English actress Kate Winslet has had a long history with Hollywood. After breaking into the forefront of films in the mid-90s, she quickly became a household name by taking on historical, dramatic, and comedic roles. Being that she will appear in The French Dispatch in 2020 and The Avatar sequel in 2021, we thought it was time to look at her best movies to date. Rather than picking our own favorites, however, we’re using the ranking system on IMDb to stack up her best.
The popular movie and TV show website has assigned every one of Winslet’s projects a star rating on a scale of 1 to 10. These scores are based on the votes of site users, so it’s closer to an audience rating than a critic one. We’ll be using them to get a glimpse at what fans really think.
With that said, it’s time to head to the theaters for a trip through Winslet’s best; Here are her greatest films to date, according to IMDb.
Quills (7.3)
Winslet has a long history of performing in period dramas. One of her many talked-about films that falls into this genre is Quills.
This 2000s movie re-imagines Marquis de Sade’s time in the Charenton insane asylum. The Frenchman becomes companions with the director there while also sharing in a secret romance with the laundress Mandy.
While Geoffery Rush starred, Winslet acted as his love interest. Though some critics found the film to be over-the-top, others believed it was thought-provoking and stylish.
Revolutionary Road (7.3)
Two decades after Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kathy Bates starred in Titanic (more on that later), the trio reunited for a 2008 romantic drama about a ’50s couple that hopes to escape the burden of domestic life.
The believable character, natural feel, and undeniable chemistry between the leads left viewers impressed. The film even snuck its way onto some critics’ end-of-year top-10 lists.
Little Children (7.5)
Though this 2006 drama flopped at the box office, viewers had many good things to say about it.
Based on the book of the same name by Tom Perrotta, Little Children tells of a smart housewife who engages in an affair with a stay-at-home dad she meets one day at the playground. The pair starts to question what it is they really want in life.
Winslet, who played the leading lady, ultimately earned a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards for her performance. Patrick Wilson co-starred.
The Life Of David Gale (7.6)
This 2003 drama follows a college professor against capital punishment who soon finds himself on death row for murdering a colleague. He agrees to chat with journalist Bitsey Bloom just three days before his end.
Though the film was disliked by critics, who thought the message came off preachy, general audience members still enjoyed the story. Winslet’s convincing performance as Bitsey definitely helped.
The Reader (7.6)
The Reader, based on Bernhard Schlink’s novel of the same name, tells of a German lawyer who learns that an older woman he once had an affair with, Hanna, is involved in a war crimes trial related to actions she took at a concentration camp.
While Ralph Fiennes and David Kross play the older and younger versions of the lawyer, Kate Winslet stars as Hanna throughout. Though not every critic was convinced that the story held up, every viewer was impressed by Winslet’s remarkable portrayal. This had her earning the Best Actress award at The Oscars.
Sense And Sensibility (7.6)
Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility was adapted into a period drama in 1995. It saw Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet taking on the roles of Elinor Dashwood and her little sister Marianne, respectively.
The story has the Dashwood girls’ wealthy lifestyle turning into one of destitution due to circumstances outside of their control. Because of this, they are forced to seek out men to marry.
Critics felt that the film expertly handled the source material, adding humor and life to its big screen adaption. Though Winslet didn’t bring home an Oscar, she did receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.
Hamlet (7.7)
The over 4-hour movie adaption of Hamlet tells of the titular 19th-century prince, who attempts to get revenge on the man who killed his father.
The 1996 drama had Kate Winslet taking on the role of Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius who is driven insane by her love for the titular character. Another tragic event that occurs only makes her life worse.
Though the movie flopped at the box office, it received much critical acclaim. It brought the realness of the source material to life.
Finding Neverland (7.7)
Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet lead this 2004 historical fantasy drama about playwright J.M. Barrie, who turns his friendship with a family into the magical story of Peter Pan.
Winslet plays the mother of the family, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. She is widowed and struggling, being that she is forced to raise four young sons and push through a pressing illness.
The film’s nostalgic feel and real emotions enchanted viewers.
Titanic (7.8)
The epic romance known as Titanic sailed into theaters in 1997. Starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, the film told of a rich 17-year-old girl and penniless artist who fall for each other on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. However, after disaster strikes, the pair is forced to fight against the odds to keep their romance afloat.
The film remains the highest-grossing romance of all time, additionally sweeping up 11 Academy Awards including that of Best Picture. Winslet received a nomination for Best Actress at the ceremony.
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (8.3)
Topping off the list as Winslet’s highest-rated film to date is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Starring Jim Carrey across from Winslet, this romantic sci-fi tragicomedy tells of a couple that decides to undergo a procedure that is designed to wipe their memories of each other after a painful breakup. However, after running into each other on a Long Island Rail Road train, the two are forced to re-confront the past.
The 2004 film had Kate Winslet earning a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards. The imaginative feel and real emotions of the movie secured Eternal Sunshine as a favorite of many.
