The Best Oprah Winfrey Movies

Ranker Film
Updated March 2, 2023 885 votes 330 voters 45.5K views
Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Oprah Winfrey Movies
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Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

More than 300 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best movies starring Oprah Winfrey. From her earliest roles in The Color Purple and Native Son, to her iconic performances in Beloved and The Butler, it's clear that Oprah has had a long and illustrious career as an actor.

In addition to being one of television's most beloved personalities, Oprah is also a highly accomplished actress whose work spans multiple genres. Throughout her career she has delivered memorable performances ranging from drama to comedy and everything in between. Her unique blend of charm and charisma make every movie she appears in an instant classic.

Some of our favorite movies starring Oprah include A Wrinkle In Time, Selma, Charlotte's Web and Bee Movie. These films all showcase different aspects of her acting range while highlighting why we love watching her on screen so much. And then there are some older gems like the cult classic Beloved which never cease to amaze us with its powerful storytelling and stellar acting by Ms. Winfrey herself.

No matter what genre you prefer or what your tastes may be – if you're looking for some top notch entertainment featuring one of Hollywood's biggest stars - this list is sure to deliver. So head over now to vote up your favorites – after all who better knows good cinema than 344+ devoted movie fans?

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  • The Color Purple
    1

    The Color Purple

    Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery
    99 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Steven Spielberg
    The Color Purple is a period drama, steeped in the southern atmosphere of rural Georgia. It follows the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), a young African-American woman, from her childhood to adulthood. Born into poverty and subjected to severe abuse, Celie's journey is one of resilience and survival. The film is directed by Steven Spielberg and features an exceptional cast including Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey. This poignant narrative swept the 1986 Academy Awards with eleven nominations, testifying to its cinematic brilliance. Its vivid portrayal of racial and gender issues remains relevant even today.

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  • The Butler
    2

    The Butler

    Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack
    52 votes
    • Released: 2013
    • Directed by: Lee Daniels
    After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.

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  • Charlotte's Web
    3

    Charlotte's Web

    Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, Steve Buscemi
    38 votes
    • Released: 2006
    • Directed by: Gary Winick
    In the heartwarming film Charlotte's Web, a young farm girl named Fern (Dakota Fanning) befriends a runt pig, Wilbur. Voiced by Dominic Scott Kay, Wilbur is destined for slaughter until Charlotte (Julia Roberts), an eloquent spider, weaves words into her web to save him. The movie, adapted from E.B. White's timeless novel, is an enchanting blend of drama and fantasy that showcases the power of friendship and selflessness. Garnering critical acclaim, it brings to life vividly animated characters and a compelling narrative that appeals to both children and adults.

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  • The Women of Brewster Place
    4

    The Women of Brewster Place

    Oprah Winfrey, Robin Givens, Cicely Tyson
    40 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Donna Deitch
    The Women of Brewster Place is an American television miniseries that was broadcast on March 19 and 20, 1989 on ABC. The miniseries is based upon the critically acclaimed 1982 novel of the same name by Gloria Naylor. It was produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions with a teleplay by Karen Hall. The miniseries stars an ensemble cast of African-American actors and actresses such as Cicely Tyson, Oprah Winfrey, Jackée Harry, Robin Givens, Lynn Whitfield, Paula Kelly, Lonette McKee, Paul Winfield, Mary Alice, Olivia Cole, William Allen Young, and a brief early appearance by a young Larenz Tate. The miniseries received such a good reception that it led to a weekly series entitled Brewster Place. However, it was short-lived due to low ratings. It is frequently broadcast on TV One and BET. The show's theme song was performed by American R&B singer Vesta Williams, who performed both the opening and closing credits.
  • Bee Movie
    5

    Bee Movie

    Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick
    57 votes
    • Released: 2007
    • Directed by: Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner
    In the animated film Bee Movie, Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) is not your average honeybee. Fresh out of college, he's disillusioned with the prospect of having only one career choice‚ honey. During a trip outside the hive, Barry's life takes an exciting turn when he breaks bee law and talks to a human, florist Vanessa Bloome (Renée Zellweger). As their unique friendship blossoms, Barry discovers that humans are mass consumers of honey, leading him to sue them for theft. The movie weaves in comedic elements, making it a light-hearted critique of human exploitation of natural resources.

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  • Beloved
    6

    Beloved

    Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton
    67 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Jonathan Demme
    In 1873 Ohio, Sethe (Oprah Winfrey) is a mother of three haunted by her horrific slavery past and her desperate actions for freedom. As a result, Sethe's home is haunted by a furious poltergeist, which drives away her two sons. Sethe and her daughter (Kimberly Elise) endure living with the spirit for 10 more years, until an old friend, Paul D. Garner (Danny Glover), arrives to run it out. After Garner moves in, a strange woman named Beloved (Thandie Newton) enters their lives, causing turmoil.

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