If things had gone according to plan, Charlize Theron would have become a dancer, having studied ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School until a knee injury permanently sidelined her. Necessarily switching tracks to pursue a career in film, she first started popping up in movies in the mid-90s. Breakout early roles in features such as 2 Days in the Valley and Cider House Rules made her a name to watch out for, and for thirty-plus years, Theron has been delivering on that promise.
Today, we know her as Imperator Furiosa, Lady Lesso, Bombshell’s Megyn Kelly, the evil queen Ravenna, the MCU’s Clea, and many more. Still, looking back, Theron has been enlivening even her most minor supporting roles since the very start. Regardless of what kind of movie she’s appearing in, be it a sci-fi epic or an indie darling, Theron always gives it her all.
These are our favorites, but honestly, every movie is just a little bit better with Charlize Theron.
Prometheus (2012)
Director Ridley’s Scott’s controversial return to the Alien franchise, Prometheus, disappointed many fans on its release, but has been up for reappraisal by some critics in recent years. Regardless of your stance on the film, there’s no denying that its ensemble cast does some great work bringing the space epic to life, even without the presence of the xenomorphs. Charlize Theron’s villainous Meredith Vickers is the primary antagonist of the story, but its the sudden reveal of her true colors that remains one of Prometheus’s most shocking moments.
As an employee of the shady Weyland Corporation, Vickers is an obstacle and threat to the rest of the crew. Theron was initially set to play the lead character, Elizabeth Shaw, a role that ultimately went to Noomi Rapace, (making up the lead women of Prometheus). Though your mileage may vary, for our money, this turned out to be the better casting outcome. Rapace does great with Shaw, while Theron’s uniquely icy performance as Vickers makes her one of the Alien universe’s more memorable villains.
You may also like: Ridley Scott Says Upcoming Alien Movie Is 'F**king Great' According to Director.
The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
Mixing a John Grisham-style courtroom drama with a Faustian horror story, The Devil’s Advocate is a late 90s hidden gem well worth tracking down. The film’s dubious protagonist is lawyer Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), who we meet as he’s destroying a victim of sexual assault’s credibility on the stand despite knowing that she’s telling the truth. One moral concession leads to another as Lomax climbs the professional ladder, protecting his “perfect record” of courtroom wins at all costs.
The Devil’s Advocate is mainly about the dynamic between the owner of his firm, John Milton (Al Pacino), and Lomax. However, it’s Theron’s performance as his wife, Mary Ann that shows not just Lomax’s humanity, but his inherent corruptibility. At first, the couple is happy for the improved lifestyle Milton is bestowing upon them; yet, it’s Mary Ann who suffers as she is tormented by visions of demons. When she makes a claim against Milton, Lomax institutionalized her rather than hearing her out, which leads to catastrophic results. Playing a character that starts the film happy, in love, and fulfilled only to rapidly decline, this early Theron role shows her easily holding her own on a stacked cast and then some.
See more of the best Keanu Reeves movies.
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Across the many takes on the fairy tale of Snow White, the actor playing the evil queen always seems to be having the most fun. That goes double for Charlize Theron in her role as Ravenna, the Evil Queen of Snow White and the Huntsman. Though her story is much the same as other versions you’ve seen, Theron elevates the role by delivering anger that feels sincerely rooted in her experiences surviving violence and betrayal.
Snow’s (Kristen Stewart) dad, King Magnus (Noah Huntley), is smitten with Ravenna, marrying her before really knowing anything about her. Ravenna kills him on their wedding night while delivering a top-notch supervillain monologue, and after that, it’s a war on Snow, who eventually rallies with an army of her own. While this is more an action film with fairy tale origins than a by-the-book adaptation of the tale on which it’s based, Charlize Theron seems to truly delight in her role as the over-the-top villain. Granting a level of depth to what might otherwise be a one-note baddie, Theron’s Ravenna is an absolute scene-stealer.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Antony Johnston and Sam Heart’s graphic novel The Coldest Heart inspired this stylish action movie following the adventures of MI6 spy Lorraine Broughton (Theron). Tasked with retrieving a master list of the world’s double agents during the final years of the cold war, she is warned to especially watch out for the mysterious agent Satchel. Delving into a flurry of violent encounters and dubious alliances, Broughton’s detached demeanor is given weight through Theron’s emotionally complex performance.
Atomic Blonde has been favorably compared to the John Wick and James Bond franchises for its sleek aesthetic, epic fight sequences, and morally ambiguous hero. Yet, much as with those series, Atomic Blonde succeeds on the power of its charismatic star, which is what marks the film as a unique offering to the world of the spy thriller. Dodging tropes with a series of clever twists, the script is great. Yet, it’s above-and-beyond moments that make the film, including a particularly stunning ten-minute, one-take action sequence.
See more films similar to this in our list of movies like John Wick.
The Old Guard (2020)
Based on Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez’s comic of the same name, The Old Guard introduces us to Andromache of Scythia (Theron), or Andy for short. She is the oldest among a small group of immortal fighters including Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli). The last time a new member was awakened was Booker in 1812, so when they start having visions of a new member, Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne), they jump into action. They are soon betrayed by a pharmaceutical mogul (Harry Melling) who wishes to tap into the secrets of their immortality, which kicks off a chain of plot points that should last us throughout the slated sequels.
The Old Guard is a superhero yarn in some sense, but the spirit of the franchise is rooted very much in explorations of morality. Is doing the right thing enough to counter humanity’s inhumanity to one another over millennia? The jury’s out, and no one is more conflicted by these questions than our heroes. Theron’s Andy is jaded and exhausted, but still maintains a sense of hope despite the horror she’s witnessed. Informing her fight sequences with pathos and questions about right and wrong, The Old Guard is part action film, part exploration of hope in the face of horror, and Theron’s Andy brings it all together.
Young Adult (2011)
Young Adult is for anyone who has ever questioned the standard rom-com format in which a successful woman gives up on her career to reunite with a high school sweetheart. With Theron’s character Mavis returning to her hometown to find her lost love, she’s criticized by old friends for her immaturity. This doesn’t stop her from pursuing her lost love Buddy, despite the fact that he’s married.
Even when Mavis starts to go off the rails a bit, Young Adult is rooted in the top-notch scripting of Diablo Cody, giving plenty of laughs along the way. Even if we cringe watching Mavis attempt to reclaim her youth, Theron’s expertise in adding sincere inner turmoil behind every misdeed makes this film an unforgettable addition to rom-com canon, even if it doesn’t necessarily end in a love story. Watching Mavis rise above past trauma and her own ego is inspiring even if it takes a lot of failures to get there.
Tully (2018)
In another team-up between Charlize Theron and writer/director team Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman, Tully is at its heart about the many trials of motherhood and aging. When she discovers she’s pregnant with an unexpected third child, the already exhausted Marlo (Theron) is pushed to bring in a night nanny. Wary but seeking help, she’s surprised when Tully (Makenzie Davis) becomes her confidante and friend.
There is at least one stunning twist that will recontextualize anything we tell you about this film. Bearing that in mind, the burden placed on Marlo as a stay-at-home mom and her attempts to let go of control and trust others is a major threat. Struggling with her many responsibilities, seemingly invisible to the outside world that expects perfection from moms, Theron’s Marlo is both funny and poignant. Following up Young Adult with a totally different vibe, here’s hoping that the creative team is able to reunite for another film in the future, because they make magic happen.
Monster (2003)
Charlize Theron has always shown a willingness to take on uncomfortable, challenging roles, but it’s hard to imagine a more polarizing character than real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. This is the kind of film that will always be a little too close to reality for some audiences, even with its various creative liberties. Theron’s turn as Wuronos is both sympathetic and chilling, hitting the exact right note for a famously tortured soul who inflicted horrible violence on her victims before being sentenced to death.
Mercifully, many of the more gruesome aspects of Wuornos’s life are absent from the screen. Instead, we meet her as she falls in love with a woman named Selby (Christina Ricci), allowing us to empathize as she very nearly finds happiness. Soon, she embarks on the murderous rampage that saw seven men dead before she was apprehended. Wuronos’s severe mistreatment from others in life isn’t a justification for anything she did, but Monster wouldn’t work without the window into her personal torment that Theron’s performance gives us.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
One thing about Charlize Theron; she’s going to add layers to every performance she takes on. That’s especially true in Mad Max: Fury Road, in which her role as the rebellious Imperator Furiosa won the hearts of genre fans the world over. Paired with a truly wild performance from Tom Hardy, this blockbuster reinvigorated enthusiasm for a franchise that hadn’t seen a new film in thirty years. On top of that, Furiosa remains popular enough that there is a planned prequel (Mad Max: Furiosa) all about the complexities and trauma of her life serving the cult figure Immortan Joe releasing next year. Sadly, however, Charlize Theron will not be returning as Imperator Furiosa as announced back in 2020; Anya Taylor-Joy will be filling the role as a younger Furiosa.
Widely regarded as one of the best action movies ever made, Fury Road is at its surface a nonstop car chase across the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Mad Max franchise. That Theron’s performance is as vulnerable as it is while she pulls off death-defying feats is a big part of what makes her Furiosa unforgettable. Though she’s silent through much of the film, her expressions communicate volumes, providing an emotional through-line for the film’s more chaotic moments.
North Country (2005)
Taking the horrific historical case of Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co. as its inspiration, North Country introduces us to the fictional Josey Aimes. Leaving an abusive husband, she moves back in with her parents with her two children in tow. Taking on a job at the local iron mine, she makes significantly more money and forges a kinship with many of the women on the job. However, men that feel they are being encroached upon by the new wave of women hires react violently, harassing, stalking, and assaulting the women out of spite.
The real-world case on which this story is based is nothing short of harrowing, and the fight that was undertaken to get even a fraction of justice is heartbreaking. Theron plays the role of the whistleblower, fighting for justice despite overwhelming indifference and aggression from others. It’s hard to deny that Theron does career-defining work here. Josey is defiant even in the face of apparent defeat, showing the ferocity and strength that marks many of Theron’s best roles.
Charlize Theron Interesting Facts
- She was born in South Africa
- She never finished high school or attended college
- She gained 30 pounds for her role in Monster*
- She moved to Hollywood at age 18*
- For years, she had vivid dreams she would die at age 27*
- She has either acted in or produced a movie nearly every single year since 1996.**
- She has two daughters
- She invests in social issues, including in the health of young people in Southern Africa to create a more equitable future for all through Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project
Sources: * O, The Oprah Magazine Interview from Nov 2005, ** Harper's Bazaar Interview from Oct 2022
Sara is a a freelance entertainment writer of horror stories and pop culture essays alongside being the co-founder of the Decoded Pride queer speculative fiction anthology and the Bitches On Comics pop culture podcast. She's also an artist, filmmaker, and musician, which you can find out about at saracentury.com.