When movie fans think of nostalgic celebrities from their childhood, they can probably rattle off a list of names of childhood actors and adult actors alike. When it comes to an iconic childhood actress that blossomed into an adult actress, Christina Ricci may come to the mind of many. Since the early 1990s, Ricci has been working hard at making a name for herself and while other child actors burn out before their prime, Ricci never did. She's known for some pretty iconic roles and her face is one that people don't forget.
While she's had her share of television show appearances, as well as films, there are some that were more successful than others. This isn't to say her the films that didn't make the rating cut weren't beloved, but some of her films deserve a second round of applause. Hopefully, Christina Ricci will continue to shine on screen, but for now, she's provided her fans some great films to binge or re-watch.
Sleepy Hollow - 69% (1999)
In 1999, the man of macabre, Tim Burton, reinvented the age-old story of Sleepy Hollow. It's a decades-old urban legend that was reimagined in Burton's mind with the help of Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, and Jeffrey Jones. Shot with a very eery tone that only Tim Burton can achieve, Ichabod Crane, played by Depp, is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of decapitations. The alleged culprit? The Headless Horseman himself.
Katrina Van Tassel, played by Ricci, immerses herself in the hunt and becomes quite fond of Ichabod Crane. Secrets once laid to rest are reawakened and terror takes over the town of Sleepy Hollow, as more people end up dead. Among Johnny Depp's record of successful films, Sleepy Hollow remains one of his best.
Mermaids - 74% (1990)
What do movie-goers get when Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, and Christina Ricci star in a film? A fun adventure of a movie called Mermaids. Directed by Richard Benjamin, an unconventional and flamboyant mother named Mrs. Flax, played by Cher, moves her and her daughters to a small town in Massachusetts after a failed relationship in the year 1963, where they find religion, love, and the meaning of family.
Mermaids is a fun family film that shows off Winona and Christina's acting chops from their younger ages. Besides this being Ricci's debut film, Mermaids was a break-out film for Winona and earns a spot as one of her most iconic roles.
Buffalo '66 - 76% (1998)
Christina Ricci has been known to play innocent roles, but she's also known for playing edgier characters, such as Layla in Buffalo '66. Directed by and starring Vincent Gallo, he tells the story of a man named Billy Brown, who was recently released from prison. Billy's first stop is to his dysfunctional parent's home, where he brings along his so-called fiance.
Billy is a little unhinged and unloved, which leads him to kidnapping a young student named Layla and forcing her to pretend she is his girlfriend. While this seems like an evil kidnapping plot, things change between Layla and Billy and the unlikely duo might actually be perfect, after all.
Addams Family Values - 77% (1993)
In the follow-up sequel to The Addams Family, the fabulous and quirky cast is brought back again for Addams Family Values. Christina stars as Wednesday Addams, the mischievous little girl who goes away to summer camp. Once again, Fester Addams, played by Christopher Lloyd, is in trouble with a new love in his life.
Debbie Jellinsky, played by Joan Cusack, is hired by Morticia and Gomez as their new son's nanny and manages to win Fester over, but it's not all roses, as Debbie has devious plans in place once she marries him. The Addams Family Values is a true tale that shows that some sequels can be better than the original. The Addams Family franchise is one of Christopher Lloyd's most recognized films, because of his lovable and odd character of Fester.
The Opposite Of Sex - 80% (1998)
In The Opposite of Sex, Christina Ricci plays 16-year-old DeeDee Truitt, a Lousiana girl who decides to run away from her home and move in with her half-brother, Bill. Bill has a significant other, Matt, to whom DeeDee has an instant attraction.
All seems semi-innocent until DeeDee and Matt start a full-fledged affair and DeeDee ends up pregnant. Could this be Matt's baby, a secret that could implode in this conservative suburban town, or does DeeDee have secrets she's not sharing?
Monster - 81% (2003)
True stories are sometimes the best and when it comes to Monster, this is certainly so. The film is based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach sex worker who becomes a serial killer. Aileen, played by Charlize Theron, has had a hard life and has turned to risky business to earn a living, but when she meets a friend named Selby, played by Christina Ricci, she is determined to get back on the right track.
Things don't end well for Aileen and she is eventually convicted and sentenced to death in 2002. This is a remarkable story of a woman living her life on the edge and proof that people will do anything to live another day. While Ricci is fairly recognizable in the film, Monster depicts Charlize Theron as unrecognizable, showing that makeup can just about do anything.
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract - 83% (2017)
Ricci hasn't just been limited to real-life depictions on screen, she has also worked in animated features. In Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, she plays a teen superhero named Tara Markov, who fights evil in her city with the help of her friends she grew up with.
An ancient evil named Brother Blood has awakened, waiting to wreak havoc on the city. It's up to the Teen Titans to battle this enemy while dealing with internal doubts, deception, and adventure.
The Ice Storm - 85% (1997)
Heading into the holiday season of 1973, the Hood family is your typical dysfunctional family, living an upper-class suburban life. Mr. Hood has a drinking and fidelity problem, Mrs. Hood is sick of Mr. Hood's lies and deceit, Paul Hood goes looking for his dream girl, and Wendy Hood, played by Christina Ricci, decides to explore the neighborhood, looking for some type of thrill.
As the weekend goes on, the area is struck with an ice storm and the family realizes what's important and what will never be the same. Starring Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci, and Toby McGuire, this novel-turned-film shines the light on how the values and social criticism molded a family in the 1970s to fit the part of a community.
The Laramie Project - 92% (2002)
Christina Ricci stars in another film that is based on a true story of murder and a small town's reaction. Playing Romaine Patterson, a friend and activist of a murdered gay student named Matthew Shepard, she imbues her character with plenty of heart and soul. The Laramie Project is the film version of a play that was based on 200-plus interviews that were conducted in Laramie, Wyoming, after Matthew's death.
The TV movie pays tribute to the documentary feature and even has some re-enacted scenes portrayed by its A-list cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Laura Linney, Camryn Manheim, and Christina Ricci.
Bastard Out Of Carolina - 100% (1996)
Bastard Out of Carolina is a film that has Christina Ricci in a pivotal role that received very high reviews when it was released. Directed by actress Angelica Huston, Bastard Out of Carolina tells the story of a mother and daughter who find their lives turned upside down when a new man enters the mother's life.
Poor and struggling, the single mother sees this new man named Glen as her last shot at love, even if it means sacrificing her relationship with her daughter, Bone.