Back in 2010, Jennifer Lawrence was a star on the rise. After starring in Winter’s Bone at just 17 years old, Lawrence’s name was making its rounds in Hollywood. But it didn’t take long before the rest of the world knew her name too. Just two years after the chilling drama, and her first Oscar nomination for it, Lawrence starred in The Hunger Games and became an overnight household name. And, since then, the actress has gone on to star in a series of brilliant movies, all of which show her range and versatility as an actress. From hilarious comedies to ground-breaking dramas, and even a fan-loved superhero franchise, Lawrence has done it all.
10
‘Like Crazy’ (2011)
While 2011’s Like Crazy doesn’t have Lawrence front and center, it still shows her rising talents, even in just a secondary role. The romantic drama follows the story of Anna (Felicity Jones), a young British exchange student who falls in love with American student Jacob (Anton Yelchin). Their connection is immediate, but after Anna is denied reentry into the United States, the two hit a wall, and try their best to keep their relationship alive, even if it means opening it while they’re apart. That’s when Lawrence comes in. She plays Sam, a girl Jacob dates after he and Anna grow apart due to long-distance.
As Sam, Lawrence is the quintessential girl next door, someone who’s sweet and likable, and who Jacob falls in love with easily and effortlessly, even though he still has lingering feelings for Anna. And while the movie still revolves around Jacob and Anna’s connection, the underrated romance shone a light on Lawrence and how much of a scene-stealer she is, even when she’s not trying to be.
9
‘Joy’ (2015)
Inspired by the real life of Joy Mangano, aka inventor of the Miracle Mop and a regular presence on the Home Shopping Network, Lawrence starred as the title character in Joy, a David O. Russell-directed drama from 2015. Throughout the film, viewers see Joy’s unrelenting journey to start her business and have people take her seriously. Along the way, she faces countless betrayals and obstacles, both from within and outside of her own family.
Lawrence gives a powerhouse performance in this movie, using the film’s central idea of “making the ordinary extraordinary” to tell one woman’s inspiring story of resilience and determination. Much like Mangano herself, Lawrence is strong, fearless and a force to be reckoned with. The performance garnered her her fourth Academy Award nomination and proved that even if she’s wringing out the same mop fifteen times onscreen, she still has a commanding presence that makes the movie worthwhile.
8
‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011)
While Lawrence’s most well known character is certainly Katniss Everdeen (more on that later), she also made her mark as Mystique in the X-Men franchise. Starting off in 2011’s X-Men: First Class, Lawrence played the shape-shifting mutant Mystique (Raven Darkhölme) as she’s recruited by Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) alongside a group of mutants. Set in the 1960s, the movie tells the origin story of the X-Men as they bravely avert the nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, as well as detailing what led to Professor X and Magneto’s long-standing feud.
As Mystique, Lawrence brought newfound heart and emotion to the role. Unlike some of her previous iterations, Lawrence’s Mystique is hurt, vulnerable, and riddled with emotional turmoil as she balances embracing her shape-shifting powers while yearning for belonging and self-acceptance. What follows is Mystique’s personal journey of self-acceptance and self-love, in between action-packed moments and CGI that never managed to over shadow Lawrence’s strong and layered character.
7
‘Mother!’ (2017)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Mother! is Lawrence’s most memorable step into the psychological horror genre. On the surface, the film tells the story of a young woman who’s restoring the isolated country home she shares with her husband (Javier Bardem), a poet struggling with writer’s block. But as uninvited guests begin to arrive at their home (played by Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer), and a series of unexplained and bizarre sightings begin to occur, their once peaceful life as a married couple is destroyed bit by bit.
Told from her point of view, Lawrence becomes the emotional anchor of the movie, letting viewers into her fears and emotions. As the bizarre appearances unfold, Lawrence panics and spirals, only to be turned down and essentially gaslit by her own husband. And as viewers continue to see the events through her psyche, the movie becomes more and more unsettling, disorienting and claustrophobic for the viewer – a feat that could only be done because of Lawrence’s genuine and believable performance.
6
‘Causeway’ (2022)
Lawrence’s role in Causeway is one of her most powerful yet understated to date. In the film, which marked a feature film debut for director Lila Neugebauer, Lawrence played Lynsey, a veteran who’s returning to her hometown of New Orleans following a brain injury she suffered while serving in Afghanistan. As she begins to feel some semblance of normalcy, and tries to figure out how to reenlist, she sparks a heartwarming connection with James (Brian Tyree Henry), a mechanic who starts hanging out and helping Lynsey in her day-to-day life.
As Lynsey, Lawrence shined in her vulnerability. By portraying a woman who struggles with both physical and mental pain, Lawrence kept Lynsey’s fears, trauma and sadness right below the surface, showing them in the movie’s most subtle moments, like when Lynsey simply looks off in the distance on her bus ride to New Orleans. With Tyree Henry, Lawrence gave her character layers, portraying someone who’s also open about her experiences, and craving connections like everyone else. Throughout the film, Lawrence delivers a character that feels believable and authentic, while steering clear of melodrama and over-acted scenes of PTSD and depression. Instead, Lynsey is raw, authentic, and searching for a new path in life.
5
‘American Hustle’ (2013)
American Hustle is a historical black comedy crime film that follows a duo of con artists enlisted by an FBI agent to set up an elaborate sting operation on corrupt politicians. The situation becomes more tense as the FBI agent’s wild side comes to light, forcing the duo into the dangerous world of power brokers and the Mafia. In the film, Lawrence plays Rosalyn Rosenfeld, the no-BS wife of con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale).
Throughout the movie, Rosalyn’s chaotic persona, as well as her deteriorating relationship with Irving, is brilliantly done. Onscreen, Lawrence absolutely transforms, accent and all, and matches the intense, fearless acting from Bale and Rosalyn’s nemesis, Amy Adams‘ Sydney (aka Irving’s mistress). To no surprise, American Hustle went on to receive near-universal acclaim from critics, earning ten Academy Award nominations — including Best Supporting Actress for Lawrence. And while the movie went home empty-handed, it still made history as one of the few films with multiple Oscar nominations and no wins.
4
‘No Hard Feelings’ (2023)
While so many of Lawrence’s titles have been intense and gripping movies, Lawrence’s role in No Hard Feelings is just, well, fun. In the film, she plays Maddie, a down-in-her-luck woman who agrees to date a wealthy couple’s introverted and awkward 19-year-old sonPercy (Andrew Barth Feldman) to make some extra money. While he’s hesitant about their friendship at first, the two soon warm up to each other, showing just how much they can add to each other’s lives, even when an actual relationship is off the table.
In the film, Lawrence is the freest she’s ever been, throwing herself into the film’s raunchy humor without ego, committing fully to its outrageous moments — from her awkward and ill-fated seduction attempts to being accidentally punched in a house party. Her comedic timing is sharp and self-aware, blending deadpan delivery and skilled physical comedy with bursts of manic energy that make even the most absurd scenes feel natural. And in addition to all the hilarious moments, Lawrence still managed to keep Maddie likable and sympathetic, one that won over not only Percy over time, but viewers too.
3
‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010)
The gritty indie film Winter’s Bone is what put Lawrence on the map. At just 17-years-old at the time of filming, Lawrence stole the scene as Ree Dolly, a teenager from the Ozarks on a journey to track down her missing father. With her home in jeopardy if she doesn’t find him, Ree unravels a web of lies and discoveries throughout the film, each time entering more and more dangerous territory.
In the role, Lawrence showed her versatility as an actress; she was strong yet vulnerable, tough yet caring. From her performance, which perfectly balanced raw sensibility with quiet determination, Lawrence not only proved she was one of Hollywood’s biggest rising talents, but she was awarded for it too. At just 20 years old, she earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making her one of the youngest Oscar nominees in history.
2
‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)
Another one of Lawrence’s best roles was as the young widow Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook. The film, which blends romance, comedy and drama, follows Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper), a man with bipolar disorder who was recently released from a psychiatric hospital and moves back in with his parents. Determined to win back the love of his ex-wife, Pat agrees to join Tiffany convinces him the way back to her ex’s heart is by winning a dance contest.
Silver Linings Playbook is an all-time great romantic comedy, elevated by the electrifying chemistry between Lawrence and co-star Bradley Cooper. Lawrence delivers a fiery and mercurial performance as Tiffany, becoming the film’s highlight. Instantly iconic and utterly unforgettable, Lawrence’s performance in Silver Linings Playbook is among the most beloved of her career, earning her an Academy Award for Best Lead Actress.
1
‘The Hunger Games’ Franchise (2012 – 2015)
While this choice might’ve been predictable, there’s no way to round out Jennifer Lawrence’s filmography without The Hunger Games. Starting in 2012, Lawrence became Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who volunteers as Tribute to The Hunger Games, an annual fight-to-the-death competition between the 12 districts of Panem. Coming from District 12, the poorest and smallest district in the nation, Katniss has the odds stacked against her, but her intelligence, quick thinking and natural talent with a bow and arrow slowly make her a force to be reckoned with.
But it’s not just Katniss who was strong, it was Lawrence’s authentic portrayal too. Throughout all five movies, Lawrence plays Katniss with an ease and natural vulnerability, not shying away from moments of warmth and compassion even in the most action-packed scenes. With such an impactful performance, Lawrence plays a character who undergoes a transformation, from a victim of the injustices of Panem, to becoming the face of a rebellious movement. It’s inspiring, heart-racing and one of her best performances to date.
- Release Date
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March 23, 2012
- Runtime
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142 minutes
- Director
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Gary Ross
- Writers
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Billy Ray, Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins
- Producers
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Jon Kilik
- Franchise(s)
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The Hunger Games
