Margot Robbie is an acclaimed American actress who is perhaps best known for her iconic portrayal of Harley Quinn, a villain-gone-antihero in several popular Warner Brothers films. The rest of her filmography is filled with many genres, though biopics seem to be a particular strength of the actress’s. That being said, our sources helped us determine the top five best Margot Robbie movies out of her many amazing on-screen roles.
Robbie’s films exemplify the trend of relatable anti-heroes in film. More than half (51%) Americans “always” or “often” root for the bad guy or gal when watching a movie or TV show. In a recent survey of 2,011 U.S. adults, three in five (60%) say they watch a series or movie just for the villain. More than three-quarters (77%) of also note that a villain can make or break the picture. Overall, a quarter of people tend to prefer villains to heroes. Among those 497 pro-evil people, Gen Z respondents (late ’90 babies) attribute this preference to villains’ complexity (69%), while millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) could relate more to their backstory (50%). Gen X individuals (born between 1965 and 1980) are drawn to the antagonists’ more interesting powers (62%).
Audiences can’t help but be captivated by the anti-hero archetype, and Robbie’s well-received performance as Harley Quinn is an example of this. From Darth Vader to Deadpool, movie audiences often end up more fascinated by the villain than the hero. What makes us so quick to idolize characters like Tony Soprano or Walter White? Viewers usually perceive villains as being more complex and capable of redemption. Typically tortured by some type of internal strife or past tragedy, it isn’t all that difficult to imagine that many villainous characters are just as tragic as they are nefarious. Most heroes, on the other hand, normally come across as fully good with little room for anything else in movies and books.
Margot Robbie’s greatest roles highlight the depth and nuance of her considerable acting ability. Our list of the top five best Margot Robbie films could be a great resource for the curious viewer. Let us know your favorites in the comments below!
The List: Best Margot Robbie Movies, According to Experts
1. “I, Tonya” (2017)
Heavily referenced as Robbie’s greatest performance to date, this film tells the story of the real-life events surrounding Tonya Harding’s involvement with the infamous attack on Nancy Kerrigan. “’I, Tonya’ received universal acclaim from critics, who praised it as one of the best true-crime movies of the new millennium. Robbie’s performance was lauded, earning her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, among other accolades. Janney won the 2018 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, while the film received a third nomination for Tatiana S. Riegel’s editing,” explains Collider.
“Coming in at number one is the captivating ‘I, Tonya.’ The film is based on the true story of figure ice skating champion Tonya Harding and her tumultuous career in the face of criticism and scandal. Robbie portrays the athlete and her eventual demise in the competitive sport so incredibly, it earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress,” raves Grazia.
“Though it was her ex-husband’s actions, the blame is put on Harding, as she becomes forever associated with one of the biggest scandals in sports history. The film earned Robbie a nomination for Best Actress at the 2018 Academy Awards, while also garnering great reviews from fans and critics alike,” offers One37pm.
2. “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
Although our sources named the previous entry as Robbie’s best, “The Wolf of Wall Street” also earned high praise from our sources. “The role that launched Robbie into the mainstream – as swindling, foul-mouthed Naomi Lapaglia and wife to Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) – is still her best performance. Shattering any image of a trophy wife, Robbie’s performance is the perfect foil to all the lechery brought by Belfort and his associates. It’s a classic Robbie performance: transforming a potential cliché into an essential role,” praises Esquire.
Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street pic.twitter.com/ggkz3QwYmH
— best of margot (@bestofmargot) August 2, 2018
“Robbie is a marvel throughout ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ as the former Miller Lite girl, Naomi Lapaglia. However, there is one scene that undeniably tops them all. Blonde hair cascading from her shoulders, Naomi sits like the cat that got the cream as Jordan (Leonardo DiCaprio) crawls across the room on his hands and knees towards her. She stops him with a high heel on his forehead, a mark of her sexual power over his money-driven mind. In a film featuring copious amounts of cocaine, Robbie cuts through this material excess with sharp wit and a scathing stare,” writes Nylon.
“Let’s rip the discourse band-aid off immediately: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ is one of Martin Scorsese’s five best films… The movie’s most outrageous elements are ripped straight from Jordan Belfoit’s memoir, on which it’s based. The ‘midget-tossing’ competition. The driving-on-Quaaludes scene. All fact, at least according to Time Magazine’s fact-checkers. In the world of white-collar finance, too much is just the norm,” adds /Film.
3. “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (2019)
“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” is a premise-heavy film about a fictionalized version of reality. “Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, ‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’ is a drama-comedy starring an ensemble cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Robbie, and more… Robbie plays American actress and model Sharon Tate. This rapidly changing filming industry is set against the backdrop of the Tate murders by the Manson family. The setting, coloring, and costumes all add that Golden feel that Hollywood had back then. The acting was done believably well: Pitt, DiCaprio, and Robbie received immensely praise for their performances,” states MovieWeb.
“The huge ensemble of blink-and-you’ll-miss-them cameos adds further range to this expansive tale. Tarantino’s made more than his fair share of great films, but there’s something indescribably special about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood that is sure to last the test of time among the best Margot Robbie movies,” writes ScreenRant.
“‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ received highly positive reviews from critics, who considered it Tarantino’s love letter to the 60s. His screenplay received rave reviews, as did the performances of its leading trio – Pitt even won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. However, some critics took issue with the film’s portrayals of Tate and Bruce Lee, while others considered it a reductive view of Hollywood,” adds Collider.
4. “Babylon” (2022)
Robbie gives a highly praised performance in “Babylon” despite mixed reviews that the film gained overall. “Critics have generally been split on the quality of ‘Babylon,’… But the verdict on Robbie’s chaotic, freewheeling performance as the fictitious star Nellie LaRoy (a takeoff on Clara Bow) is less debated. She’s astonishingly good in a role she got reportedly only after Emma Stone dropped out. Regardless, it’s an energetic and unrestrained piece of acting that’s already earned her Golden Globes and Critics Choice nominations,” states Gold Derby.
Review: Babylon (2022) https://t.co/lzoRwfrs5P pic.twitter.com/JAShIeZFCj
— Dan S. (TheGoodsReviews.com) (@dan_critic) June 15, 2023
Robbie’s best moments in the film have been highlighted by our sources. “She’s taking the energy of Harley Quinn and ramping it up even higher, dancing, screaming, and snake-fighting her way through the film’s three-plus hours. She’s already received several nominations for the role (including Critics’ Choice and the Golden Globes) and she’s in the hunt for a well-deserved Oscar nomination. This might be my favorite of her films, and Robbie gives it everything she’s got,” gushes BuzzFeed.
“However, while the movie was supposed to be an awards contender and one of the best Margot Robbie movies, it ended up controversial. The movie showed the bad more than it showed the good, and what was supposed to be a love letter to Hollywood looked more like a critical indictment of the dark side of the industry. Robbie played actress Nellie LaRoy, someone who shined brightly and fell just as fast. It only picked up three Oscar nominations,” writes ScreenRant.
5. “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” (2020)
Critics be damned! Audiences love Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. “In David Ayer’s (excuse me – Warner Bros.’) ‘Suicide Squad,’ Harley is Joker’s shiny accessory. A lesser film would’ve worked around that unpleasant history to get to the action sequences faster; not ‘Birds of Prey.’ Instead, Harley’s breakup with Mr. J gives Robbie and Yan cause to let Harley flail emotionally, get smashed at nightclubs, form close friendships, purchase a hyena, and still kick loads of butt. None of this would work without Robbie’s performance or exceptional stunt work. It, of course, works like gangbusters,” admires /Film.
“Finally, the Harley Quinn movie that both the character and Robbie deserve. Cathy Yan’s ‘Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)’ is a boldly colorful and refreshingly women-led entry to the DC Universe. Yan’s powerhouse film finds Harley recently single after her split with the Joker. She’s in her post-breakup reinvention arc: cutting her hair, lusting over grilled breakfast sandwiches, and taking up rollerskating… She imbues Harley with a misfit aura that, with one pink and one blue ponytail, shines like her million-watt smile as she makes Gotham her playground,” compliments Nylon.
“Robbie produced and helped to shepherd Birds of Prey to the big screen, and the result is one of the best Margot Robbie movies of the modern DC era. Director Cathy Yan and screenwriter Christina Hodson concocted an eye-burning mish-mash of rowdy girl gang movie, riotous comedy, bloody pastel music video, and Looney Tunes cartoon,” says ScreenRant.
You might also be interested in:
Sources
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
Never heard of it.