It's been more than two decades now since Jennifer Aniston was on Friends and became a household name by playing Rachel Green. Her popularity has only grown since then, and she remains one of the best-loved actresses in the biz. She's been so well-loved that most people took her side against Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie when Brangelina first became a thing. Despite her personal struggles, she still commands armies of fans around the world and her popularity never seems to stop growing.
She's worked with some of the biggest names around and usually steals the hearts of audiences no matter who she's playing. She may be 54 years old now, but her magnetic aura on-screen and the memorable rom-com roles she's been in over the years have cemented her as the quintessential girl next door. However, with more raunchy roles in recent years, she's also forged a dual identity as a sex symbol too. Seemingly ageless, the talented and beautiful actress has won the admiration of Hollywood and audiences alike to become a very bankable star.
Far from just being a comedic or rom-com actress, she's taken on some diverse roles over the years and shown her range with films like Derailed and Cake under her belt too. Here are her top movies according to their critical ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
20 Management - 47%
A film as quirky as Aniston's co-star Steve Zahn is known to be, Management, was a great little rom-com that starred the pair. It was a sweet and somewhat off-beat tale that saw a man named Mike fall for a woman named Sue. Mike tries the direct approach and sort of throws himself at her, which initially irritates her.
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She stays tolerant of him out of wanting to just be polite but ends up having a fling with him. Despite her not wanting to take things any further, Mike still pursues her. He eventually traces her back home, but complications arise when her ex comes back into the picture. When Sue gets back with her ex, she later realizes that Mike was a great guy. However, things may be too late for them by this point.
19 Picture Perfect - 47%
In Picture Perfect, Aniston plays Kate, a woman working for an ad agency in New York. She's passed over for a promotion because her boss feels she's not stable enough. One of Kate's friends starts a rumor that she's engaged to a man she took a picture with once. This gets her the promotion, but things get sticky later. Her boss wants to meet the man she's supposedly engaged to, which places her in quite a pickle. The ensuing comedy delves into some sweet and romantic subplots that made this another great rom-com for Aniston
18 Bruce Almighty - 48%
The hilarious Bruce Almighty paired Aniston with comedy legend, Jim Carrey. The pair were great together, and the film was a commercial hit, as Carrey's films often are. Playing his wife, Aniston must contend with the fact that her husband's constant complaining and ingratitude leads God (Morgan Freeman) to endow him with divine powers, so he can see how complicated it can be to keep things in balance when you have to look out for all of humanity.
A sidesplitting film, Carrey was at his hysterical best, while the film's standout comedic scene featuring Steve Carell earned his character the lead in the spin-off sequel, Evan Almighty. Aniston was great as a supporting actress and gave the film some great dramatic depth when her husband starts to realize just how much he's been neglecting what's truly important to him while he's been off chasing the life he thought he needed to be happy.
17 We're the Millers - 48%
In another hilarious comedy, We're the Millers saw Aniston playing a grumpy and desperate stripper who has to grudgingly help her pot-dealing neighbor. When her neighbor (Jason Sudeikis) is forced to smuggle a huge amount of marijuana across the Mexican border, he enlists her to play his wife, so they can pretend to be an innocuous family on vacation to avoid customs taking a closer look at their RV.
They also drag in two youngsters, portrayed by Will Poulter and Emma Roberts, to play their kids. With the odd bunch thrust together, what follows is some crazy adventures as they all initially fight but inadvertently grow closer through it all. The film was very popular with audiences and is now known for some iconic scenes such as Poulter singing Waterfalls in a high-pitched voice. As another highlight, Aniston, then 44 years old, got pulses racing when she performed an unexpected strip tease scene that showed she was still more toned than most actresses half her age were.
16 Cake - 49%
In what was one of Aniston's best roles that wasn't a comedy or a romance, Cake saw her take on a very dark role. The film was a drama that delved into some seriously gritty themes as she played the survivor of an accident that killed her son. As if this wasn't heavy enough, the film saw Aniston struggle with depression, become addicted to prescription pills, and gamble with her own life.
Suicidal tendencies, overdoses, and her emotional suffering made this one layered role, with Aniston showing excellent acting depth as she nailed the role. A great film, Cake is definitely not one for fans of Aniston's who like to see her playing fun and happy characters.
15 Dream for an Insomniac - 50%
The first of Aniston's films to crack a 50% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Dream for an Insomniac was another drama from her. However, this time, she only played a supporting role. The film revolved around a woman named Frankie who was played by Ione Skye. Frankie dreams of meeting a man with blue eyes because of her family's café named after Frank Sinatra.
The film is initially in black and white and then switches to color when she meets the man of her dreams. We then see that he does indeed have blue eyes, but the story then runs into some romantic complications. Aniston plays Frankie's friend, Allison, who has some funny moments as she runs a subplot by pretending to be Frankie's cousin's girlfriend since his family won't approve of the fact that he's gay.
14 The Switch - 53%
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman are well known for their friendship off-screen. Their ease with each other also made for some great chemistry on-screen too since the pair have acted together on multiple occasions now. In one of the most successful of their films, The Switch saw them play friends who end up bound together by a drunken act with lifelong consequences.
In the film, Aniston plays a 30-something woman who wants a baby but feels it may take too long to find the right man. Her best friend, played by Bateman, is against the idea. When she decides to do it anyway, in a drunken rebellion against her decision, and due to his nursing feelings for her, Bateman switches her "sample" with his own donation. His action inadvertently makes him the father of her baby and has some dire ramifications for their friendship.
13 The Object of my Affection - 53%
Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd both know each other from their time on Friends. However, before Rudd joined the cast as Phoebe's boyfriend, he and Aniston had already worked together on a romantic film named, The Object of My Affection.
Aniston played a social worker named Nina in the film. While lamenting the fact that her sister always tries to set her up, she meets a man named George at a party. Since George is gay, she feels comfortable with him and later even invites him to be her roommate. However, complications arise when she starts to develop romantic feelings for him. This is only worsened by the fact that George admitted he did once have a girlfriend.
12 Rock Star - 53%
The third of her movies to earn a 53% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Rock Star paired Aniston with Mark Wahlberg. The film was a musical drama with some comedic elements as well. It saw Wahlberg as a heavy metal lover who later manages to forge a career for himself as a rock star.
Aniston plays his girlfriend who has to decide on whether she still wants to be in the relationship when his new-found fame takes him on the road and comes with all the trappings of the infamous rock star lifestyle. A great film, much of the supporting cast were played by actual band members from iconic rock acts like Led Zeppelin.
11 Wanderlust - 59%
In the second film that Aniston starred in with Paul Rudd, this time the pair played an urban married couple named George and Linda in Wanderlust. When their respective career ventures don't pan out, the pair are forced to take a road trip to live with relatives in Atlanta. Along the way, they stumble across a hippie commune and spend some time living with them.
While George isn't as easily convinced, Linda soon takes to the alternative lifestyle and begins enjoying their way of life. Of course, that lifestyle is anything but conventional so a lot of comedic moments ensue, such as the pair becoming the target of another couple who want to have an open relationship with them. A funny and enjoyable film, Wanderlust saw the pair work well together in a way that critics enjoyed more than audiences seemed to.
10 She's the One - 62%
She's the One was an off-beat rom-com that saw Aniston star alongside the likes of Ed Burns and Cameron Diaz. The film mostly revolved around a pair of brothers and made for one convoluted love rectangle between the brothers and their partners.
Funny and romantic at times, it was a good film that fared well with critics. While Aniston wasn't in the lead role this time, she played a great supporting role and the film did well commercially, considering the tiny budget it had to work with. Overall a great film, this one deserves a lot more love since it's often forgotten among Aniston's more notable movies.
9 Marley & Me - 63%
A treat for dog lovers, although ultimately a sad film, saw Aniston join Owen Wilson in the lead for a film that revolved around a family dog. A sweet family film, it covered all the highs and lows of a family owning a pet dog from a pup until his time with them ended.
As dog lovers will know, having a pet pooch usually means having another member of the family. As the adorable Marley showed, they come with responsibility, a lot of ups and downs, but ultimately the kind of joy, love, and memories that can define entire periods of a family's time together. A great film, it did well with critics and, unsurprisingly, was loved by audiences too.
8 Storks - 65%
In the delightful animated film, Storks, Aniston showed off another side to her acting range as she lent her voice to a character named Sarah. The film told the story of storks who were responsible for delivering babies until one of them throws a spanner in the usually well-run operation.
The reason — this stork imprints on a baby girl and tries to keep her for himself. A great film, Aniston was as enamoring in the voice role as she is in all her other films and added to its decent critical rating. She was joined by the voice talents of Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer on the film.
7 Life of Crime - 68%
The 2013 crime comedy, Life of Crime saw Jennifer Aniston play the lead in an enjoyable film that also included the likes of Isla Fisher, Will Forte, and Tim Robbins. Aniston played a socialite in the film, who's kidnapped by a bungling pair of ex-cons. Comedy ensues when her husband refuses to pay the ransom. The couple is on the verge of getting a divorce so this complicates matters and makes for a fun, light-hearted film that most critics praised for its charm and great comedic timing.
6 Horrible Bosses - 69%
In another movie that saw real-life buds Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman star together, Horrible Bosses was a hit with audiences. The raunchy comedy was so popular, it later earned a sequel which was just as funny. It centered on a trio of moronic friends who all hate their bosses and come up with an ill-conceived plan to kill them.
Aniston played one of the horrible bosses of Charlie Day's character. She's a dentist and while he's her loyal, hardworking, and decent dental assistant who's also engaged, she's an intolerable sex addict who constantly throws herself at him in hilarious ways. Another racy role for Aniston, her character was definitely one of the most memorable ones for her sex-crazed antics and the hysterical way she portrayed it. The film, like its sequel featured a stellar ensemble cast that also included Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jason Sudeikis, and one unforgettable cameo from Jamie Foxx.
5 Friends with Money - 72%
It can be rare that critics and audiences unanimously agree on a film and Friends with Money was no exception. It was a great ensemble drama with some dark comedic elements that made for a thought-provoking film. However, it fell flat with audiences despite earning a 72% rating from critics.
Related: The Best Movies Featuring an Ensemble Cast Ranked
Jennifer Aniston played the lead as a woman who is terminally broke. While she takes on odd jobs cleaning homes to make a living, this fact is often lamented by her friends who all seem to be living happier lives since they're all wealthy. However, behind the scenes, most of them face their own emotional troubles that make their lives more unfulfilling at times, while Aniston's character finds rare bits of happiness from the unlikeliest of sources.
Here's a bit of what The New York Times had to say about the film's quiet poignancy.
"As might be expected, "Friends With Money" is about friendship and money and about how having one sometimes, maybe always, interferes with the other. Materialism and its discontents is a favorite American worry, but with its melancholic low-frequency buzz and roster of navel-gazers, this film feels particularly contemporary."
4 Office Space - 80%
In one of Jennifer Aniston's most highly rated films on Rotten Tomatoes, she played the object of an unhappy employee's affections in Office Space. The main protagonist struggles to stand up to his critical girlfriend when he falls for a waitress (Aniston). After attending an event where he is hypnotized into not caring about things, a dark, satirical comedy ensues when the hypnotist dies before snapping him out of this state. The film was a hit with critics and praised for its sharp dialogues and clever witticisms.
3 The Good Girl - 82%
In The Good Girl Aniston again played a slightly off-character role as a woman named Justine who is unhappily married to a pot-smoking man that does very little to ignite any passion inside her. The fact that her husband was played by John C. Reilly made this all the more believable since the comedic actor is great at playing deadpan characters.
On the other hand, the new cashier at the retail store where Justine works is young, handsome, and makes no secret of his desire for her. Somewhat hesitantly, she embarks on an affair with him. As expected, this leads to a lot of complications and the deterioration of her marriage. The Good Girl proved to be another engaging film that showed Aniston in a different role and displayed her great range. The other man was played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who had some great chemistry with her in the film.
2 Dumplin' - 87%
In one of her best films to date, Jennifer Aniston played an ex-beauty queen who is now the mother of a teenage girl named "Will." In the film, Dumplin', Will sees herself as overweight and unattractive, views compounded by her mom's success as a pageant queen and all the time she spends arranging new pageants in town. While the two bicker and fall out constantly, Will decides to audaciously enter the latest beauty pageant being run by her mom.
The film goes through many ups and downs but ultimately makes for a great coming-of-age story and a triumph for anyone struggling with their body image, or the exclusionary world that beauty contests can be. It was nominated for a host of awards, including a Golden Globe, with Aniston and her young co-star, the brilliant Danielle MacDonald, both praised for their stellar performances.
1 The Iron Giant - 93%
With almost universal critical approval on Rotten Tomatoes, The Iron Giant giant leads the way as Jennifer Aniston's highest-rated film on the aggregator site. Another animated film, in this one, Aniston lends her voice to the mother of the lead character, a clever young boy who finds a giant robot that has landed here from space.
The story revolves around the kid and his new buddy, as he and the robot become close and soon form a very tight emotional bond with each other. The film was a hit with audiences too and made for an amazing family film with plenty of sweet and tender moments. Aniston displayed some amazing voice acting again, beating out the likes of Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore to land the role.
