Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most popular movie stars in the world right now. Her down-to-earth and relatable personality make her extremely likable, but it is her incredible talents that have made her such a success in this business. In a relatively short career so far, Lawrence has amassed a stunning filmography of excellent performances and created some roles that will be remembered for many years to come.
Lawrence has tremendous range as an actor, playing a great variety of roles. While she isn't afraid to show off her vulnerable side, Lawrence is most entertaining when she is showing what a badass she can be onscreen. Whether it's in action films or quieter dramas, she has a talent for playing strong characters who never give up. Here are the most badass Jennifer Lawrence roles, ranked.
Passengers - Aurora Lane
The pairing of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt seems like a match made in movie heaven. However, even their collective charm can't save this flawed sci-fi romance. Set on a luxury transport space vessel, Pratt plays a man who is woken from hibernation decades too early. Faced with dying alone on the empty ship, he decides to wake another passenger, played by Lawrence.
The interesting premise is ruined by the awkward tone of the film. The film tries to make Pratt a likable character despite his extremely creepy actions. It would have been better served focusing more on Lawrence's character as her struggle and resilience in the face of her new situation is much more compelling.
Joy - Joy Mangano
Jennifer Lawrence and David O'Russell have created a fairly successful film partnership together. While their collaborations have often resulted in interesting and entertaining projects (more on them to come), Joy was a rare misfire for the duo. The biographical film centers on Joy Mangano, a self-made millionaire who became the matriarch of a business empire.
The movie suffers from an uneven script but Lawrence's performance makes it worth a watch. Her ability to sell Joy's determination to rise out of her modest beginnings and reach those impossible heights is the best part of the film.
American Hustle - Rosalyn Rosenfeld
American Hustle is another collaboration with David O'Russell, but a much more energetic and interesting film than Joy. The film is a 70s-set crime film about a con man played by Christian Bale who is forced to work with the FBI on a massive sting operation.
Despite featuring great performances from Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper in more central roles, Lawrence steals the show as Bale's unhinged and unpredictable wife. She is a delight every moment she appears on screen and her rationalizing of her own behavior is so convincing it's scary.
Mother! - Mother
Few films have been as divisive in recent memory as Darren Aronofsky's Mother!. The psychological horror film has Lawrence playing a pregnant woman attempting to keep her house in order as her husband continues to bring in unwanted house guests. Of course, that only scratches the surface of what this film is about.
It's not hard to see how some people were turned off of the intense film, but it's hard to deny Lawrence is extraordinary in her role. As the put-upon woman she is vulnerable and devastated, but never weak. The scenes of her fighting to regain control are incredibly gripping.
Silver Linings Playbook - Tiffany
Silver Linings Playbook was the first and most successful collaboration between Lawrence and David O'Russell. It is also the film that won Lawrence her first Academy Award, and for good reason. Lawrence and frequent co-star Bradley Cooper shine in this unique love story about two emotionally unstable people who find happiness and control in their lives together.
As Tiffany, Lawrence plays a character experiencing depression in a nuanced and realistic way. She also excels with Tiffany's blunt and aggressive manner of addressing situations. In a great testament to how authoritative Lawrence can be, she convincingly shouts down Robert De Niro in a scene.
Winter's Bone - Ree Dolly
Lawrence got her big break in movies with this small indie mystery which earned her first Oscar nomination. The film by Debra Granik stars Lawrence as the oldest child of a destitute family living in rural Missouri. When her father goes missing, she sets out to find him to prevent the family from being evicted.
The quiet film is carried by Lawrence's powerful yet reserved performance. It is completely believable that this young girl single-handidly cares for the entire family and that resolve carries us through her search for the truth.
Red Sparrow - Dominika Egorova
Red Sparrow is an intense thriller about a Russian spy at the center of a dangerous hunt for a mole. Lawrence plays a Russian ballerina who, after experiencing a terrible injury, is given the chance to support her family by becoming a "Red Sparrow" -- an elite spy.
Despite being a hard R-rated spy thriller, the film as a whole is fairly forgettable. Lawrence is the main saving grace, giving an intense performance as this desperate but determined young woman. We are never quite sure who she is working for and Lawrence plays that intrigue very effectively.
The Hunger Games - Katniss Everdeen
The Hunger Games was a massively popular young adult book series, so of course, the lead role of Katniss in the film adaption was highly coveted in Hollywood. Lawrence was a the lucky actor to get the role and, thanks to her stellar performance, it made her a household name.
The dystopian story involves a society in which children are pit against each other in a televised competition where they fight to the death. Katniss is the hero of the series proving to not only be skilled enough to survive the games but also brave enough to help change the broken society she lives in.
X-Men Series - Raven/Mystique
The prequel series of the X-Men, which began with X-Men: First Class, had a lot of great young actors taking over the roles of some of our favorite mutant characters. Certainly one of the most important roles in this new series was Lawrence as Mystique.
The character was played by Rebecca Romijn in the original film series and was little more than a sidekick to Magneto. The character was made much more significant in the prequels and Lawrence became one of the stars of the franchise. Her evolution from self-conscious mutant, to killer, to team leader has been one of most interesting parts of the series.