Geena Davis movies and shows have been famous in Hollywood for 40 years. The Oscar winner has starred in popular women-empowerment movies like Thelma & Louise and A League of Their Own. She has always worked hard to ensure women are shown better on screen.
In her personal life, Davis became a leading voice for women’s rights in movies. In 2007, she started a non-profit organization called the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. This group works to get more women on screen and to challenge gender stereotypes. In 2015, Davis also started the Bentonville Film Festival and served as executive producer for the documentary This Changes Everything.
10 Must-Watch Geena Davis Movies and Shows: Her Most Charming and Memorable Films
From ‘80s star to today’s advocate, here are the 10 best Geena Davis movies, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes critic scores.
1. Tootsie (1982) – 90%
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Director: Sydney Pollack
- Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Other Streaming Options: Amazon Prime
The comedy movie Tootsie is about an actor named Michael Dorsey (played by Dustin Hoffman) who has a bad temper and can’t get any work. He pretends to be a woman named Dorothy Michaels to find a job. Through this, he learns that being a female star has its own special challenges.
Geena Davis plays the role of an opera actress, April Page, and a friend of Julie Nichols. This role was Davis’s first big part in a movie, and it helped her become a successful actress in Hollywood.
2. The Fly (1986) – 93%
- Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-fi
- Director: David Cronenberg
- Writer: George Langelaan, David Cronenberg, Charles Edward Pogue
- Cast: Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, John Getz
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Other Streaming Options: Disney+
David Cronenberg’s The Fly is one of his best movies in the body-horror genre. In this film, Jeff Goldblum turns into a fly after a mistake with a teleportation machine. Cronenberg is great at getting amazing performances from actors, like James Woods in Videodrome and Peter Weller in Naked Lunch.
In The Fly, Geena Davis shines as Veronica Quaife. Both critics and audiences have praised her performance, showing that Cronenberg’s talent for drawing out the best in actors continues.
3. Beetlejuice (1988) – 86%
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
- Director: Tim Burton
- Cast: Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Other Streaming Options: Netflix
While Thelma & Louise might be Geena Davis’s most famous role, her part in the Tim Burton classic Beetlejuice is probably her most popular. In Beetlejuice, Davis plays Barbara, one of a ghostly couple, along with Adam (played by Alec Baldwin). They call on Beetlejuice to help them scare away Lydia (played by Winona Ryder) and her family, who are trying to fix up their house.
Many kids from that era remember this film well. Thanks to Burton’s unique and stylish gothic look, it’s a great dose of ‘80s nostalgia and perfect for an annual Halloween watch.
4. The Accidental Tourist (1988) – 82%
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Director: Lawrence Kasdan
- Cast: Geena Davis, William Hurt, Kathleen Turner
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Other Streaming Options: Prime Video
The Accidental Tourist is a movie about Macon Leary (played by William Hurt), who deals with life after his son dies and his marriage falls apart. In the film, Geena Davis plays Muriel Pritchett, a fun and outgoing dog trainer who tries to help Macon feel better and fall in love with him.
Critics liked the film for its clever writing and ability to make people laugh despite its sad story. Davis’s role as Muriel brought a lot of energy and humor to the movie, which helped keep it from feeling too gloomy.
5. Quick Change (1990) – 84%
- Genre: Comedy, Crime
- Director: Howard Franklin, Bill Murray
- Cast: Geena Davis, Bill Murray, Randy Quaid
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Other Streaming Options: Prime Video
The 1990s crime-comedy film features Randy Quaid, Bill Murray, and Geena Davis as three bank robbers trying to escape after a big heist. The film, directed by Bill Murray and Howard Franklin, shows the trio getting stuck in a series of funny problems as their plan falls apart because they can’t reach the airport with their cash.
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Even though some reviews were mixed, and Roger Ebert called it “funny but not an inspired comedy,” the chemistry between the three actors is great. The movie is a hidden gem from the ’90s and now has a solid 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it worth a second look.
6. Thelma & Louise (1991) – 86%
- Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Other Streaming Options: Prime Video
Even though Thelma & Louise might not be number one on this list, it is probably Geena Davis’s most famous role. The movie has been referenced and parodied many times, making it a big part of pop culture. In this road-comedy, Davis plays Thelma, a housewife who dreams of freedom. People often praise the film for the amazing performances by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, which made it a standout feminist film of its time.
7. Stuart Little (1999) – 67%
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
- Director: Rob Minkoff
- Cast: E.B. White, M. Night Shyamalan, Greg Brooker
- IMDb Rating: 6.0
- Other Streaming Options: Netflix
Stuart Little will always be a favourite for many fans. The movie was fun for kids because it starred a talking mouse. In the first movie, the Little Family, with parents, played by Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie, decide to adopt a mouse. At first, their son (played by Jonathan Lipnicki) is upset, but he eventually comes to love his new mouse brother.
As if a talking mouse wasn’t cool enough, the movie also features a talking cat. In the sequel, Stuart Little 2, you’ll find a talking bird and even a talking falcon.
8. Fairyland (2023) – 97%
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Andrew Durham
- Cast: Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, Nessa Dougherty
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
Fairyland is only shown at film festivals, but it has received lots of praise, holding a 97% rating. The movie is based on Alysia Abbott’s book Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father and tells the story of a young girl growing up with her gay dad during the ‘70s AIDS crisis.
Geena Davis plays Munca in a small role in the film. Even though the movie isn’t widely available yet, it’s exciting for Geena Davis fans to see her in such a highly-rated film.
9. Marjorie Prime (2017) – 90%
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
- Director: Michael Almereyda
- Cast: Geena Davis, Hannah Gross, Jon Hamm
- IMDb Rating: 6.3
- Other Streaming Options: Prime Video
The 2017 sci-fi drama Marjorie Prime, directed by Michael Almereyda, tells the story of an aged woman named Marjorie with dementia. Her family, including her daughter Tess (played by Geena Davis) and son-in-law Jon, use ” Prime ” technology to help her. This AI companion looks like her late husband.
Marjorie Prime is a simple sci-fi film focusing on human connections and technology. It feels more relevant now as AI becomes a bigger part of our lives. Geena Davis plays Tess with deep emotions as she deals with changes in her mother and the AI version of her father.
10. When Marnie Was There (2014) – 88%
- Genre: Animation, Drama, Family
- Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
- Cast: Geena Davis, Kiernan Shipka, Vanessa Williams
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Other Streaming Options: Netflix
Most anime fans prefer the original voices, but the team behind When Marnie Was There did an amazing job bringing it to the West with a talented English voice cast. Studio Ghibli, known for its top-notch English dubs, worked on this film.
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and produced by Studio Ghibli, When Marnie Was There is about 12-year-old Anna, a lonely girl living in a mysterious stone house, searching for purpose. The movie features a strong voice cast, including Geena Davis, Kiernan Shipka, Vanessa Williams, John C. Reilly, and Kathy Bates.
What’s Geena Davis Up to These Days? See Her Latest Projects!
Since the start of 2000, Geena Davis has taken on more TV roles. She starred in The Geena Davis Show in 2000 and played the first woman president in Commander in Chief in 2005. She also appeared in The Exorcist TV adaptation in 2016 and had a recurring role in Grey’s Anatomy. In 2019, she joined the comedy series GLOW, set in the ’80s.
Davis faced challenges in finding roles as she got older. In 2004, she founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to promote gender equality and reduce stereotypes in entertainment. In 2022, she received an Emmy for her work.
Conclusion
Geena Davis has done a lot in her career, appearing in various movies and shows, from horror to comedy to family films. She’s not just a talented actress but also uses her fame to make the film industry better. With her impressive range in Geena Davis movies and shows, she continues to be a powerful force for positive change.