Elisabeth Moss has quickly become one of the most popular and sought-after actresses. Ever since landing her breakout role in Hulu’s hit series The Handmaid’s Tale, Moss has gone on to appear in some of the best movies over the past five years or so. Next up, Moss has a date with The Invisible Man come this Friday, February 28th.
The question is, will the movie ascend to become one of Moss’s 10 best films? It’s a tall order, as Moss’ current top 10 features films with no less than an 81% approval rating from critics. Speaking of, here are Elisabeth Moss’ 10 best movies as according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Light Of My Life (2019): 81%
Moss plays the morbid memory of a mother in the father-daughter road-movie Light of My Life, the 2019 film written and directed by Casey Affleck.
In plot not unlike The Road, a father (Affleck) and daughter (Anna Pniowski) wander the fringes of a disease-ridden dystopian future. As the father scrambles to protect his daughter, their relationship is put to the absolute test. Moss plays Mom, the long-departed mother, the memory of which often provides the will and strength to press on.
The One I Love (2014): 82%
It’s trouble in paradise for Moss and Mark Duplass in The One I Love, the small-scale indie mystery with an increasingly surreal sensibility.
Ethan and Sophie look to enjoy a little R&R during their vacation at a gorgeous retreat. However, a Felliniesque series of strange occurrences ensue, which test the strength of the couple’s tenuous bond. Ted Dansen plays a therapist desperate to mend the rocky relationship, with his real-life wife Mary Steenburgen costarring and their real-life home serving as the setting.
Her Smell (2019): 83%
Moss gives a riveting tour-de-force turn as the ugly, pretty, sexy, self-indulgent mess of a punk rock musician in Her Smell, the third movie she’s made with pal Alex Ross Perry.
The plotless character examination follows Becky Something (Moss), a wayward, drug-addled and self-destructive punk rocker who cannot get out of her own way on the road to middling success. As she tries to get sober, Becky struggles to find the inspiration to continue writing songs that defined her style in the first place.
Listen Up Philip (2014): 85%
Marking her first collaboration with indie auteur Alex Ross Perry, Moss played a pivotal role as the title character’s girlfriend in the well-received Listen Up Philip.
The moving character study focuses on Philip, a rage-fueled novelist awaiting the publication of his second book. When his noisy and polluted environment stifles his creativity, Philip is offered a peaceful place to write by his idol, Ike Zimmerman (Jonathan Pryce). Moss plays Ashley, Philip’s distancing girlfriend who works as a photographer.
The Square (2017): 85%
Moss’s character thinks outside the box in Ruben Ostlund’s The Square, the acclaimed follow-up to his superb dramedy Force Majeure.
The story focuses on a controversial art curator named Christian (Claes Bang), who unveils an experimental new exhibit at his Swedish museum. Centered around altruistic acts of humanism, the exhibit is called into question by Anne (Moss), the museum’s savvy PR agent, who creates a wild new campaign for the project.
The Old Man & The Gun (2018): 93%
As a supporting player in David Lowery’s The Old Man & The Gun, Moss got a front-row seat to one of Robert Redford’s last great performances.
Based on a true story, the film tracks the criminal exploits of Forest Tucker, a bank robber who successfully escaped prison several times in his life. Robbing banks with a great mood and smile on his face, Tucker escaped from San Quentin by making a boat and sailing away from the authorities.
Us (2019): 93%
In Jordan Peele’s highly-anticipated follow-up to his record-shattering horror movie debut Get Out, Moss plays dual roles as Kitty Tyler and her evil doppelganger, Dahlia. How lucky!
The frightening tale begins with an idyllic family vacation at the beach. The Wilsons enjoy a nice day, only to return home at night and find an identical family lurking on their property. Moss plays one-half of the Wilsons’ vacationing friends, who meet their own grisly fate when their evil twins invade their home with bloodshed on their brain.
Queen Of Earth (2015): 94%
In her second time working with writer/director Alex Ross Perry, Moss takes center stage as Catherine, a deeply troubled young woman reeling from the death of her father and the impending end of an intimate relationship.
When longtime besties Catherine (Moss) and Virginia (Katherine Waterston) retreat to the same vacation home from the year prior, they slowly begin to drift apart. Yet, the can’t quite figure out why. As Cat grieves the loss of her father, she begins to erode the loving bond with Virginia and slowly loses her sanity in the process.
Meadowland (2015): 96%
In Reed Morano’s heartrending drama, a couple played by Luke Wilson and Olivia Wilde goes to devastating lengths to find their missing son. Moss lends support as a prominent side character.
When Phil and Sarah stop at a gas station with their son Jesse, the boy suddenly disappears from the bathroom. Philip begins to lose his moral core as a police officer, while Sarah leans into acceptance by helping autistic student she teaches. Moss plays Shannon, a friend of the couple willing to do whatever it takes to offer support.
Shirley (2020): 97%
Moss’s highest-rated movie, according to RT, happens to be one of her most recent.
Directed by Josephine Decker, the film follows Shirley Jackson (Moss), a revered horror novelist who finds inspiration for her new book following the arrival of a strange couple. Shirley and her husband Stanley (Michael Stuhlbarg) invite Fred (Logan Lerman) and Rose (Odessa Young) into their home, only to invite a series of horrific events. Moss is already generating award-worthy buzz for her stellar performance.
