Cameron Diaz's 15 Best Movies, Ranked (2025)

Cameron Diaz is a fabulously talented actress with a scope of incredible movies from her long-spanning career. Diaz’s acting kicks off with the hilarious Jim Carrey film The Mask, making her debut at just 21, but in recent years, she is best known for her performance in Will Gluck’s remake of Annie. Although she has retired from the silver screen before, she is still remembered and is an actress that many audiences hoped would return. Since her start in the ‘90s, Cameron Diaz’s net worth has soared from her most memorable roles.

Thankfully, Cameron Diaz’s movie comeback is finally happening. The actress is due to appear opposite Keanu Reeves in Apple TV’s Outcome, and she is once again lending her voice to Princess Fiona in the fifth installment of the Shrek franchise. While Diaz is generally prominent in romantic comedy movies, some of her best projects see her taking on more dramatic and profound characters. Cameron Diaz has many amazing movies, but some are better than others.

15 Very Bad Things (1998)

Role: Laura Garrety

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Very Bad Things

R

Comedy

Crime

Thriller

Very Bad Things is a dark comedy film directed by Peter Berg, released in 1998. The movie follows Kyle Fisher and his friends as a night of partying in Las Vegas spirals into chaos and unintended consequences after an accidental death. This leads to a series of escalating events before Kyle's wedding.

Director

Peter Berg

Release Date

September 11, 1998

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Christian Slater , Jon Favreau , Leland Orser , Jeremy Piven , Daniel Stern , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Rob Brownstein , Blake Gibbons , Tyler Cole Malinger , Joey Zimmerman , Russell B. McKenzie , Kobe Tai , Pancho Demmings , Lawrence Pressman , Brian Grandison , John Cappon , Steve Fitchpatrick , Angelo Di Mascio Jr. , Linda Klein , Peter Berg , Brian Grandison

Runtime

100 minutes

When it comes to dark comedies, it is hard to get much darker than Very Bad Things. The movie stars Jon Favreau as a man who is getting ready to marry his beautiful but demanding fiancé (Cameron Diaz), but first heads to Las Vegas with his friends for a wild bachelor party getaway. However, when the party ends with an accidental death, the friends are faced with the need to cover up their crime which only leads to more and more bodies piling up.

Very Bad Things will not be for everyone as it is grim and gruesome to the point that it might overshadow the comedic aspects. However, Diaz’s performance is the highlight of the movie as she leans into the absurdity and callousness of these characters, delivering the funniest moments of the story.

14 Any Given Sunday (1999)

Role: Christina Pagniacci

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Any Given Sunday

R

Drama

Sport

Any Given Sunday, directed by Oliver Stone, delves into the turbulent world of professional American football. The film stars Al Pacino as seasoned coach Tony D'Amato, alongside Cameron Diaz as the ambitious team owner Christina Pagniacci. The narrative explores the personal and professional challenges faced by players and staff, highlighting the intensity and complexities of the sport within the context of modern society.

Director

Oliver Stone

Release Date

December 22, 1999

Cast

Al Pacino , Dennis Quaid , Cameron Diaz , James Woods , Jamie Foxx , LL Cool J , Matthew Modine , Jim Brown

Runtime

162 minutes

Oliver Stone has tackled a number of big topics in his movies, from the conspiracies of presidents to the Vietnam War to the greed of Wall Street. The acclaimed director stepped into the arena of sports for the first time in Any Given Sunday, looking at the high-stakes world of professional football. The movie stars Al Pacino as the coach of a fictional NFL team who has to deal with a variety of pressures in his job, including an aging quarterback, an arrogant new star, and a demanding new owner, played by Cameron Diaz.

The movie is a chaotic and engrossing immersion into this world with Stone’s penchant for filmmaking flair all over the project. Pacino leads an incredible cast that also includes Jamie Foxx, Dennis Quaid, and Aaron Eckhart. However, Diaz truly stands out, going toe-to-toe with Pacino in several scenes as this bold woman who is ready to show everyone that she is going to drag this team into the future.

13 In Her Shoes (2005)

Role: Maggie

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In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes is a 2005 film directed by Curtis Hanson, detailing the strained relationship between two sisters, Maggie and Rose. Maggie, a carefree party girl, disrupts the structured life of her sister, Rose, a dedicated lawyer, leading to a transformative journey when they encounter their long-lost grandmother.

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Director

Curtis Hanson

Release Date

October 7, 2005

Cast

Toni Collette , Cameron Diaz , Shirley MacLaine

Runtime

2h 10m

Among some of Cameron Diaz’s flashier and bigger movies, In Her Shoes is an intimate gem that ranks among her best performances. The film focuses on the relationship between two adult sisters, played by Diaz and Toni Collette, who have very different personalities. While their relationship is shattered thanks to a heartless betrayal on Diaz’s part, they are forced back together when they come to learn about a grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) they never knew existed.

The movie is a showcase of three terrific actors, with each of the women creating nuanced and strong characters to play off each other. Diaz is wonderful as the flawed yet vulnerable Maggie, making her arc in the movie one of its most effective. It is a story that seems rather ordinary but gradually builds to a wholly satisfying ending.

12 Knight And Day (2010)

Role: June Havens

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Knight and Day

pg-13

Action

Comedy

Written by Patrick O'Neill and directed by James Mangold, Knight and Day is an Action and Comedy that satirizes secret agent-style films. The premise follows Tom Cruise as an agent on the run from the CIA who ends up protecting a woman who is mistaken for his associate.

Director

James Mangold

Release Date

June 23, 2010

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Tom Cruise , Paul Dano , Peter Sarsgaard , Viola Davis

Runtime

109 Minutes

The combination of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in an action movie helmed by James Mangold should have been an obvious hit, but Knight and Day was something of a disappointment at the box office and with critics. However, years after the fact, many more people are finally checking out the movie and seeing it as a truly underrated gem. Diaz stars as a woman who gets mixed up in the misadventures of a disgraced spy (Cruise) who is trying to clear his name.

Cruise and Diaz combine their action movie star power with Mangold’s expert directing in the genre to deliver some truly fun sequences. However, the real treat of the film is the comedic aspect, with Cruise delivering one of his funniest performances as the unhinged hero while Diaz brings her usually comedic timing to the great role of his foil. Their chemistry makes it a shame they didn’t make more movies together.

11 Gangs Of New York (2002)

Role: Jenny Everdeane

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9.7/10

Gangs of New York

R

Crime

Drama

Gangs of New York, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a historical drama that explores the violent rivalries between immigrant groups in 19th-century New York City. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Amsterdam Vallon, who returns to the Five Points area seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The film dramatizes the socio-political unrest in America during that era, highlighting issues like gang warfare and ethnic tension.

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Director

Martin Scorsese

Release Date

December 20, 2002

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio , Cameron Diaz , Daniel Day-Lewis , Jim Broadbent , John C. Reilly , Henry Thomas , Liam Neeson , Brendan Gleeson

Runtime

167 Minutes

While Cameron Diaz has worked with some great directors in her career, collaborating with Martin Scorsese on one of his most ambitious projects is a certain standout. Gangs of New York is an epic historical drama that takes a look at the brutal early days of New York City and the gangs that clashed on the streets of the city. The story follows Leonardo DiCaprio as an Irish immigrant out to seek revenge on the mob boss (Daniel Day-Lewis) who killed his father years ago. Diaz plays a woman caught between the two men.

Diaz gives a fine performance in the movie, earning a Golden Globe for her work. However, she is just one aspect of the impressive overall movie, with it marking the first collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese, as well as featuring a towering performance from Day-Lewis. Scorsese paints a fascinating and wild portrait of American history, not shying away from the ugliness of it all.

10 What Happens In Vegas (2008)

Role: Joy McNally

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What Happens in Vegas

PG-13

What Happens in Vegas is a romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as two strangers who impulsively marry after a wild night in Las Vegas. When one of them wins a large jackpot, the pair is forced to stay married and attempt to make their relationship work to claim the prize. The film explores themes of love, chance, and the consequences of impetuous decisions.

Director

Tom Vaughan

Release Date

May 9, 2008

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Ashton Kutcher , Rob Corddry , Lake Bell , Jason Sudeikis , Treat Williams , Deirdre O'Connell , Michelle Krusiec , Dennis Farina , Zach Galifianakis , Queen Latifah , Krysten Ritter , Ricky Garcia , Andy Daly , Benita Robledo , Dennis Miller , Amanda Setton , Toni Busker , Jessica McKee , Ricardo Walker

Runtime

99 minutes

What Happens in Vegas isn’t one of the best rom-coms of all time, but it is a very memorable one. Diaz stars as Joy McNally, a woman who meets Ashton Kutcher’s Jack Fuller Jr. in Las Vegas and drunkenly marries him. However, when Jack wins a huge fortune on a slot machine, which Joy provides the quarter for, they try to force their marriage to work for six months in order to keep half of the winnings each. Kutcher and Diaz’s chemistry is excellent, and both demonstrate the constant bickering and underlying tension between their characters brilliantly.

What Happens in Vegas is from the relatively early days of Ashton Kutcher’s career, but it isn’t the first film of his where he plays a struggling groom, having appeared in 2003’s Just Married, and this shows in his rapport with Diaz. While the critic reviews for What Happens in Vegas aren’t the best, Diaz still stands out. Joy is quite unlikeable when she is first introduced, but her later growth makes her easy to root for. Portraying Joy proves that Diaz can take on any type of character easily, even if the film’s story doesn’t do her any favors.

9 My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Role: Kimmy Wallace

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9/10

My Best Friend's Wedding

PG-13

Upon hearing of her friend Michael's engagement, Julianne Potter realizes she loves him and schemes to disrupt his wedding to win his heart.

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Director

P.J. Hogan

Release Date

June 19, 1997

Cast

Julia Roberts , Dermot Mulroney , Cameron Diaz , Rupert Everett , Philip Bosco , M. Emmet Walsh , Rachel Griffiths , Carrie Preston , Susan Sullivan , Christopher Masterson

Runtime

105 Minutes

My Best Friend's Wedding is a classic title in which Diaz stars as Kimmy Wallace, the fiancé of the closest companion to Julia Roberts’ Jules Potter. Unbeknownst to Kimmy, Jules realizes she is in love with her best friend, Dermot Mulroney’s Michael O'Neal, and plans to capture his heart. Kimmy is a fascinating character for Diaz, who is often cast as a romantic lead.

However, her supporting role in My Best Friend's Wedding is what cemented her in the world of Hollywood cinema, and her multiple accolade wins and nominations for Kimmy prove this. While Diaz isn’t supposed to be the main focus, she is still a scene stealer. Kimmy is enthusiastic and rather sweet, which makes her unique in comparison to other rom-com characters who serve as a romantic obstacle.

Kimmy’s most awkward moments allow Diaz to show off her comedic talents, though, such as her painfully tone-deaf performance at the karaoke bar and her final rant at Jules at the climax of the movie. Overall, My Best Friend's Wedding is a prime example of Diaz’s ability to grab the spotlight naturally, even when she isn’t the protagonist.

8 Charlie's Angels (2000)

Role: Natalie Cook

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Charlie's Angels

PG-13

Charlie's Angels is the first movie in the Charlie's Angels franchise that began in 1976. The film was released in 2000 and starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the titular "Charlie's Angels." The film received a sequel in 2003 titled Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Charlie's Angels was a box office success and received mixed to positive reviews upon release.

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Director

McG

Release Date

November 3, 2000

Cast

Drew Barrymore , Cameron Diaz , Lucy Liu , Bill Murray , Sam Rockwell , Kelly Lynch , LL Cool J , Matt LeBlanc , Tim Curry , Crispin Glover , Luke Wilson , Tom Green

Runtime

98 Minutes

Diaz plays Natalie Cook in the Charlie's Angels movies from the 2000s, a continuation of the hit 1970s TV show. She stars in the 2000 title, as well as the 2003 sequel, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, alongside Drew Barrymore as Dylan Sanders and Lucy Liu as Alex Munday. Diaz, Barrymore, and Liu are outstanding as the Angels, and the trio brings the action-packed world of Charlie's Angels to life beautifully. There is a lot of argument about whether Elizabeth Banks’ Charlie’s Angels is better than the 2000 movie, but Natalie as a character cements that Diaz’s version is superior.

While all three of them are prominent figures throughout the film, Natalie’s characterization is the very best. Diaz’s fight scenes in Charlie’s Angels are spectacular, and her wild stunts are incredibly memorable. Natalie is also a complete badass, yet she approaches everything with a bubbly attitude and a solid sense of humor, which proves she is someone who shouldn’t be messed with. Diaz isn’t known for being an action star, but in Charlie’s Angels, it’s easy to forget that she isn’t.

7 The Mask (1994)

Role: Tina Carlyle

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7/10

The Mask

PG-13

Based on the comic series, The Mask is an action-comedy movie that stars Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss, a mild-mannered bank teller with bad luck regarding life and women. However, his fortunes are reversed when he stumbled upon a mythical Mask said to belong to the Norse god of mischief, Loki. When Stanley puts the mask on, he becomes a cartoonish, comedic, and violent troublemaker with powers out of this world.

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Director

Chuck Russell

Release Date

July 29, 1994

Cast

Richard Jeni , Peter Riegert , Peter Greene , Cameron Diaz , Amy Yasbeck , Jim Carrey

Runtime

101 minutes

The Mask is a notable title out of Jim Carrey’s best movies, in which Diaz plays Tina Carlyle, who develops a crush on Jim Carrey’s Stanley Ipkiss despite being in a relationship with Peter Greene’s Dorian Tyrell. The blonde bombshell is a crucial character in The Mask, and she is a very layered character. Lounge singer Tina is full of sass and confidence but also has a sweet side. She even likes Stanley as himself, without the mask. She grabs Stanley’s attention immediately after he spots her for the first time, and Diaz embraces the role of leading lady perfectly.

What’s so interesting about Diaz in The Mask is that she has zero acting experience and is only 21 years old. Her casting in the film is astounding, and her lack of previous performances makes her career breakthrough in The Mask even more impressive. Tina is a great and eye-catching character from her first scene. She is intriguing and addictive to watch, and many of The Mask’s funniest quotes are aimed toward her. Diaz’s interactions with both Carrey and Greene are amazing, too, and she holds her own against two titans of industry.

6 The Holiday (2006)

Role: Amanda Woods

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8/10

The Holiday

pg-13

The Holiday is a 2006 rom-com starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Directed and written by Nancy Meyers, The Holiday tells the story of two women who arrange a home swap to take a break from the stress of their recent breakups. But things take a turn when they both fall in love with local men.

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Director

Nancy Meyers

Release Date

December 14, 2006

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Jude Law , Jack Black , Kate Winslet

Runtime

138 Minutes

The Holiday is one of the best Christmas movies of all time, and a large chunk of the film’s success is because of Diaz. The actress portrays Amanda Woods, a young woman who escapes to the English countryside after she discovers her boyfriend cheating. While she tries to enjoy her heartbreak vacation, Amanda unexpectedly meets and falls for Jude Law’s Graham.

The chemistry between Law and Diaz is absolutely spectacular, and their twist-of-fate love story is even more believable because of their performances. While Jack Black and Kate Winslet’s narrative is good, Diaz’s acting proves that the UK storyline in The Holiday is better.

Amanda’s experiences in England are hilarious and provide some of the funniest moments throughout the film, such as her driving on the wrong side of the road or her drunken dancing. Amongst the laughter, however, the development of her relationship with Graham is captivating and very romantic, which highlights Diaz’s versatility as a dramatic and comedic actress.

5 Shrek (2001)

Role: Princess Fiona

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10

8.4/10

Shrek

PG

Based loosely on the children's book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre (Michael Myers) who sets with his new friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) out to regain his swamp from fairytale characters. Tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in return for the restoration of his solitude, Shrek discovers that he's not the loner he always thought he was, and that looks aren't always everything.

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Director

Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson

Release Date

May 18, 2001

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , John Lithgow

Runtime

90 minutes

One of Diaz’s best-known roles is Princess Fiona in every Shrek movie, the first being the 2001 release, which introduces audiences to the far-from-normal fairytale world. Fiona is also Diaz’s most significant voice acting role, and while she doesn’t get to show off her skills with facial expressions or body language, she is still prominent.

Diaz is a breath of fresh air as Fiona, and the actress does a fabulous job of voicing her, who is vastly different from the average princess. Diaz’s comedic timing is fantastic, and she isn’t afraid to embrace Fiona’s flaws in her performance. She continues to demonstrate this in further installments of the franchise, too.

Fiona’s character consistently grows and improves in every film, and she effortlessly tackles life-changing events like her father’s death and becoming a mother. Diaz is due to reprise her role as Princess Fiona in the upcoming Shrek 5, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 1, 2026, and audiences are excited to see what happens next to her and the titular character.

4 Vanilla Sky (2001)

Role: Julianna "Julie" Gianni

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3/10

Vanilla Sky

Vanilla Sky is a psychological thriller directed by Cameron Crowe, featuring Tom Cruise as a wealthy publishing magnate named David Aames. Released in 2001, the film explores themes of identity, reality, and the consequences of one's actions, intertwined with surreal events. Co-starring Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz, the film is known for its intricate narrative and engaging performances. Vanilla Sky is a remake of the Spanish film "Open Your Eyes."

Director

Cameron Crowe

Release Date

December 14, 2001

Cast

Tom Cruise , Penelope Cruz , Kurt Russell , Jason Lee , Noah Taylor , Cameron Diaz

Runtime

136 Minutes

Diaz only has a small role in Vanilla Sky, but it is still one that keeps the actress at the forefront of viewers' minds. The actress plays Julie Gianni, the lover of Tom Cruise’s David Aames, who is desperate to keep their relationship strong. Vanilla Sky jumps between dreams and reality, and Julie’s jealous rage and car crash are what kick off these events. Even though Diaz isn’t a main character, she still has several major moments. Julie dies twice in Vanilla Sky, once by suicide and again when David suffocates her, and Diaz’s performances in these scenes are stellar.

The most impressive thing about Diaz’s limited role in Vanilla Sky is the award nominations she has for it. It’s initially a surprise that Diaz is a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominee, but upon seeing her performance, it makes a lot of sense. Julie’s intense behavior dominates the screen, which is only possible because of Diaz’s terrifying yet emotional portrayal. Vanilla Sky is a fascinating title in Diaz’s filmography, but it highlights her strengths as an actress and that she is unstoppable in any role, big or small.

3 My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Role: Sara Fitzgerald

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8/10

My Sister's Keeper

PG-13

My Sister's Keeper is a drama film that tells the story of Anna Fitzgerald, a 13-year-old girl who was conceived to be a genetic match to save her older sister Kate, who suffers from leukemia. As Anna begins to question her purpose in life, she decides to file a lawsuit against her parents for the rights to her own body.

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Director

Nick Cassavetes

Release Date

June 26, 2009

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Abigail Breslin , Sofia Vassilieva , Alec Baldwin , Jason Patric

Runtime

109 Minutes

My Sister's Keeper is deeply profound and is a sad movie guaranteed to make anyone cry. Diaz plays Sara Fitzgerald in the film, the mother of Sofia Vassilieva’s Kate, a teenage girl slowly and painfully dying from acute promyelocytic leukemia. Sara is a complicated character who allows Diaz to provide one of her very best performances ever, and the struggles that she faces while trying to keep her family together are astounding. My Sister’s Keeper presents a compelling ethical debate about euthanasia and savior siblings, and Sara’s heartbreaking attempts to keep Kate alive play into this.

Diaz establishes herself as a powerful dramatic actress in My Sister’s Keeper. She is fantastic in the film’s most intense scenes, such as when her youngest daughter, Abigail Breslin’s Anna, hires a lawyer in the hopes of emancipating herself and stopping providing medical assistance to Kate. Sara discovering Kate wants to die is by far the most impactful moment in the movie, and Diaz is often celebrated for her performance in this scene. My Sister's Keeper is a notable title from Diaz’s career because it’s not a rom-com and is very serious, but she still shines.

2 There's Something About Mary (1998)

Role: Mary Jensen

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8.5/10

There's Something About Mary

R

There's Something About Mary is a 1998 romantic comedy directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. The film stars Cameron Diaz as Mary, the object of affection for multiple men, including Ben Stiller's character Ted. The story blends humor and romance as Ted attempts to reconnect with his high school crush, leading to a series of outlandish and comedic events. Matt Dillon also stars as a private investigator entangled in the pursuit.

Director

Peter Farrelly , Bobby Farrelly

Release Date

July 15, 1998

Cast

Cameron Diaz , Matt Dillon , Ben Stiller , Lee Evans , Chris Elliott

Runtime

119 Minutes

Diaz’s first Golden Globe nomination comes from her performance as the titular character in There's Something About Mary. Diaz’s portrayal of Mary Jensen, a young woman who receives a ridiculous amount of attention from four men who simply do not leave her alone, is nothing short of incredible. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Mary, who is merely looking for a nice guy and a calm and stable relationship.

The guys’ constant attempts to win her affection result in some of the cringiest moments from ‘90s comedies, but Mary’s patience and perseverance are admirable. However, Mary has her own awkward moments, too. There's Something About Mary’s famous hair gel scene is brilliantly funny and shows Diaz at her most comical.

Her rapport with Ben Stiller’s Ted Stroehmann is also very strong, and examining Mary through Ted’s love-struck point of view makes Diaz look even better. There's Something About Mary 2 has never happened, sadly, but if there is any character that viewers are hoping to see Diaz bring back to the silver screen, it’s Mary Jensen.

1 Being John Malkovich (1999)

Role: Lotte Schwartz

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Being John Malkovich

R

Being John Malkovich: This film follows the story of an unsuccessful puppeteer named Craig who discovers a portal that leads into the mind of actor John Malkovich. The phenomenon soon entices others to explore the bizarre and controlling world of inhabiting another person's consciousness.

Director

Spike Jonze

Release Date

October 29, 1999

Cast

John Cusack , John Malkovich , Cameron Diaz , Catherine Keener , Mary Kay Place , Orson Bean , Charlie Sheen , Reggie Hayes , W. Earl Brown , Carlos Jacott , Willie Garson , K.K. Dodds , Byrne Piven , Judith Wetzell , Gregory Sporleder , Octavia Spencer , Ned Bellamy , Eric Weinstein , Madison Lanc , Kevin Carroll , Gerald Emerick , Richard Fancy , Patti Tippo , Daniel Hansen , Mariah O'Brien

Runtime

113 minutes

Being John Malkovich is the crown jewel in Cameron Diaz’s filmography. The eerie and mind-bending sci-fi movie is a wild and groundbreaking title in the genre, and Diaz’s performance as Lotte Schwartz attributes this. Lotte is the long-suffering wife of John Cusack’s Craig, and Diaz is completely unrecognizable in this role, both in physical appearance and personality.

Diaz swaps out her usual blonde hair for brown straggly strands, and Lotte’s raw vulnerability is nothing short of perfection. Being John Malkovich is Diaz’s most celebrated movie, earning her two nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs.

However, considering her astonishing performance as the pet-obsessed woman, she is deserving of more. Some of Diaz’s best scenes in Being John Malkovich are when she is consumed by the titular character, which makes her performance doubly layered, as she is playing two people at once. It’s still nonsensical that Cameron Diaz isn’t an Oscar nominee for this film, but it remains her very best piece from across her established career.

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Cameron Diaz