The Best Meryl Streep Movies
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- 1Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicolSophie's Choice is a gripping drama set against the backdrop of post-World War II Brooklyn. The film stars the indomitable Meryl Streep as Sophie, a Polish immigrant with a haunting past, alongside Kevin Kline in his breakout role as Nathan, her mercurial lover. The plot intricately weaves Sophie's harrowing Holocaust experiences with her tempestuous love affair, leading to an unforgettable climax. Directed by Alan J. Pakula, this critically acclaimed movie earned Streep an Academy Award for Best Actress. A masterclass in storytelling and character development, Sophie's Choice is a poignant exploration of survival, guilt, and love.More Sophie's Choice
- #46 of 126 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- #39 of 67 onThe Best Movies Of 1982
- #5 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- 2Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Adrian GrenierThe Devil Wears Prada, a drama-comedy directed by David Frankel, showcases the fashion world's thrilling yet cutthroat landscape. The film features Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a budding journalist who lands a demanding job as an assistant to the ruthless editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). As Andrea navigates through high-fashion chaos and Miranda's relentless expectations, she wrestles with her identity and integrity. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci co-star, adding depth to this tale of ambition and sacrifice. This Oscar-nominated film offers a peek into the glitz and glamour cloaking the fashion industry's merciless reality.
- #319 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #60 of 369 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #23 of 101 onThe Best Movies Of 2006
- 3Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin HenryOn the same day Manhattan advertising executive Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) lands the biggest account of his career, he learns that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him and their young son, Billy (Justin Henry). Forced to raise his son alone, Ted loses his job but gains a stronger relationship with the child with the help of another single parent, Margaret (Jane Alexander). When Joanna returns to claim custody of Billy, the ensuing court battle takes a toll on everyone concerned.More Kramer vs. Kramer
- Dig Deeper...Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
- #54 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #154 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- 4Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, CherThis drama is based on the true story of Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), who works at a nuclear facility, along with her boyfriend, Drew Stephens (Kurt Russell), and their roommate, Dolly Pelliker (Cher). When Karen becomes concerned about safety practices at the plant, she begins raising awareness of violations that could put workers at risk. Intent on continuing her investigation, Karen discovers a suspicious development: She has been exposed to high levels of radiation.
- 5Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Annie CorleyA moving love story about a photographer on assignment to shoot the historic bridges of Madison County. He meets a housewife, whose husband and children are away on a trip, and the film traces a brief affair that is never sordid but instead one of two soul mates who have met too late.
- #50 of 90 onThe Best Movies Of 1995
- #10 of 55 onThe Best Movies About Falling in Love Late in Life, Ranked
- #12 of 27 onThe Best Movies About a Midlife Crisis in Women
- 6Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria BrandauerIn Out of Africa, Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), a Danish baroness, navigates the complexities of life in 20th-century colonial Kenya. She embarks on an ill-fated marriage to Baron Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a womanizing nobleman, but finds solace in her passionate love affair with big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford). The movie, a sweeping romantic drama set against the stunning backdrop of East Africa's landscapes, won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is based on Blixen's autobiographical novel. It explores themes of love, loss and personal transformation amidst cultural clashes and natural beauty.More Out of Africa
- Dig Deeper...Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
- #80 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #230 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- 7Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy AdamsIn 1964 the winds of change are sweeping through Sister Aloysius' (Meryl Streep) St. Nicholas school. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is advocating reform of the school's strict customs, and the first black student has just been accepted. When a fellow nun (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn may be paying too much personal attention to the student, Sister Aloysius begins a personal crusade against the priest -- despite her lack of evidence.More Doubt
- #80 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- #207 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #71 of 106 onGreat Movies That Take Place In The '60s
- 8Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John SavageThe Deer Hunter is a gritty war drama that explores the lives of three steelworkers whose existences are irrevocably shaken by the Vietnam War. Michael (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage), and Nick (Christopher Walken) are drawn into the heart of darkness, their friendships tested against a backdrop of horror and heroism. Directed by Michael Cimino, this 1978 film scooped five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Notable for its harrowing Russian roulette scenes, The Deer Hunter delivers an unflinching portrayal of war's impact on ordinary lives.More The Deer Hunter
- #63 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #22 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #36 of 126 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- 9Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley TucciIn Julie & Julia, Julie Powell (Amy Adams) embarks on an ambitious culinary project, cooking her way through Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) iconic cookbook. As she stirs, sautés, and simmers, her life intertwines with that of Child's in the 1950s, who was finding her own footing in the French culinary world. This comedy-drama explores the transformative power of food and passion, weaving two parallel narratives into a delightful feast for viewers. Meryl Streep's performance won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film is a poignant tribute to two women who found their calling in the kitchen.More Julie & Julia
- #176 of 369 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #207 of 469 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #60 of 229 onThe Best Movies For Women
- 10Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra RoachIn her twilight years, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) reflects on her life and career as she finally prepares to dispose of the belongings of her late husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent). Daughter of a Grantham grocer, she successfully broke through a double-paned glass ceiling of gender and class. Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom and remained as such for 11 consecutive years, until declining popularity forced her to resign.More The Iron Lady
- #47 of 137 onThe Best Movies Of 2011
- #62 of 98 onThe Best Period Movies Set in the '80s
- #21 of 48 on35+ Great Political Movies Based on True Stories
- 11Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole KidmanIn The Hours, three women from different eras grapple with the complexities of life, linked by the novel Mrs. Dalloway. In 1923, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) battles mental illness while writing her novel. In 1951, Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a pregnant housewife, finds solace in Woolf's work. In 2001, Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), a modern version of Woolf's protagonist, prepares a party for her AIDS-stricken friend. This drama, rich in depth and introspection, won an Academy Award for Best Actress (Kidman). Each timeline unfolds simultaneously, creating a poignant tapestry of human struggle and connection.More The Hours
- #86 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- #311 of 368 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #57 of 152 onThe Best Movies of 2002
- 12Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec BaldwinIn the movie It's Complicated, Jane Adler, portrayed by Meryl Streep, navigates a peculiar love triangle. She is torn between her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin), who is now married to a much younger woman, and her new romantic interest Adam (Steve Martin), a gentle architect. This romantic comedy, directed by Nancy Meyers, revolves around Jane's journey as she grapples with the complexities of love, relationships, and life in her 60s. It's a story that offers laughs and insights while exploring the intricate dynamics of post-divorce romance.More It's Complicated
- #271 of 468 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #47 of 228 onThe Best Movies For Women
- #2 of 55 onThe Best Movies About Falling in Love Late in Life, Ranked
- 13Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, Goldie HawnIn the dark comedy Death Becomes Her, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) and Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), two vanity-stricken rivals, discover a magical potion promising eternal youth. Their obsession with beauty leads them on a twisted journey of rivalry and immortality, catalyzed by their shared love interest, Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis). As they navigate this peculiar existence, the duo learns that eternal life may not be as glamorous as it seems. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects, showcasing a unique blend of humor and horror in this tale of timeless rivalry.More Death Becomes Her
- Dig Deeper...'Death Becomes Her' Is Way Weirder Than You Remember
- And Deeper...Behind-The-Scenes Stories From ‘Death Becomes Her’
- #383 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 14Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David StrathairnFast-paced thriller in which a young family on a white-water rafting adventure in Montana are taken hostage by a pair of dangerous fugitives. The rafting holiday - a birthday gift for the New England couple's ten-year-old son - turns into a nightmare when the two armed killers take control and try to force the mother, a proficient rafter, to use her skills to help them escape down the treacherous rapids.More The River Wild
- #18 of 85 onThe Best Movies Of 1994
- #57 of 78 onThe Greatest Movies To Watch Outside
- #14 of 17 onThe Most Underrated Action Movies Of The 1990s
- 15Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin FirthMamma Mia! is a delightfully vibrant musical comedy. Its heart beats to the rhythm of ABBA's greatest hits, led by Donna Sheridan (Meryl Streep), an independent single mother running a hotel on a Greek island. The story swirls around her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who, on the eve of her wedding, secretly invites three men from Donna's past (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård) hoping to discover her real father. Amidst this chaos, laughter and melodious mayhem ensue. A box office success, Mamma Mia! was nominated for multiple awards including two Golden Globe Awards.More Mamma Mia!
- #9 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #598 of 772 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #84 of 156 onThe Best Ensemble Movies Of All Time
- 16Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregorThe death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) -- along with their significant others and various other kin -- take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Based on the play by Tracy Letts.More August: Osage County
- #43 of 120 onThe Best Movies Based On Plays
- #55 of 72 onThe 70+ Best Mother-Daughter Movies Ever Made
- #4 of 39 onThe Best Movies About Dysfunctional Families
- 17Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Leo McKernIn this story-within-a-story, Anna (Meryl Streep) is an actress starring opposite Mike (Jeremy Irons) in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
- 18Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane KeatonBessie (Diane Keaton) and Lee (Meryl Streep) are sisters who have remained apart for nearly 20 years due to radically different personalities and life paths. Bessie remained in Florida to care for their ill, bed-ridden father (Hume Cronyn), and Lee moved to Ohio to marry and have a family. But Bessie's doctor (Robert De Niro) has informed her she has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Bessie's prognosis and Lee's troubled son (Leonardo DiCaprio) create an unexpected family reunion.
- 19Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon HelbergIn the 1940s, New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) dreams of becoming a great opera singer. Unfortunately, her ambition far exceeds her talent. The voice Florence hears in her head is beautiful, but to everyone else it is quite lousy. Her husband St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to make sure his wife never finds out how awful she truly is. When Florence announces her plans for a concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair soon realizes that he's facing his greatest challenge yet.
- #116 of 172 onThe Best Movies About Music
- #26 of 30 onGreat Movies About Old Ladies
- #57 of 75 onThe Best Movies About Being Yourself And Self-Love
- 20Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris CooperAdaptation, a drama-comedy film, spins an intriguing tale of self-reflection and artistic struggle. The plot centers on Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage), a talented but troubled screenwriter grappling with the challenge of adapting 'The Orchid Thief', a non-fiction book by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep). As he dives deeper into the story, his own life begins to intertwine with that of the book's protagonist, John Laroche (Chris Cooper), creating a complex narrative that blurs reality and fiction. Directed by Spike Jonze, this movie bagged an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper). It is celebrated for its witty dialogue, unique storyline, and compelling performances.More Adaptation
- #53 of 58 onThe Best Movies Based on Non-Fiction Books
- #23 of 70 onGreat Quirky Movies for Grown-Ups
- #224 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
21Sam NeillEvil Angels, released as A Cry in the Dark outside of Australia and New Zealand, is a 1988 Australian film directed by Fred Schepisi. The screenplay by Schepisi and Robert Caswell is based on John Bryson's 1985 book of the same name. It chronicles the case of Azaria Chamberlain, a nine-week-old baby girl who disappeared from a camp-ground near Uluru in August 1980 and the struggle of her parents, Michael and Lindy, to prove their innocence to a public convinced that they were complicit in her death. Meryl Streep and Sam Neill star as the Chamberlains, and Streep was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance. The film was released less than two months after the Chamberlains were exonerated by the Northern Territory Court of Appeals of all charges filed against them.- 22Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis QuaidHollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on a slippery slope as a recovering addict. On exit from rehab, it is recommended she stay with her mother, who has become a somewhat champion drinker herself. Suzanne therefore struggles to maintain her sobriety and her sanity in the company of Doris.
- #49 of 90 onThe Best Movies of 1990
- #55 of 73 onThe Best Mother-Daughter Movies Ever Made
- #31 of 45 onThe Best Single Mom Movies
- 23Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason RobardsThis Oscar-winning drama, based on the writing of Lillian Hellman, depicts the relationship between two friends and its unexpected consequences. After Lillian (Jane Fonda), a renowned playwright, reunites in Russia with her childhood playmate Julia (Vanessa Redgrave), the writer is recruited to smuggle funds into Germany to aid the anti-Nazi movement. Waiting in the wings is Lillian's lover and mentor, Dashiell Hammett (Jason Robards), who is unaware of her dangerous assignment.
- 24Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Tom WaitsIn Depression-era Albany, N.Y., erstwhile baseball star Francis Phelan (Jack Nicholson) has become an alcoholic vagabond after guilt over accidentally killing his infant son led him to desert his family. Over the course of several days, he ambles from gritty job to dirty bar to makeshift sleeping quarters. By chance, he encounters fellow itinerant drinker and his sometime lover, Helen Archer (Meryl Streep). Together, they wax nostalgic about their haunted pasts.
- 25Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve CarellLong-married couple Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) love each other, but after so many years together, Kay feels the need to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. Hearing of a renowned marriage counselor (Steve Carell) in the town of Great Hope Springs, Kay manages to persuade her stubborn mate to attend a retreat with her. As they shed their bedroom hang-ups, Kay and Arnold find that the real challenge is reigniting the spark that originally brought them together.More Hope Springs
- #18 of 55 onThe Best Movies About Falling in Love Late in Life, Ranked
- #44 of 63 onThe Funniest Movies About Marriage
- #24 of 37 onThe Best Movies About Old People
- 26Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James CordenIn Into the Woods, a star-studded cast led by James Corden (The Baker) and Emily Blunt (The Baker's Wife) navigate the labyrinthine forest in their quest to break a witch's curse. Meryl Streep shines as the vengeful Witch, while Anna Kendrick (Cinderella) and Chris Pine (Prince Charming) grapple with their fairy-tale destinies. This genre-blurring musical, directed by Rob Marshall, weaves together multiple Brothers Grimm tales, each character embarking on an adventure filled with danger, deception, and unexpected twists. Their intertwining journeys culminate in a dramatic climax that challenges traditional happily-ever-after narratives. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actress for Streep.More Into the Woods
- #63 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #34 of 78 onThe Greatest Movies To Watch Outside
- #73 of 81 onThe 75+ Best Fairytale Movies
- 27Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip TornDaniel Miller (Albert Brooks) isn't having a good week. For starters, he died after he got hit by a bus. Then he discovers that in the afterlife he must defend his actions on Earth in order to ascend to a higher plane of existence. While awaiting judgment, he falls in love with Julia (Meryl Streep), whose near-perfect life on Earth seemingly makes her a shoe-in for ascension. However, Daniel's actions in his lifetime might not be enough for him to move on.More Defending Your Life
- #467 of 702 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #556 of 630 onThe 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
- #14 of 25 onThe Funniest Movies About Death & Dying
- 28Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William HurtKate (Meryl Streep), the undervalued matriarch of the Gulden family, is diagnosed with cancer. Daughter and journalist Ellen (Renée Zellweger) returns from New York City to care for her mother at the request of her father (William Hurt). During the time Kate spends with her parents, she discovers secrets that she was never privy to in her childhood. Though Ellen has always idolized her father, she learns that her mother has had a much more difficult life than she knew.More One True Thing
- #82 of 98 onThe Best Movies Of 1998, Ranked
- #28 of 54 onThe Best Movies About Cancer
- #50 of 91 onThe 90+ Best Movies With One in the Title
- 29Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Maureen StapletonRachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), a New York food critic, beds Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson), a Washington, D.C., newspaper columnist. The two fall in love, and Rachel relinquishes her job and relocates to be with a man who views himself as unfit for marriage. They try to build a life together -- literally -- as they struggle with the construction crews renovating their home. When Rachel gets pregnant, Mark is enthusiastic, but then soon begins doubting whether he could be a family man.
- 30Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder, Glenn CloseThe House of the Spirits is a 1993 German-Danish-Portuguese period drama directed by Bille August and starring Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, Antonio Banderas and Vanessa Redgrave. The supporting cast includes María Conchita Alonso, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Jan Niklas. Based on the 1982 novel La Casa de los Espíritus by Isabel Allende, the film is about the life of a young lady named Clara during the military dictatorship in Chile, and her recollection of her family history, mainly the rise of her husband, Esteban Trueba. The film won some awards,.
