Angelina Jolie is one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. She hasn’t necessarily had the most impressive career though, turning in a few solid performances and one Oscar winner. Even still, she’s had a few key films that have helped elevate her status in the industry. With Maleficent: Mistress of Evil hitting theaters over the weekend, we decided to take a look back at her 5 most important roles. So, without further ado, here’s Def Pen’s Definitive Ranking of Angelina Jolie’s Most Important Movies, in descending order:
5. Kung Fu Panda – 2008
Alright, in fifth here’s a strange entry but, Kung Fu Panda did a few things for Jolie’s career. First, it helped solidify 2008 as the ‘Year of Jolie.’ Wanted, Changeling, and Kung Fu Panda all dropped that year, AND she went into the year with Beowulf still in theaters meaning there four different major studio films that Jolie played a part in that were in theaters in 2008. Beyond that though, Kung Fu Panda introduced a new generation of moviegoers to the actress as everything else she’d been in up to that point was mostly too mature for the younger audience of DreamWorks’ hit film.
4. Changeling – 2008
Next up in fourth, Changeling, a film that has mostly been forgotten by general audiences. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t important as Jolie earned her a second Oscar nomination. And, as terrible as it sounds, Changeling reminded everyone that Jolie is a great actress, despite some of the goofier or more action-oriented flicks she’d been in since the turn of the century.
3. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – 2001
And speaking of the turn of the century, next up is the first Lara Croft: Tomb Raider adaptation. It may sound a little ridiculous but there’s an argument to be made that this is the role Jolie was born to play. She is to Lara Croft what Robert Downey Jr. is to Tony Stark. It may not have been a particularly well-written or good film but, the film is still the holder of the second-highest opening for a video-game adaptation. And, with a $274 million worldwide gross in 2001, it’s safe to say that Lara Croft: Tomb Raider launched Jolie into super-stardom.
2. Gia – 1998
So, for the penultimate entry on this list, I might be cheating a little bit since Gia is a HBO Film, meaning it’s technically a made-for-TV-movie. But, Jolie’s performance here put her on the map as an up-and-coming actress with a bright future ahead of her. It’s another that’s been forgotten a bit as the years have gone on but, Jolie flexes some unbelievable acting talent in this one considering she was only 23 at the time. And, without Gia, we very likely wouldn’t have gotten the number one entry on our list.
1. Girl, Interrupted – 1999
I mean, come on, what else could it be besides Girl, Interrupted? Jolie was truly transcendent in this role. The film can be described as a Gen X version One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the best way possible. Jolie basically swept the 2000 awards season winning the SAG, Golden Globe, and Oscar for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. It may not be her most enduring film but it definitely served as a springboard for her career, catapulting her into the national consciousness with a scene-stealing performance.
If you want to catch Jolie on the big screen right now, you can see her in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
