Getting nominated for an Academy Award when you're just a child is difficult enough but it becomes even more special when it happens in your feature film debut. That's exactly what Hailee Steinfeld pulled off in 2010 when she shined alongside some acting greats and her career has only blossomed from there.
Nearly everything that Steinfeld has appeared in has been critically-acclaimed, as have her performances. She is fantastic on TV in some of the best recent shows like Dickinson and Arcane, but between superhero fare, teen comedies, westerns, miniseries, and more, her roles on Letterboxd truly showcase her impressive talents.
10,000 Saints (2015) - 2.84
Stream On Tubi, Crackle, & Vudu
After her breakout performance in 2010, Hailee Steinfeld moved on to appear in a handful of indie films. Even when they weren't met with widespread acclaim, her acting skills were clear, which is the case with 10,000 Saints.
Set in New York during the '80s, the film follows Jude (played by Asa Butterfield), a teen who forms a bond with his dad's girlfriend's daughter Eliza (Hailee Steinfeld) after she becomes pregnant by his best friend (who dies the night of conception). The performances were praised and Steinfeld and Butterfield had great chemistry, established in the prior year's Ender's Game.
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) - 2.85
Rent On Apple TV
The first Pitch Perfect movie proved to be a smash hit that kind of took the world by storm. 2015's sequel delivered more of the same but added a handful of fun aspects, including a new member of the Barden Bellas, Emily Junk, played by Steinfeld.
Steinfeld was fantastic as the legacy Bella who wanted to branch out into making original music instead of just doing covers. It also allowed her to show off her tremendous singing voice, which she has also displayed in her music career. Steinfeld reprised the role in Pitch Perfect 3, though that wasn't as well received.
The Keeping Room (2014) - 3.13
Stream On Hulu, AMC+, & The Roku Channel
They might not be her most popular genre of movies but Hailee Steinfeld has appeared in more westerns than most people realized. One of them was The Keeping Room, a film that flew under the radar even after it arrived on Netflix two years after a small run in theaters.
The story picks up when Augusta (Brit Marling) escapes an assault from several soldiers and bands together with her sister Louise (Steinfeld) and their slave Mad (Muna Otaru) to fight back against the men when they return for revenge. Though not a hit, critics appreciated the acting and the setting.
Bumblebee (2018) - 3.23
Stream On Paramount+
By the time 2018 rolled around, calling the Transformers franchise a critical flop would be an understatement. Though the movies made billions of dollars, reviews were mostly negative. Thankfully, a soft reboot ended up being the answer to the series' problems.
Taking things back to the late '80s, Bumblebee focuses on the titular Autobot and the relationship that he forges with a young girl (Steinfeld) dealing with the loss of her father. The film was heavily praised for being fun and having more heart than the other entries, with Steinfeld earning a Saturn Award nomination.
The Homesman (2014) - 3.30
Stream On Tubi, Vudu, IMDb TV, & The Roku Channel
The Keeping Room wasn't the only western that Hailee Steinfeld starred in during 2014. She also appeared in The Homesman, though it should be noted that she's not among the main characters. They are played by Hilary Swank, Tommy Lee Jones, and Meryl Streep.
The film is about a group of women who are driven mad by a harsh pioneer, so they travel across the country to get free. Steinfeld has a small role as a young maid named Tabitha, though this is still one of the stronger films she has appeared in.
Begin Again (2013) - 3.56
Stream On Netflix
Following her stellar feature film debut, Hailee Steinfeld didn't really appear in another for a couple of years. That changed in 2013 when she showed up in a key supporting role in Begin Again alongside Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley.
Begin Again is about an aspiring musician (Knightley) who collaborates with a struggling record executive (Ruffalo) to kickstart her career. Steinfeld portrays Ruffalo's daughter Violet, who mends their relationship through music. The film was met with widespread acclaim and scored an Oscar nomination.
The Edge Of Seventeen (2016) - 3.61
Stream On Netflix
It doesn't get discussed enough but this past decade was one of the best times for female-driven coming-of-age films. From Lady Bird to Booksmart, there are some modern classics but it could be argued that The Edge of Seventeen is actually the best of them all.
Hailee Steinfeld stars as Nadine Franklin in a Golden Globe-nominated turn. Struggling after the death of her dad, Nadine has a falling out with her best friend after she begins dating her older brother. It sends her down a rough path that she must dig herself out of with the unexpected help of her teacher.
Hawkeye (2021) - 3.63
Stream On Disney+
Letterboxd is mostly focused on movies but there are also plenty of miniseries available as well. That made it so most of the MCU shows on Disney+ are available on the site, including Hawkeye, which marked Hailee Steinfeld's entry into the franchise.
She plays Kate Bishop, an archer who becomes the unlikely protégé of the Avenger Hawkeye. Like most other MCU shows so far, many feel it didn't stick the landing but the performance of Steinfeld as Bishop was lauded by nearly everyone, as was her chemistry with Jeremy Renner and Florence Pugh. Fans everywhere can't wait for more from Bishop.
True Grit (2010) - 3.73
Stream On Netflix & Max Go
As noted, Hailee Steinfeld began her career with an Academy Award nomination as just a teenager. She masterfully played Mattie, a girl who hires a Deputy Marshal to hunt down the man who killed her father in The Coen Brothers' adaptation of True Grit.
Although she has new to this world, Steinfeld more than held her own next to screen veterans like Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, and Matt Damon, often stealing every scene. She may not have won the Oscars but True Grit was Steinfeld's way of announcing herself to Hollywood with a bang.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) - 4.44
Rent On Vudu
The best movie in Hailee Steinfeld's filmography sees her lend her voice to a role. She plays Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Many consider it the best film about the Marvel hero ever released.
The story of Miles Morales gaining superpowers and getting help from various Spider-People from other universes was a hit. It won Best Animated Feature at both the Oscars and Golden Globes for everything from the visual style to the voice acting. Steinfeld will reprise the role in the sequels and is apparently getting a spin-off centered on her character.