The Best Joan Plowright Movies

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Updated September 16, 2023 537 votes 99 voters
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List of the best Joan Plowright movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Joan Plowright's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Joan Plowright movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Joan Plowright movies will be at the top of the list. Joan Plowright has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Joan Plowright movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Joan Plowright films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Joan Plowright role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Joan Plowright performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

Items here include everything from A Pyromaniac's Love Story to The Merchant of Venice.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Joan Plowright movies?" and "What are the greatest Joan Plowright roles of all time?"

Orson Welles and Adam Shankman are among those who have directed Joan Plowright at one point or another during their careers in the film industry.

Most divisive: Dance with Me
Ranked by
  • Tea with Mussolini
    1

    Tea with Mussolini

    Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright
    19 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Franco Zeffirelli
    In 1930s fascist Italy, adolescent Luca (Charlie Lucas) just lost his mother. His father, a callous businessman, sends him to be taken care of by British expatriate Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright). Mary and her cultured friends -- including artist Arabella (Judi Dench), young widow Elsa (Cher) and archaeologist Georgie (Lily Tomlin) -- keep a watchful eye over the boy. But the women's cultivated lives take a dramatic turn when Allied forces declare war on Mussolini.
  • Mrs. Palfrey at the Clarmemont
    2

    Mrs. Palfrey at the Clarmemont

    Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Robert Lang
    26 votes
    • Released: 2005
    • Directed by: Dan Ireland
    After the death of her husband, Mrs. Palfrey (Joan Plowright) moves to London with the hope of gaining her independence and seeing her grandson. While she is staying at a residential hotel for senior citizens, she meets writer Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend) when she trips and falls on the street in front of his home. An unlikely friendship flourishes between them, bolstered by the fact that the residents are under the impression that Ludovic is Mrs. Palfrey's estranged grandson.

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  • Brimstone and Treacle
    3

    Brimstone and Treacle

    Sting, Denholm Elliott, Joan Plowright
    5 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Richard Loncraine
    Brimstone and Treacle is a 1982 film directed by Richard Loncraine.
  • Enchanted April
    4

    Enchanted April

    Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, Alfred Molina
    15 votes
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: Mike Newell
    When married British women Rose Arbuthnot (Miranda Richardson) and Lottie Wilkins (Josie Lawrence) decide to take a break from their respective spouses, they stay at a castle in Italy for a quiet holiday. Joining the ladies is Caroline Dester (Polly Walker), a young socialite, and Mrs. Fisher (Joan Plowright), an older aristocrat. Liberated from their daily routines, the four women ease into life in rural Italy, and each finds herself transformed by the experience.

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  • I Love You to Death
    5

    I Love You to Death

    Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman, Joan Plowright
    15 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
    Joey (Kevin Kline) and his wife, Rosalie (Tracey Ullman), run a pizza joint with the help of Devo (River Phoenix), a spaced-out teenager with the hots for Rosalie. When Rosalie discovers that Joey is having a number of flings, she consults her mother (Joan Plowright). With divorce out of the question due to the couple's Roman Catholicism, murder is the only recourse. Devo helps by recruiting local thugs Harlan (William Hurt) and Marlon (Keanu Reeves), but luck is on the side of oblivious Joey.

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  • 101 Dalmatians
    6

    101 Dalmatians

    Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson
    14 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Stephen Herek
    In the heartwarming family film, 101 Dalmatians, you'll find yourself immersed in a world of canine capers and high-stakes adventure. Roger (Jeff Daniels) and Anita (Joely Richardson), two Londoners, are proud pet parents to Pongo and Perdita, two Dalmatians who become parents themselves to a litter of adorable puppies. However, the joy is short-lived as the villainous Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close), with her insatiable lust for a Dalmatian fur coat, sets her sights on their spotted offspring. The race against time begins when these innocent pups are kidnapped, leading Pongo and Perdita on a daring rescue mission across England. A classic tale of love and bravery that's sure to captivate all age groups with its mix of suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters.

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