Reese Witherspoon Movies List: Top 5 Best

Reese Witherspoon is one of the best and most commercially successful film actresses in recent years.  The Reese Witherspoon movies list includes a number of very memorable films that often achieved significant results at the box office.  Witherspoon has appeared in a variety of film genres including drama, action, and suspense, though many of the best Reese Witherspoon movies fall in the comedy and romantic comedy genres.

Witherspoon began acting prominently in films in the early 1990s as a teen, though arguably her major breakout was as the rebellious teen (though 20 at the time) Nicole, who got into trouble after falling for a street punk with a hard edge (Mark Wahlberg).  Over the course of time, Witherspoon’s roles have grown bigger and more complex.

In order to be considered among the best Reese Witherspoon movies of all time and included in this look at the top 5 Reese Witherspoon films list, each movie must have been of top quality, Witherspoon must have played a prominent role, it must have been critically or commercially successful (or received significant fan following), be iconic or have a lasting impact, and must meet expectations based on author preference.

Top 5 Best Reese Witherspoon Movies List

5. Legally Blonde (2001) – Perhaps the most polarizing of the top Reese Witherspoon movies, Legally Blonde scores points because Elle Woods (Witherspoon) is easily recognized as the character most identified with Witherspoon.  A young, enthusiastic and overly fashionable young woman turns to the legal profession being rejected by a boy in this romantic comedy.

4. Fear (1996) – Nicole Walker was the beautiful young character that made Reese Witherspoon an instant hit with the young male crowd.  Fear is a very intense thriller with a very scary Marky Mark (Wahlberg) in the lead. It also set her up for an ever evolving deluge of acting gigs that helped her build the very accomplished list of Reese Witherspoon movies.

3. Walk the Line (2005) – A demonstration of the more mature young actress she has become, Witherspoon stars as June Carter, the singer who fell in love with Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) and eventually formed one of the most legendary music couples of all time.

2. Cruel Intentions (1999) – Serious points for this one because of the greatness of the remake of the Glenn Close classic Dangerous Liasons (both based on the book).  Witherspoon shared the spotlight with then-husband Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar but you had to fall in love with Witherspoon’s very gentle and kind-hearted character who falls for the bad guy who takes advantage of her and then falls for her tool.

1. Election (1999) – Who could forget the high strung type A personality of Tracy Flick, the student body president who brought down the most popular teacher in the high school (Matthew Broderick) in this very clever comedy.

Other movies considered for the best Reese Witherspoon films list: Pleasantville (1998), Best Laid Plans (1999), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Four Christmases (2008)

What do you think about this top 5 Reese Witherspoon movies list?  Do you agree or disagree with the selections for the top Reese Witherspoon films?  Feel free to add a comment indicating which Witherspoon movies you feel are missing, which are overrated, and which are underrated.

Top 5 Best Reese Witherspoon Movies List by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

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