Along with giving rise to Michael Myers and cementing John Carpenter as one of the horror greats, 1978’s Halloween also crowned Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate scream queen. Despite the actress being heavily associated with the genre known for causing night terrors, Curtis has quite a diverse portfolio that includes action, comedy, and drama. In the future, she will even be adding video game adaptations to that list as she has been cast in the Borderlands movie.
With Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends set to drop over the next two years, Curtis might be currently experiencing her commercial peak. How will these upcoming movies compare with the actress’s highest-rated films on Metacritic?
Disclaimer: Voice acting roles (From Up on Poppy Hill) and cameos (Veronica Mars) will not be included.
10 Fierce Creatures (1997) – 62%
A reunion of sorts, Fierce Creatures features a cast of A Fish Called Wanda alumni, another farce about generally awful but hilarious people. Any comparisons between the two projects do not flatter Fierce Creatures, as the 1997 comedy does not quite have the sharp wit or impeccable physical humor of the 1988 classic.
Despite its shortcomings, Fierce Creatures still produces a few memorable moments, primarily courtesy of John Cleese and Kevin Kline. Curtis delivers a fine but largely forgettable performance, which can be said for the entire film.
9 True Lies (1994) – 63%
While a lesser entry in James Cameron’s filmography, True Lies has plenty to offer as an over-the-top spy romp that is more interested in extracting laughs than thrills. PortrayingArnold Schwarzenegger‘s wife, Curtis’s Helen transforms from a bored housewife to an accidental action hero, although the process does involve being kidnapped by her husband.
True Lies is undoubtedly Schwarzenegger’s vehicle, although Curtis does manage to hold her own alongside her costar. That is something not many people can claim.
8 The Tailor of Panama (2001) – 66%
Starring a former Bond as an MI6 agent sent to Panama to investigate the local corruption, The Tailor of Panama is a spy thriller stripped of any Hollywood flash. Pierce Brosnan steals the show as the disgraced Andy Osnard, a spy who has all the vices of Bond but without the heroics or cinematic charm to mask them.
The Tailor of Panama is a character piece masquerading as a spy thriller, a film about real people with flaws, unsavory goals, and frustrations.
7 Halloween (2018) – 67%
Forty years following the original, Laurie Strode and Michael Myers reunited for another Halloween event. Although not quite reaching the same heights as the original, Halloween (2018) proved to be an exciting and intense addition to the storied franchise.
Halloween has produced plenty of underwhelming sequels, including a few starring Jamie Lee Curtis herself, but this 2018 continuation is not one of them. A throwback to 1978’s Halloween, this entry strips back any unnecessary mythology and fluff to tell a simple tale about surviving against a dangerous and persistent killer. It works.
6 Trading Places (1983) – 69%
If Halloween put Jamie Lee Curtis on the horror map, then Trading Places expanded it to include other genres. The Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy comedy is an ’80s classic about brothers who play around with the lives of two people from different walks of life. A screwball comedy that does not have any aspirations besides producing a few hearty laughs, Trading Place is an easy sit.
Curtis portrays Ophelia, a prostitute who befriends Aykroyd’s character. The role might not be especially unique, but Curtis demonstrates impeccable comedic timing.
5 Freaky Friday (2003) – 70%
Freaky Friday could have been a Lindsay Lohan vehicle if the young actress was not sharing the stage with Jamie Lee Curtis. Once the mother and daughter switch bodies, Curtis puts in a wonderful and energetic turn as a teenager trying (and largely failing) to play adult.
Most of the movie’s biggest laughs come courtesy of Curtis’ performance, and it seems like she had a ton of fun in this role. The 2003 film has aged surprisingly well, which comes down entirely to its two leads.
4 Road Games (1981) – 71%
Following a string of slashers, Jamie Lee Curtis took a slight left turn with 1981’s Road Games, an Australian thriller about a truck driver pursuing a serial killer. A decent premise elevated by solid performances, particularly from Curtis and Stacy Keach, Road Games tells an engrossing mystery that comes with quite a few surprises.
While by no means a classic, Road Games is an above-average thriller that has been largely forgotten. It is worth seeking out as a way to spend two hours on a rainy day.
3 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) – 80%
An all-time great comedy, A Fish Called Wanda captured lightning in a bottle. Featuring an unbeatable cast, including Kevin Kline, John Cleese, and Michael Palin, this 1988 farce manages to confidently juggle double-crosses, assassination attempts, smart humor, outlandish slapstick, and a surprisingly effective romance.
Curtis is at the heart of A Fish Called Wanda‘s hijinks and delivers perhaps the best performance of her career. A British comedy with international appeal, this 1988 film is a must-watch.
2 Knives Out (2019) – 82%
Jamie Lee Curtis has consistently released films throughout her career, but the actress produced very little of note between 2003’s Freaky Friday and 2018’s Halloween. The latter sparked something of a critical resurgence for Curtis, leading into 2019’s Knives Out.
An ensemble piece littered with recognizable faces, Rian Johnson’s whodunnit serves as a sharp and highly enjoyable homage to classic murder mystery novels and films. When the patriarch of a family dies, a detective is called in to learn what really happened.
1 Halloween (1978) – 87%
Fittingly, the most important film in Curtis’ career is also regarded as her best. Alongside Black Christmas and earlier films like Psycho, John Carpenter’s Halloween set the standards that would come to define the slasher genre. As Laurie Strode, Curtis has been immortalized as the most iconic “final girl.”
Relying on atmosphere just as much as creative kills, Halloween illustrates Carpenter’s mastery of suspense, crafting a film that can keep people engrossed in-between Michael Myers’ grizzly murders.
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