The Best Meryl Streep Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 14.9K votes 1.6K voters 88.5K views
Over 1.6K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Meryl Streep Movies
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite Meryl Streep movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

More than 1,600 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best Meryl Streep movies. After all, few actresses have made as indelible a mark on modern cinema as this powerhouse performer. Her career spans over four decades and she's become one of the most decorated actors in history, with three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globe awards, two SAG awards, and more to her name.

The best Meryl Streep movies explore a wide range of characters -- from passionate lawyers and fierce mothers to powerful politicians and delusional divas. There's something for everyone in her vast body of work. Take The Devil Wears Prada for instance; the role allowed Streep to showcase both her formidable dramatic chops and comedic timing all at once. Similarly Out Of Africa saw her deliver an unforgettable performance as Karen Blixen – a Danish woman who moves to Kenya during WWI only to find that life is not what she expected it would be there.

If you're looking for some stellar performances then look no further than this list of Meryl Streep films. So why not take a look through these rankings now? Vote up your favorites.

Most divisive: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
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  • Sophie's Choice
    1

    Sophie's Choice

    Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol
    700 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
    Sophie's Choice is a gripping drama set against the backdrop of post-World War II Brooklyn. The film stars the indomitable Meryl Streep as Sophie, a Polish immigrant with a haunting past, alongside Kevin Kline in his breakout role as Nathan, her mercurial lover. The plot intricately weaves Sophie's harrowing Holocaust experiences with her tempestuous love affair, leading to an unforgettable climax. Directed by Alan J. Pakula, this critically acclaimed movie earned Streep an Academy Award for Best Actress. A masterclass in storytelling and character development, Sophie's Choice is a poignant exploration of survival, guilt, and love.

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  • The Devil Wears Prada
    2

    The Devil Wears Prada

    Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier
    828 votes
    • Released: 2006
    • Directed by: David Frankel
    The Devil Wears Prada, a drama-comedy directed by David Frankel, showcases the fashion world's thrilling yet cutthroat landscape. The film features Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a budding journalist who lands a demanding job as an assistant to the ruthless editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). As Andrea navigates through high-fashion chaos and Miranda's relentless expectations, she wrestles with her identity and integrity. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci co-star, adding depth to this tale of ambition and sacrifice. This Oscar-nominated film offers a peek into the glitz and glamour cloaking the fashion industry's merciless reality.

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  • Kramer vs. Kramer
    3

    Kramer vs. Kramer

    Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry
    551 votes
    • Released: 1979
    • Directed by: Robert Benton
    On the same day Manhattan advertising executive Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) lands the biggest account of his career, he learns that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him and their young son, Billy (Justin Henry). Forced to raise his son alone, Ted loses his job but gains a stronger relationship with the child with the help of another single parent, Margaret (Jane Alexander). When Joanna returns to claim custody of Billy, the ensuing court battle takes a toll on everyone concerned.

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  • Silkwood
    4

    Silkwood

    Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher
    450 votes
    • Released: 1983
    • Directed by: Mike Nichols
    This drama is based on the true story of Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), who works at a nuclear facility, along with her boyfriend, Drew Stephens (Kurt Russell), and their roommate, Dolly Pelliker (Cher). When Karen becomes concerned about safety practices at the plant, she begins raising awareness of violations that could put workers at risk. Intent on continuing her investigation, Karen discovers a suspicious development: She has been exposed to high levels of radiation.
  • The Bridges of Madison County
    5

    The Bridges of Madison County

    Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Annie Corley
    566 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Clint Eastwood
    A moving love story about a photographer on assignment to shoot the historic bridges of Madison County. He meets a housewife, whose husband and children are away on a trip, and the film traces a brief affair that is never sordid but instead one of two soul mates who have met too late.

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  • Out of Africa
    6

    Out of Africa

    Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer
    488 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Sydney Pollack
    In Out of Africa, Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), a Danish baroness, navigates the complexities of life in 20th-century colonial Kenya. She embarks on an ill-fated marriage to Baron Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a womanizing nobleman, but finds solace in her passionate love affair with big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford). The movie, a sweeping romantic drama set against the stunning backdrop of East Africa's landscapes, won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is based on Blixen's autobiographical novel. It explores themes of love, loss and personal transformation amidst cultural clashes and natural beauty.

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