The 15 best Jessica Chastain movies and TV shows, ranked
1.Zero Dark Thirty (2012) — Chastain’s role as CIA intelligence analyst Maya, who is central to the hunt for Osama bin Laden, earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
2.Molly’s Game (2017) — Delving into the world of high-stakes poker, Chastain shines as Molly Bloom, a former skier who runs the world’s most exclusive poker game.
3.The Help (2011) — In this touching drama about the Civil Rights movement, Chastain portrays Celia Foote, an ostracized housewife, with heart and depth.
4.Interstellar (2014) — In Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic, she plays Murph Cooper, a scientist who plays a crucial role in humanity’s survival and provides an emotional anchor for the film.
5.A Most Violent Year (2014) — As Anna Morales, she gives a steely performance as the ambitious wife of an oil company owner trying to capitalize on the American Dream amidst violence and corruption.
6.Miss Sloane (2016) — Chastain is at her formidable best as Elizabeth Sloane, a ruthless lobbyist taking on the gun industry in this intense political thriller.
7.The Tree of Life (2011) — In Terrence Malick’s philosophical drama, she plays the gentle and nurturing mother figure that contrasts with Brad Pitt’s stern father character.
8.Take Shelter (2011) — As Samantha LaForche, Chastain captures the emotional turmoil of a woman whose husband is plagued by apocalyptic visions.
9.Crimson Peak (2015) — This visually stunning gothic romance features Chastain in a creepy and captivating role that showcases her versatility.
10.The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2013/14) — Portraying one-half of a couple coping with tragedy in this unique two-part film narrative (“Her” and “Him”), Chastain’s performance is deeply nuanced.
11.Jolene (2008) — This early role has Chastain in the title role of an orphaned teenager who encounters various troubled relationships on her journey through life.
12.Lawless (2012)— Set during Prohibition-era Virginia, Chastain’s character Maggie Beauford brings grace to this brutal world of bootlegging brothers.
13.The Debt (2010)— She plays young Rachel Singer, a Mossad agent in this thriller that spans two time periods involving a mission to capture a Nazi war criminal.
14.The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)— As Antonina Żabińska, Chastain gives another historically inspired performance portraying the keeper of Warsaw Zoo who saved hundreds during WWII.
15.Scenes from a Marriage (2021)— In this TV miniseries adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s classic, Chastain delves into the disintegration of a marriage alongside co-star Oscar Isaac with devastating authenticity.
Chastain’s career is marked by strong performances across genres ranging from intimate dramas to large-scale blockbusters, earning her both critical acclaim and widespread admiration from audiences around the world.