The Best Susan Sarandon Movies of All Time

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 5.1K votes 803 voters 89.8K views
Over 800 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Susan Sarandon Movies of All Time
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

Over 700 movie fans have come together to cast their votes and shape these rankings of the best Susan Sarandon films. From her breakout role as Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show to her Academy Award-winning performance in Dead Man Walking, Susan Sarandon has had a long and storied career full of iconic roles that deserve to be remembered. Her versatile performances make it hard to pick just one favorite film, and that's precisely why we let you vote up all your favorites.

What can you say about a woman that has been nominated for Best Actress 5 times at the Academy Awards? From lighthearted comedies like Thelma & Louise to darker dramas such as Bull Durham, each of Sarandon’s films offer something unique for viewers. Whether it be watching her chemistry with costars or admiring how she tackles difficult topics, there is always something to admire when watching Sarandon perform her craft.

For those wishing to watch some classic cinema from one of Hollywood's most renowned actors, look no further than this ranking! Other movie fans have voted up their favorites just like you have, which ensures this is the most accurate ranking of Sarandon's films that exists.

Most divisive: Cats & Dogs
Ranked by
  • Thelma & Louise
    1

    Thelma & Louise

    Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel
    309 votes
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: Ridley Scott
    In the engaging road film Thelma & Louise, friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) embark on an impromptu road trip. Their journey spirals into a chaotic flight from law after an unexpected incident, evolving from a simple getaway to a symbol of rebellion against societal norms. Directed by Ridley Scott, this movie is lauded for its strong female leads and won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1992. As the plot unveils, viewers witness the transformation of Thelma and Louise as they navigate through their unforeseen predicament.

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  • The Client
    2

    The Client

    Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Mary-Louise Parker
    235 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Joel Schumacher
    In The Client, an 11-year-old Mark Sway (Brad Renfro) becomes the sole witness to a mob lawyer's suicide - a death that reveals the whereabouts of a murdered senator's body. Mark finds himself under the protection of Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon), a dedicated attorney with a soft spot for lost causes. As they navigate through treacherous legal waters, the duo must outwit both Barry Muldano (Anthony LaPaglia), a dangerous mafia hitman, and Roy Foltrigg (Tommy Lee Jones), an ambitious federal prosecutor. This riveting legal thriller, based on John Grisham's best-selling novel, won Susan Sarandon an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The film weaves together elements of crime, drama, and suspense in a tightly knit narrative that keeps viewers on edge from start to finish.

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  • Dead Man Walking
    3

    Dead Man Walking

    Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky
    221 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Tim Robbins
    As death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) nears his execution date, he calls upon Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) to help him with one last appeal, maintaining that he is innocent of the murders of a young couple. Poncelet begins to form a bond with Prejean, and she visits both his family and the relatives of the victims, hoping to learn more about the case. As things begin to look bleak for Poncelet, Prejean does all that she can to comfort and console the hardened convict.

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  • Bull Durham
    4

    Bull Durham

    Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
    240 votes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: Ron Shelton
    In the sports-comedy Bull Durham, Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) is a seasoned baseball catcher brought in to train hotshot rookie pitcher, Ebby Calvin LaLoosh (Tim Robbins). The duo's dynamic takes an unexpected turn when they both vie for the affections of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), a self-proclaimed baseball groupie. As the love triangle unfolds, so too does the story of life in minor league baseball - a world filled with ambition, disappointment, and the humor that lies within. The film, known for its witty dialogue and realistic portrayal of baseball, was a box-office hit and received critical praise.

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  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show
    5

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
    264 votes
    • Released: 1975
    • Directed by: Jim Sharman
    In the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, newly engaged couple Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) find themselves in a bizarre world after their car breaks down. At the mercy of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), an eccentric transvestite scientist, they witness outlandish events in his gothic mansion. The film, peppered with catchy rock songs and dance numbers, is a wild blend of sci-fi horror and bawdy comedy. Noteworthy for its distinctive style, it's become a staple midnight movie, winning over audiences since 1975.

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  • Stepmom
    6

    Stepmom

    Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris
    205 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    Three years after divorcing Jackie (Susan Sarandon), the mother of his children, Luke Harrison (Ed Harris) decides to take the next step with his significantly younger girlfriend, fashion photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts). But, when the flaky Kelly meets Harrison's children for the first time, their fierce allegiance to their mother is obvious. Try as she might, Kelly fails to endear herself to her young charges -- and to Jackie -- until a looming family crisis changes everything.

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