The 7 best Elizabeth Olsen movies

Elizabeth Olsen is an actor you will see on the screen a lot right now. Best known to many as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, since WandaVision became a massive hit on Disney Plus she has become known to a whole new group of people as a first rate star making putting in excellent performances on both the big and small screens.

Today we concentrate on the big screen performances of Olsen, who although as we will see, has made more superhero appearances than most in her relatively short career, has a good range to her acting with celebrated performances in excellent movies across different genres.

But what is the best ever Elizabeth Olsen movie I hear you ask? Well, you’ll have to read on to find out…

7. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Of course Elizabeth Olsen has had some time now to develop her skills in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in this latest foray into the world of Marvel she has won great praise from critics and fans alike for her performance as Wanda Maximoff and The Scarlett With opposite Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange. Although the film itself has had mixed reviews, one thing that most people appear to be certain on is that Olsen is a shining star at the centre of the Marvel world and her performance is excellent.

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6. Godzilla

The 2014 movie is one of the many movies to try to capture the magic of the story of Godzilla, and on this occasion they put a lot of effort into making this a film that is not just about a rampaging beats, but also about the humans and the relationships in the story. At the centre of this is a great turn from Elizabeth Olsen opposite Aaron Taylor Johnson (who she works with in the world of Marvel) who brings humanity to a story that could otherwise be very action adventure focussed.

5. Wind River

In this 2017 movie, Elizabeth Olsen takes on the role of an FBI agent on the hunt for the killer of a Native American woman. She teams up with a wildlife officer on a reservation and they begin to try to piece together what has happened. However, quickly it seems that their lives may also be in danger as the plot thickens in this mysterious drama. Olsen once again puts in a great performance in a role that differs from the superhero movies for which she has gained a reputation.

4. Ingrid Goes West

This 2017 movie sees Olsen play opposite Aubrey Plaza in another film that demonstrates a different side to her as a performer as she plays a self-obsessed social media influencer. The movie follows the story of Ingrid, played by Plaza, as she moves out to Los Angeles after the death of her mother to befriend her Instagram influencer idol, Taylor Sloane (played by Olsen). The pair strike up an unlikely friendship, but it can’t last forever as secrets and lies begin to emerge that will see things start to come off the rails in this dark comedy. Olsen is great in a part you won’t expect to see her play.

3. Avengers: Infinity War

The role of Wanda Maximoff is one that Olsen will always have with her, especially since taking the character beyond the movie franchise onto TV screens opposite Paul Bettany in WandaVision. This is the second time we see her character on the big screen and in this movie we really see Wanda develop into a hugely important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Olsen finds a great balance in her performance between the emotionally charged relationships and power dynamics and the big budget action sequences that delivers an exhilarating and fun ride.

2. Martha Macy May Marlene

This is one of the earliest roles that Elizabeth Olsen committed to film, all the way back in 2011, and is quite different from many of the more supercharged performances with which she has become associated in the more modern era. Telling the story of a young cult member who escapes from the trauma to live in a quiet place with her sister and husband, the movie examines the trauma that her character went through, which we are reminded of through flashbacks and memories. A really accomplished performance requiring great range for such a young performer.

1. Avengers Endgame

Although Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda may not appear in this movie as much as some others, her role in the film’s epic battle is both exciting and essential to help the plot reach a satisfying conclusion. This performance has been many years in the making and showcases an emotional and vulnerable side to a character as well as strong female character as she is forced to deal with great loss as this film develops. A truly excellent turn from Olsen in a role that she would take even further in the Disney+ TV series WandaVision.

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