Every Anne Hathaway Movie Ranked Worst To Best
Anne Hathaway has been charming film audiences for decades with her luminous beauty and superb acting. A versatile performer, Hathaway's career has seen her take on roles in a number of genres, including comedies, thrillers, dramas, and musicals. Since her film debut in "The Princess Diaries," Hathaway has grown from a cute teen movie star to an Academy Award-winning actor. Her earnestness about her craft may have alienated the public for a period of time, but Hathaway's talent is undeniable — and so what if she was excited about it?
With Hathaway consistently working in film for almost two decades, there are many triumphant and celebrated performances, along with some roles that are perhaps best forgotten. Taking into consideration critical reception, box office popularity, and pop culture durability, we're ranking Hathaway's roles from worst to best. So let's celebrate the endlessly versatile career of Anne Hathaway, a performer whose past is just as formidable as (we hope) her future in showbiz.
Don Peyote
An irreverent comedy that slightly misses the mark humor-wise, "Don Peyote" is a messy journey into one man's descent into paranoia and drug-filled madness. On the eve of his wedding, Warren (Dan Fogler) has a chance encounter with a doomsday picketer, spurring him to investigate fringe conspiracy theories through substance experimentation.
Hathaway plays Dream Agent, who reveals the "truth" to Warren about conspiracy theories like the JFK assasination, the moon landing being fake, and the existence of reptilians. She reveals the mysteries of the universe, all while wearing pleather pants. Hathaway is one of many high-profile cameos in "Don Peyote." Josh Duhamel, Wallace Shawn, and Annabella Sciorra make appearances in the film as well. However, their talents are unable to lift this film above its mediocre station. Upon its release in 2014, it was reviewed by critic Matt Zoller Seitz at rogerebert.com as "the worst American film I've seen this year."
Bride Wars
"Bride Wars" follows best friends Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) who have obsessed over their perfect weddings since they were kids. They both want June weddings at New York's famous Plaza Hotel but due to a scheduling error, their respective ceremonies get scheduled on the same day. Of course this cannot stand, and Liv and Emma attempt to sabotage each others' perfect day.
In the '00s, Hudson starred in a series of blockbuster romantic comedies that defined the genre for the decade, including "How To Lose a Guy In Ten Days," "Alex & Emma," and "You, Me and Dupree." Hathaway had equally-charming roles on her resume, yet the two actors never had the opportunity to work together until "Bride Wars." This is unfortunate as this film was ruthlessly panned, with the Christian Science Monitor saying, "'Bride Wars' makes 'Sex and the City' seem like Jane Austen."
Valentine's Day
An ensemble comedy filled with marquee talent, "Valentine's Day" examines the holiday through a series of intertwining stories about love. Iconic sitcom creator and film director Garry Marshall brought together stars like Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Garner, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, and, yes, Anne Hathaway, to tell stories about the pressures, delights, and disappointments of modern romance in Los Angeles. Hathaway plays receptionist Liz, who secretly moonlights as a sex phone operator to pay off her student loans. Her boyfriend, Jason (Topher Grace), is upset when he discovers Liz's side hustle, but the two wind up happily reconciling in the end.
"Valentine's Day," while not a critical darling, was a box office success when released in 2010, grossing $110 million at the domestic box office (via Box Office Mojo). The Guardian skewered the film as, "Just a yucky, plasticky confection of sentimentality, like eating fudge with the cellophane wrapper still on." Hathaway's performance alone could not save the movie from being smothered by its saccharine storytelling.
The Last Thing He Wanted
Set against the backdrop of the Iran-Contra affair, the thriller "The Last Thing He Wanted" seemingly has all the elements of award-season bait but ultimately never gels into a cohesive story. Anne Hathaway, taking a dramatic turn, stars as Elena McMahon, a journalist compelled to investigate the United States' involvement in Central American violence. At the same time, Elena's father Richard (Willem Dafoe), is in failing health and happens to be involved in nefarious dealings of his own, so Elena decides to take on his business. During all of this, Elena also has time to hook up with official Treat Morrison (Ben Affleck).
The critical consensus on "The Last Thing He Wanted" is that, despite the talent involved, the film is a mess — it earned a measly 5% on Rotten Tomato's Tomatometer. Based on the novel by Joan Didion and directed by Dee Rees, the award-winning filmmaker of "Mudbound," "The Last Thing He Wanted" is plagued by incoherent storytelling, with the A.V. Club noting the ending feels like a "bizarre joke." The star power involved in the film can't muster enough energy to save it.
Alice Through The Looking Glass
Looking to replicate the success of their live-action adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland," Disney gathered the gang for another adventure in Wonderland with "Alice Through The Looking Glass." In 2010, "Alice in Wonderland" kicked Disney's live-action film strategy into high gear, grossing $1 billion at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo). Anne Hathaway reprises her role as The White Queen, sending Alice (Mia Wasikowska) on a journey through time in order to save Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), whose family has gone missing.
Hathaway's iridescent performance anchors the film, but unfortunately for all those involved, "Alice Through The Looking Glass" lacks any of the whimsy and delight of its predecessor. Critics voiced their curiosity at how a film with such rich, imaginative source material as Lewis Carroll's writings could produce such Hollywood box office dross. In his review of the film, Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times noted, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is a movie for anyone who ever skimmed a passage of Lewis Carroll and thought, "This is great, but it could use a bit more 'Terminator.'"
The Hustle
Glamourous shenanigans on the French Riviera? Beautiful stars kitted out in the latest fashion? An adaptation of a beloved comedy starring two great, modern female comedians? "The Hustle" has all of these elements, yet the movie fails to deliver on any of its promises. A remake of the classic '80s comedy "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, "The Hustle" casts Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson as two con artists with very different methods of separating their marks from their money.
Hathaway plays Josephine Chesterfield, who cons some of the world's richest men, while Rebel Wilson's character, Penny Rust, goes for more small-time targets. Josephine and Penny team up but also compete against one another for men's money and affections. Hathaway gets to wear some serious fashion and Wilson gets many opportunities for goofy pratfalls, but that's about all "The Hustle" has to offer.
The Other Side of Heaven
One of Anne Hathaway's earliest movies, "The Other Side of Heaven," chronicles the true-life story of Mormon missionary John H. Groberg (Christopher Gorham) and his religious work in Tonga. Hathaway plays Jean Sabin, John's fiancée, with whom he corresponds during his mission. "The Other Side of Heaven" is John's story while Jean is the supportive secondary character who helps to contextualize John's present experiences, which are far from those of his student days at Brigham Young University. Even though Jean is not the lead character in "The Other Side of Heaven," Hathaway told Meridian magazine that she took the role because the character "didn't stand idly by while he was gone, but managed to do something with her life."
Although, as The New York Times notes in its review of the film, Jean spends lots of time wearing a "billowing white dress like a creature in a perfume ad, waiting patiently for his return." An aesthetic like this does not exactly convey modern female empowerment.
Serenity
A noted departure for Hathaway, "Serenity" is a modern noir film that is too clever for its own good. Hathaway plays Karen, the ex-wife of fishing boat captain Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey). Dill lives a simple life at sea, nurturing his Captain Ahab-esque relationship with a tuna fish called "Justice." His uncomplicated days are interrupted by Karen, who asks Dill to kill her abusive new husband, Frank. Despite his misgivings, Dill agrees to do the job. The film sails along, seemingly a triangle of emotions between Karen, Dill, and Frank, but then comes the plot twist. Turns out, they're all computer program simulations created by Karen and Dill's son, Patrick (Rafael Sayegh), as a way to cope with the death of his real father, John (McConaughey), and the abuse he's experiencing at the hands of his real-life stepfather.
Hathaway told Screen Rant that she took the role of mysterious Karen because, "I'm not usually the girl that gets sent this character" by filmmakers. But perhaps she shouldn't have taken their offer, as "Serenity" was summarily panned by critics. Although not all reviews were horrible, as rogerebert.com noted, the film "must be experienced, preferably with friends, to laugh together at its cheesy dialogue, over-the-top performances and multiple, major plot twists." Maybe "Serenity" has a future as a camp classic?
Passengers
In "Passengers," Anne Hathaway plays therapist Claire Summers, who works with five survivors of a plane crash. Through their sessions, Claire and the survivors try to piece together the moments leading up to the crash, seeking answers for the how and why. Claire becomes intimately intertwined with her patients, including Eric (Patrick Wilson), who seems to be able to read Claire's mind. Multiple passengers experience disturbing visions and memories about the crash as well as their respective personal histories, and they seek to connect these phenomena. Claire eventually discovers the truth — that she and the plane crash passengers perished in the disaster.
With a twist-ending akin to the classic thriller "The Sixth Sense," "Passengers" desperately wants to shock, but flatlines in its suspense. Sure, both films see dead people, but "Passengers" clearly lacks the bold originality of M. Night Shyamalan's masterpiece. The New York Times says "Passengers" is a "supernatural thriller so mechanically inept and lacking in suspense that it doesn't even pass muster as lowbrow Halloween-ready entertainment."
Havoc
"Havoc" follows the exploits of wealthy white Los Angeles teenagers Allison (Anne Hathaway) and Emily (Bijou Phillips) as they seek thrills by hanging out with Latino gangs in East L.A. Attempting to fill a void left by absentee parents, the privileged Allison looks to drug dealer Hector (Freddy Rodríguez) and his gang not only for sex, drugs, and partying, but also a sense of belonging not found in her home. Instead, Allison's naïveté about gang culture leads to misunderstandings and violence.
Despite a cast filled with young up-and-coming stars of the early '00s, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum, and Josh Peck, as well as being directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, the film was never released theatrically in the United States and was released directly to DVD in 2005 (via TV Guide).
Hoodwinked!
"Hoodwinked!" is Mother Goose meets "The Usual Suspects," reframing the classic fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood" as a police investigation to figure out what exactly happened at Granny's (Glenn Close) house. Red (Anne Hathaway) is not just an innocent girl delivering treats to her grandmother in this story — she's a suspect, too. The Wolf (Patrick Warburton) and Kirk The Woodsman (Jim Belushi) also have their sides of the story. Red, The Wolf, The Woodsman, and even Granny are not what they appear to be, subverting a classic children's story narrative, "Shrek"-style.
The problem with "Hookwinked!" is that it's not a good-looking movie, with The Seattle Times calling the animation "clunky" and the A.V. Club noting its, "stiff, doll-like characters and cheap-looking plasticine surfaces." Compared to its big-budget Disney and DreamWorks contemporaries of the early '00s, the independently-produced "Hookwinked!" is just plain ugly. And even a talented voice like Hathaway's can't make the film beautiful.
Rio 2
"Rio 2" is the busy sequel to the animated film "Rio," and like many second offerings, "Rio 2" takes the original film's concept and makes it bigger, louder, and more colorful. Anne Hathaway reprises her role of blue macaw Jewel, who now has a family with Rio (Jesse Eisenberg). Hoping to find more blue macaws and fearing the domesticity of her kids, Jewel relocates her family to the jungle, but her idyllic dreams are interrupted by illegal loggers. Moving from the first film's location of Rio de Janeiro to the Amazonian wild expands the "Rio 2" visual and character universe, but the growth is too much for the film to carry. The abundant subplots and new characters make for a dizzying experience, making "Rio 2," as The New York Times calls it, "the cinematic equivalent of attack by kaleidoscope."
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
In "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," recent college graduate and future Queen of Genovia Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is looking for a husband because the only way she can ascend to the throne is if she's married. She needs the nuptials to happen within a month or else she won't be queen, but she's not into her finance, Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue). She's more attracted to Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine), the nephew of Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies), a meddling politician who secretly wants to steal the crown through Nicholas.
With an ending that proves you can be an empowered female but also a romantic, "The Princess Diaries 2" playfully extends the fanciful wish-fulfillment of "The Princess Diaries." Hathaway's Mia has grown into herself, but still exudes the girl-next-door charm of a woman who went from anonymous high schooler to leader of a fictional European principality.
Locked Down
Made during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Locked Down" tells the story of estranged couple Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who plan a diamond heist in London while the city is on lockdown. Made under COVID-19 production safety protocols (via ABC News),"Locked Down" exploits those conditions to create a pandemic thriller that was among the first to reflect the real-world reality of the pandemic. "Locked Down" unfolds amid the endless mundane drone of lockdown life and the film asks what better way to spice up one's love life (and wallet) than by robbing a high-end department store?
"Locked Down" will probably be best remembered not as a suspenseful heist film, but rather as a gimmicky filmmaking exercise created under duress. The movie is destined to be a historical artifact showing how Hollywood mustered creativity amidst a global health crisis.
Song One
Anne Hathaway's charming performance as Franny in the music-themed drama "Song One" is not enough to make this film memorable, with the Hollywood Reporter writing that this "delicate drama is sweet and sincere but a tad thin to resonate." In the film, Franny is working on her Ph.D. when her musician brother Henry (Ben Rosenfield) is hit by a car and falls into a coma. She moves back to her home in New York City and reconnects with her brother by listening to his music. Discovering that his favorite musician is singer-songwriter James Forester (Johnny Flynn), Franny ends up meeting and befriending James, whose creativity has stalled after the release of his first album. Eventually, Franny and James create music of their own together, just as Henry comes out of his coma.
"Song One" features a soundtrack with songs by indie-music darlings Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice, who perform together as Jenny & Johnny, adding legit music cred to the film. Lewis and Rice's music resonated with critics more than the actual film. The movie itself garnered mild critical approval, with The Washington Post noting the real pleasure of the film is to be had in its songs.
One Day
Based on the popular novel of the same name, "One Day" follows the close friendship of Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) over the course of 18 years on the same calendar day: July 15. Emma and Dexter's relationship evolves through the film, starting as college friends, then as adults navigating their respective career triumphs and failures, and finally, ending up as lovers. Their marriage ultimately turns tragic, as Emma is killed in an accident, leaving Dexter to contemplate the winding road of fate.
Playing characters spanning 18 years of their lives can be a stretch for even the most talented actors, and the narrative framework of "One Day" proves to be cumbersome for Hathaway and Sturgess. The Guardian's review of the film noted that focusing on one day in the life of Emma and Dexter works in print, but makes a clunky transition to the screen.
Love & Other Drugs
Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal star in "Love & Other Drugs," a romantic comedy drama about sex, love, and pharmaceutical sales. Inspired by Jamie Reidy's tell-all book, "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman," "Love & Other Drugs” takes liberties with Reidy's story of his time selling pharmaceuticals, with Reidy telling Fast Company that his book "is the jumping off point for the movie, which captures the book's lighthearted, self-deprecating spirit." Gyllenhaal plays Jamie Randall, a character based on Reidy, who stumbles into a successful pharmaceutical sales career.
While pursuing his profession, Jamie meets Maggie (Hathaway), who is suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease. The two develop an on-again/off-again relationship, as Jamie reaches new career success with the introduction of Viagra to the market and Maggie navigates her Parkinson's diagnosis — particularly with the lack of access to affordable treatments. "Love & Other Drugs" received decidedly mixed reviews from critics, with the Rotten Tomato critics consensus stating that the film was "refreshingly adult" but "struggles to find a balance between its disparate plot elements."
The Witches
The second movie adaptation of the Roald Dahl fantasy novel, 2020s "The Witches" stars Anne Hathaway as The Grand High Witch, one of children's literature's great villains. Changing the setting from contemporary English seaside to 1960s Alabama, "The Witches" follows young Charlie (Jahzir Bruno) who lives with his grandmother, Agatha (Octavia Spencer), after the death of his parents. Soon, Charlie discovers that witches are real and are a danger to children. After Charlie is threatened by a witch, he and Agatha seek shelter in a nearby hotel. Turns out the hotel is also hosting a witch convention led by The Grand High Witch, who shares her plan to turn the world's children into mice through a potion mixed with candies. Charlie, who overhears the witches' plot, is turned into a mouse. Agatha, with the help of mouse Charlie, ruins The Grand High Witch's scheme by turning them all into rats.
Hathaway earned accolades for her version of The Grand High Witch, with Variety calling her performance "flamboyantly fun" and "high-camp evil." The rest of the film, however, could not break out of the shadows of the 1990 version directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring Angelica Huston as The Grand High Witch. The Associated Press said this version of "The Witches" is not as iconic as Roeg's film, but perhaps is slightly less traumatic and nightmarish.
Ella Enchanted
"Ella Enchanted" combines classic fairytale tropes and modern sensibilities with mixed results. Anne Hathaway stars as the titular character, a girl who is "gifted" by the fairy Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox) a compulsion to be obedient to any given orders whether she agrees with them or not. This so-called gift remains a secret until Ella's cruel step-sisters Hattie (Lucy Punch) and Olive (Jennifer Higham) find out and use it against her. Looking to undo the gift, Ella seeks out Lucinda, and on her journey is joined by handsome Prince "Char” Charmont (Hugh Dancy), becoming a champion of oppressed elves, ogres, and giants along the way. The modern twist to this fractured fairytale is that Ella frees herself from the gift and marries Char. Just because "Ella Enchanted" embraces a girl-power ethos, doesn't mean it gets rid of the traditional "happy ending."
"Ella Enchanted" is a film with obvious cinematic influences. It fits into the cannon of revisionist fairytale movies like "Shrek" and "The Princess Bride." Critics were charmed enough by Hathaway, with Roger Ebert calling her screen presence "kind of luminous."
The Intern
Screen legend Robert De Niro is the old dog being taught new tricks in the workplace comedy "The Intern," a light-hearted meditation on generational workplace dynamics. De Niro's character, Ben Whittaker, is bored in retirement and applies for an internship at an e-commerce fashion startup run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Ben gets the internship, winning over the initially skeptical Jules with his good attitude and work ethic. Ben and Jules become close confidants and soon he advises not only Jules, but other staff members on various life crises. He becomes a critical mentor to Jules when her personal life and business are at a crossroads.
Directed by Nancy Meyers, the mind behind soft-focus cinematic pleasantries like "The Holiday" and "Something's Gotta Give," "The Intern" brings her gentle touch to this workplace comedy. Hathaway and De Niro have an unorthodox chemistry that was a hit with audiences, with the film grossing $194 million at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Get Smart
Created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, the '60s sitcom "Get Smart" goofily lampooned the secret agent craze of the time, most notably exemplified by James Bond. The 2008 film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell amped up the action and left the zaniness in the past. Carell plays newly-promoted CONTROL agent Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86, who is paired with the more experienced Agent 99 (Hathaway) out in the field. Smart bumbles his way through his assignment, saved by 99's skill. Eventually, 86 and 99 work together, thwarting a plot to assassinate the U.S. President via a nuclear bomb.
The film version of "Get Smart" has few similarities to its television predecessor. Sure, there are plenty of gadgets and most of the main players remain the same, such as the rival intelligence agencies CONTROL and KAOS, but noticeably absent from the film is a sense of silliness, making "Get Smart" just a passable big-screen adaptation of a beloved sitcom.
The Cat Returns
An animated fantasy film from celebrated director Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, "The Cat Returns" is a whimsical adventure about a shy teenage girl named Haru (voiced by Anne Hathaway in the English adaptation) who discovers she can talk to cats. When she saves Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom (Andrew Bevis) from being hit by a car, his thanks is his hand in marriage, a gift that Haru would rather not accept. Haru is forcefully taken to the Cat Kingdom, where she slowly gains cat-like features, with the Cat King (Tim Curry) hoping she will marry Lune. Helped by the Baron (Cary Elwes) and Yuki (Judy Greer), Haru reconnects with her true self and escapes the Cat King and his kingdom, returning to the human world, gaining self-confidence from her journey. "The Cat Returns" is celebrated for its beautiful animation and is a notable film of the anime genre. The English dub version gave Hathaway her first animated voice role, something she continued throughout her career with films like "Hoodwinked!," "Rio" and "Rio 2."
Don Jon
Anne Hathaway's cameo in "Don Jon" leans into her beautiful movie star persona. Written and directed by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Don Jon" stars Gordon-Levitt as Jon Martello, a regimented bartender who is more satisfied by his porn habit than the casual sex that peppers his life. He falls for Barbara Sugerman (Scarlett Johansson), a woman with a penchant for romantic films. Jon indulges Barbara by taking her to the movies to see "Special Someone," starring Emily Lombardo (Anne Hathaway), a film stuffed with romantic tropes, complete with a drive off into the sunset. Hathaway's brief appearance in "Don Jon" juxtaposes Jon's cynicism with Barbara's romanticism. It's not just a cameo for celebrity sake, but a small role that gives other characters opportunities for growth.
Becoming Jane
Author Jane Austen is the mind behind some of literature's most-beloved novels. Books like "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," and "Emma" have been adapted to film numerous times, both as direct interpretations and as new stories inspired by the classics. Her stories have endured for centuries, but what is known about Austen herself? The film "Becoming Jane" shares Austen's true-life story, exploring her formative years before becoming a successful author. Anne Hathaway plays Jane, an aspiring author with a love life complicated by the social constrictions of the British class system and family financial obligations.
Although Jane finds love with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) — she knows that marrying her would leave his family in financial ruin — Jane rejects his affection. "Becoming Jane" takes artistic liberties with Austen's life story, crafting a narrative that mirrors Austen's work. The film's loose interpretation of history received mixed reviews from critics (via Rotten Tomatoes), but Hathaway's performance as Jane was heralded as a "triumph" for the actress (via The New York Times).
Dark Waters
Based on the true story of defense attorney Robert Bilott's fight against the DuPont chemical company, "Dark Waters" depicts him risking his livelihood and personal well-being in order to find the truth. Bilott, played by Mark Ruffalo, travels to West Virginia to investigate unexplained animal deaths, eventually connecting the deaths to DuPont. Bilott discovers that the company has been dumping PFOA, used to manufacture Teflon, into a landfill next to the farm that experienced the animal casualties. Moved to protect citizens from the deadly effects of PFOA exposure, Bilott works tirelessly for years to get a satisfactory monetary settlement from DuPont for those who have been exposed. Hathaway plays Bilott's wife, Sarah, whose marriage is strained by the financial ramifications of pursuing his prolonged legal battle against DuPont.
"Dark Waters" was celebrated for its gritty examination of corporate malfeasance and those who wish to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing — but the praise did not extend to Hathaway's role. The New York Times noted that Sarah suffers from "the recurrent problem of the Wife, that irritating, waiting, nagging yet loving stereotype," which isn't so much a criticism of Hathaway's performance, but rather a critique of the film's inability to make Sarah a role of substance.
Ocean's 8
An extension of director Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's" cinematic universe, "Ocean's 8" tells the story of Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), the sister of Danny Ocean (George Clooney), who just also happens to be a masterful con-artist. Out on parole, Debbie, with the help of her partner-in-crime, Lou (Cate Blanchett), assembles a crack team of specialists talented enough to help Debbie and Lou pull off a new heist. Their target is a $150 million Cartier necklace planned to be worn by movie star Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) at the annual Met Gala, an annual celebrity-filled fashion museum fundraiser.
A gender-swap version of previous "Ocean's" films, "Ocean's 8" breaks no new ground. The plot mimics the successful formula of its predecessors, only this time, women are at the center of the narrative. "Ocean's 8" thrives on the chemistry of its stars, and its pleasure is derived from the ladies pulling off the job. As for Hathaway's performance, critic Bob Mondello says she "makes Daphne Kluger's laugh just one of many annoying things about her, which makes taking advantage of her fun in a movie that's not just a gender switch on heist flicks but a nifty takedown of celebrity culture and the fashion world" (via NPR News).
Nicholas Nickleby
"Nicholas Nickleby" is a faithful adaptation of the Charles Dickens story "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," starring Charlie Hunnam in the titular role. Nicholas, his mother Catherine (Stella Gonet), and his sister Kate (Romola Garai) are left destitute after the death of Nicholas's father and move from the English countryside to London, where they seek work through wealthy uncle Ralph (Christopher Plummer). Working as a tutor, Nicholas finds the condition of his employer's boarding school to be deplorable and escapes with servant boy Smike (Jamie Bell).
Finding his sister having to thwart unwanted advances from Ralph's associate, Sir Mulberry Hawk (Edward Fox), Nicholas renounces his uncle, but Ralph schemes to make Nicholas' life miserable. One of Ralph's plots includes corrupting Nicholas' budding relationship with Madeline Bray (Anne Hathaway), who also works to support her family after her own father's poor financial decisions. The charm of "Nicholas Nickleby" lies in the film's ensemble cast, with Roger Ebert noting that the good casting results in a "movie that feels like a complete account of Dickens' novel."
Alice in Wonderland
Disney's blockbuster live-action adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" has Anne Hathaway playing The White Queen, who has been dethroned as ruler of Underland by her sister, The Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). In "Alice in Wonderland," young adult Alice (Mia Wasikowska) remembers little of her childhood adventures in Underland, but finds herself in the fantasy world yet again to fulfill her destiny of defeating the Jabberwocky and ending The Red Queen's menacing reign.
"Alice in Wonderland" was a massive success at the box office, earning $1 billion at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo). Director Tim Burton twists Lewis Carroll's whimsical characters with his own dark, gothic artistic sensibilities, using extensive CGI to immerse viewers into his version of Underland. Johnny Depp's performance as The Mad Hatter garnered much of the film's attention, and Hathaway's more subtle, yet equally demented performance as The White Queen was not appreciated much by critics. Variety called Hathaway "miscast" and wasn't "temperamentally suited to the role's benign superciliousness."
Colossal
When someone inadvertently is a giant monster halfway around the world, it might cause issues. So goes the movie "Colossal," where Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, an alcoholic who moves back to her hometown where she discovers that when she walks through a local playground, she controls a destructive reptilian creature in Seoul. The creature wreaks havoc on the city, guided by Gloria's often-inebriated behavior. While trying to solve the mystery of why Gloria has control of the monster, she's also navigating the relationship between herself and her childhood friend, Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), which has turned from cordial drinking buddies to abuse. Soon, Gloria realizes that it's her childhood fighting with Oscar's past fighting that is the genesis of her monster.
"Colossal" deftly weaves together a story about addiction, gender politics, and childhood traumas with Kaiju monsters. Hathaway, who also served as an executive producer of the film, admits that Gloria is the character closest to her true self, observing about Gloria "given the right context, we can all be monsters, and given the right context, we can all be heroes. And I thought it was really cool to have someone in a movie that was both" (via Refinery 29).
Rio
"Rio" is an animated film about the last known male Brazilian blue macaw Rio (Jesse Eisenberg) who finds himself in the frozen Minnesota tundra, only to be transported back to his home country in hopes of saving his species. Anne Hathaway voices the female macaw Jewel, who wants to escape her confines and return to her home in the jungle. Rio and Jewel find themselves on the run from smugglers, escaping their clutches to find sanctuary and love in nature.
"Rio" was a global hit upon its release in 2011, grossing more than $400 million at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo). The critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes celebrates "Rio" for its "colorful visual palette, catchy music, and funny vocal performances."
Interstellar
Director Christopher Nolan's space drama "Interstellar" is a sci-fi epic grounded in the realities of Earth. Set in the near future where food on Earth is scarce, "Interstellar" follows former astronaut-turned-farmer Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), who is recruited by NASA to pilot a spacecraft set to explore possible habitable worlds in a distant galaxy. Anne Hathaway plays NASA scientist and astronaut Dr. Amelia Brand, who travels with Cooper through space searching for human-friendly planets using her father's (Michael Caine) plans for human survival as their guide.
Epic in scope, "Interstellar" is noted for its attempts at scientific accuracy, but at its core the film is still science fiction. Surprisingly, the performances are deeply emotional for a film that focuses on scientific theories and abstract concepts. Critic Matt Zoller Seitz notes Cooper and Amelia openly weeping in several scenes, with the stress and isolation of long-term space travel having all too human consequences (via rogerebert.com). Hathaway's performance serves an emotional reference point for "Interstellar," giving a deeper understanding of sacrifice for the good of the collective.
Rachel Getting Married
Anne Hathaway's Academy Award-nominated performance in "Rachel Getting Married" legitimized her as a serious dramatic actress. Hathaway plays Kym, who temporarily leaves rehab to attend her sister Rachel's (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding. Deep family resentments and tragedies are played out over the course of the wedding celebrations, with emotional back and forths between Kym, Rachel, and their parents Paul (Bill Irwin) and Abby (Debra Winger). Kym and Rachel are able to find emotional closure by the end of the film, with their relationship able to survive another day.
Hathaway doesn't shy away from being harsh or unlikable as Kym. She leans into the pain and chaos of Kym's life, stemming from her substance abuse that's used as a coping mechanism in the wake of her brother's accidental death caused by her own reckless behavior. Called a "career-changing performance" by NPR News, "Rachel Getting Married" moved Hathaway's acting to a new dramatic echelon.
The Dark Knight Rises
The third movie in Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises" is Anne Hathaway's biggest success at the box office. Hathaway plays Selina Kyle, a burglar and grifter looking for a "clean slate" computer program that will erase past criminal records. Crossing paths with both Bruce Wayne and Batman, Selina eventually teams up with the Caped Crusader to stop Bane (Tom Hardy) and Talia al Ghul (Marion Cotillard) from destroying Gotham City. Like many characters in the Batman canon, Kyle's actions can be interpreted as morally ambiguous — she both betrays and saves Batman in "The Dark Knight Rises," but it's her contradictions that make Selina intriguing.
Hathaway trained extensively for the physically demanding role of Selina Kyle, saying that her preparation was about being able to do the stunts and the fighting perfectly (via ExtraTV). Where other actors' interpretation of the character veers into camp, Hathaway's brought a seriousness and discipline to the role of Selina Kyle, aligning well with the grittiness of Nolan's "Dark Knight" vision.
Brokeback Mountain
"Brokeback Mountain" is one of the most celebrated films of 2005 (via Metacritc). The achingly tragic love story of two cowboys, Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger), who meet and start a romance while herding sheep for the summer on Brokeback Mountain. Over the years, Jack and Ennis try to build a life together but are perpetually stifled by the social expectations and constraints of 20th century Wyoming. Meandering through marriages, divorces, and careers, Jack and Ennis never forget each other. When Jack's life ends tragically, Ennis must live with the heartache that they'll ultimately never be together.
Anne Hathaway plays Jack's wife, Lureen, a former rodeo rider turned businesswoman who knows about Jack and Ennis' relationship. Hathaway's performance seethes with truths unspoken, conveying layered emotions through the juxtaposition of her words and her physicality. Hathaway's co-stars, Gyllenhaal, Ledger, and Michelle Williams were all nominated for Academy Awards for their performances. It's a shame that Hathaway was not nominated, as her portrayal of Lureen deserved equal accolades.
Les Misérables
"Les Misérables" is the film adaptation of the celebrated stage musical, which itself was a retelling of the 1862 Victor Hugo novel. "Les Misérables" tells the story of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a good-hearted and righteous thief who is doggedly pursued for years by the policeman Javert (Russell Crowe) for breaking his parole. Valjean, reinventing himself as a respected factory owner and philanthropist, remains the obsession of Javert, with Javert's pursuit of Valjean proving his ultimate undoing. Anne Hathaway plays Fantine, a factory worker at one time employed by Valjean, who falls into poverty and despair after unjustly losing her job.
Anne Hathaway's Academy Award-winning performance as Fatine in "Les Misérables" is a study of extremes. To prepare for the role of a struggling factory worker in 19th century France, Hathaway lost 25 pounds, making herself sick in the process. The heartbreaking fragility with which Hathaway plays Fantine showcases all of Hathaway's talents as a dramatic actress and singer.
The Princess Diaries
Anne Hathaway made her big-screen debut starring in "The Princess Diaries" playing Mia Thermopolis, a mild-mannered teenager who finds out she happens to be royalty. Shy and unpopular, with frizzy mop-top hair to boot, Mia is a social outcast at school and lacks the confidence to pursue her crush, Josh (Erik von Detten). Things change when Mia's grandmother and new ruler of Genovia, Clarisse (Julie Andrews) finds Mia, hoping to groom her as successor to the throne of Genovia. Mia gets a fantastical geek-to-chic makeover and her self-esteem grows, but not without alienating her old friends Lilly (Heather Matarazzo) and Michael (Robert Schwartzman). With her new royal fame, Mia gets Josh's attention but only because he wants to be famous. Paparazzi photographs taken at his party end up jeopardizing Mia's royal future. But Mia ditches Josh, confronts her school bullies, reconciles with her friends, and becomes Princess of Genovia. A happy ending for all!
"The Princess Diaries" launched Hathaway's career as a cheerful and sweet teen movie star. The movie itself garnered mixed reviews, but it hit right with its target audience, which USA Today aptly noted was "10-year-old girls who think they're 14 going on 18." There's nothing wrong with a little wish fulfillment and Hathaway's Mia delivered for underdog young girls everywhere.
The Devil Wears Prada
In "The Devil Wears Prada" Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is an ambitious journalist looking for serious work. Andy lands a gig as an assistant at Runway magazine, a fashion publication that she finds beneath her station as a serious reporter. Her boss, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is the magazine's legendary editor-in-chief, notorious for her excessive demands and cruel treatment of staff. But Andy figures if she can survive a year working for Miranda, she can advance her career. As she maneuvers her way through her job and takes on more responsibility, Andy slowly embraces the fashion world, becoming less concerned with her previous journalistic ambitions and more with her success at Runway — but alienating her boyfriend (Adrian Grenier) and friends in the process. Andy earns the coveted trip to Paris Fashion Week at Miranda's side, but she comes to understand that she doesn't have the ruthless drive it takes to succeed at Runway.
Hathaway holds her own against Streep's unapologetically ambitious Miranda Priestly, a character who set the standard for the difficult-boss archetype. Hathaway and Streep have undeniable chemistry, with Hathaway's nervous, desperate-to-please energy rubbing up against Miranda's reserved and calculating savvy.