We’ve seen Julia Roberts play the leading lady in many timeless classics, from her iconic role in Pretty Woman to her British rom-com appearance alongside Hugh Grant in Notting Hill. However, based on honest reviews from viewers over the years, Rotten Tomatoes has been able to rank them all and give you an idea of which ones are worth the watch.
While fans might love to see the star play her most memorable characters, the films themselves may not have high ratings. The entirety of this list compiles all of her movies based on reviews, creating an overall percentage, and those that made it to the top 10 may shock you.
Coming out on top as a surprising number one Julia Roberts film is The Normal Heart, a 2014 release that saw her star alongside Mark Ruffalo. The film is set in 1980s New York and retells the vital stories that lead to the AIDS crisis, racking up an impressive 94% overall rating.
A review claims: “The most brutally confronting portrayal of life as a gay man in the early 80s. Torn between the liberation of the sexual revolution, the medical uncertainty and the societal denial. Buckle up; this gets real, real quick.”
Making what is arguably the most surprising entry to the actress’s top ten list is the film coming in at number 6. Ben is Back, a 2018 release, boasts an overall rating of 81%, ranking itself above the likes of Pretty Woman and My Best Friend’s Wedding.
The “heartbreaking” film sees Roberts take on the emotional role of a mother who is doing all she can to help her addict son after his time spent in rehab. While it wasn’t necessarily a role of hers for the history books, the film captured the hearts of viewers.
One touched fan shared: “Intense, gripping movie from start to finish. Really well done, with great acting by Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges.” While another person wrote that the film is “scarily real”, with a “power dynamic” from the leading roles that “keeps you on edge”.
Although, at number two, also above some of the most iconic movies of hers, is the 2017 family film Wonder, where Roberts plays a loving mother. It’s a coming-of-age tale that follows a young boy, born with a rare medical facial deformity, as he struggles to navigate school life and his parents do all they can to support him during this huge life transformation.
Writing about this film in particular, a viewer shared that they felt the film was both “heartfelt” and “genuine”. They continued to say that the movie had a “message for everyone” that was told with the help of “well-acted” roles.
For those interested, Roberts lowest-ranking movie role is in the film Mother’s Day, a 2016 release starring Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson. The film has an embarrassingly low score of 8%, and fans have described it to be “mediocre”, with others claiming it is point-blank “disappointing”.
Top 10 Julia Roberts films ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
The Normal Heart
- Wonder
Erin Brockovich
Notting Hill
Ocean’s Eleven
- Ben Is Back
Charlie Wilson’s War
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Charlotte’s Web
Michael Collins