2019 proved to be a banner year for young Kaitlyn Dever. The 23-year-old broke out with starring roles in two of the most critically acclaimed pieces of entertainment, Unbelievable and Booksmart. They were vastly different genres, proving her versatility.
Though she's still young, Dever has actually been acting for a long time. That includes roles dating back to 2011 in films like J. Edgar and Bad Teacher. As her acting resume continues to grow, it's a good time to look at the best work of her career, at least based on the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
Them That Follow (59%)
The most recent film entry for Kaitlyn Dever, Them That Follow also arrived in 2019. It marked a turn into the thriller genre for the young actress. Centering on a religious small community of snake handlers, it was definitely a unique movie.
Dever was joined by a strong cast including Academy Award winner Olivia Colman and Walton Goggins. Them That Follow got mixed reviews for not fully capturing the spirit it intended to. However, the performances were praised, including Dever's Dilly Picket.
The Front Runner (60%)
The one thing on this list considered to be "rotten" (just barely) has passed and everything going forward is above the 60% mark. 2018's The Front Runner followed the true story of American Senator Gary Hart. He was on the path to be a presidential candidate until a scandal caused his fall from grace.
Hart was portrayed by the always enjoyable Hugh Jackman, while Kaitlyn Dever played his daughter Andrea. Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina rounded out the cast. The Front Runner didn't tackle the tough subjects as well as it could've, but the cast performed admirably.
Laggies (65%)
Maybe the reason Kaitlyn Dever is such an impressive actress is because she learned from being around talented veterans. Almost every film she has starred in has featured a strong cast. 2014's Laggies is no different.
Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell, Ellie Kemper, and Chloë Grace Moretz led this comedy. It focuses on a 28-year-old (Knightley) who is kind of a slacker and going through a quarter-life crisis. Dever plays a young girl named Misty. Again, this was mostly praised for the work of the actors and director Lynn Shelton.
Beautiful Boy (69%)
If you see Timothée Chalamet in a movie, there's a good chance you're going to get a dynamic performance. The young actor is another breakout star from recent years. His lead work in 2018's Beautiful Boy is among his greatest efforts. He plays drug-addicted Nicholas Sheff.
The film centers on the tumultuous relationship between Nicholas and his father David (a brilliant Steve Carell) thanks to his addiction. Dever got to showcase her skills in this, playing fellow addict Lauren. Her relationship with Nicholas leads to one of the film's most emotional scenes.
Detroit (83%)
2017's Detroit was the most dramatic film Kaitlyn Dever had starred in to that point in her career. Directed by the acclaimed Kathryn Bigelow, it depicted the true events of the Algiers Motel incident from the 12th Street riots in the Michigan city.
During the riots, white officers investigate the motel and begin to mistreat the individuals inside. Their main focus is on the Black men but others are also harassed. Among them is Dever's Karen Malloy, an innocent girl hanging out there. She and her friend Julie Ann Hysell (Hannah Murray) are terrified through the whole harrowing ordeal.
Outside In (95%)
Another 2017 release, Outside In reunited Kaitlyn Dever with Laggies director Lynn Shelton. Instead of going the comedy route, this was more steeped in drama. It told the story of a man who gets released from prison after 20 years and struggles to adjust to the modern world.
Outside In gave shine to Jay Duplass (Chris) as the protagonist and Edie Falco was impressive as the high school teacher who helps him out. Dever played Hildy, the teacher's daughter who forms a bond with Chris. The sobering tale and quality acting were both praised.
Justified (97%)
The first foray into the world of television on this list. Kaitlyn Dever had a recurring role on this series lasting 17 episodes. She played Loretta McCready and appeared in four separate seasons. It was one of the most notable roles for Dever.
Justified ran from 2011 to 2015 on FX and followed Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), a US Marshal enforcing the law in his hometown. Loretta McCready was a teen involved in the weed business who gets taken in after her dad dies and views Raylan as something of a father figure.
Booksmart (97%)
For a lot of people, Booksmart was their first real introduction to Kaitlyn Dever. In the 2019 film, she played Amy Antsler, one of two leads along with Beanie Feldstein's Molly Davidson. After focusing on nothing but getting good grades during high school, the two best friends venture out for one night of partying before college.
Nearly everything about this film was praised. At the top of the list were Olivia Wilde's tremendous directorial debut work and the performances by Dever and Feldstein, who went on to become great friends in real life because of it. Booksmart was lauded for being smart, witty, and hilarious. The way it portrayed Dever's LGBTQ character was also applauded.
Unbelievable (98%)
As spectacular as Booksmart was, it didn't make a lot of money at the box office. That's why Unbelievable, arriving later in 2019, was when Kaitlyn Dever became more of a household name. It was an original series for the streaming juggernaut that is Netflix.
Unbelievable dealt with some truly serious subject matter. Dever played Marie Adler, a rape victim who is made to look like a liar by the police officers she tells her story to. Toni Collette and Merritt Wever played the detectives after the rapist several years later. It was gripping, hard to watch at times, and incredibly emotional.
Short Term 12 (98%)
If you've never seen Short Term 12 before, you might want to change that. Before even getting to the premise, just look at the cast. Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and of course, Kaitlyn Dever.
Short Term 12, released in 2013, is about a group home for troubled teenagers and the relationships the kids form with their counselors. Dever played Jayden Cole, a girl with self-harm issues, who grows close to Larson's Grace Howard. The film takes you on an emotional journey of highs and lows.