Though Shailene Woodley is only 28-years-old, she’s already starred in her fair share of TV shows and movies. She first gained attention for starring as Amy Jurgens in the ABC Family drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager from 2008 to 2013 and she later made a name for herself in the Young Adult film scene. Most recently, she starred as Jane Chapman in the HBO series, Big Little Lies.
We’re here to focus on Woodley’s film career now, but rather than picking our favorite movies of hers, we’re letting the fans at IMDb do the work.
The popular movie and TV show website has assigned every one of Woodley’s films a star-rating on a scale of one to ten, based on the votes of registered users. The scores at time-of-publication are what we’ll be using to stack it all up.
Before we get started, it’s also worth noting that we’re only considering films Woodley has had a major role in and won’t be including documentaries or upcoming titles that are yet to receive a public release.
With that out of the way, it’s time to grab some popcorn and head to the big screen. Here are Shailene Woodley’s best movies to date, according to IMDb.
Allegiant (5.7)
Shailene Woodley was the star of the Divergent film series, so of course, she stayed in that role for the third and final film.
The dystopian adventure had Woodley’s Tris escaping the walls of the post-apocalyptic Chicago alongside her boyfriend, Four (Theo James) and other allies. Though they hope to end the battle that’s begun, they end up uncovering new secrets that will have them questioning everything they know and everyone they trust.
The character development and lack of originality of this one had the final sequel film getting canceled, though Woodley’s acting remained strong.
Insurgent (6.2)
Before Allegiant, Tris was on the run from the Erudites inside of Chicago. Together with Four, they work to figure out why their enemies are against them and what secrets have yet to uncover.
Though the story was criticized for feeling like a YA-knockoff, the action, visuals, and Woodley’s acting received praise.
White Bird In A Blizzard (6.4)
Back in 2014, Woodley took on the leading role in an art drama thriller. The film tells of a woman named Kat who tried to deal with the disappearance of her mother Eve in 1988 when she was 17.
To accomplish this narrative, White Bird In A Blizzard features a series of flashbacks and footage from present-day, all of which have Kat trying to figure out who she is, who her mother was, and what became of her. The story was called captivating and surprising by critics.
Adrift (6.6)
This 2018 romantic drama has Shailene Woodley starring alongside Sam Clafin as a couple who set out for a journey through the Pacific Ocean. However, when a hurricane strikes, Clafin’s Richard becomes injured and Woodley’s Tami must find a way to navigate them to safety.
Mixing romantic elements with the stress of survival, the film garnered a lot of attention. Additionally, Woodley once again carried the story with her believability.
Divergent (6.7)
The original 2014 Divergent film establishes the futuristic society that Tris lives in, where everyone is divided into five factions based on a certain trait including selflessness, peacefulness, honesty, intellectuality, and braveness.
Tris ends up tagging along with the brave Dauntless faction, however, she is soon tested by the rigorous training, a blooming romance, and something else that’s kind of big: She doesn’t really belong there.
Though the film wasn’t particularly unique, the action, style, tension, and performances had it remaining entertaining.
The Spectacular Now (7.1)
This coming-of-age story tells of the romance and life issues that two teenagers have to sort out on the edge of senior year.
A popular partier known as Sutter Keely is forced to write an essay on his college application about his biggest hardship. While he at first believes the worst thing that has happened to him is being dumped by his girlfriend, his view on life flips around after a kind girl named Aimee Finecky finds him drunk on the lawn and begins to dig deeper into the reason he’s unable to cope with the future.
Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley take on the lead roles, and thanks to its beautiful sensitivities and emotions, it came out wonderfully.
The Descendents (7.3)
This 2011 comedy-drama, based on the 2007 novel of the same name, tells of a Honolulu-based attorney who has to deal with whether or not he should sell the land owned by his family. As he receives pressures from his relatives, he is soon forced to face other issues including his wife’s boating accident, his young daughter who keeps bullying for attention, and his older daughter who deals with substance abuse.
Though George Clooney starred as the main character, Shailene Woodley played his eldest daughter. The film received a load of praise for being emotional, funny, and real.
Snowden (7.3)
Based on the real-life National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, this film tells of a man who leaves his job after learning that the government is spying on average Americans and not just terrorist groups. This ultimately leads him to leak the practice to the public and has some hailing him as a hero while others criticize his action.
While Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes on the leading role, Shailene Woodley plays a woman whom he meets on a dating website, Lindsay. The film was enjoyed for its brisk pace, strong acting, and captivating story.
The Fault In Our Stars (7.7)
Topping off the list is the love story adapted from John Green’s book of the same name about two teenage cancer patients.
While Hazel is scared to fall for someone, fearful that she might die and leave them, that doesn’t stop the charismatic Gus from trying to gain her attention. It’s not long before the two head off to Amsterdam to meet her favorite author. The couple soon learns, however, that dreams aren’t all they seem and that Hazel’s passing is the least of their worries.
