Last Updated on September 6, 2024
Charlize Theron is not just another pretty face in Hollywood. Her flair for the dramatic has seen this talented actress land top roles in action, fantasy, and true-life movies. We selected the ten most amazing performances that you cannot miss – especially if you are a fan of Charlize Theron!
1. Monster (2003)
Based on a true story, Theron plays Aileen Wuornos, a Florida prostitute who is on the verge of ending her own life. She feels hopeful again after falling in love with a woman called Selby but after Aileen suffers a brutal rape at the hands of one of her clients she kills him in self-defence and decides to look for legitimate work.
But her history as a sex worker closes all doors and Aileen returns to the streets. The movie follows her mental breakdown as she starts to kill and rob her clients and eventually, as she stands trial for her crimes.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
When a war over the last resources leads to the collapse of civilization, the survivors of humanity had to fend for themselves in a desert world. Max Rockatansky is a prisoner of the feared Immortan Joe’s army and inadvertently gets the chance to escape when his captors pursue a new target. Furiosa, one of Joe’s lieutenants, has run away to free her leader’s unwilling wives and to find a beautiful green place she remembers from her childhood.
Max and Furiosa team up to weather epic and violent encounters with their pursuers, treacherous allies, and a risky journey that may or may not lead them to a better world.
3. The Italian Job (2003)
When John Bridger, a professional safecracker, sets his sights on robbing Italian gangsters of $35 million’s worth of gold, he knows that he needs the best team. After a successful heist, John is betrayed by one of his team members, costing him all the bullion and nearly his life.
But John is not about to lose the haul of a lifetime. He returns with a new team to hunt down the traitor and steal the gold for a second time.
4. Young Adult (2011)
Mavis Gary is not in a good place. She is an alcoholic, a struggling ghostwriter and she can see 40 on the horizon. Intensely lonely, she sees it as a sign to get back with her high school boyfriend, Buddy, when he sends her a photo of his newborn daughter.
She returns to her hometown Mercury in Minnesota where she runs into old friends and peers who hated her in school. Despite warnings not to, Mavis pursues the married Buddy with heartbreaking results that also appear with a silver lining.
5. Long Shot (2019)
Charlotte Fields wants to be the president of the United States. As U.S. Secretary of State, she sees her chance to campaign after the running president announces his plans to retire to become a movie star.
But Charlotte has a problem called Fred Flarsky, her speech-writer who is too honest for his own good. As their attraction grows, Charlotte and Fred comically try to keep it under wraps. But before she can make it to the oval office, Charlotte faces blackmail that is both embarrassing and hilarious.
6. Tully (2018)
In this comedy, which takes an unvarnished look at motherhood, Theron plays Marlo who is exhausted from caring for two special needs children and a third, unplanned pregnancy. No longer able to cope, she hires a night nanny called Tully.
Tully proves to be an exceptional nanny and also nudges Marlo’ marriage back on track. The story follows their honest journey to accept that parenthood can be overwhelmingly and to find the strength and love that makes family life so special.
7. Atomic Blonde (2017)
In November 1989, top M16 agent Lorraine Broughton is given an assignment to retrieve a stolen list that contains all the names of every spy working on both sides of the Berlin Wall. The thief is a KGB agent and this plunges Lorraine into a deadly world of violence where nobody is who they seem to be.
But Lorraine also has a secret persona, one that is capable of destroying everyone in her path.
8. The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
Florida defense attorney Kevin Lomax has a bad habit of defending guilty clients and winning their cases. This catches the eye of John Milton, the head of a powerful law firm in New York. When Milton offers Lomax a lucrative job, he accepts.
But as Lomax becomes more involved with the firm, his wife begins to see the true demonic nature of his colleagues and boss. When Lomax doesn’t believe her claims that she was brutally assaulted by Milton, the consequences bring Lomax face to face with Satan.
9. The Cider House Rules (1999)
This story follows the unusual life of Homer Wells who grows up in a Maine orphanage run by a loving, ether-addicted Dr Wilbur Larch. The latter trains Homer to follow in his footsteps as the head of the orphanage and as an illegal abortionist but Homer moves into Cider House, working with other migrant workers in an apple orchard.
His happiness grows as he meets Candy, a vivacious young girl whose sweetheart is fighting in World War II. But when things begin to fall apart, Homer discovers that there are people who need his illegal skills and that his place has always been at the orphanage.
10. Hancock (2008)
Hancock is a superhero living in Los Angeles. Rather, an anti-superhero. He’s constantly drunk, rude and his idea of saving the day often leads to major damage in the city.
When he meets relations expert Ray Embrey, he agrees to let Embrey clear up his public image. But there is something about his PR manager’s wife who holds the key to Hancock’s missing past and the one weakness that can pierce his immortal invincibility.
