Elizabeth Banks is an important part of the movie world, having started acting in the ’90s and, most recently, appearing in, writing, producing, and directing Charlie’s Angels. To celebrate the actress’s success, we’re here to look at her best films to date. Rather than picking our own favorites, however, we’re turning to IMDb for answers.
The popular entertainment website has assigned every one of Banks’ films a star rating based on the votes of registered users on a scale of 1 to 10. This is what we’ll be using to stack up her most popular movies.
With the logistics out of the way, it’s time to take a trip to the big screen; here are Banks’ best films to date, according to IMDb.
Pitch Perfect (7.2)
Beca Mitchell arrives at Barden University as the newest freshman, against her own wishes. While she would rather be off in Los Angeles attempting to pursue a career as a music producer, she finds herself stuck in classes at the request of her college professor father. Things start to turn around, however, after Beca joins an eclectic group of girls who compete in a cappella competitions together.
Anna Kendrick stars as Beca, while Elizabeth Banks plays a commentator for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
The music and fun had this comedy receiving a couple of sequels.
The Hunger Games (7.2)
Based on the Young Adult book series of the same name, The Hunger Games tells of the dystopian Panem where children are recruited from across the country to compete in a yearly televised battle-to-the-death. After young Prim is chosen for the games, her older sister Katniss volunteers to compete in her place. It’s not long before Katniss is dragged into an arena where she finds herself not only fighting but also acting out the romantic narrative she’s been pulled into in an attempt to stay alive.
While Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson star, Elizabeth Banks backs them up as Effie Trinket, a bubbly stylist from the Capitol who helps the pair prepare.
The popularity of the first film had it earning three sequels.
Seabiscuit (7.3)
Seabiscuit tells of a businessman who, after losing his son, helps a racehorse beat the odds and rise to success. The events are backdropped by the financial ruin and stress of the Great Depression.
Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Chris Cooper take center stage of this sports film while Elizabeth Banks plays Marcela Zabala-Howard. She ends up marrying Bridges’ Howard after meeting him in Mexico.
The thrill of the movie had it getting love from critics in addition to a handful of Academy Award nominations.
Spider-Man (7.3)
The Tobey Maguire Spider-Man series debuted to eager fans in 2002. It tells of a high school student named Peter who ends up gaining spider-like abilities after being bitten by a genetically-altered bug. He uses his new skills to fight crime in the city.
Banks plays a minor character in the film named Betty Brant. She is on staff at The Daily Bugle and clearly has a thing for Peter.
Combining heart and entertainment, fans were eager for a follow-up film.
Spider-Man 2 (7.3)
The sequel to Spider-Man swung into theaters in 2004. It too, received praise for going even deeper than the original and featuring a surprisingly compelling villain.
The superhero film has Peter Parker attempting to balance his personal life and his civic duty as Spider-Man. Things get intense, however, after cyborg Dr. Otto Octavius sets out to seek revenge.
Banks reprises her role as Betty.
Love & Mercy (7.4)
This Beach Boys biopic tells of Brian Wilson’s struggles with mental illness by focusing on two versions of himself: one in the 1960s and another later in the 1980s. The older version of Brian (played by John Cusack) ends up meeting and falling for a Cadillac saleswoman named Melinda Ledbetter. She is played by Elizabeth Banks.
The creative story layout and charisma of this one left moviegoers pleased.
The Next Three Days (7.4)
This 2010 thriller starred Elizabeth Banks as Lara Brennan, a woman is falsely convicted of murdering her boss and faced with life in prison. Her husband, John, (Russell Crowe) becomes focused on figuring out how to break her out.
Though some critics pointed out that the pacing was strange and the plot unrealistic, general audience goers were entranced nonetheless. The story was loaded with excitement.
The Hungers Games: Catching Fire (7.5)
Having survived the games, Katniss and fellow-victor Peeta are forced to tour the districts of Panem. It’s not long before they’re entering a new arena, however, when a 75th anniversary Quarter Quell has tributes being pulled from the pool of previous victors.
Banks reprises her role as Effie. She helps prepare Katniss and Peeta for the second Hunger Games tournament they are to enter. Effie gets help from former victor Haymitch Abernathy, who is played by Woody Harrelson.
The Lego Movie (7.8)
In this animated comedy, a carefree Lego construction worker, Emmet, is accidentally identified as the prophesied “Special,” a hero that will end up saving the world. Believing this to be true, a Master Builder who goes by Wyldstyle enlists him to stop the schemes of the evil Lord Business.
While Chris Pratt stars as Emmet, Elizabeth Banks portrays Wyldstyle.
The well-designed animations, strong voice cast, and hilarious story had The Lego Movie getting a round of applause and a sequel.
Catch Me If You Can (8.1)
Topping off the list is Catch Me If You Can, a 2002 crime film based on the life of Frank Abagnale. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as the con man, who successfully posed as a doctor, pilot, and prosecutor in order to gain millions of dollars all before his 19th birthday. Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent who is out to track him down, and Banks appears in a supporting role as a bank teller.
Full of style, entertainment, and fun, the film received great reviews from critics and audience members alike.
