Angelina Jolie is one of the most recognizable actresses in the world. Throughout her career, she has starred in movies that have gone on to become stellar hits and iconic pieces of cinema. Recently, Jolie has branched out from solely acting in movies.
Over the last decade, Angelina Jolie has not only acted in movies, but she has also started to direct her own projects, as well as increasing her philanthropic work. Despite the fact that she has only starred in 7 movies this decade, she has not been slouching. This article will list Angelina Jolie's best movies of the decade, according to IMDB.
In The Land Of Blood And Honey - 4.5
In the Land of Blood and Honey is Jolie's debut as a feature film director. The movie is set during the bloody Bosnian War and follows two characters who, despite prior connections, end up fighting on opposite sides of the war.
While critics were not thrilled by the movie, they were full of praise for Jolie. Many suggested that, despite the film's clear flaws and issues in the plot, Jolie did a stellar job with what she had. Consequently, she has a very promising career in directing movies.
By The Sea - 5.3
By the Sea stars both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt as a married couple in the 1970s who take a holiday in France. This trip to Europe, coupled with the experiences they have and the people they meet, help to strengthen their marriage.
While the critics praised the performances of both Jolie and Pitt in their respective intense and challenging roles, the film was heavily criticized in a lot of different areas, such as issues with dialogue, bland plot, and forgettable story.
The Tourist - 6.0
Famously, the Tourist did not do very well upon release. Not only did the film fail to make an impression at the box office, but it also failed to impress a majority of critics. While some critics did enjoy the star power of the cast and the overall style of the movie, they were heavily critical of the vast swathes of the movie.
Most critics saw an issue with the chemistry between Jolie and Depp and decried the bland, befuddled, and forgettable plot.
Salt - 6.4
When reviewing Salt many critics agreed on one thing - that Angelina Jolie's performance was the best thing about the film. While the plot was seen as predictable and absurd, many critics argued that it was Jolie that made the film so watchable.
Angelina Jolie plays the title character, Evelyn Salt and it is dramatically clear that Jolie has truly given her all for this role. This film is certainly worth watching purely for this alone.
Maleficient Mistress of Evil - 7.0
The sequel to Maleficent, Mistress of Evil, builds on the original's impressive cast and visuals, successfully expanding the universe and drawing on deeply interesting backstories and law. This made the sequel feel like an organic addition to the franchise, rather than a needless cash grab.
That being said, while the movie was praised by critics for the stellar performances by its all-star cast, the movie was also criticized for issues with its plot. Despite the magical visuals, the film's plot could not find the magic to keep up. Consequently, it feels fairly generic. However, this particular issue does not make it a bad movie.
Maleficient - 7.0
While the sequel led to some mixed reviews from critics, the original was not devoid of similar criticism. Angelina Jolie was praised for her stellar portrayal of the iconic Disney villain, but the rest of the movie could not match this level of quality. Despite the outstanding visuals and performance of Jolie, critics believed that the plot could not keep up with these two amazing qualities.
That being said, the performance of Jolie truly makes this movie worth watching. It is the draw of Jolie, as well as the iconic villain she portrays, that makes this movie so incredibly popular among audiences.
Kung-Fu Panda 3 - 7.1
Despite the sequel curse, the Kung-Fu Panda series successfully managed to maintain its high level of quality throughout the series. Kung-Fu Panda 3 follows Po as he reunites with his long lost father and travels to a new village of pandas. However, an evil villain called Kai begins to defeat kung-fu masters, Po must use his expertise to train the pandas in this village the art of kung-fu.
The movie is stunning and entertaining to watch, perfectly balancing humor and action. In addition, the stunning performances of the voice cast make it an incredibly engrossing watch.
Kung-Fu Panda 2 - 7.2
After the runaway success of the first Kung-Fu Panda movie, many were curious as to whether or not the sequel could live up to the quality of the first movie. It's impossible not to be somewhat skeptical when a sequel is announced, considering how often they turn out to be underwhelming when compared to the original.
While it is true that the sequel did rehash several story elements from the original, the sequel was also a fantastic movie in its own right. The film was praised by critics for its humor, animation style, and voice acting and went on to be a huge success at both the US and international box offices.
First They Killed My Father - 7.2
Angelina Jolie's joint best movie of the decade was another addition from her growing directorial catalog. This biopic film follows a Loung Ung, a Cambodian human rights activist, as she tells her own stories and experiences of growing up under the violent and oppressive rule of the Khmer Rouge.
The film captures the horrific tales of one of the world's most horrific dictatorships with incredible sensitivity, care, and accuracy. It was critically praised by critics for the method in which it dealt with its subject matter, as well as the director qualities of Angelina Jolie.