Last Updated on September 6, 2024
As one of Hollywood’s top female stars, Julia Roberts has certainly earned her place on the red carpet. Mostly known for her romantic roles, Roberts also has a talent for comedy and dramatic roles. We handpicked this amazing actress’s best parts in all these genres so that you can meet her like never before!
1. Mystic Pizza (1988)
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
The story follows two sisters and a fellow worker at Mystic Pizza, a pizzeria in Connecticut. Julia Roberts play Daisy, the fun-loving sister who is often at odds with her sibling Kat, who is working hard to save money to go back to school.
All three girls have romantic problems including getting cold feet before a wedding, having an affair with a married man and a boyfriend who might just be using Daisy just to spite his parents. The movie is kind of a coming of age story where they find their feet as young women in marriage and pinning down their dreams for the future.
2. Pretty Woman (1990)
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Edward Lewis, a ruthless corporate raider, accidentally gets lost in the red light district. Struggling to operate the sports car’s manual transmission, he hires prostitute Vivian Ward to drive him back to his hotel. He impulsively hires her for the night and taken by her personality, he offers her a large sum of money to pretend to be his girlfriend for a week during an upcoming business trip.
But as they spend more time together, they start to fall in love. Standing in the way of their happiness is Edward’s often insensitive approach to things and Vivian’s growing disillusionment of being treated like a hooker and not a woman.
3. Flatliners (1990)
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
When five medical students become curious about what exists after life, they embark on a dangerous experiment. Julia Roberts play Rachel, the only female student and also the last one to subject herself to the test which involves flatlining for a short period of time before being resuscitated by the others.
But by the time her turn comes, the men are experiencing terrible consequences that literally haunt them. They are too late to stop Rachel and must find a way to stop their living nightmare before it permanently kills them.
4. Hook (1991)
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
In this classic and beloved children’s story, Peter Pan has grown up and forgotten all about his magical past. Indeed, he thinks he is a normal husband and father. But when Captain hook kidnaps his two children, the middle-aged Peter now has to go back to Neverland and re-discover the magic that can give him flight and the power to manifest things.
Julia Roberts plays Tinkerbell, Peter’s right-hand fairy, who literally drags him back to Neverland and guides him as he tries to regain his memories and life as the legendary Peter Pan.
5. The Pelican Brief (1993)
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
Law student Darcy Shaw is fascinated by the recent assassination of two Supreme Court justices. She writes a legal brief, outlining her beliefs on why they were murdered and hands the document over to her law professor. But when he is killed in a car bomb meant for Darcy, she realizes that her guesswork was the real story and that someone is now out to silence her.
Darby has to weather frightening attempts on her life, close betrayals, and high-end enemies to reveal the truth to the world.
6. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Lifelong best friends Jules and Michael have a pact – if neither of them is married by the time that they are 28, they will marry each other. But then Michael tells her that he is about to get married to Kimmy, the daughter of a wealthy man. Kimmy even asks Jules to be her maid of honor and while she accepts, Jules is convinced that Michael is her own soulmate and she is determined to break them up.
The comedy-drama follows Jules’attempts to drive a wedge between the couple until she realizes that they are truly in love and that she risks losing Michael’s friendship.
7. Runaway Bride (1999)
IMDB Rating: 5.6/10
After leaving several grooms at the altar, the press dubs Maggie Carpenter the “Runaway Bride.” The story catches the eye of Ike Graham, a columnist who decides to meet her in person and cover the story – especially after he learns that she is about to walk down the aisle again.
Initially, Ike is just there to catch the fourth wedding disaster of Maggie’s life. But as he spends more time with her, Ike realizes that he is falling in love with her. The fourth wedding fiasco leaves them both shattered but also puts Maggie and Ike on a path towards happiness.
8. Erin Brockovich (2000)
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
When Erin Brockovich is hired by lawyer Ed Masry, he has his misgivings. Her confrontational nature had cost him to lose a case in the past but feeling sorry for the unemployed single mother, he gives her a job. Erin is assigned to a real estate case and she is surprised to find medical records among the files.
She learns that the files relate to the Jensen couple, both suffering from tumours and that the Pacific Gas and Electric Company is paying their medical bills. Confused as to why a gas company would do this, Erin learns that PG & E are aware that the town’s water is severely contaminated and that they are responsible.
Based on a true story, it follows Erin’s fight to bring justice to hundreds of poisoned townspeople.
9. America’s Sweethearts (2001)
IMDB Rating: 5.7/10
Kiki (played by Julia Roberts) is the withdrawn sister of one of Hollywood’s most well-known actresses, Gwen Harrison. Gwen and her estranged husband, Eddie, were once known as “America’s Sweethearts” but are now going through a terrible divorce. Desperate to repair her tarnished public image, the vain Gwen agrees to pretend to get back together with her husband for the release of a new film.
The farce works but then starts to fall apart when Gwen’s lover arrives on the scene to fight for her attention and Eddie realizes that he has been in love with Kiki this whole time. The resulting chaos is eagerly followed by the press.
10. Eat Pray Love (2010)
IMDB Rating: 5.8/10
Based on a true story, the film shows Elizabeth Gilbert at a crossroads in her life. She is newly divorced and feeling lost, despite having all the trappings like a great career, friends, and a lovely house.
When Gilbert decides to rediscover herself, she feels that the best way to do so is to travel around the world. Three experiences stuck out and gave the book and film their now-iconic name. In Italy, she learns the joy of good food. In India, she learns the benefits of spirituality and in Indonesia, she finds the love of her life.
11. Ben Is Back (2018)
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
When Holly finds her oldest son, Ben, standing in the driveway, she is glad to have him back from his stint in rehab but is wary that his lifestyle will impact her other kids. However, she gives him a chance and at first, all seems to go well for the family.
But Ben has demons, drug dealers and confessions that all come back to haunt Holly, who is desperate to save her son as things begin to derail.