Jamie Lee Curtis’ Ten Best Movies

Curtis made her big screen debut at just 19 years of age in the 1978 horror classic Halloween. In the film, she plays the high school student and babysitter Laurie Strode. This character is stalked by the terrifying killer Michael Meyers.

The movie was a massive hit. Made in just 20 days on a $300,000 budget, the film garnered a whopping $47 million at the box office. In 2024, that would be the equivalent of over $232 million.

Halloween made Curtis a household name overnight. She would go on to reprise the role of Laurie in six sequels, most recently in 2022’s Halloween Ends.

Halloween made Curtis and instant scream queen, and Prom Night was her next venture in the horror genre.

The movie tells the story of a masked killer stalking four teenagers at a high school prom. It quickly is revealed that the teens were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years before.

Curtis portrays Kimberly Hammond, who is one of the four teens. While not as beloved as Halloween, Prom Night is still a cult classic horror film. As a slasher movie, it still holds up to this day!

This film was Curtis’ effort to break away from her “scream queen” label.

The movie tells the story of a snobby investor (Dan Ackroyd) and a streetwise con artist (Eddie Murphy) who find their positions reversed due to a bet by two uncaring millionaires.

Curtis portrayed a sex worker named Ophelia, who assists the investor as he tries to navigate his newfound position.

Trading Places was lauded by critics, with many praising it as an incredible piece of social satire. Curtis herself earned rave reviews for her work. She even won the BAFTA, which is the British version of the Oscars, for Best Supporting Actress.

By the late 1980s, Curtis was considered an A-list Hollywood star. Some of her best work came when she portrayed the title character of Wanda in A Fish Called Wanda.

The movie is about four different people teaming up to carry out a jewel heist in London. They then try to double cross one another in the hopes of taking the loot for themselves. Things only get more complicated when they have to fool a barrister who is extremely proper.

Curtis plays one of the four leading characters, and her performance was a hit with critics. She was nominated for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her work in the film.

My Girl is a 1990s classic, and Curtis plays a big role in why this film is so beloved.

Curtis plays Shelly, a makeup artist who is hired to work at a funeral home owned by Harry Sultenfuss (Dan Ackroyd).

The two fall in love, much to the dismay of Harry’s daughter Vada (Anna Chlumsky), who does everything in her power to break them up.

One again, Curtis brings her unique charm to the role. She brings Shelly to life like few other actresses would be able to do. Be sure to have some tissues handy before you watch this one!

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For many years, True Lies was Curtis’ most critically acclaimed film.

The movie was directed by James Cameron and starred Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s about a secret agent who finds out his wife may be having an affair with a used car salesman. Meanwhile, he must stop terrorists from smuggling nuclear warheads into the United States.

Needless to say, chaos quickly ensues, and Curtis’ portrayal of the wife Helen has to be seen to be believed. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her work in this movie. She was also nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Though Curtis undoubtedly narrowly missed out on an Oscar nomination for this movie, it’s still a highlight of her career!

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After experiencing a bit of a lull in her career after True Lies, this remake of the 1976 Jodie Foster classic marked Curtis’ return to being a critical darling.

The movie tells the story of a mother and daughter, played by Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, who switch bodies thanks to a curse. Hijinks ensue as the pair must learn to quite literally walk in the other’s shoes on one very freaky Friday.

Curtis’ performance in this Disney flick is so hilarious that she earned herself another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Fans of Freaky Friday will be pleased to learn that both Curtis and Lohan have signed on to star in a sequel that is currently in the works!

After spending much of the 2000s working in various television roles, Curtis returned to the franchise that started it all with the 2018 version of Halloween.

Curtis reprises her iconic character of Laurie Strode, who must once again confront her longtime foe Michael Myers.

“In this movie, 40 years later, we find really what happens when someone suffers a trauma when they’re 17 years old, and doesn’t get any help,” Curtis told NPR.

This movie revitalized Curtis’ film career and led to some of the best roles that she would ever have.

This mystery movie features Daniel Craig playing a detective who is investigating the death of the patriarch of a family that is both eccentric and combative.

Curtis plays Linda Drysdale, a real estate developer who is the oldest daughter of the victim. Curtis is one of the most memorable members of the ensemble. The cast also includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Toni Collette, and Christopher Plummer.

Though this movie is a murder mystery, there are also comedic aspects of it, and Curtis has the chance to show off her fun side.

If you’re a fan of mysteries, be sure to check out this movie. You will not be disappointed!

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After decades of working in movies, Curtis finally won an Oscar last year for her supporting turn in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The movie tells the story of a Chinese immigrant (Michelle Yeoh) who is swept into a crazy adventure in which she must explore other universes and connect with the lives she could have led in order to save existence.

Curtis plays Deirdre Beaubeirdre, an IRS tax inspector who has won the title of “Auditor of the Month” multiple times. She also is tasked with playing Deirdre in other universes. The character is seen as the antagonist to the main character played by Yeoh.

The film won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Curtis was one of three cast-members to be recognized for her work. As she took the stage to accept her well-earned award, Curtis could not help but become emotional. She must have been thinking back to all the incredible film roles that she played over the years!