30 Most Memorable Diane Lane Movies Ranked Worst To Best
Gifted with halting beauty, commanding charm and disarming talent, Diane Lane jumped out at audiences in the 1979 George Roy Hill film "A Little Romance," and has been ebbing and flowing with the tides of Hollywood ever since.
From her early days in youth-skewing fare like "Streets of Fire" and "The Outsiders" to more modern offerings like "Secretariat" and Zack Snyder's Superman movies, Lane has proven her talents time and time again. Over the years, she's been nominated for three Golden Globes and an Academy Award.
Of course, some Diane Lane movies are better than others. With help from Rotten Tomatoes, here are the greatest (non-animated) films of her career.
30. Untraceable (2008)
Diane Lane is easily the best part of "Untraceable," but that's not saying much.
A pretentious thriller about a serial killer broadcasting his crimes over the internet, "Untraceable" tries to have it both ways, throwing shade at viewers who delight in R-rated "torture porn" while it traffics in what it condemns. Critics and audiences recognized the hypocrisy and largely dismissed the film. Now, more than a decade later, the film's depiction of online live-streaming and video chat should feel prescient in the wake of platforms like Twitch, but instead it just feels hilariously dated.
Lane plays an FBI agent trying to take down the aforementioned serial killer, and her case is largely built on contrived coincidences, clues that appear when the plot calls for them, and a last-ditch attempt at an action-packed climax that allows the film to go out with little more than a whimper. Only hardcore fans of Diane Lane need to watch "Untraceable." Everyone else can stay away, unless they really want to see Colin Hanks get killed in a tub of sulfuric acid.
29. Jack (1996)
Once again teamed up with old friend Francis Ford Coppola, Lane was cast opposite Robin Williams in a star vehicle that wouldn't soar to the heights of "The Outsiders" or "Rumble Fish," but may count as the most misunderstood film of director Francis Ford Coppola's career.
While it has its serious moments (particularly in the second half), "Jack" is, at its core, a family movie about a young boy trapped in the body of an adult. Robin Williams plays the title character, who suffers from a disease that causes him to age rapidly. This leads to equal parts whimsical comedy and tragic pathos, depending on the scene.
Lane plays Jack's mother, Karen, who loves her son but is unsure of how to provide for him in the limited time he has in this world. Lane delivers a kind, understated performance as a mother whose unconditional love transcends boundaries. "Jack" failed to break out at the box office, and was universally derided by critics, but Coppola himself has always stood by the film, insisting that just because he made "The Godfather" doesn't mean he can't make a family-oriented Disney movie. As such, "Jack" is often sought out as a curiosity by Coppola fans who want to see if it's really as bad as critics say.
28. Judge Dredd (1995)
When people think of movies based on the "2000 AD" comics, younger folks often think of "Dredd," the 2012 Karl Urban vehicle that presented a tougher, grittier take on the world. But before that, the increasing allure of comic book films was reflected in Sylvester Stallone (and Rob Schneider as the comedic relief!) signing on to the ill-fated "Judge Dredd."
With Stallone as the embodiment of quasi-fascist justice, this earlier "Dredd" delivered impressive production values and decent action sequences, yet the film was edited heavily before release, removing many of its more violent aspects. Audiences largely ignored the film, which flopped at the box office, while fans of the source material lamented that the satirical elements of the comics were largely dropped in favor of a generic Stallone/Schwarzenegger/Van Damme action/adventure tone.
Lane plays Judge Hershey, who gets to participate in some of the action shenanigans, though she usually plays "straight man" to her more over-the-top co-stars. In fact, the film's saving grace is how delightfully hammy the acting can be. Audiences who go in looking for nothing more that Stallone and Armond Assante screaming at each other while Schneider cracks jokes in the background will not be disappointed, but caveat emptor applies.
27. Killshot (2009)
Filmed in 2005 but delayed for nearly a half-decade, the writing was on the wall for "Killshot." Heavily edited before release (Johnny Knoxville shot scenes but his character was entirely removed), this Elmore Leonard adaptation has its moments, but fails to justify the admittedly impressive cast assembled by director John Madden ("The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"). Thomas Jane and Lane portray a couple being hunted by a pair of thugs, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lane's old "Rumble Fish" co-star, Mickey Rourke.
After years of delays and endless re-edits, "Killshot" was quietly dumped into theaters, grossing a paltry $2.9 million at the global box office. As expected, the film was thrashed by critics. While largely forgettable, it does have some entertaining moments here and there, thanks in part to the dynamic between Rourke and Gordon-Levitt. "Killshot" retains some requisite Leonard swagger from its source material, particularly in Rourke's performance as a professional contract killer who believes he's following some sort of honor code, even when he's acting like a mass-murdering psychopath.
26. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
One of the most divisive, controversial superhero films ever made, Zack Snyder's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" attempted to continue the story of "Man of Steel" while setting the stage for a massive team-up of DC's iconic heroes. Unfortunately, the final result is an overly-ambitious slog of overwrought plotting, underdeveloped characters, and questionable acting decisions. Even Henry Cavill — seemingly born to play Superman — feels unmoored, resorting to scowls and brooding through the majority of his screentime.
Lane returns as Superman's adoptive mother, Martha Kent. Her scenes in the film are its saving grace — but unfortunately, the character's name would give birth to its biggest punchline.
When she tells her son, "You don't owe this world a thing," she gives Kal-El the freedom to choose his morality, to be a hero because of his own agency, and not because of the command delivered by one of his father figures. Subsequently, she serves as the catalyst for one of the film's most exciting sequences, when she's captured by Lex Luthor and Batman must rescue her from a squad of well-armed mercenaries; he does so, with bone-breaking panache.
25. Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
Nicholas Sparks adaptations are practically their own genre, combining sappy love stories with sudden tragedy. They're the ultimate date movies, though they run the gamut in terms of quality. For every "The Notebook," it seems, there's a "Safe Haven."
"Rodanthe" is one of the higher-rated Sparks movies, but with a paltry 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, that's not saying much. Nevertheless, as a romantic drama that skews older, "Nights in Rodanthe" offers its own unique flavor, and benefits from reuniting Richard Gere and Lane for their third collaboration, following "The Cotton Club" and "Unfaithful."
It would be a disservice to spoil the story (and the inevitable tragedy) of "Rodanthe," but the basic setup is that Diane Lane plays a 40-something woman recently separated from her unfaithful husband (Christopher Meloni). Seeking an opportunity to gather her thoughts and regroup, she takes a work vacation to Rodanthe, North Carolina, to look after a bed-and-breakfast. There she meets Gere, a surgeon with a tragic past, and — you'll never believe this — they fall in love.
It's easy to be cynical about Sparks adaptations, but if you willingly submit to its charms, "Rodanthe" will make you laugh, cry, and believe that life is worth living. Plus, the built-in chemistry between Lane and Gere is a joy to watch, even when the film is at its cheesiest.
24. Murder at 1600 (1997)
Progenitor of one of the greatest, corniest movie trailers of all time, this film hardly "changes all the rules" of late-'90s thrillers. Today, it has been largely forgotten.
A by-the-numbers detective thriller, "1600" makes strong use of its setting, the White House. Wesley Snipes stars as Detective Harlan Regis, the Washington DC cop assigned to a murder that takes place on its hallowed ground. Lane plays Nina Chance, a Secret Service agent tasked with making sure the investigation doesn't get out of hand. Together, they wind up forming quite the buddy cop duo, as they unravel a conspiracy involving some of the most powerful people in the United States government.
Alan Alda, Dennis Miller, and Tate Donovan play supporting roles. While Lane and Snipes make a pretty good team, their chemistry didn't translate into critical acclaim or box office success. Nevertheless, "Murder at 1600" is a solid little '90s thriller with some exciting action sequences and interesting plot twists that should satisfy fans of adult thrillers who want to see Lane share the screen with prime Snipes.
23. Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017)
The Watergate Scandal led directly to the end of the presidency of Richard Nixon, who resigned in disgrace in 1974. The secret informer who tipped off reporters Woodward and Bernstein was known only as "Deep Throat," named after a popular adult film of the time. For decades, his true identity was a mystery until his real name, Mark Felt, was officially confirmed in 2005. Eventually, his story was told in the 2017 biopic, "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House," starring Liam Neeson as the title character. Lane was cast as his wife, Audrey, and their scenes together helped humanize the mysterious figure who changed the course of American history.
"Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House" might not be the definitive "Watergate" movie (that honor still belongs to "All the President's Men"), but it does explore the life and personal motivations of an enigmatic informant. Deep Throat is largely seen as a mysterious man in the shadows; it's nice to have a movie that shows the human side of such an important historical figure, even if in a somewhat boilerplate fashion. Still, the film is worth watching, thanks to the performances from Neeson and Lane.
22. Hardball (2001)
Yet another entry in the tried-and-true "white person works with black youths" genre, the youthful energy of this Keanu Reeves flick nonetheless elevates the film above its cliched premise. Reeves plays a degenerate gambler who finds himself forced to mentor an inner-city little league team. Lane plays their teacher (and prospective romantic interest for Reeves), while the baseball team includes future "Creed" star Michael B. Jordan.
"Hardball" benefits from a self-awareness of the traditional "white savior" narrative, steering clear of needlessly saccharine storytelling or judging its young characters. As such, Reeves isn't a white knight (pun intended), but a desperate screw-up trying to stay one step ahead of the hounds. "Hardball" was largely overlooked upon its initial release, since it launched the weekend after the 9/11 attacks, but it has since found an audience thanks to its unique storytelling and a winning performance from Reeves. Audiences looking for a different kind of sports movie will find "Hardball" to be a diamond in the rough.
21. The Perfect Storm (2000)
"The Perfect Storm" is loosely based on the real life tragedy of the Andrea Gail, a fishing boat lost during a 1991 hurricane in the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. While largely fictionalized, the film shows an earnest look at the dangers of life on the open sea and the indomitable might of extreme weather phenomena.
George Clooney stars as Captain William Tyne, and Mark Wahlberg plays Robert Shatford, the rookie fisherman who decides to pursue a less dangerous career — after this one last job, of course. Diane Lane plays Christina Cotter, Shatford's increasingly serious girlfriend, who spends much of the movie worried sick over his wellbeing.
Director Wolfgang Peterson (of "Das Boot" fame) would once again revisit the premise of doomed seafaring with 2006's "Poseidon," a remake of the classic disaster flick. But while "The Perfect Storm" was a major box office success, "Poseidon" sunk to the bottom of the box office, as well as the ocean.
20. Paris Can Wait (2016)
Lane has appeared in no fewer than four films by Coppola, so it makes sense that she would appear in the feature directorial debut of his wife, Eleanor Coppola. "Paris Can Wait" puts Lane alongside Alec Baldwin as Anne and Michael, a married couple visiting France. Due to a series of harmless contrivances, Anne finds herself on an innocent road trip with Michael's filmmaking partner, Jacque (Arnaud Viard). Naturally, their trip becomes something approaching an emotional love affair — because, well, that's just what happens in France.
"Paris Can Wait" is co-produced by Lifetime Films, and it shows. Basically, it's a slightly more emotionally mature version of a Lifetime Original Movie, though it makes up for its thematic simplicity with beautiful visuals that showcase the French countryside. Thanks to Lane's heartfelt performance, the film manages to avoid feeling needlessly saccharine or flippant with its subject matter. While it was never destined for blockbuster numbers, "Paris Can Wait" still managed to turn a modest profit, grossing $13 million on a budget of $5 million.
19. Unfaithful (2002)
The film that marked a major career resurgence for Lane following a lukewarm '90s held back by the likes of "Judge Dredd" and "Jack," this sultry slowburner from master of '80s scintillation Adrian Lyne ("Fatal Attraction") also announced with authority that she was no longer the sweet smiling young girl audiences remembered from "The Outsiders."
One could look at 2002's "Unfaithful" as the last in a wave of erotic thrillers marked by hits like "Fatal Attraction," "Basic Instinct" and another Lyne classic, "Indecent Proposal." But this Richard Gere starrer is more of a romantic drama punctuated by titillating sex scenes involving Olivier Martinez and Diane Lane. She plays Gere's wife, Connie, who embarks on a secret love affair with Paul, a hunky young French guy (Martinez). When her husband finds out, he goes ballistic and murders Paul in a fit of blind rage. In the film's second half, it becomes a claustrophobic thriller as Connie and her husband find their marriage unexpectedly strengthened as they bond while covering up Paul's murder.
A remake of the 1969 French film, "La Femme infidèle" ("The Unfaithful Wife"), "Unfaithful" was commercially successful at the box office, grossing a cool $119 million, well over its budget of $50 million. Lane earned her one and only Oscar nomination for the film, ultimately losing out to Nicole Kidman in "The Hours." Even so, it's a great performance; not just because of the steamy sex scenes — but not NOT because of them, either.
18. The Big Town (1987)
Matt Dillon reunited with "Outsiders" and "Rumble Fish" co-star Lane for 1987's "The Big Town," based on the novel "The Arm" by Clark Howard.
Cast as a wannabe hotshot gambler who falls into a classic film noir situation involving gambling, rival gangsters, and a love triangle, Dillon's character ends up torn between wooing the good girl (Suzy Amis) and the married vengeful moll, played by Lane. Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Dern, and Tom Skerritt co-star.
"The Big Town" makes great use of its 1957 Chicago setting, with vintage cars, period music, and old-timey suits and dresses galore. The film was unsuccessful at the box office, but this little-seen flick could be notable as Lane's first genuinely "adult" role. At 22 years old, she would no longer be playing teenagers.
17. My New Gun (1992)
Billed as "a comedy about the American Dream," 1992's "My New Gun" follows a couple named Gerald and Debbie (played by Stephen Collins and Lane), whose lives are transformed when Gerald buys his wife a revolver. In a random encounter with their next door neighbor (James LeGros), the man steals Debbie's revolver, leaving her no choice but to go to extraordinary lengths to get the gun back without getting into trouble with the law.
"My New Gun" isn't quite a full-tilt screwball comedy, but it certainly has its share of laughs, anchored by a winning performance from Lane as a sexy trophy wife who doesn't appreciate her position under the thumb of an overbearing husband. Writer/director Stacy Cochran paints a silly, subtle satire of middle-class suburban fear and the notion that gun ownership equals safety and security, all within the framework of a surprisingly broad, early '90s indie comedy.
16. Man of Steel (2013)
Lane's first performance as Martha Kent came in Zack Snyder's 2013 reboot of Superman, "Man of Steel." Despite only being 48 years old at the time of the film's release, Lane plays Martha as an older woman, with assistance from understated makeup and lots of gray hair. She adds a level of warmth and maternal protectiveness that helps the audience believe Kal-El, an alien from the planet Krypton, could grow into such an iconic paragon of truth, justice, and "the American way."
As always, Lane has great chemistry with her co-stars, from Kevin Costner as her husband to Cavill as her son. In particular, when General Zod (Michael Shannon) holds Martha hostage to lure Superman into battle, it's hard to not lean into Superman's righteous anger when he tackles Zod through an entire cornfield. His delivery of the line, "You think you can threaten my mother?!" is one of the most memorable character beats of the entire movie.
15. Indian Summer (1993)
Mike Binder wrote and directed 1993's "Indian Summer," an ensemble comedy drama about a summer camp that is worth tracking down.
Alan Arkin plays the owner of the camp, who invites campers from decades past to a reunion to commemorate his retirement. What ensues is something akin to "The Big Chill," but with a softer touch and slightly more saccharine sensibilities. The ensemble cast includes Lane, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Bill Paxton, Kevin Pollack, and Elizabeth Perkins. The film also includes director Sam Raimi in a rare acting role. Lane's character is a recent widow who finds a second chance to build a new life for herself while reconnecting with old friends.
"Indian Summer" was inspired by Binder's real-life experiences at Camp Tamakwa, which portrays itself in the film. Alan Arkin's character, Lou Handler, is named after one of the real-life founders of the camp. It's not a straight-up biopic, but it has an extra personal nostalgic touch that should resonate with viewers who attended similar summer camps; "Indian Summer" plays like the straight-laced big brother to "Wet Hot American Summer."
14. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Every A-list actress is entitled to one good chick flick. For Diane Lane, the best example is "Under the Tuscan Sun," in which she plays Frances, a recently divorced woman who moves to Italy and impulsively purchases a fancy villa in dire need of maintenance. For the rest of the film, said villa serves as a symbol for her own life — damaged, but not beyond repair. Through a series of lighthearted adventures and romantic sojourns with would-be suitors, Frances learns that her life isn't over; it's just beginning.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" is a delightful romp of a film. Endlessly good-natured and optimistic, it's hard not to have a good time watching Lane going through a jolly mid-life renaissance. Audiences enjoyed it, too, to the tune of $58 million, over three times its budget of $18 million. Based on the memoir by Frances Mayes, "Tuscan Sun" was written and directed by Audrey Wells, who passed away in 2018, just one day before the release of her film, "The Hate U Give."
13. Secretariat (2010)
Sports movies are fairly common, but there's something special about those that focus on horse racing. Maybe it's the magic inherent in the majestic creatures, or the bond they form with their team of humans, but movies about horses, from "Seabiscuit" to "Dreamer," are all but guaranteed to become crowd-pleasing classics. "Secretariat," released in 2010, is no different.
Based on a true story, the Randall Wallace-directed film cast Lane as Penny Chenery, who raised legendary Triple Crown-winning horse Secretariat, whose time on the 1973 Belmont Stakes race is still a world record some 50 years later.
The "Braveheart" writer presents his racing scenes with the same energy as a medieval battle sequence, with palpable tension and beautiful slow-motion shots that showcase the incredible beauty of a top-form racehorse. Thanks to Wallace's direction and an earthy performance from Lane, the film feels realistic even when it descends into admittedly schmaltzy territory, as any "inspirational sports drama" is wont to do. "Secretariat" doesn't reinvent the genre, but it is sincere family entertainment about the bond between a woman and her horse, and how that bond led to record-breaking sports history.
12. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982)
This 1982 cult classic follows Lane as one third of a fictional punk band (Laura Dern and Marin Kanter play the other members), and the film is filled with cameos from punk icons like Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols and Paul Simonon of The Clash. While the film failed to make an impression at the box office, it did become a cult classic and is often cited as an influence on the Riot Grrrl punk scene.
The film exists today as an excellent time capsule that captures the discontent of young people during the early years of the Reagan administration, and how that energy was channeled into a whole new branch on the punk rock tree. "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains" marks one of the only directorial efforts of music producer Lou Adler, who previously worked on albums by Carole King, The Mamas & the Papas, and others. "The Fabulous Stains" is essential viewing for punk rockers and Riot Grrrl enthusiasts of all ages.
11. Streets of Fire (1984)
Simply put, there's nothing else out there like "Streets of Fire." Directed by Walter Hill, this 1984 "Rock and Roll Fable" combines elements of film noir, swashbuckling adventure, and movie musical to create something that still feels unique nearly 40 years later.
Lane plays Ellen Aim, a pop singer who gets kidnapped by a gang led by Willem Dafoe and Lee Ving (from the band Fear). Her ex-boyfriend Tom Cody (Michael Paré) is recruited to bring her back, leading a ragtag team that includes characters played by Rick Moranis and Amy Madigan. They venture into the seedy side of town on a rescue mission that involves blowing up motorcycles, music video flashbacks, and hijacking a local rock band's tour bus.
"Streets of Fire" features an outstanding soundtrack of original songs composed by artists like Stevie Knicks, Dan Hartman, and Tom Petty. The film is bookended with two songs written by the great Jim Steinman, "Nowhere Fast" and "Tonight is What It Means to Be Young," both of which are brought to life in absolutely stunning music video sequences. All told, "Streets of Fire" has an infectious energy, tremendous visual style, and a crowd-pleasing story. The best way to describe it could be "Star Wars" meets "Grease." It's an unlikely, but excellent, combination.
10. The Outsiders (1983)
Based on the iconic novel by S.E. Hinton, Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders" is one of the definitive stories of young rebels trying to find their place in a world that doesn't understand them. Today, the movie is best known for an all-star cast that included a who's-who of 1980s rising stars. In addition to Lane, the film featured appearances by Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, and Tom Cruise, among others.
"The Outsiders" was commercially successful, grossing $33 million off a budget of $10 million. Its success came when Francis Ford Coppola needed it most, since he was coming off the financial disaster of "One From the Heart."
Decades later, Coppola revisited the film with a director's cut, "The Outsiders: The Complete Novel," which adds over 20 minutes of new footage and replaces much of the musical score with more period appropriate rock and roll music. Which cut is superior depends on personal taste — but any way you cut it, "The Outsiders" is essential viewing, especially for young teens.
9. Hollywoodland (2006)
Seven years before she played Superman's Earth mother in "Man of Steel," Lane played actress Toni Mannix in "Hollywoodland," a film noir exploration of the tragic death of actor George Reeves. While he acted in movies like "Gone with the Wind" and "Man at Large," Reeves will always be known for his performance as the title character in the iconic 1950s TV series, "The Adventures of Superman." When Reeves died of a gunshot wound in 1957, his death was ruled a suicide, but rumors and conspiracies persist to this day that there was more to his untimely passing.
Lane is stunning as Toni Mannix, a full-tilt femme fatale. Married to an MGM executive, Mannix secretly carried out an affair with Reeves, and was not thrilled when he broke up their relationship to marry a different woman. Lane is fiery and intense in her performance as a woman scorned. Ben Affleck plays Reeves, a man struggling with his career and being typecast in a television role. Perhaps if Reeves knew how iconic his performance would remain, even 70 years later, he would have been more content with his impact on pop culture history.
8. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
For now, Lane's final appearance as Martha Kent is in "Zack Snyder's Justice League," the four-hour director's cut of the 2017 superhero team-up, "Justice League." While the original theatrical release was tarnished by interference from Warner Bros., this new version feels like a proper epic. "Zack Snyder's Justice League" fixes the mistakes of "Batman v Superman" by telling a more streamlined story that earns its grandiose runtime by prioritizing character development over tangents about "granny's peach tea."
Compared to other characters, Lane has a smaller role than her super-powered co-stars, but she still manages to shine in brief scenes. Her final moment, however, is undercut by the fact she's a disguised Martian Manhunter; as a result, Martha lacks any real resolution. Perhaps if Snyder ever gets the chance to return to his moody, violent take on the DC universe, audiences will get to see Lane reprise her role and give Martha a deserving finality.
7. A Little Romance (1979)
Fourteen-year-old Lane made her cinematic debut in "A Little Romance," a romantic comedy featuring a late-career appearance from the legendary Laurence Olivier. For her first movie, the role of Lauren King is a beefy one, but Lane proved more than up to the challenge.
A young American teenager living in Paris, Lauren has a chance meeting with fellow tween Daniel, played by Thelonious Bernard. A cute and charming romance ensues, with the two aiming to share a kiss in Venice before Lauren and her mother move back to the United States forever. Olivier plays a kind old man who assists them on their journey, making sure their parents don't foil their plans.
"A Little Romance" is more mature than a typical kids' movie, but it's not like "Blue Lagoon" or anything so salacious. It's good-natured and kind-hearted, and a great movie for kids and kids-at-heart. It's wonderful to see an older Olivier in such a heartfelt role, and it's clear that even at her young age, Lane was already an incredibly talented actor. "A Little Romance" was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning the prize for Best Original Score.
6. A Walk on the Moon (1999)
If any other actor starred in 1999's "A Walk on the Moon," the lead character of Pearl Kantrowitz would be an unlikable villain. Having been married since she was 17, Pearl has her mid-life crisis right when her adolescent daughter (Anna Paquin) needs her the most. She's upset at her husband (Liev Schreiber), who gave up his dreams of becoming a scientist in order to work and provide for his family. This dissatisfaction culminates in an affair with a hot young rogue, played by Viggo Mortensen.
Pearl essentially spends the whole film making selfish decisions and neglecting her family — but thanks to Lane's sympathetic portrayal of a working-class housewife in 1969, the audience understands her deep-rooted sadness.
While not a financial hit, only grossing half its budget at the box office, "A Walk on the Moon" was successful with critics, as well as music aficionados who appreciated its impressive period soundtrack. Lane was rightly praised for her performance, and even earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Considering its entire principle cast went on to enjoy success in the following years, it's safe to say "A Walk on the Moon" was a notable stepping stone in their careers.
5. My Dog Skip (2000)
Released in 2000, "My Dog Skip" is a kind-hearted, sincere family movie, and it's hard not to be swept up by its nostalgic energy. Based on the memoir of the same name by Willie Morris, "Skip" is set in the 1940s and follows young Willie (played by Frankie Muniz) and his dog, Skip; Lane and Kevin Bacon play his parents. While his curmudgeonly father initially refuses to get a dog for his son, the mother eventually makes an executive decision and gets him a Jack Russell Terrier, who changes their lives forever.
Produced on a budget of only $4.5 million, "My Dog Skip" went on to gross a nifty $35 million worldwide, turning a tidy profit for studio Warner Bros. "My Dog Skip" is effectively a cross between "A Christmas Story" and "The Andy Griffith Show," showing a snapshot of Americana from the perspective of an innocent child. It's a sweet movie about a boy and his dog. What's not to love?
4. Trumbo (2015)
"Trumbo," as in "Mark Felt," features Lane as the wife of an important historical figure.
Dalton Trumbo was an in-demand screenwriter who wrote classic movies like "Roman Holiday," "Spartacus," and "Papillon," among others. However, his career was derailed by the Hollywood Blacklist during the 1950s Red Scare. This period in history and its impact on the film industry is chronicled in the Jay Roach film.
Bryan Cranston stars as Trumbo, while Lane plays his wife, who tries her best to keep the family together during dire circumstances. The film explores the politics of Hollywood and the corrupting influence of fear on those who value their jobs more than their principles. "Trumbo" was a success with critics, though it underperformed on the awards season circuit, especially for a movie about Hollywood, which is usually catnip at The Oscars. The film's sole nomination at the Academy Awards was Cranston's Best Actor nod, but he ultimately lost out to Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in "The Revenant." Perhaps if Dalton Trumbo had been mauled by a bear, things would have turned out differently.
3. Rumble Fish (1983)
The S.E. Hinton novel "Rumble Fish" was ostensibly a sequel to "The Outsiders" — though it's more like a distinct work set within the same world, much like her other novel, "That Was Then, This Is Now." While working on the cinematic adaptation of "The Outsiders," director Coppola and Hinton worked on developing a story for an adaptation of "Fish," but rather than being a straightforward adaptation, it's an experimental companion piece.
For starters, the film is shot in stark black and white, the soundtrack by Stewart Copeland is unlike anything else from the era, and it feels far dreamier (or nightmarish) than Coppola's "Outsiders" adaptation.
The film follows two brothers, played by Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke, and their desperate adventures through fleeting youth. Lane plays Rourke's girlfriend, though she gets involved in a love triangle with a character played by a very young Nicolas Cage.
The film was initially dismissed by critics, who frequently found themselves confused by its harsh visual style and overwrought storytelling, but they've since come around, accepting "Rumble Fish" as one of Coppola's greatest works. "The Outsiders" and "Rumble Fish" were shot back to back, using many of the same cast and crew, including Dillon, Lane, Tom Waits, and Glenn Withrow. "Rumble Fish" might be too esoteric for some, but it's also a rewarding film, if not as mainstream as its spiritual predecessor.
2. The Cotton Club (1984)
With the benefit of hindsight, "The Cotton Club" has been reappraised by some critics as one of Coppola's greatest films, quite a turnaround for a film that was a notorious bomb upon its release.
To this day, "Cotton Club" is better known for its behind-the-scenes drama, including the real life murder of would-be investor Roy Radin (naturally dubbed "The Cotton Club Murder" in the press) before the film entered production. The film is also notorious for tensions between director Coppola and producer Robert Evans, who had previously collaborated and butted heads while working on "The Godfather" a decade prior. It would take the release of a director's cut in 2019 to salvage the film's reputation as an overlooked classic.
"The Cotton Club" marks the first of three collaborations between Lane and Richard Gere, who would later work together on "Unfaithful" and "Nights in Rodanthe." Inspired by the real life Harlem nightclub, "Cotton Club" casts Gere as a musician who gets involved in New York City's 1920s speakeasy jazz scene. Lane plays a gangster's moll who inevitably falls in love with Gere, leading to all the conflict and drama one would expect from a period gangster flick. Fans of "The Godfather" looking for something of a spiritual successor with a particular focus on old-school jazz music will find a lot to love.
1. Let Him Go (2020)
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Diane Lane's best live-action movie is "Let Him Go," a slow-burn Western-tinged thriller from 2020. Based on the 2013 novel by Larry Watson, "Let Him Go" sees Lane reteam with her "Man of Steel" costar, Kevin Costner.
The duo play a middle-aged couple whose widowed daughter, a single mother, remarries into a dangerous, cult-like family. Concerned with their daughter and grandchild, the couple investigate their new in-laws, only to discover depravity and terror that inspires them to resort to desperate measures in an effort to keep their family together.
While ostensibly a revenge thriller, "Let Him Go" focuses squarely on the relationship between Costner and Lane, a middle-aged couple in the early 1960s reconnecting over dire circumstances that will impact their lives forever. "Let Him Go" was somewhat overlooked by general audiences during a limited theatrical release due in part to the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It only grossed $11 million off a budget of $9 million, but if audiences continue to seek out the film on streaming, VOD, and home video, it could have a long and prosperous life in the post-theatrical market.