Anyone would agree thatCharlize Theronis a remarkable actress, withperformances that have become milestonesin the history of cinema. The artist, who has garnered an extensive number of awards throughout her career, has not always envisioned a career in acting. As a matter of fact, she had a different path in mind: ballet. Theron spent many years training as a ballet dancer, until a major knee injury forced her to rethink her future. After quitting ballet and spending an entire year working as a model in Europe, she landed in the film industry as a fluke, following a serendipitous meeting with talent agent John Crosby at a bank. Soon after, Theron made her film debut with an uncredited role in 1995’sChildren of the Corn III: Urban Harvestand, subsequently, in2 Days in the Valley.
Following her first roles, and most notably her involvement in the 1997 filmThe Devil’s Advocate, Theron’s career quickly took off. She has now been in the industry for 28 years and has starred in many high-profile projects, such asMad Max: Fury Road,MonsterandSnow White and the Huntsman. Charlize has not only excelled in filmsacross all genres, but also as a producer through her company Denver and Delilah Productions, founded in 2003. And in spite of her hit-filled career, year after year she manages to amaze audiences with brand new challenges that earn her further recognition. Here is a look back at her best films, according toRotten Tomatoes.
10In the Valley of Elah — 74%
In the Valley of Elahis a 2007 production that quickly became one of the year’s best. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, this film based on true events follows retired military investigator Hank as he searches for his son, a soldier who mysteriously vanished without a trace. In this challenging journey, the man enlists the help of Emily Sanders, a detective who emerges as his main ally to face the authorities' hostility and the chance that his son’s disappearance harbors dark secrets.
Tommy Lee Jones and Theron star in this crime drama film alongside Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Tucker, James Franco, and Josh Brolin. Although it underperformed in theaters,In the Valley of Elahearned rave reviews upon its release.
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9Atomic Blonde — 79%
InAtomic Blonde, Theron plays Lorraine Broughton, a skilled high-level spy entrusted with the mission of finding a list of double agents taken from MI6 Agent James Gascoigne before he was killed within days of the collapse of the Berlin Wall. She is assisted in this mission by David, a Berlin station chief providing all his expertise to put an end to the threat that stalks all agents.
This 2017 film was David Leitch’s directorial debut, a filmmaker that previously worked as uncredited co-director andproducer ofJohn Wick. Joining Theron in the cast are James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger and Eddie Marsan. A sequel to this production iscurrently in the works, although no release date has yet been announced.
8Young Adult — 80%
In 2007, director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody worked together on the hit comedy-dramaJuno, and four years later they teamed up again for a new project within the same genre:Young Adult. This 2011 production stars Theron alongside Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, and Collette Wolfe.Young Adultfollows Mavis, a recently divorced ghostwriter who goes back to the small town she grew up in to win back Buddy, her teenage boyfriend.
Yet, this woman has not matured much over the years and is overwhelmed to discover that her crush has moved on with his life and is now married and has a baby. After much avoidance, Mavis is forced to confront her ghosts and let go of the past once and for all, but an old pal gives her a helping hand with this daunting task. For her leading role in this production, Theron was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Satellite Award.
7The Old Guard — 80%
Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Harry Melling star inThe Old Guard, a 2020 Netflix film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and based on the graphic novel of the same name. This production follows Andy, Booker, Joe, Nicky, and Nile, a small group of mercenaries with an odd quirk: they are immortal and their wounds self-heal. The team hides their trail to survive, and spends their days battling different enemies to protect society.
However, things get complicated when unknown forces uncover their secret and set out on a mission to capture them to replicate and profit from their powers.An upcoming sequelto this production is in the works, with the lead actors reprising their roles under Victoria Mahoney’s direction.
6Long Shot — 81%
2019 marked the release ofLong Shot, a film by Jonathan Levine that, in spite of earning rave reviews, failed to become a box-office hit. It stars Theron and Seth Rogen alongside O’Shea Jackson Jr, Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, and Alexander Skarsgård. This romantic comedy follows Fred Flarsky, a journalist with a knack for getting in trouble who has just quit his job and runs into Charlotte, his childhood nanny. This woman, who was also his secret crush, grew up to become a major political figure that is running for president. The connection between them is immediate, so Charlotte decides to hire Fred as a political speechwriter, a deal that feeds the fire of an intense and unexpected romance.
5Monster — 81%
Monsteris one of the most acclaimed films in Theron’s repertoire, and the one that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. This 2003 production marked the directorial debut of Patty Jenkins, who also served as writer, and starred Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, and Lee Tergesen.
Monsteris inspired by the life of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker with a tragic childhood and adolescence who murdered several of her clients in the belief that they tried to abuse her. Along the way, Aileen meets Selby, a young woman who was kicked out of her family for her sexual orientation and with whom she quickly falls in love. The film became a box-office hit and was widely acclaimed by critics, earning several nominations and awards.
Related:Charlize Theron Recalls the Moment That Made Her Start Getting Picky Over Movie Roles
4Tully — 87%
Following the success ofYoung Adult, Reitman and Cody got back together for a third collaboration, bringing back Theron to lead the cast. Thus, in 2018,Tullywas released, a dramatic comedy that also stars Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston, and Mark Duplass.Tullyintroduces Marlo, a struggling mom who has just had her third baby and is overwhelmed by the situation. Her husband works too much, and she spends all day taking care of her children, unable to get the rest she needs.
To help her through this new stage, her brother hires her a night nanny, which is how Tully finds her way into the family home. As time goes by, these two women manage to overcome the initial awkwardness and strike up a beautiful friendship.Tullywas highly acclaimed and won many awards and nominations. Charlize was honored with the Jupiter Award for Best International Actress and a Golden Globe nomination.
3That Thing You Do! — 94%
Besides being a great actor and producer, Tom Hanks has also attempted to make his mark as director and writer. Thus, in 1996 he made his debut in both roles with the comedyThat Thing You Do!, a film that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. This production stars Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Liv Tyler, Theron, and Hanks himself, and follows Guy Patterson, an appliance salesman who wants to make it big as a drummer and whose life turns upside down after he gets the chance to play with a group that rose to fame with one hit. In this production, Theron plays Tina Powers, the drummer’s girlfriend.
2Kubo and the Two Strings — 97%
Art Parkinson, Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, and Matthew McConaughey star inKubo and the Two Strings, a stop-motion animated film that marked Travis Knight’s directorial debut and was produced by Laika. It follows Kubo, a young boy from a small seaside town who delights the locals with his storytelling skills and spends his days taking care of his ailing mother. But after accidentally summoning an evil spirit that seeks revenge, he is forced to face gods and monsters in order to defend his family with the aid of a monkey, a beetle and a magical Japanese instrument known as shamisen.
Kubo and the Two Strings was widely acclaimed by critics and earned two Academy Award nominations, among other accolades, although its theatrical run was not as good as expected, reaping barely over the original budget.
Rounding out this list is Theron’s film with the highest Rotten Tomatoes Score and also one in which she delivers one of her most popular roles to date:Mad Max: Fury Road. This 2015 film is the fourth installment of theMad Maxfranchise, which kicked off in 1979 withMad Maxand comprises two other productions from 1981 and 1985.
Directed and co-written by George Miller along with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris, this action film follows Max Rockatansky, a survivor in a collapsed and under-resourced world who must join forces with mysterious war captain Imperator Furiosa to defeat leader Immortan Joe and his entire army. With a worldwide gross of $415 million, the film became the franchise’s highest-grossing production and prompted the development ofFuriosa, a sequel starring Anya Taylor-Joy to be released in 2024.
