Every Susan Sarandon Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Since the late 1970s, Susan Sarandon has been among Hollywood's most respected and legendary leading ladies. Sarandon rose to stardom as the singing and dancing damsel Janet in the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which kicked off a storied career filled with accolades and awards recognition. Sarandon has had a prolific output of work with appearances in classics in just about every genre from indie greats to blockbusters, which has kept fans on their toes, as we never quite know what to expect from her next.

Sarandon has even found success on television, with memorable guest starring roles on "Friends" and "Malcolm in the Middle," along with her Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated turn as Bette Davis in Ryan Murphy's limited series "Feud" (via IMDb).

Since her film debut in the 1970 drama "Joe," Sarandon has hardly ever stopped working. Whether you know her as Janet, Louise, or Queen Narissa, every generation has their signature Sarandon film. With more than 70 films on her resume, it's not easy to rank them all. Although for those familiar with her body of work, her best are pretty easy to whittle down. But which one will come out on top of them all? Read on to find out.

Susan Sarandon has starred in a number of films that have tackled serious subject matter, with some of her best work coming in the stories of characters facing a personal and life-altering journey. Unfortunately, not all of them have been as successful as the likes of "Dead Man Walking" or "Lorenzo's Oil." 

One such disappointment was the 2015 indie drama "3 Generations," which explores LGBTQ+ issues with grace and sensitivity — if not total authenticity — and features some powerful performances from its star cast, but unfortunately, just isn't a very good movie.

Dolly (Sarandon), Maggie (Naomi Watts), and Ray (Elle Fanning) play three generations of a family, who struggle with 16-year old Ray's transgender identity. Ray was born female and decides to transition, which proves to be difficult for his mother Maggie to accept. It doesn't help that his lesbian grandmother Dolly pressures him to simply be a lesbian and not express his trans identity. But matters are complicated even further when consent is required by both parents for his transition, and tracking down his absent father Craig (Tate Donavan) opens up a pandora's box of family secrets.

Sadly, this worthy story and powerful premise are let down by bad execution, with critics knocking its trite plot beats. It also garnered a fair bit of criticism for its casting of cis-het actor Fanning in a trans role, with queer publication Autostraddle noting that the film's director Gaby Dellal — based on interviews that she gave — didn't seem to have a basic understanding or respect for a trans masculine identity. 

"Something Short of Paradise" is a 1979 film about the complicated relationship between Harris Sloane (David Steinberg) and Madeline Ross (Sarandon), a quirky New York couple. Harris is nebbish theater owner, while Madeline is his gorgeous reporter girlfriend. Their love life is anything but smooth though, as there's plenty of discord between them and they have a penchant for fighting and bickering. They break up, make up, and in between Madeline meets a major movie star, has a whirlwind romance with him, but comes to realize Harris is really all she wants.

Though intended to be an earnest look at love and relationships, "Something Short of Paradise" is well short of a good movie. The chemistry between its two stars isn't there, and not once do we believe that they're meant for each other no matter how much the movie says they are. Critic Gene Siskel gave the film a big thumbs down in his review on its release, calling it one of the "worst clones of 'Annie Hall'" he'd ever seen. Ultimately, Siskel is right on the money when he says that the Steinberg and Sarandon's characters are "boring as individuals and they're boring as a couple."

Susan Sarandon has starred in a trio of films directed by actor John Turturro, and sadly, the worst of the three was also the most hotly anticipated. In the 1998 watershed Coen Brothers comedy "The Big Lebowski," Turturro played an eccentric bowler named Jesus Quintana, whose lick of a bowling ball became downright iconic. 

A filmmaker himself, Turturro had been trying for years to get a spin-off film for his character, and it finally arrived more than 20 years later in 2019 with the crime comedy "The Jesus Rolls," which co-stars Bobby Cannavale, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken, and Susan Sarandon.

"The Jesus Rolls" is an unusual movie because it's not just a spin-off, but also remake of the 1974 French film "Going Places." It follows Jesus just after a stint behind bars. Jesus links up with his friend Petey and a woman named Mari (Audrey Tautou), and together they go on a crime spree across town the moment he's off the prison grounds. The dynamic trio steal cars, bikes, money, and meet fellow parolee Jean (Sarandon), whose first night out is anything but uneventful.

In his review for Roger Ebert, Brian Tallerico notes that Sarandon's "melancholy performance" is a highlight in this meandering story. Unfortunately, whatever potential "Jesus Rolls" has is largely wasted in this film that lacks all the charm and cleverness of the Coen Bros. classic.

Writer-director Cameron Crowe's 2005 romantic drama "Elizabethtown" brings Susan Sarandon into a world of franchise heavyweights. Orlando Bloom ("The Lord of the Rings") and Kirsten Dunst ("Spider-Man") play Drew and Claire, young budding lovers. They meet when Drew is at his lowest, having lost his job and more recently, his father. He heads to his old hometown to attend the funeral and his relationship with Claire provides him with a new passion for life. 

Sarandon plays Hollie, Drew's mother, who has a feud with one side of the family. It's hard not to expect a lot from Cameron Crowe and "Elizabethtown" falls short of the mark, as it's weak and clichéd. It doesn't do nearly enough with its characters to make it a compelling drama nor does it have enough charm to make it a good romance. 

Roger Ebert nevertheless found some positives, including the relationship between its two lovebirds and on his second watch, Ebert began to believe that the film was a hidden story of a fallen angel who comes to Earth to help a misguided soul. We're not so sure there's that much depth to it, and look at it more plainly as a disappointing rom-com.

Ultimately, the most memorable thing about "Elizabethtown" is that for better or worse, it gave us the term "manic pixie dream girl," which critic Nathan Rubin first coined in his review of the film. 

Romantic comedies are often where Susan Sarandon shines, with her unique ability to be both likable and irascible or endearing and frustrating, all at the same time. But rom-coms can be tricky things and require a good mix of natural chemistry and effortless charm, something that just doesn't exist in her 1983 flop, "The Buddy System." 

Single mom Emily (Sarandon) is raising her young son Tim (Wil Wheaton) on her own. While dealing with this and also living under the thumb of her overbearing mother (Jean Stapleton), Emily soon falls into a relationship with Joe (Richard Dreyfuss), a social worker who comes to do a check on her and her son. But sparks fly, and before long Joe is like a father figure to little Tim. Just when things look promising for them though, old regrets come back to haunt them in the form of former lovers returning from their pasts.

Lazy and ineffective, Gene Siskel dinged "The Buddy System" for being too close to Dreyfuss' own "Goodbye Girl," criticizing it for being clichéd, predictable, unoriginal, and worst of all, "it isn't the least bit funny."

It's not just Hollywood icons that Susan Sarandon has starred with, but some of the industry's hottest up-and-coming talent too. In 2006, Emily Blunt had her breakout role in "The Devil Wears Prada," and just months later, she was seen again in the less-watched Australian mystery, "Irresistible," as a supporting star to Sam Neill and Susan Sarandon.

Sarandon stars as Sophie in this tale of dangerous obsession and surprise twists. Sophie begins to believe that her husband (Neill) is having an affair with his young and beautiful coworker Mara (Blunt). When things go missing from her home, she fears Mara has been breaking in and attempting to steal her life, but when nobody believes her, Sophie takes action and winds up on the wrong end of a restraining order. However, dark secrets from Sophie's past shed new light on a possible motive, but not everything seen is to be believed.

On paper, "Irresistible" is a thriller that could have worked. Unfortunately, the one thing a good mystery needs is a strong story, and this one has a few too many contrivances and gaping plot holes to make it satisfying. As Sandra Hall wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald, there are some excellent thrillers that draw you in so much that it doesn't matter if they make sense or not, but "despite Sarandon's valiant efforts, this isn't one of them."

Sometimes a bad movie can look good on paper, and you can understand why a major star would want to take a leading role in it. But there are other movies so inexplicable that they just make you scratch your head as to why an actor of such high caliber would choose it as their next project. "Ace the Case" is one of the latter for Susan Sarandon, as even on paper it doesn't seem like it would be a winner. 

Directed by Kevin Kaufman — who created reality shows like "The Real Housewives of Orange County" — it centers on a spoiled rotten ten-year-old (Ripley Sobo), who witnesses a murder and teams up with a hard boiled detective (Sarandon) to solve the case.

Sometimes a child-friendly detective story can be a fun diversion, but "Ace the Case" isn't a kid-friendly adventure for the little ones. With a PG-13 rating and some surprising violence, it's too mature for children, but too goofy for older kids and teens, who might be looking for a more serious detective story.

It's certainly not the worst movie Sarandon has ever done, but it's hard to figure out who this film is aimed at. As such, it received negative reviews for its confusing and bland story, and for being both too saccharine and too dark at the same time. As Nathan Rubin noted for The AV Club, the movie is a "perplexingly light mystery" that's suitable neither for kids nor adults, but Sarandon alone "finds the perfect tone for this material, delivering a performance that's tough but winking, hard-boiled yet friendly."

"The Last of Robin Hood" wasn't the first time Susan Sarandon starred with Kevin Kline. The two first appeared together as ex-lovers in the 1989 crime comedy "The January Man." Kline stars as former NYPD homicide investigator Nick Starkey, who is an outcast in law enforcement due to his free-wheeling attitude and reckless tactics. He was kicked out of the force for bribery allegations but his brother Frank (Harvey Keitel) — the New York police commissioner — asks Nick to help him catch the elusive Blue Ribbon serial killer. 

The high stakes situation is made even more intense by the fact that Frank's wife Christine (Sarandon) happens to be Nick's ex-girlfriend. As Nick navigates old emotions and complicated relationships, he races against time to find the mystery killer, who uses a strange numerical sequence to plan out his murders. 

A major critical dud and box office flop, "The January Man" isn't very good. Still, Pop Matters thinks it may have been a bit too far ahead of its time with its post-modern sensibility and notes that "Sarandon is pitch-perfect as the icy diva for whom Starkey still pines."

Susan Sarandon isn't much of the franchise type, nor has she starred in many sequels. But in 2017, she joined the cast of "A Bad Moms Christmas," the follow-up to the 2016 comedy "Bad Moms," which starred Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, and Mila Kunis as beleaguered moms looking for an outlet for their stress. Now, in the sequel, Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, and Christine Baranski show up as the bad grandmothers.

While things have improved for Amy (Kunis), Kiki (Bell), and Carla (Hahn) since we last saw them, things still aren't easy, and they're all looking forward to the holidays. But Christmas brings with it new stress, and matters aren't made easier when each of their parents pop up unexpectedly, bringing their own problems. Sarandon plays Isis, Carla's mother, who is a wild, reckless party gal like her daughter, and shows up looking for some money for her latest hair-brained business idea.

Blistering reviews of the film had many seeing it as a watered-down sequel, which lacks the charm of the first movie. However, some reviewers appreciated the introduction of the bad grandmothers, as James Berardinelli noted that "Christine Baranski steals the movie with Susan Sarandon coming in a close second." Despite its poor critical reception, the box office dollars were there, and there are rumors of a third film focusing on the grandmothers, as Sarandon, Hines, and Baranski have reportedly all signed on to reprise their roles.

"The Other Side of Midnight" is a World War II period piece that tells a twisted story of love, lust, and revenge. It begins just before the war, when American pilot Larry (John Beck) falls into a passionate affair with Noelle (Marie-France Pisier) while he's stationed in France. 

Larry is called back home as the war breaks out, leaving Noelle feeling jilted. So, she vows to get back at the man who left her all alone. Years later, Noelle tracks Larry to the States, where she discovers he is now married to Catherine (Susan Sarandon), and decides to do whatever it takes to end their relationship, even if it means murder.

"The Other Side of Midnight" didn't land with the critics, although The Los Angeles Free Press noted that Sarandon is the only one with "star potential ... who is the only believable lead in the film."

A modest box office hit, "The Other Side of Midnight" was followed a decade later by a TV miniseries sequel, "Memories of Midnight," with Sarandon's role played by Jane Seymour.

A French-Canadian film about the difficult relationships between French and English speakers there, 1977's "Fleur Bleue" — later known as "The Apprentice" — was made in an era when Montreal was still mostly segregated by language, with bilingualism only just being on the rise in later years (via Statistics Canada). 

In the film, we meet a French-speaking man named Jean-Pierre (Steve Fiset). By day, he works as a technician on commercial shoots, while in his off hours he moonlights as an apprentice to Dock (Jean-Pierre Cartier), a long time con man whose sister Jean-Pierre is dating.

But after being fired from his day job, Jean-Pierre becomes involved with one the American models on set, the English-speaking Elizabeth (Sarandon). A wide-eyed bohemian and adventurous free spirit, she may be fine with their non-committal romance, but he wants more. Now, torn between the aggressively sexual American and his girlfriend Michelle (Celine Bernier), the language barrier between him and Elizebeth only makes things more problematic for them.

A mostly forgotten film today, it's a quirky — if clumsy — romance, and a relic of a bygone era in Canadian film. Today, it's perhaps most notable for being one of Sarandon's earliest roles, where she played the sexually liberated flower child Elizabeth.

In addition to the Christmas comedy "A Bad Mom's Christmas," Susan Sarandon also starred in a Christmas drama, the 2004 Chazz Palminteri film "Noel." She stars alongside the likes of Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker, Robin Williams, and Alan Arkin. Similar to the Garry Marshall films "Valentine's Day" and "New Year's Eve," the film follows several characters and their personal dilemmas on a major holiday.

Sarandon stars as Rose Collins, who is struggling with being the caretaker for her ailing mother, and she is ready to throw it all away. But at her lowest point, she is rescued by a priest named Charlie (Williams), and the two find love among common ground and a renewal of faith. We also meet Nina (Cruz), who is on the verge of walking out on her fiancé Mike (Walker). At the same time, a troubled man named Artie (Arkin) believes Mike possesses the soul of his dead wife.

While Roger Ebert was not a fan of the movie, he did call Sarandon's character Rose "convincing and poignant." Ultimately, "Noel" is more sobering than Marshall's more light-hearted holiday romps, and can be appreciated by those seeking a story about different people dealing with serious problems around the holidays.

It's not often to see a crime thriller led by an older woman. When you find one, it often stars a high caliber name like Frances McDormand in the 2017 film "Three Billboards over Ebbing, Missouri." Four years earlier, however, it was Susan Sarandon, who starred as a police investigator on the trail of a cold blooded serial killer in "The Calling." 

Set in the remote town of Ford Dundas in rural Ontario, Sarandon plays Inspector Hazel Micallef, who is called to the site of a grizzly murder, which shares hallmarks of several other recently discovered killings. Realizing there is a serial killer at work, cryptic clues found at the scene lead her to the doorstep of Father Price (Donald Sutherland), a Catholic priest, who may be able to help unravel the mystery of the murderer's motives. With the help of a deputy (Topher Grace), Hazel zeroes in on an elusive man (Christopher Hyerdahl) and must prove his guilt before he can strike again.

A moody and atmospheric thriller, it doesn't do anything truly innovative with its story, but should satisfy those looking for a decent criminal mystery. The critics' response was middling, although The Guardian argued that "there are pleasures to be found in the crotchety maternal interplay between Sarandon and Ellen Burstyn."

In the 2010s, pop culture became obsessed with '80s nostalgia, as seen shows like "Stranger Things," "The Goldbergs," and "Glow." In 2014, a big screen effort did the same, with Susan Sarandon starring in a movie that captured what it was like being a kid growing up in the era of acid-washed jeans and Sony Walkmans. "Ping Pong Summer" is all about a 13-year old named Radical Miracle (Marcello Conte) — yes that's really his name — who goes on a vacation with his family in the summer of 1985.

During this age where you want nothing to do with your family and everything is awkward, Rad finds solace in the game of ping pong. But in Ocean City, Maryland, he also manages to find new friends like Teddy (Myles Massey), a new crush named Stacy (Emmi Shockley), and an instant rival in pompous ping pong pro Lyle (Joseph McCaughtry). He also meets a curious but reclusive oddball named Randi (Sarandon), who helps him up his game to beat the bully in a big match.

"Ping Pong Summer" is a simple, easy-going film loaded with '80s nostalgia. It may be a bit thin and lacking in the emotional heft it strives for, but it's good summer fun that will bring you back to that wild and memorable era.

Based on the debut novel from New York Times best selling author Susan Isaacs, the 1985 film "Compromising Positions" stars Susan Sarandon, Raúl Juliá, Joe Mantegna, and Mary Beth Hurt. A black comedy that sees Sarandon in the role of an investigative reporter out to solve a murder mystery, it's a quick-witted who-dun-it with a sharp comic edge.

For the once brilliant newspaper reporter Judith Singer (Sarandon), the new role of housewife isn't agreeing with her. Bored in her new life, she longs for her old job, and unexpectedly finds a potential new story in the sudden murder of her dentist. He may have been killed by one of Singer's neighbors and in fact, she may be the last person who saw him before his death. 

Beginning her own investigation not only to satiate her journalistic instinct, but get a new assignment and her old job back, Singer discovers the good doctor was something of a womanizer. But as she follows the clues, she gets a little too close to the charming detective involved with the case.

Sarandon is perfectly cast the hard-nosed reporter Singer, and while "Compromising Positions" won't offer much in terms of twists and turns, as a dark comedy and romantic murder mystery, it works.

No, Susan Sarandon didn't star as a young lady lover of Michael Caine's "Alfie" in the 1966 comedy classic, which was a few years before she got her start in Hollywood. Instead, Sarandon appeared in the 2004 remake starring Jude Law where she played an older lady love of the dashing, charismatic womanizer Alfie. 

Moving the action from London to New York City, Law takes over Caine's role as Alfie, a city limo driver whose profession provides him the means to romance any number of beautiful women. Endlessly charming, Alfie has no trouble getting any woman he wants into his bed. His repeated dalliances cause him plenty of trouble, first with his on-again, off-again girlfriend Julie (Marisa Tomei), and later with his best friend Marlon (Omar Epps), whose fiancée may be pregnant with Alfie's child after a drunken night together. But after a cancer scare, Alfie decides to change his ways, and has his eyes set on the older and more experienced Liz (Sarandon), who wants nothing to do with commitment.

A charming rom-com on its own merits, "Alfie" received mixed reviews at best, but suffered mostly from living in the shadow of the iconic original.

Another key supporting role for Susan Sarandon was in the 2010 legacy sequel "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," the long-awaited follow-up to the 1987 Oliver Stone classic "Wall Street." With Stone back in the director's chair and original star Michael Douglas reprising his role as '80s icon Gordon Gekko — who'd become an idol to misguided stock traders — all that remained was filling out a new ensemble cast. Along with Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, and Carey Mulligan were added to the film, while Charlie Sheen pops up for a cameo as Buddy Fox from the original film.

In this new entry, Gekko has completed his prison term and works as a wall street guru, warning traders of a coming economic crash. But what really matters to him now — so he claims — is his relationship with his estranged daughter Winnie (Mulligan). To help their relationship, he enlists Winnie's boyfriend Jake (LaBeouf) by offering to help him in his business venture if he can help smooth things over with his daughter. 

But Gekko's true motives are anything but clear, and before long, Jake finds himself in the middle of Wall Street wheeling and dealing, with Gekko masterminding a new scheme to take advantage of a looming financial crisis.

Sarandon plays Jake's mother Sylvia, a former nurse turned real estate agent, who has her own brand of greed and relies on her son financially. Critics were split on this one, but USA Today noted Sarandon has a "strong cameo," while Slate called her performance a "fun walk-on."

The 2006 rom-com "Shall We Dance?" is an unlikely remake of a 1996 Japanese film of the same name. The film pairs Sarandon with Hollywood leading man Richard Gere in a tale of lost love and the rediscovery of a zest for life. 

Despite being married to the beautiful Beverly (Sarandon), John (Gere) is listless and depressed. On his daily train trips home from work, John becomes enamored with a woman named Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), who he impulsively follows one night to a dance studio. Though he at first is only there to get Paulina's attention, John soon discovers his own love of dance and throws himself into practice and eventually competitions. But when Beverly becomes concerned about his nights away from home, she begins to wonder if he's having an affair.

A charming story with a delightful cast, "Shall We Dance?" easily could have been the story of a man who made all the wrong choices. Instead, it opts for an upbeat view of love and commitment, and discovering renewed life in the most unlikely places.

The third film to pair Susan Sarandon and her real-life daughter Eva Amurri as mother and daughter on screen, "Middle of Nowhere" is John Stockwell's 2008 indie drama. Elevated by its talented cast that also includes Anton Yelchin and Justin Chatwin, the film is another coming-of-age story, but this time for teenaged grace (Amurri), who gets into trouble while working a new job over the summer.

While she's constantly clashed clashing with her reckless mother Rhonda (Sarandon), Grace has worked hard in school in the hopes of becoming a doctor. But when the time comes for college, she discovers her mother has destroyed her financial future by using her name to amass enormous credit card debt, and unable to land the college loans she needs. With her dreams dashed, Grace takes a summer job where she meets Dorian (Yelchin), a spoiled slacker living with his uncle, who gets her involved with selling drugs.

An austere character drama, "Middle of Nowhere" does a fine job of capturing the frustration of a generation whose parents squandered their future.

Actor-turned-director John Turturro's second film behind the camera, "Illuminata" is the first of three films he directed where he cast Susan Surandon. 

A 1998 period drama, it's set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. It stars Turturro as a playwright named Tuccio, and follows a group of actors dealing with the author's plans for a new stage play titled "Illuminata."

Problems arise immediately within his ambitious new production, as the cast struggles to accept lead actress Rachel (Katherine Borowitz, Turturro's real-life wife), who is also Tuccio's lover. The in-fighting is instantaneous, the production turns to chaos, while a noted theater critic named Umberto Bevalaqua (Christopher Walken) looms over the production and haunts its cast and crew. To make matters worse, Tuccio falls under the seductions of femme fatale and diva Celimene (Sarandon), all while his actors go off the rails on stage.

The reviews were mixed, perhaps because the reach of this high-concept black comedy sometimes exceeds its grasp. But most reviewers praised the performances of the cast, with The Advocate simply noting that "Sarandon shines as a diva to end them all."

As a comic tale of lust and betrayal amid old world theater, "Illuminata" has a unique flavor that serves of an undeniable charm. 

Even though Susan Sarandon hasn't joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she did star in "Leaves of Grass" alongside much of the main cast of the previous year's "The Incredible Hulk." That includes Edward Norton — who plays dual roles — and supporting players Ty Burrell and Tim Blake Nelson, who also directed the film. 

Norton gets to chew the scenery as a street level pot peddler and also play a more traditional role of a university professor. The two wildly opposite characters are twin brothers, and Susan Sarandon stars as their mother Daisy.

It's all about Billy and Brady (both played by Edward Norton), two brothers who couldn't be more different. While Billy gives lectures at Brown University, Brady is in debt up to his eyeballs to drug kingpin Pug Rothbaum (Richard Dreyfuss). To get out of it, Brady asks his identical twin brother to take his place while he sets out to take down Pug himself, who only agrees so he can stay in town and woo writer Janet (Keri Russell). 

Sarandon's role is supporting here, but as The Austin Chronicle put it, she's "whip-smart as always" and critics were somewhat more positive about the movie than not. A quirky black comedy, "Leaves of Grass" is part "Dazed and Confused," part "Pulp Fiction," but all about Norton playing two crazy kooks. 

Susan Sarandon has played mother to plenty of famous actresses, from Reese Witherspoon to Naomi Watts. In 1999, she starred as mother to a future Academy Award-winner in "Anywhere But Here," where she played the mother of Natalie Portman. Adapted from a novel by Mona Simpson, it follows a mother and daughter, as they move to California and explores their strained relationship.

Adele (Sarandon) isn't at all like her daughter. While young Ann (Portman) is studious and particular, well-mannered and responsible, Adele is a bit more free-spirited and notably, isn't great with money. So, when Adele impulsively decides to pick up their lives and relocate across the country to Southern California, it riles Ann. But Adele has dreams of her daughter becoming a movie star, while all Ann wants is to study hard and get into an Ivy League university. Their clashing personalities cause plenty of drama, but their bond is undeniable.

"Anywhere But Here" is a heartfelt drama, and is one of the movies that helped cement Portman as one of Hollywood's brightest young stars. Critics praised the chemistry and performances of both Sarandon and Portman, with The New York Times writing that "it's a pleasure, if not a surprise, to find Susan Sarandon so show-stopping in the role of Adele August," whom she makes "enormously funny and appealing, too."

In the last decade, a number big name actors with award-winning pedigrees have joined blockbuster action movies. While the likes of Frances McDormand and Helen Mirren joined the casts of "Transformers" and "Fast and the Furious" films, Susan Sarandon paired with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for his action thriller "Snitch" in 2013. The film is loosely inspired by the true story of John Settimbro, who went on an undercover assignment for the DEA in exchange for the authorities' lessening charges against his son, who'd been caught with illegal drugs.

John Matthews (Johnson) is a local businessman, whose son Jason (Rafi Gavron) is sentenced to ten years in prison for becoming an unwitting part of a drug ring. The authorities attempt to use the charges against Jason to get him to inform on his friends, but John steps in to volunteer. Negotiating with U.S. Attorney Joanne Keeghan (Sarandon), John arranges to go undercover himself. But when John gets evidence against a local dealer (Michael K. Williams), the DEA backs out of the deal, pressuring him to get evidence against a bigger target.

Though a number of critics didn't find story to be quite up to par, the requisite action is. Johnson, Sarandon, and the rest of the cast — including Jon Bernthal, Benjamin Bratt, and David Harbour — are all in top form.

Writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien gave us the '90s cult classic "Rounders" and "Ocean's 13," both of which revolved around gambling, so it's not surprising that they returned to this theme with 2009's "Solitary Man." The drama stars Michael Douglas and Susan Sarandon as a once-married couple, who fell out when Ben (Douglas) was caught having numerous affairs.

Flash forward several years later and Ben's life has seen a precipitous downward spiral: His business is in shambles because he's become reckless and untrustworthy, gambling in business rather than at the card table. Barely surviving, he's nearly out of money and forced to rely on his own daughter (Jenna Fischer) to keep him afloat. He's even caught cheating on his new girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker) with her teenaged daughter Allyson (Imogen Poots), which may force him to leave town altogether. With his life at rock bottom, Ben may finally have to confront a terrifying medical diagnosis that has led to his destructive behavior.

Despite centering around an entirely unlikeable and almost sleazy protagonist — or perhaps because of it — "Solitary Man" received good reviews, with Roger Ebert calling it a "smart, effective film."

"Notting Hill" director Roger Michell assembled an A-list line-up of stars for his 2019 drama "Blackbird." In addition to Susan Sarandon, the film features Kate Winslet, Mia Wasikowska, Sam Neill, and Rainn Wilson. An American remake of the 2014 Danish film "Silent Heart," it centers on Lily (Sarandon), a dying woman who looks back on her life, but not with the somber regret and sadness you normally see in movies like this.

Instead, Lily is at peace, and has gathered her whole family back together for a celebration of her existence. At a glorious final dinner, it's an opportunity for her and her loved ones to have one final goodbye. They exchange stories, express their feelings about the past, and come to terms with anything and everything that has troubled their relationships. With heart — and a surprising amount of good humor — Lily is ready to face the end with dignity and grace.

An admittedly thin story is propped up by the movie's genuinely moving look at the end of life. It may be a bit heavy for some, but is a touching look at grief and mourning and as Richard Roeper noted for The Chicago Sun Times, "the majestic Susan Sarandon is still at the top of her game ... and she deftly handles the moments of light humor as well as the inevitable heavy scenes."

Writer-director Brad Sieberling was dating actress Rebecca Schaeffer when she was murdered in 1989, and "Moonlight Mile" was heavily influenced by his own feelings of guilt and his experience of moving in with her parents after her death (via The Guardian). In real life, Schaeffer's death became a lightning rod for anti-stalking advocates and eventually led to several key changes in legislation. But the film takes a more personal route, instead focusing on the impact that a young woman's death has on her boyfriend and his relationship with her family. 

Joe Nast's (Jake Gyllenhaal) life is turned upside down following the murder of his girlfriend, Diana Foss (Careena Melia). Joe is already close with Diana's parents Ben and Jojo (Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon), and the three mourn her loss together. Ben and Joe start a business together, and their lives begin to settle into a rhythm. But over time, Joe struggles with the pressure of remaining faithful to Diana and her memory, as a new woman named Bertie (Ellen Pompeo) enters his life.

The film got mixed reviews from critics, some of whom felt it was manipulatively sentimental. But publications like the BBC called it "an honestly intimate and genuinely funny account of bereavement" and noted how "Susan delights in the role" of a woman filled with anger and resentment.

In 2015 Susan Sarandon starred alongside Rose Byrne as a mother/daughter duo with a difficult relationship in "The Meddler." The movie was written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, who is known for hits like "Seeking a Friend at the End of the World," "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," and "Hustlers."

A buddy picture about two women, "The Meddler" introduces us to Marnie (Sarandon), who is a lovelorn widow and is desperate for a new start. She thinks she finds it when her daughter Lori (Byrne) relocates from suburban hell-scape of New Jersey to the glitz and glam of Los Angeles. Marnie decides to tag along with her since it's an opportunity for her to start over too. But Lori isn't happy that her mother is following her, and things don't get any easier when Marnie begins getting a bit too involved with her daughter's life. 

This realistic comedy-drama about the complexities of family got primarily praise from critics, with the Rotten Tomatoes critics' consensus noting that the movie is "honored by a marvelous performance from Susan Sarandon." In fact, Sarandon received the bulk of acclaim from critics, with Film Frenzy calling it "her best work in ages."

2021's "Ride the Eagle" was a passion project for former "New Girl" star and one-time "Spider-Man" Jake Johnson, who co-wrote and starred in the film alongside Susan Sarandon and J.K. Simmons. The film's co-writer and director Trent O'Donnell spoke to Slash Film about shooting this film during the COVID-19 lockdown. They were able to do Sarandon's scenes at her own home in New York and for both O'DOnnell and Johnson, "casting [Sarandon] was kind of wild ... I think even in the script we had 'a Susan Sarandon type.'"

Luckily, Johnson and O'Donnell got the real Susan Sarandon — instead of an archetype of the actress — to play Honey, a bohemian hippie who lives in an old cabin in the woods of Yosemite. Honey dies suddenly, after having no contact with her son Leif (Johnson) for the past 30 years. When he learns that she's left him cabin on the condition that he complete a list of odd tasks, Leif is intrigued. Through a series of odd assignments — like catching a fish with his bare hands — he learns more about his mother than he ever did when she was alive.

Released at such a strange moment, "Ride the Eagle" turned out to be just what audiences were looking for at the time: a story about cherishing every moment, finding love amidst darkness, and the power and importance of hope. Critics praised the movie and while The Los Angeles Times wasn't so enthusiastic about the film, noted that Sarandon "brings a lovely quality to her video bits," which is an accomplishment in this story.

Written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki in his feature-length directorial debut, 2012's "Arbitrage" re-teams Susan Sarandon with her "Shall We Dance?" co-star Richard Gere. They once again play husband and wife, with Sarandon's Helen Miller too becoming suspicious of her husband's extra-marital activities. But this time, there really is a duplicitous affair, and their relationship isn't nearly as touching.

Robert Miller (Gere) is a wealthy, handsome, veteran power broker who is the model of success. But his affair with a much younger woman (Laetitia Casta) is far from his only misdeed. Because very quietly, Robert has been skimming money from his company to the tune of more than $400 million dollars. Little does everyone know — including his wife Ellen (Sarandon) and daughter Brooke (Brit Marling) — but Robert is guilty of massive stock fraud. To get out of it and escape the attention of the authorities, he's attempting to sell the company. But Ellen and a dedicated detective (Tim Roth) are both closing in on the truth.

A high-wire act of suspense and family drama, "Arbitrage" got stellar critic reviews, including a four-star one from Roger Ebert, who described Sarandon's Ellen as "the kind of 'corporate wife' who must have understood the Supreme Court decision that a corporation is a person."

"Speed Racer" never did become the box office blockbuster it was hoping to be (via Box Office Mojo), but that doesn't mean it didn't dazzle audiences with its striking visuals and stellar cast, which includes Susan Sarandon as the titular racer's mother. Adapted by the Wachowskis from a goofy 1960s anime series, "Speed Racer" brings all of the show's feverishly fast-paced cartoon glory into live action.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a young man from a racing family, who has overcome the death of his brother to become a star on the track. A whiz behind the wheel, he pilots his legendary Mach 5 racer to win after win. But he becomes embroiled in a sinister plot by a diabolical business mogul when he refuses an offer to race for Royalton Industries. Now determined to take them down, Speed Racer must team up with the mysterious Racer X in the biggest race of his life. 

Despite its lack of success at the ticket counter or with the critics, "Speed Racer" has gone on to become a cult favorite that has been praised for its visual wizardry and tongue-in-cheek tone. As CJ Sheu noted for Critics at Large, Sarandon is "effortlessly magical" in this movie that may not give her a lot to do but still is a whole lot of fun to watch.

By the mid 1980s, Susan Sarandon was a bonafide Hollywood heavyweight, so it made perfect sense that "Mad Max" director George Miller would want her to headline his black comedy "The Witches of Eastwick" based on John Updike's novel of the same name. Alongside Cher and up-and-coming starlet Michelle Pfeiffer, the cast was led by the legendary Jack Nicholson, with a memorable musical score by "Star Wars" conductor John Williams. 

The movie casts its three leading ladies as a trio of lonely single women, who've each recently lost their husbands for different reasons. What they don't know is they are all powerful witches whose abilities have not yet been manifested. But that's all about to change with the arrival of the wickedly handsome and devilishly charming Daryl Van Horne (Nicholson), whose presence does more than activate their sexual appetites; it brings forth their supernatural powers too. The sleazy, aggressive Van Horne is more than meets the eye himself, and he awakens the witches within and draws their wrath.

A feminist film with an empowering message, its incisive commentary on the battle of the sexes doesn't hold back. Each woman represents a different personality type, and The Hollywood Reporter noted that they all deliver "marvelously honed performances ... as three sexually frustrated and unfulfilled women."

The over-the-top performances border on cartoonish at times, but that's all part of the film's charm. Alongside the likes of "The Witches" and "Hocus Pocus," Sarandon's "The Witches of Eastwick" is one of the quintessential witch films of the '80s and remains one of the best supernatural comedies ever.

Susan Sarandon takes on an overbearing mother role in the 2002 wry comedy "Igby Goes Down," which is about the emerging millennial generation. The cynical protagonist of the film is Kieran Culkin as the eponymous Igby, who rebels agains his oppressive, hard-drinking mother Mimi (Sarandon). His father suffers from a psychiatric disorder, and Igby worries he may one day be afflicted with it too, while his older brother (Ryan Phillippe) is more like his wealthy, entitled parents than he ever will be.

Igby seeks to get out from under his family's thumb and discover a life for himself out of their shadow. He goes from a prestigious academy to a military school, from Chicago to New York, from the home of his godfather to a job at a construction company. Along the way he gets involved — and into trouble — with the reckless and free-wheeling Rachel (Amanda Peet) and Sookie (Claire Danes), a listless lover who leaves him for another man.

A broad ensemble cast featuring Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Jared Harris, Jim Gaffigan, and Cynthia Nixon makes "Igby Goes Down" a parade of all-stars and an impeccably quirky turn-of-the-millennium drama that was mostly well-received. Though never a big hit, it's a perfect encapsulation of the new generation. For many, it's a quintessential Sarandon performance, as The Sydney Morning Herald notes that she makes "a monster of such dignity and forthrightness that you can't quite give up the hope that there's a human being in there somewhere."

Before screenwriter Christopher D. Ford established himself as a collaborator of "Spider-Man: Homecoming" director Jon Watts, he came out of the gate strong with the 2012 sci-fi drama "Robot & Frank." Starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, and James Marsden, it tells the story of an aging man and his robotic caretaker in its memorable vision of where emerging robot technology could be in the not-too-distant future. 

"Robot & Frank" introduces us to ex-con Frank Weld (Langella), an older divorced man suffering from the early stages of dementia. To avoid putting Frank into a care home, his son Hunter (Marsden) purchases him an artificially intelligent robot assistant to aid in his daily life. Though at first unconvinced of the robot's usefulness, Frank comes around when he realizes he can use the mechanical caretaker to help him return to criminal exploits. The robot helps Frank rob a library to impress a librarian (Sarandon), but when repeated heists draw police attention, he must grapple with erasing his new friend's memories.

With a poignant story about aging, "Robot & Frank" uses its sci-fi elements to full effect and even features a few genuinely surprising twists. The movie was critically acclaimed and The New Statesman highlighted the "tender work from Susan Sarandon as a gentle, near-obsolete librarian."

Following their successful pairing on "Witches of Eastwick," director George Miller went back to work with Susan Sarandon one more time for his very next directorial effort, 1992's "Lorenzo's Oil." The unpredictable filmmaker had gone from post apocalyptic sci-fi "Mad Max" to the dark satire of "Eastwick" and now pivoted to tear-jerking drama. An emotionally charged story of a family dealing with a devastating tragedy, it stars Sarandon and Nick Nolte, two-time Academy Award-winner Peter Ustinov, and Margo Martindale in a dramatization of a remarkable true story.

Augusto and Michaela Odone (Nolte and Sarandon) are a loving, well-to-do couple and parents living a dream life. But their bliss is shattered when they learn that their young son has been diagnosed with a degenerative nerve disorder for which there is no cure. They struggle to find any help, as doctors and researchers all insist that there is nothing that can be done. With no other choice, the Odones search for their own answers and discover a possible cure, but must battle against a skeptical and sometimes scornful medical community. 

A gut-wrenching drama, "Lorenzo's Oil" was a critically beloved triumph of filmmaking and one of Miller's best films. Sarandon received praise for her portrayal of a mother doing whatever it takes to care for her son, with Variety writing that Sarandon "convincingly conveys a fierceness and tenacity that is almost frightening."

Indie mumble-core dramas were all the rage for a brief period in the late 2000s. Movies in this sub-genre are marked by their low budget and their focus on aimless, off-beat characters and their unconventional relationships. The name derives from the characters, who mumble their way through often ad-libbed scripts. 

The kings of mumblecore — the Duplass brothers — enlisted Susan Sarandon to co-star in their 2011 film "Jeff, Who Lives at Home."

The film follows two separate but related stories. The first is about Jeff (Jason Segel), who lives in his mother's basement. Jeff goes on a quest to find meaning in his life, sparked by a mysterious wrong number phone call from someone named Kevin.

The second story follows Jeff's mother Sharon (Sarandon), an office worker who receives a cryptic text from a secret admirer. Sharon attempts to discover who her admirer might be among her coworkers and discovers some surprising truths about herself in the process.

A number of critics fell in love with "Jeff, Who Lives at Home," and in particular, many noted Sarandon's sub-plot as a highlight of the film. Movieline noted that Sarandon's performance "feels believable and natural ... She's the kind of actress who can do a lot with a little" in part because of the way she knows herself and inhabits her own skin. Sarandon fans will love this delightful performance of a woman finding affection in unexpected places.

While fans can watch Susan Sarandon as a super-villain in the upcoming 2023 film "The Blue Beetle" (via The Wrap), those looking to see her in a fabulously evil role need look no further than 2007's "Enchanted." 

An original story rather than a remake or adaptation, "Enchanted" was a new, modern fairy tale in the tradition of Disney's animated greats like "Snow White" and "Sleeping Beauty," and it turned Academy Award-winner Sarandon into an evil queen.

Set in a magical animated fantasy realm of Andalasia, the vile and iron-fisted Queen Narissa (Sarandon) wants to prevent her son Prince Edward (James Marsden) from finding his true love since that would end her reign. But when Edward meets and falls in love with Giselle (Amy Adams), Narissa conspires to put a stop to their love by sending them to a far-off realm where there is no magical happily ever after: New York City. There, in live action, Giselle meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a disillusioned attorney, who doesn't believe in true love.

A wildly inventive and curiously captivating family adventure, "Enchanted" rises above most Disney princess fare to become something truly special that deeply understands the genre to both subvert it and find something fresh in it at the same time.

Critics loved "Enchanted," which cemented Amy Adams as a star, and provided Sarandon the chance to ham it up as an over-the-top villain. According to The Age, Narissa is "played with scenery-chewing gusto by a perfectly cast Susan Sarandon" and this is definitely a performance that can't be missed.

While Susan Sarandon has starred as a maternal figure in a number of coming-of-age movies, in "Little Women" she plays the matriarch in perhaps the most quintessential stories of the genre and for many, delivers one of her best performances ever.

Louisa May Alcott's classic novel was already the subject of several feature film adaptations by the time Gillian Armstrong's 1994 version was released and earlier versions had starred the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Janet Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor (via The Hollywood Reporter). 

In this retelling, Sarandon plays Marmee, matriarch of the March family, with Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, and Trini Alvarado playing her daughters, while Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, and Eric Stoltz round out the star-studded cast.

Jo March (Ryder) is a free-spirited writer searching for independence in the mid-19th century America. Her three sisters — Meg (Alvarado), Beth (Danes), and Amy (Dunst) — make up the cast of characters in her real and imagined life during her most formative years. Their mother Marmee is trying to manage the household while their father is off fighting in the Civil War.

Jo may be the protagonist, but Marmee is the glue holding everyone together. As Lisa Schwarzbaum put it for Entertainment Weekly, Sarandon is "strong and serene" as the March matriarch, who offers her daughters wisdom that proves to be timeless and insightful.

A generational story about womanhood, the 1994 version of the story faced a tall order to live up to its predecessors. But thanks to its talented roster of actors and strong direction from Gillian Armstrong, it was critically acclaimed and for many, is the most beloved screen version of the story. It earned three Academy Award nominations and remained the definitive adaptation of Alcott's novel until the 2019 retelling from Greta Gerwig.