Diane Keaton's legacy: Five films you should watch to honor the legendary actress

Diane Keaton has had one of the most iconic careers in Hollywood, spanning across decades and genres, blending comedy with drama and establishing her legacy as one of Hollywood's best. Whether she was making you laugh in a satirical comedy film, or romancing a gangster's son in one of the most iconic franchises in cinema: Keaton always kept her edge and made sure your attention stayed on her.

As the world mourns her passing, we are left with a glittering array of performances by the actress that are nothing short of iconic. Here are five films you should watch to honor the late actress, and the powerhouse of talent and creativity she was on the silver screen.

The Godfather trilogy

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy is one of the most influential films in cinema that has continued to dazzle audiences even decades later. Adapting Mario Puzo's novels for the screen, the films star Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and of course, Diane Keaton. The films track the rise and slow moral collapse of Michael Corleone as he inherits the mafia empire built by his family. Released in 1972, 1974 and 1990, the trilogy maps power, family, and the American dream turned toxic.

Diane Keaton's role as Kay Adams Corleone is one of the best things about the film. Michael's outsider wife and the presence of a human conscience in the trilogy, she starts as a hopeful partner who believes in a different life for Michael. As he sinks deeper into the world of crime, she shifts from denial to moral confrontation. She refuses to accept the Corleone family and it's legacy of crime and power, giving Kay a quiet, persistent integrity that contrasts Corleone's ruthless pragmatism.

Widely regarded as one of Keaton's best roles, it's truly an iconic role and one that pushed her into the spotlight of Hollywood.

Available to watch on: Prime Video.

Annie Hall

Woody Allen's 1977 romantic comedy rewired modern comedy by folding neurosis, therapy culture and city life into a tender portrait of a failed romance. Starrring Allen himself as Aklvy Singer, a neurotic comic and Diane Keaton as Annie Hall, a quirky, free spirited woman from the Midwest, their relationship forms the emotional core of the film.

Diane Keaton's Annie is smart but self effacing, whimsical and grounded. She leans into physical tics, idiosyncratic fashion and a gentle vulnerability that makes Annie feel lived in and real. The character functions as a mirror to Alvy’s neuroses and as the film’s moral center, showing you how two people can care deeply yet misread each other’s needs. Critics praised Keaton for bringing warmth and complexity to what could have been a caricature, and her performance helped shift romcom heroines toward more layered, idiosyncratic portraits

Annie Hall won four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and best actress for Keaton, and it helped redefine what a romantic comedy could feel like.

Available to watch on: Prime Video.

Sleeper

Another Woody Allen and Diane Keaton classic, Sleeper is a zany science fiction comedy about a 20th Century jazz musician who wakes up 20 years in the future into a totalitarian, absurdist America. The film mixes physical gags and classic moments that pay homage to the silent era with sharp satire on politics and pop culture. It's one of the most iconic collaborations between Allen and Diane Keaton, that continues to influence modern day cinema today.

Keaton plays the role of Luna Schlosser, a stylish 22nd century artist and socialite who gets Allen's character Miles as a robot but later becomes his partner. She bounces between bemusement and rebellion, and Keaton gives Luna the grounded warmth that balances Allen's neurotic slapstick. The role proved that she could mold into anyone, if given the right script and film and showed her comic prowess.

Available to watch on: Netflix

Marvin's Room

Jerry Zaks brought together some of the iconic actors of the generation for Marvin's Room, namely Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn, Gwen Verdon and Hal Scardino. The family drama is adapted from a Scott McPherson play and revolves around two estranged sisters who are forced to reconnect when one of them cares for their ailing father and the other gets diagnosed with cancer. The film's heartfelt presence leans into grief, caregiver burnout and the awkward, truthful familial love that anchors families when illness sneaks in. The incredible ensemble contributes most of the film's greatness, and Keaton stands out, winning an Oscar nomination for her role.

Diane Keaton plays Bessie, a long-suffering, practical woman who has spent years running a household for her incapacitated father. Keaton makes Bessie quietly heroic and raw, balancing weary humor with sudden tenderness as the film forces her to confront resentment, duty, and longing for a life of her own. It is widely regarded as one of the best films of her career, and a break away from her usual choice of the genre of comedy.

Available to watch on: Prime Video

Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride is a warm funny remake of the 1960 classic by Charles Shyer. The film stars Steve Martin as George Banks, a protective dad who spirals into panic as his daughter Annie plans her wedding. The film is both funny and offers heartfelt moments and a look into father-daughter dynamics as George loses his calm around Annie growing up. It was a box office hit and later made way for two sequels with the same cast and a few fresh faces.

Diane Keaton plays Nina Banks, George's stable and empathetic wife who acts as the emotional anchor to George's panicked self. She offers calm, steady perspectives amidst the chaos, and perfectly complements Steve Martin's role in the film. She later reprised her role in Father of the Bride Part II and Father of the Bride Part 3(ish).

Available to watch on: Prime Video