What are the best Sigourney Weaver performances of all time?

She redefined what a Hollywood hero could look like — and then spent four decades proving that range was just as powerful as toughness. Which Sigourney Weaver performance stands tallest?

1

Alien (1979)

Weaver iconic Ellen Ripley is one of cinemas most groundbreaking heroines — a fight for survival in deep space that changed action movies forever.

2

Aliens (1986)

Weaver received an Oscar nomination for reprising Ripley in James Camerons action-packed sequel, adding maternal depth to the character.

3

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)

Weaver received an Oscar nomination for her powerful portrayal of primatologist Dian Fossey, who devoted her life to protecting mountain gorillas.

4

Working Girl (1988)

Weaver received an Oscar nomination playing corporate villain Katharine Parker, a scheming boss who steals her secretarys ideas.

5

Ghostbusters (1984)

Weaver plays Dana Barrett, a musician who becomes possessed by a demigod in this beloved supernatural comedy blockbuster.

6

Galaxy Quest (1999)

Weaver parodies her own sci-fi icon status as Gwen DeMarco, a former TV actress whose old show turns out to be real.

7

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Weaver plays a British embassy attache caught in a dangerous romance amid the political upheaval of 1960s Indonesia.

8

The Ice Storm (1997)

Weaver delivers a sharp supporting turn as a suburban Connecticut woman caught in a web of infidelity in Ang Lees period drama.

9

Alien 3 (1992)

Weaver continues Ripleys harrowing saga, stranded on a prison planet in this darker, more nihilistic chapter of the franchise.

10

Avatar (2009)

Weaver plays Dr. Grace Augustine, the passionate botanist and scientist who champions the Navi people in James Camerons epic.

11

Copycat (1995)

Weaver plays an agoraphobic criminal psychologist who must confront her own fears to catch a serial killer mimicking famous murderers.

12

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Weavers late appearance as the Director is a shocking, delightfully meta twist in this horror genre deconstruction.