Best Reese Witherspoon Movies: Top 5 Films Most Recommended By Fans -

Reese Witherspoon has been entertaining audiences since the early 1990s, starting with the film “The Man in the Moon.” Witherspoon would, of course, go on to star in blockbuster hits such as “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama” before starting her own production company, Pacific Standard. She was then able to produce successful films like “Gone Girl” and “Wild,” which not only showcased her talent but also promoted empowering female-centric narratives. The company has since become a subsidiary of Hello Sunshine, a firm co-owned by Witherspoon that focuses on telling the same stories through film, television, and streaming platforms. All in all, the actress has had a long and illustrious career, with some of the best Reese Witherspoon movies yet. Her dedication to showcasing diverse and empowering stories through various mediums ensures that her legacy in the industry will continue to thrive for years.

And thrive she will, with a new study showing just how much the Oscar-nominated actress makes per film she is actually in. Obviously, Hollywood actors make a lot more money than the average person, but this new survey finds some stars actually make more in a single second than many people do in an entire year! Witherspoon is worth over $22,000 for every second she’s on screen in recent Oscar-nominated films. The actress already has an Oscar to her name for her work in “Walk the Line,” has also earned herself a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. On top of that, she was listed as one of Time’s most influential people in the world and Forbes’ most powerful women.

Among her best works, “Legally Blonde” stands out as a cult classic, where she portrays the lovably determined Elle Woods. “Wild” proved her dramatic prowess, earning her critical acclaim for her portrayal of Cheryl Strayed in this soul-searching journey of self-discovery. Witherspoon’s filmography boasts a wide range of performances that have solidified her as one of Hollywood’s most beloved and accomplished actresses. Witherspoon has come out on top, better and stronger than before, with movies like “Mud” and shows like “Big Little Lies” rounding out her career with no end in sight.

Which titles in the esteemed actress’s repertoire stand out above the rest? Luckily, we at StudyFinds have researched across multiple expert sources to bring you the top five best Reese Witherspoon movies of all time! Don’t agree with our list? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Reese Witherspoon at the premiere for "Your Place or Mine" in 2023 — Reese Witherspoon at the premiere for “Your Place or Mine” in 2023 (Photo by Featureflash Photo Agency on Shutterstock)

The List: Best Reese Witherspoon Movies, According to Experts

1. “Election” (1999)

While Witherspoon has played her fair share of “Type A” characters throughout her career, none are as iconic as her role in “Election.” “Alexander Payne’s second movie, ‘Election,’ is a dark comedy told via voiceover by teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) and students Tracy Flick (Witherspoon), Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), and Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell). Tracy is an iconic antagonist, an overachieving, good-at-everything, aggressive, and ruthless high school student set on not only winning but beating everyone around her. This was Witherspoon’s first foray into comedy and opened up a whole second career for the actor. Reese Witherspoon perfectly plays the all-too-relatable, uptight student with a clipped speech pattern and physical tightness of her face and posture,” says ScreenRant.

“How many performers can make you guffaw consistently—while also kind of scaring the hell out of you? Witherspoon received rapturous praise for her portrayal of overachieving, cutthroat aspiring high school student body president Tracy Flick in the delicious black comedy based on the book by Tom Perrotta. Critics loved it, and Witherspoon received her first Golden Globe nod for Best Actress,” writes Parade.

“When a film character’s name becomes an archetype for a certain attitude, you know you have hit the cultural jackpot. Witherspoon outdoes herself as Tracy Flick, the ultimate self-absorbed high school overachiever who will stoop to anything, even handing out home-baked cupcakes, to become her high school’s student body president. Her nemesis is Jim McAllister (Broderick), a teacher who knows she had an affair with another instructor that led to him being fired and getting a divorce while a smug Tracy suffered no consequences. He recruits Klein’s popular football player. Paul Metzler, a sweet, if dumb jock incarnate who is sidelined by an injury, opposes her. The satire is as much about real politics as it is about mindless ruthlessness in general,” describes GoldDerby.

2. “Walk the Line” (2005)

While Johnny Cash’s famous ditty “Walk the Line” may not have been written for June Carter, we certainly would “walk the line” for Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of the iconic rockabilly singer any day. “2005 saw Witherspoon star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in James Mangold’s acclaimed Johnny Cash biopic, ‘Walk the Line.’ She played the part of June Carter, Johnny’s wife, and perfectly captured her bubbly stage presence coupled with the BTS drama. Alongside doing her own singing in the film, her chemistry with Phoenix was undeniable,” writes Cosmopolitan.

“‘Walk the Line’ was such a great movie due to Witherspoon’s captivating performance in the role of June Carter Cash. With her portrayal of the country music legend, Witherspoon won her first Oscar and was highly praised by critics. The film itself is also an incredible biopic, with a wide canvas that captures Cash’s early days as the son of an Arkansas cotton farmer, his first marriage to Vivian Liberto, as well as his struggles with substance abuse. In addition, the chemistry between Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash is undeniable, making ‘Walk the Line’ a must-watch movie,” notes MovieWeb.

“In a casting decision that felt like the planets aligning, Witherspoon effortlessly embodies June’s perky stage act, as well as intensity and darkness behind the scenes. ‘Walk the Line’ benefits greatly from the fiery erotic chemistry between the leads, who both did their own signing. Witherspoon’s turn here is a masterclass, and days shy of her 30th birthday, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress,” explains Parade.

3. “Legally Blonde” (2001)

I mean, what’s your first thought when you hear the name Reese Witherspoon? Because for us, it’s Elle Woods, of course. “Arguably, Reese Witherspoon’s most iconic film, ‘Legally Blonde,’ is a ’00s classic that continues to inspire generations of young women to follow in the footsteps of law student Elle Woods. This 2001 comedy stars Witherspoon as Elle, a pink-loving sorority girl who successfully applies to Harvard Law School in a bid to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. A witty, fun watch that you’ll revisit again and again, ‘Legally Blonde’ may not be legally accurate, but it does see Reese Witherspoon give one of her best performances, and with ‘Legally Blonde’ three coming out later this year, there couldn’t be a better time to stream this comedy,” comments RadioTimes.

“‘Legally Blonde’ is arguably the movie that made her a household name. In this beloved 2001 comedy, Reese stars as Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy sorority girl who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School to try to win him back. Despite initially struggling to fit in, Elle proves herself to be a capable and determined law student, using her unique blend of style, wit, and intelligence to stand out in a competitive environment,” explains The Pioneer Woman.

“You cannot mention Reese Witherspoon’s name without immediately thinking of Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde.’ Elle is a fashion maven who, after being dumped by her boyfriend, follows him to Harvard Law School to win him back. What, like it’s hard? Through her studies and help from her friends, she sheds her ‘dumb blonde’ stereotype while proving herself as a capable lawyer in the making. Though on the surface it’s a typical rom-com, Witherspoon’s strong performance turned the film into an inspiration for women, with Elle being the unlikely heroine we all love to root for,” adds Wide Open Country.

4. “Pleasantville” (1998)

While on the outside, this movie may just look like another dramatic comedy, deep down, “Pleasantville” is a film that explores the power of self-expression and challenging societal norms. Specifically in the case of Witherspoon’s character, who “stars in this teen fantasy dramedy alongside Tobey Maguire, with the two portraying siblings who are transported into a 1950s sitcom, ‘Pleasantville.’ In this alternate reality, Jennifer and David are forced to act as the characters from the show, with Jennifer’s revelations of new information eventually bringing new ideas to the town and turning some of the black-and-white elements to full color,” describes SnipDaily.

“Gary Ross’s special effects-heavy dramedy feels like a high-concept pastiche at first; then it leads us to something profound. Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire play ’90s teens transported into a corny black-and-white sitcom along the lines of ‘Father Knows Best.’ The kids experience spiritual growth as they bring metaphoric and physical color to a safe, cookie-cutter fantasy world. The result is hilarious, touching, transporting, and dazzling. It’s sentimental with no schmaltz, pure cinema,” says Parade.

“A gimmicky novelty act that mostly works. As David and Jennifer, a brother and sister who are twins whose parents are divorced, Maguire and Witherspoon exhibit very different personalities as high schoolers. She is outgoing and superficial, while he is introverted and spends most of his time watching old TV reruns. A fight breaks out between them over David’s insistence on watching a marathon of ‘Pleasantville,’ a 1950s sitcom about a perfect family. When the remote breaks, a mysterious repairman shows up with an odd replacement. Soon they are transported into the black-and-white world of the straight-laced TV series and must play Mary Sue and Bud, the son, and daughter on the show. But when Jennifer has sex with a boy from high school, an act previously unknown by the residents, the town suddenly begins changing into a world of emotion-driven color. Witherspoon takes her character to the edge of trampy but is her usual warm and humorous presence onscreen as she sells such observations as ‘Nobody’s happy in a poodle skirt and a sweater set,'” writes GoldDerby.

5. “Wild” (2014)

“Wild” shows Witherspoon once again doing what she does best: playing strong, independent women. And much like the role that garnered her first Oscar nomination and win, she is once again telling a real person’s story. “Based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, which chronicles her journey on a 1,100-mile hike, all on her own. Witherspoon plays Cheryl, who embarked on the journey to help heal after the tragic loss of her mother and the ending of her marriage. Witherspoon earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for herperformance, which was emotional, raw, and unlike anything we’d seen of the star before,” explains Wide Open Country.

“Much of the movie depicts Cheryl alone, and it’s at these times that Witherspoon shows some of her best acting. Appearing beleaguered and unsure, Witherspoon uses her facial expressions and mannerisms to depict a woman struggling to reckon with her past and her future. For her work, she was nominated in the Best Actress category at the SAGs, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards,” adds ScreenRant.

“In what is quite easily among her boldest, more fearless, and most vulnerable performances to date, Reese Witherspoon emboldened herself to become author Cheryl Strayed and bring her raw memoir to the big screen as both an actress and a producer in the Oscar-nominated drama ‘Wild’. The resulting dramatization is a compelling, astute, and dutifully told character study, one that captures the lows and highs of its real-life subject in authentic, nuanced depictions. Thanks to Reese Witherspoon’s commanding, fully committed performance and dedication to this film, its free-flowing narrative not only tells the incredible true story in rigorous, yet connectable, detail but also allows us to understand the extensive toll the journey takes on our hard-lucked protagonist, while never exhausting the enraptured audience in equal measure,” concludes CinemaBlend.

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Tags: movies