What are the best Angelina Jolie movie performances?

From her Oscar-winning turn in Girl, Interrupted to her iconic action roles as Lara Croft and Salt, Angelina Jolie has carved out one of Hollywood's most diverse and impressive filmographies. Which performance stands above the rest?

Girl, Interrupted

Jolie's Oscar-winning turn as the charismatic, manipulative Lisa in this psychiatric ward drama remains one of Hollywood's most electrifying supporting performances.

1/14

Gia

Jolie earned a Golden Globe and SAG Award for her raw, uninhibited portrayal of doomed supermodel Gia Carangi in this HBO biopic that launched her to stardom.

2/14

Changeling

Directed by Clint Eastwood, this devastating performance as a 1920s mother fighting a corrupt LAPD earned Jolie her first Academy Award Best Actress nomination.

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A Mighty Heart

Jolie delivers a restrained, emotionally wrenching performance as Mariane Pearl desperately searching for her kidnapped journalist husband in Pakistan.

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Maleficent

Jolie's commanding, magnetic embodiment of the iconic Disney villain gives the misunderstood fairy queen genuine depth and makes the film entirely her own.

5/14

Maria

Jolie trained for months in classical voice to portray opera legend Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's intimate biopic, delivering one of the most ambitious performances of her career.

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Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Jolie's sly, effortlessly sexy turn as a secret-agent wife opposite Brad Pitt made this action-comedy a massive hit and showcased her rare gift for comedic timing.

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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Jolie's physical presence and sharp wit made her the definitive Lara Croft, cementing her status as one of Hollywood's premier action stars.

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Salt

Jolie carries this relentless spy thriller almost entirely on her own, proving she could anchor a major franchise as a role originally written for a male lead.

9/14

Wanted

As the enigmatic assassin Fox, Jolie brings a cool, lethal magnetism to this stylized action blockbuster that perfectly suits her screen persona.

10/14

Kung Fu Panda

Jolie's voice work as the fierce, warm-hearted Tigress across the beloved animated franchise demonstrates her range well beyond live-action drama.

11/14

Those Who Wish Me Dead

Jolie returned to action-survival mode as a smokejumper protecting a traumatized boy from assassins, delivering a grounded, physical performance reminiscent of her best work.

12/14

Unbroken

Jolie stepped behind the camera to direct this WWII survival epic about Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini, with her bold directorial choices shaping powerful performances throughout the film.

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Hackers

An early cult favorite featuring a young Jolie brimming with anarchic energy as Kate Libby, hinting at the singular screen presence she would fully unleash within a few years.

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