13 Best Reese Witherspoon Performances, Ranked

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Reese Witherspoon is America’s sweetheart. She’s blonde, she’s feisty, she’s Southern, she’s fashionable. She’s also made a whole lot of movies (61 to be exact). Some were great, others were...not. But honestly, the 44-year-old actress is so darn lovable, you can’t help but be shocked she was snubbed by the 2020 Emmy Award nominations. (Yes, you read that right.)

Earlier today, the Television Academy debuted a complete list of nominees, and Witherspoon is nowhere to be found. In response to the unexpected snub, here are Witherspoon’s 13 best roles, ranked.

Image credit: Paramount Pictures

1. Election (1999)

1. ‘Election’ (1999)

We pick Flick. You should, too.

Image credit: MGM

2. The Man in the Moon (1991)

2. ‘The Man in the Moon’ (1991)

One hell of a debut film. Then again, how can you resist tragic young love on tractors?

Image credit: 20th Century Fox

3. Walk the Line (2005)

3. ‘Walk the Line’ (2005)

She won an Oscar for a reason.

Image credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures

4. Wild (2014)

4. ‘Wild’ (2014)

Again, she was nominated for an Oscar for a reason.

Image credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/courtesy of HBO

5. ‘Big Little Lies’ (2017)

Madeline Martha Mackenzie...need we say more?

Image credit: Apple TV+

6. ‘The Morning Show’ (2019)

Witherspoon was snubbed by the 2020 Emmy Awards for this memorable role. #JusticeForBradleyJackson

Image credit: MGM

7. Legally Blonde (2001)

7. ‘Legally Blonde’ (2001)

“It has come to my attention that the maintenance staff is switching our toilet paper from Charmin...to generic. All those opposed to chafing, please say ‘Aye.’” Solid gold.

Image credit: ERIN SIMKIN/HULU

8. ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ (2020)

Another Emmys snub. But that doesn’t make us love her performance as Elena Richardson any less.

Image credit: Buena Vista Pictures

9. Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

9. ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (2002)

If only we could all go from getting engaged to the mayor’s son at Tiffany’s to opening a Soho boutique with your glass-blowing ex-husband.

Image credit: Lionsgate

10. Mud (2012) 

10. ‘Mud’ (2012) 

Girlfriend should ditch rom-coms more often, especially when Matthew McConaughey is involved as a weirdo fugitive.

Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

11. Inherent Vice (2014) 

11. ‘Inherent Vice’ (2014) 

Trippy as hell but any Reese/Joaquin Phoenix collab is always welcome.

Image credit: New Line Cinema

12. Pleasantville (1998)

12. ‘Pleasantville’ (1998)

The film is about two high schoolers in the ’90s who are mysteriously transported to the suburban, idyllic 1950s that may or may not also hypnotize you. You know, the usual.

Image credit: Walt Disney Studios

13. ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ (2018)

With Mindy Kaling and Oprah Winfrey at her side, it was bound to be legendary.

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