Elizabeth Olsen is what everyone is talking about for her incredible performance on Disney+’s WandaVision. When the Olsen twins were famous in the 2000s, nobody would have imagined they had a sister who would rise to fame and surpass them as adults. However, she is now one of the best actresses in Hollywood. Therefore, TechTrends decided to make a list of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time to honor her outstanding career.
Elizabeth Olsen skyrocketed to fame and star power when she played the role of Wanda Maximoff on WandaVision and acted in many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. However, even before those movies, she was breaking out with amazing performances in almost all the films she acted in. Moreover, she has been in the movie industry for about a decade now. Elizabeth is the Olsen twins’ younger sister, so she was surrounded by cameras at an early age, with the passion still in her. In order to become a great actress, she attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She graduated in 2013 and soon after she got many nominations for her remarkable performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene. Olsen’s work definitely deserves to be revisited and praised. So, without further ado, let’s get to the best must-see Elizabeth Olsen performances.
Best Elizabeth Olsen Movies of All Time
Although she might have taken a back seat when her older sisters became superstars, she is now far more famous than them, with an astonishing resume. She has received a lot of critical acclaims and audience adoration over the last decade. She has become one of the most recognizable actresses for her role as Wanda in the MCU. However, she did manage to work on a variety of other genres and styles, proving her talent and commitment to each of them. Here are the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time, ranked.
15. In Secret 2013
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Director: Charlie Stratton
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Oscar Isaac, Tom Felton, Jessica Lange
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 41%, IMDb 6.1
In Secret is an adaptation of Emile Zola’s novel, with Elizabeth Olsen playing the role of Therese Raquin. She is Camille’s sexually repressed wife and she falls in love with Laurent, played by Oscar Isaac, who is very charming. The movie is set in Paris in the 1860s, with a lot of costume dramas and tales of heated passions, making this one of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time. If you want to see Olsen featuring in a period setting, this is the movie for you. Olsen performs remarkably well in the role of the woman who is tired of her lifeless marriage, holding herself against Jessica Lange, who portrays the role of Therese’s mother-in-law. This is one of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies ever.
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14. Red Lights 2012
- Genre: Thriller/Mystery
- Director: Rodrigo Cortés
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Cillian Murphy, Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 30%, IMDb 6.2
The movie Red Lights was directed by Rodrigo Cortes, the director of Buried, and it is a supernatural thriller. A physicist and a psychology professor, who has a specialty in debunking paranormal phenomena, decides to discredit a renowned psychic who had a dangerous past. Olsen plays alongside amazing cast members such as Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver, and Cillian Murphy, with their displays improving the movie and its lackluster script. Red Lights is yet another one of the best Elizabeth Olsen films of all time.
13. Kill Your Darlings 2013
- Genre: Drama/Romance
- Director: John Krokidas
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Jack Huston, Ben Foster, Michael C. Hall
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 76%, IMDb 6.4
Kill Your Darlings mostly focused on Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan, with Elizabeth Olsen having a supporting role. She played Edie Parker, who was Jack Kerouac’s wife one time, and Jack Huston played his role. Olsen performed the character of an art student and a writer. The movie and the amazing leading actors got nominations for several awards, and Olsen’s performance was incredible with even little material she was given. This was indeed one of the best Elizabeth Olsen films ever that we strongly recommend.
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12. Godzilla 2014
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Director: Gareth Edwards
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Jared Keeso
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 76%, IMDb 6.4
Elizabeth Olsen played alongside her MCU co-star Aaron Taylor Johnson in the movie Godzilla in 2014, playing the roles of a husband and wife who get separated when Godzilla arrives. The film focuses on how human emotions work in crisis rather than just the big animal. It received a lot of critical acclaims with the critics enjoying its approach to Godzilla’s story. However, some thought it was a bit flat. Despite all that, when it came to Olsen’s performance, she never fails to impress. Godzilla is another one of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time.
11. Ingrid Goes West 2017
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Matt Spicer
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Aubrey Plaza, Billy Magnussen, Wyatt Russell, Pom Klementieff
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 85%, IMDb 6.6
Aubrey Plaza plays the role of the titular in Ingrid Goes West, who is a social media stalker obsessed with Olsen’s character Taylor Sloane. Taylor is an influencer on Instagram who answers Ingrid’s comment about her food photo unwisely. What happens is a darkly funny story of a woman insinuating herself in another person’s life and the repercussions are tragic. Both actresses showcased their abilities in this movie that revolves around social media and how obsessed people are with it. Ingrid Goes West is yet another one of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time.
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10. Liberal Arts 2012
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Josh Radnor
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Josh Radnor, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, Zac Efron
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 71%, IMDb 6.7
Liberal Arts stars Elizabeth Olsen and Josh Radnor, who is a man on the lookout for a connection at his alma mater. Finding it in a student, played by Olsen, he goes back to his old professor’s clash to speak. While some critics believed the movie was warm and charming, others thought it was unfocused. However, the good aspects definitely outweighed the negative ones. The college admissions counselor and the theatre student, Radnor, and Olsen, get romantically involved, going through their ups and downs.
9. Kodachrome 2017
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Mark Raso
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 71%, IMDb 7
Like many of Olsen’s movies aside from the Scarlet Witch, Kodachrome is not a blockbuster film, but it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Elizabeth Olsen plays a supporting role when Ed Harris and Jason Sudeikis are the leading characters of the movie. However, it is still one of Elizabeth Olsen’s greatest movie role. Olsen is a nurse and cares about Harris, who is dying and trying to reconnect with his son, played by Sudeikis. Harris earned a lot of praise for his performance in this movie, which was more than his young co-stars.
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8. Martha Marcy May Marlene 2011
- Genre: Thriller/Mystery
- Director: Sean Durkin
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy, Brady Corbet, Julia Garner
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 90%, IMDb 6.8
One of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time, Martha Marcy May Marlene, brought Olsen many nominations at the festival where it was featured. This movie is among the top Olsen movies that do not include the MCU. She plays the role of a former cult manager who tries to escape. However, she goes back to live with her sister but living outside the cult is challenging for her, resulting in many breakdowns for her. The actress showcased a strong emotional range in the movie that was impressive in comparison with her other roles.
7. Avengers: Age of Ultron 2015
- Genre: Action/Sci-fi
- Director: Joss Whedon
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, James Spader, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 76%, IMDb 7.3
Olsen continued her role in the MCU movie in 2015 as Wanda Maximoff, but she started as a villain, keen on getting revenge from Robert Downey Jr.’s Stark and what he did to her country Russia. The second Avengers movie came after the group retrieved Loki’s scepter from a Hydra facility. Then, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner utilize it to complete Ultron global defense program. However, when Ultron understands humans’ wrongdoings, then he turns against them, attacking the Avengers, eliminating Stark’s A.I. J.A.R.V.I.S. So, the Avengers have to put an end to a global extinction with superhuman twins, Pietro, and Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olson, which is her most remarkable and recognizable character. However, as the movie goes along, she realizes her intentions were misguided, becoming an ally to the Avengers. Age of Ultron is also another one of the best Elizabeth Olson movies of all time.
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6. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 2022
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Xochitl Gomez, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 74%, IMDb 7
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the next one on TechTrends’ article of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time. Many MCU fans have keenly anticipated this next Marvel movie. Aside from Benedict Cumberbatch leading the cast as Doctor Strange, the sorcerer Elizabeth Olsen featuring as Scarlet Witch has attracted a lot of attention. Doctor Strange’s reliable friend and new sorcerer supreme Wong, portrayed by Benedict Wong, also appears in the film. Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange are going to team up to encounter many dangers since the multiverse is breaking down. The journey brings them to a new adversary, and it turns out to be Wanda/Scarlet Witch. The Darkhold possesses her as she wishes to be with Billy and Tommy. Therefore, she goes on a killing spree.
5. Wind River 2017
- Genre: Thriller/Mystery
- Director: Taylor Sheridan
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Kelsey Asbille, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 87%, IMDb 7.7
Although the movie Wind River came out in the same year Ingrid Goes West did, it is a very different film. Although the latter was a dark comedy, the former is a murder mystery. However, both movies provided social commentary. Elizabeth Olsen played alongside her MCU co-star Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner. Her character is an FBI agent trying to investigate a Native American woman’s death. The movie was inspired by true stories, earning a lot of praise but many believe more Native Americans should have been cast in the movie. Despite all that, Olsen’s performance was outstanding, making this another one of her greatest movies.
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4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Directors: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Emily VanCamp
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 90%, IMDb 7.8
Many believe that the reason MCU movies are so great is that they are great comedy/action/thriller movies first, and then superhero movies. Therefore, this is also another on the top. Steve Rogers keeps adjusting to the contemporary world when The Winter Soldier arrives. He is a myth, but then Cap’s entire world turns upside down by the chain reaction that starts. Elizabeth Olsen briefly appears for the first time in the MCU with her brother Pietro Maximoff, in a mid-credits scene.
3. Captain America: Civil War 2016
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Directors: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Don Cheadle
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 90%, IMDb 7.8
In Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers, everyone’s favorite superhero team, split up because of a disagreement. There is team Cap, and there is team Iron Man. When these two collide, it becomes one hell of a superhero movie. This is one of the best Marvel movies of all time as it shows the conflict between Iron Man and Captain America, which had been building up. This became Olsen’s second movie, playing the character Wanda Maximoff. It helped her become more than just a misguided character. She had a hard time getting along with her abilities, and felt guilt and remorse for the people who died, but she didn’t wish to be controlled by the government either. She was actually the tipping point of the two sides’ conflict, making this one of the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time.
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2. Avengers: Infinity War 2018
- Genre: Action/Sci-fi
- Directors: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Pratt
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 85%, IMDb 8.4
The Avengers’ struggles with Thanos begin in Avengers: Infinity War. Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, Sider-Man, and some of the Guardians began fighting the Mad Titan on his homeworld. In this movie, Iron Man presented his sleeker and stronger nanotech suit for the first time. All cast members performed amazingly in this movie and that is why Avengers: Infinity War is among the best Elizabeth Olsen movies of all time as she once again appears as Wanda, also known as Scarlet Witch, working with Cap.
With the help of Peter Parker, Iron Man was able to defeat one of the stronger pawns of Thanos, who kidnapped Dr. Strange. Thanos is the Avengers’ most powerful enemy yet, who is on the mission to get all six Infinity Stones. He wants to use it to realize his twisted wish.
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1. Avengers: Endgame 2019
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
- Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Brie Larson, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Pratt
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 94%, IMDb 8.4
The movie Avengers: Endgame starts with Iron Man in space for three weeks after Thanos’ Snap wiped out half the universe’s population. However, Captain Marvel saves them later in the movie. The rest of the Avengers, on the other hand, have to find out a way to bring their lost ones back. In the beginning, Tony Stark was not willing to do anything. However, when he remembered Peter Parker, he decided to help them bring everyone back. Elizabeth Olsen’s best movie appears to be the end of a single franchise and one that she does not appear in as much as the supporters expected. However, her performance in the large battle is breathtaking. She is at the forefront of the female team and this movie sets the stage for her to do greater things later on.