The best and worst films of Reese Witherspoon's career

Best: 'Election' (1999) - This film saw Reese Witherspoon nominated for several major awards including American Comedy Awards for Funniest Actress in a Feature Film, Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress, and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in Comedy or Musical. While she didn't take any home, the nominations effectively announced the arrival of a new star and heralded the beginning of a successful future in cinema.

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Best: 'Election' (1999) - The film garnered a positive reaction from critics, with the Washington Post noting that it was a hilarious portrayal of the politics of high school teaching during school elections, and how it can all go horribly wrong.

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Best: 'Election' (1999) - The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and drew praise from The New York Times, which described it as a dark and intelligent comedy.

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Worst: 'Best Laid Plans' (1999) -

Not the best film associated with the actress, the plot revolves around Kathy (Witherspoon), a young girl who approaches Bryce (Josh Brolin) without knowing his age. The relationship becomes complicated, but the pairing failed to elicit praise from film critics.

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Worst: 'Best Laid Plans' (1999) - Indeed, The Guardian bemoaned the fact that a promising cast and some good performances were completely wasted on the film.

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Worst: 'Little Nicky' (2000) - The actress appeared in this comedy starring Adam Sandler, who plays the devil's son. So bad was the end result that many believed it was literally hell-bent on drawing criticism.

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Worst: 'Little Nicky' (2000) - The Washington Post panned the film as more silly than inventive, with just a sprinkling of slightly amusing jokes but never enough to engage the audience as good comedy should.

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Worst: 'Little Nicky' (2000) - Furthermore, Rolling Stone insisted that despite the attempt to make a successful film based on the profitability of Adam Sandler, all it achieved was to place Sandler in a role of an idiot boy that was always going to prompt a negative response from critics.

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Best: 'Legally Blonde' (2001) -

A defining role for Witherspoon, and the one for which she is best remembered. Her performance garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical Film or Comedy, an MTV Movie & TV Awards nod for Best Female Performance, and a Satellite Awards acknowledgment for Best Actress in a Musical Film or Comedy.

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Best: 'Legally Blonde' (2001) - The film in general divided critics, but Witherspoon's performance was highly praised. TV Guide Magazine, for example, emphasized the fact that the actress, already a versatile performer, endowed her character with beauty and intelligence.

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Best: 'Legally Blonde' (2001) - The Hollywood Reporte r agreed by highlighting that the success of the film was due mostly to Witherspoon's excellent performance.

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Worst: 'Legally Blonde 2' (2003) - At the time of its release, the film's sequel promised a lot, but failed to match the expectations of the first movie. Critics were unimpressed.

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Worst: 'Legally Blonde 2' (2003) - USA Today made a comparison with the first film, noting that while that was fun and inventive, the sequel went in the other direction to come across as a rather more serious effort.

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Worst: 'Legally Blonde 2' (2003) - Christian Science Monitor suggested that while the color pink suited Reese Witherspoon, it was not enough to make 'Legally Blonde' a long-running franchise. Indeed, it signed off its review by discouraging audiences from watching the film.

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Best: 'Walk the Line' (2005) - As if to bounce back from such savage criticism, this film catapulted Witherspoon into the Hollywood stratosphere. Highly praised by movie critics everywhere, the actress collected Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics' Choice Movie awards for her outstanding performance as the long-suffering wife of Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix).

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Best: 'Walk the Line' (2005) -

The Chicago Sun-Times complimented Witherspoon's performance, writing that the film's dramatic momentum was thanks to the actress' brilliant portrayal.

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Best: 'Walk the Line' (2005) - USA Today trumpeted that the film achieved a remarkable crescendo, from simply being attractive to becoming absolutely fascinating.

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Best: 'Water for Elephants' (2011) - Co-starring Robert Pattinson and based on the book of the same name, the film left critics scratching their heads but overall 'Water for Elephants' was well received.

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Best: 'Water for Elephants' (2011) - The Chicago Tribune acknowledged that what could have easily been presented as a lightweight, popcorn munching production in fact matures and takes the audience to quite a satisfactory plane of romantic melodrama.

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Best: 'Water for Elephants' (2011) -

Movieline highlighted the film's premise as a grand and extravagant romance the like of which is rarely seen.

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

On paper, this film appeared a winner, combining two promising elements, action and comedy, and merging them with a strong cast. The plot revolves around two CIA agents who fall in love with the same woman: Witherspoon's character.

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

However, Rolling Stone quickly shot it down, complaining that despite a trio of interesting actors, the three are stuck in a story that lacks humor and atmosphere.

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

The Chicago Sun-Times went further, rubbishing the movie as a stupid and incompetent action comedy: nothing but bad!

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

Based on a true story, the film depicts the saga of refugee brothers who are helped by Carrie Davis, the character played by Witherspoon.

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

The Observer pointed out to its readers that despite her clout, Witherspoon played down her role and was not the centerpiece of the film. Critics subsequently heaped their praise on the story itself, and considered the story of the Sudanese immigrant brothers' plight as unforgettable.

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

The New York Times praised the film for highlighting the complicated issues surrounding refugees and immigration.

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Best: 'Wild' (2014) - Based on the book 'Free – A Woman's Journey to Restart' by Cheryl Strayed, the film saw Witherspoon nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe accolades. The actress came away empty handed, but the film was still critically acclaimed.

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Best: 'Wild' (2014) -

The Observer praised Reese's performance and called 'Wild' one of the best films of the year.

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Best: 'Wild' (2014) -

Entertainment Weekly remarked that from a book contemplative in its narrative and limited with its description of events, a moving and at times pulsating film had been made.

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Best: 'Election' (1999) - The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and drew praise from The New York Times, which described it as a dark and intelligent comedy.

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Worst: 'Best Laid Plans' (1999) -

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Worst: 'Best Laid Plans' (1999) - Indeed, The Guardian bemoaned the fact that a promising cast and some good performances were completely wasted on the film.

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Best: 'Legally Blonde' (2001) -

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Best: 'Legally Blonde' (2001) - The Hollywood Reporte r agreed by highlighting that the success of the film was due mostly to Witherspoon's excellent performance.

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Worst: 'Legally Blonde 2' (2003) - At the time of its release, the film's sequel promised a lot, but failed to match the expectations of the first movie. Critics were unimpressed.

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Best: 'Walk the Line' (2005) -

The Chicago Sun-Times complimented Witherspoon's performance, writing that the film's dramatic momentum was thanks to the actress' brilliant portrayal.

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Best: 'Walk the Line' (2005) - USA Today trumpeted that the film achieved a remarkable crescendo, from simply being attractive to becoming absolutely fascinating.

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Best: 'Water for Elephants' (2011) -

Movieline highlighted the film's premise as a grand and extravagant romance the like of which is rarely seen.

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

However, Rolling Stone quickly shot it down, complaining that despite a trio of interesting actors, the three are stuck in a story that lacks humor and atmosphere.

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Worst: 'This Means War' (2012) -

The Chicago Sun-Times went further, rubbishing the movie as a stupid and incompetent action comedy: nothing but bad!

BrunoPress

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

Based on a true story, the film depicts the saga of refugee brothers who are helped by Carrie Davis, the character played by Witherspoon.

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

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Best: 'The Good Lie' (2014) -

The New York Times praised the film for highlighting the complicated issues surrounding refugees and immigration.

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Best: 'Wild' (2014) -

The Observer praised Reese's performance and called 'Wild' one of the best films of the year.

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Best: 'Wild' (2014) -

Entertainment Weekly remarked that from a book contemplative in its narrative and limited with its description of events, a moving and at times pulsating film had been made.

BrunoPress

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The best and worst films of Reese Witherspoon's career

The actress turns 47 on March 22

22/03/23 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Movies

With Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA accolades (just to name a few awards), Reese Witherspoon's acting ability has never been in doubt. But even Hollywood's brightest and hardest-working film stars sometimes fail to impress hard-to-please movie critics.

Here is a list of some of the best and worst films Reese Witherspoon has appeared in, according to the opinions of those paid to make such claims. Do you agree with their assessments? Browse the gallery and make your own critical appraisal!