Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most influential actresses of all time. Her pragmatic personality and undeniable talent allow her to be both a convincing actress and a convincing activist, and she exercises her talents in both regularly. Her bankability as a Hollywood starlet has not gone unnoticed by directors, and she lands several major film roles every year, even becoming the highest-paid actress in the world during 2015 and 2016.
Several of her films have received ardent reviews from critics and audiences, and her performance in Silver Linings Playbook even won her the Best Actress Oscar. Since many of her best performances happened over the 2010s, we're using IMDb's rating system to find out which of her many deserving films from this decade is best.
engers (7.0)
In the 2017 science fiction film engers, Chris Pratt stars as Jim, a sleeper ship enger who wakes from his state of suspended animation nearly ninety years before he should have, thanks to a malfunctioning pod. He finds a woman named Aurora Lane (Lawrence), and, smitten, decides to revive her for companionship.
During their time on the ship together, they forge a bond, overcoming everything from equipment failure to their own personal grievances. Although several critics called foul on the film's plot and tone, many praised the duo of Pratt and Lawrence, noting their acting talents and screen chemistry.
Winter's Bone (7.2)
Winter's Bone follows a teenage girl (Lawrence) who looks after her younger siblings and their mentally ill mother as best she can. When she realizes the family will be evicted from their household unless her missing meth-addict father can either be produced or proven dead, she begins a search that will introduce her to a world of mafia bosses and drug addicts. The film received universal acclaim, with the acting (particularly Lawrence's) and tone being the chief causes of such rave reviews; it was also mentioned on many year-end top-10 lists.
American Hustle (7.2)
This 2013 crime film stars Lawrence as Rosalyn, the wife of Irving (Christian Bale), a professional con artist who, after making a deal with the agent who caught Irving and his criminal partner Sydney perpetrating a loan scam, is working closely with the FBI to catch corrupt politicians. He is enamored by Sydney, a master manipulator, but is worried should he propose to her, he'll lose custody of his child with Rosalyn.
American Hustle received outstanding reviews from critics and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, with common praise stemming from the film's vibrant, exciting feel and big-name talent.
The Hunger Games (7.2)
In the dystopian sci-fi world of 2012's The Hunger Games, an annual contest is held in which two children are selected from each of twelve districts to compete in a highly publicized battle royale. After District 12 resident Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to compete in the place of her younger sister, she must learn the strategies and politics of the Games if she wants to survive against the array of heavily trained contestants.
The film quickly became an audience hit and won over many new fans for Lawrence. Critics praised the film's emotion and action, comparing it favorably to other young-adult hits like Harry Potter and Twilight.
Dior and I (7.3)
While Lawrence only has a brief cameo appearance in Dior and I, it's still deeply connected with her and her work. The film is a documentary about fashion designer Raf Simons and his work for luxury brand Dior. Lawrence is one of the actresses most often associated with the Dior brand and also appeared in one of their 2018 ad campaigns, but several other well-known actresses, including former Dior spokesmodels Marion Cotillard and Sharon Stone, show up as well. The film received favorable reviews from critics and audiences for its stylish, informative storytelling, raw emotional structure, and heartfelt moments.
A Beautiful Planet (7.4)
Jennifer took on narrating with her performance in the 2016 documentary A Beautiful Planet, which showcases footage captured by astronauts on the International Space Station over the course of fifteen months. The film, which is presented in the IMAX format, showcases life aboard the ISS and displays some of the wondrous sights that can be witnessed from its heavenly height.
The film received positive reviews from almost every critic who witnessed it—it's received a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes, with the awestruck consensus seeming to prove this is a film that truly must be seen to be believed.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (7.5)
In the second installment of the popular Hunger Games franchise, Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen, who has become something of a celebrity after receiving a t victory in the Hunger Games (with fellow District 12 resident Peeta). However, threats of a revolution against the oppressive government are beginning, and the president has realized the amount of political power former Games champions have.
Worried they could incite a rebellion of epic proportions, he forces several past Games winners—including Katniss—to compete in a champion's tournament, knowing nearly all will die in the process. The film, in a similar vein to its predecessor, broke box office records and became a critical hit, while it also received praise from audiences for its action, acting, and visual effects.
X-Men: First Class (7.7)
In this X-Men origin story, a reboot of the franchise, the X-Men, an organization of mutants formed by wheelchair-bound telepath Charles Xavier, must take on the Hellfire Club, a growing syndicate of villains orchestrating world events for their own nefarious purposes. Nazi hunter Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) also plans to create a group of mutant heroes, but cannot forge a bond with Xavier due to their divisive worldviews.
Lawrence plays Mystique, Xavier's childhood friend and a shape-shifter who, in her natural form, has blue skin and green eyes. She becomes one of the first of Magneto's organization, the Brotherhood of Mutants. The film received positive reviews from critics, but audiences were even more enthusiastic, praising the film's characters, energy, and action.
Silver Linings Playbook (7.7)
In this 2012 drama/rom-com, Lawrence stars as Tiffany, a widowed dancer who offers to help bipolar former mental patient Pat win his ex-wife's heart back if he'll compete in a dance contest with her. This begins a blossoming friendship between the two who begin a strict practice regimen for the competition and work out each other's previously unconfessed problems as a team.
The film was nominated for eight Oscars, including a Best Actress win for Lawrence, one of the only times an actress has won for a comedy. It was praised by critics and audiences for its creative, original spin on existing tropes, as well as its ionate energy, characters, and acting.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (8.0)
In this massively successful 2014 superhero flick, a continuation of the story that began in First Class, Wolverine travels back in time to prevent Mystique from assassinating a military scientist—an action that brought about the dystopian future the mutants now live in, where they are hunted by invincible robotic creatures.
The film was praised as the franchise's best and became a massive audience hit, making nearly $750 million at the box office and receiving praise for its visuals, action, characters, and performances leading to many fans of the X-Men franchise now considering Lawrence an essential member of the cast. The film is definitely one of Lawrence's biggest hits, and the dynamic marketability she's received because of it is a sign she's not leaving Hollywood anytime soon.
