Titans: The Judas Contract — 83%
Farmiga reprises her role as the voice actor for Raven in Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. The Teen Titans have built a cohesive team that works well together, but the new team member, Terra, may be altering their established dynamic. Meanwhile, Brother Blood has awakened and the familiar foe Deathstroke is lurking in the shadows. Ultimately, the Teen Titans will need to face their internal doubts to come together and overcome their enemies.
While the limited run time prevents the team’s dynamic and villains from being properly fleshed out, the film received an approval rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.
3 50 States of Fright — 85%
50 Stages of Fright is a horror anthology series that is based on urban legends from different places in the United States. Farmiga stars in the first three episodes of the second season. She plays Hannah Stolsfiss, an engineer with a past life, a past trauma and a terrible fear of heights. A late-night call brings her back to where it all began, as the ghost of her mother begins tormenting her.
The overall series received an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with generally positive reviews.
2 What They Had — 87%
What They Had is a 2018 drama film featuring a family’s changing dynamic as they deal with an ailing mother. Farmiga plays Emma Ertz, the daughter of main character Bridget (Hilary Swank). The film received generally good reviews, pulling an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 We Have Always Lived in the Castle — 88%
Released in 2018, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a mystery thriller film based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson. Farmiga stars as main character Merricat Blackwood. In the film, Merricat, Constance (Alexandra Daddario), and their Uncle Julian (Crispin Glover) live in isolation after a family tragedy occurred six years earlier. When cousin Charles (Sebastian Stan) shows up to steal the family fortune, he also threatens a dark secret that they have been hiding.
As Farmiga’s highest ranking film, We Have Always Lived in the Castle received an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.2/10.