The Natalie Portman watchlist: 10 movies and TV shows that prove she’s a total icon

Natalie Portman is an Israeli-American actress, producer, and director. Portman has starred in various movies roles since her childhood and made her debut in the famous movie, Léon: The Professional. She gained acclaim by starring in the Star Wars prequel trilogy as Padmé. A renowned actress, Natalie Portman is known for her dedicated performances and her diversity in choosing movies. From biographical dramas like Jackie to sci-fi movies like Annihilation, the actress has starred in a variety of genres. She has also received the Oscars, the BAFTA, and the Golden Globe awards. Here are 10 movies and TV shows by the actress that prove the acting prowess of Natalie Portman.

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May December, Lady in the Lake, and other movies and TV shows by Natalie Portman

1. Vox Lux

Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law, and others, this musical drama movie is also written by Corbet. The movie is a must-watch for Natalie Portman fans as the actress, who is usually known for more restrained roles, gives a powerful and dramatic performance in this film. The movie combines drama and music genres for an exhilarating experience and even though it was not a hit at the box office, it received positive reviews from critics and is one of the underrated movies by Natalie Portman. The movie is about a famous pop star who falls victim to a series of unusual circumstances and must rise after all the personal tragedies and struggles that befall her. Portman plays the role of the pop star, Celeste, and gives a passionate and enigmatic performance. The movie has stellar cinematography and has a hypnotic soundtrack. Elevated by Portman’s performance, this movie is a must-watch.

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2. Léon: The Professional

Starring Natalie Portman and Jean Reno, this English-language French action-thriller movie is directed by Luc Besson and is the debut movie of a 13-year-old Natalie Portman. The movie is an essential must-watch for fans of the actress and is a cult classic that has received favorable reviews over the years. The film is about an Italian-American professional hitman, Léon (Reno), who reluctantly takes in a 12-year-old girl, Mathilda (Portman), after her family is murdered by a corrupt Drug Enforcement Administration agent. The movie is offbeat yet thrilling as Léon and Mathilda form an unlikely bond as she becomes his protegee and learns the trades of Léon’s business. The movie is a must-watch for all the acting efforts that have been put into by Reno and incredibly by the young Natalie Portman. The actress proves in her debut movie itself, that she knows how to embody a role and deliver a powerful performance. Gripping and well-directed, the movie has an emotional center that makes it a unique action movie.

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3. V for Vendetta

Directed by James McTeigue, this dystopian thriller movie is based on the DC Vertigo comics limited series graphic novel by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare. Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, and others, the film is set in the future where a totalitarian and fascist regime has control over the UK. Amidst all this, “V”, played by Weaving, is a masked freedom fighter and an anarchist, who wants to ignite a revolution through terrorist acts. Natalie Portman plays Evey, who is caught up in V’s mission and aids him in his plan. The movie is thought-provoking and comments about the rise in political propaganda and the dangers of totalitarianism. It is dark and gritty and Portman delivers one of her most nuanced and emotionally-charged performances in the movie. The film is compelling and has great visuals that make it a must-watch.

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4. Black Swan

Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and others, this psychological horror movie is the magnum opus of Natalie Portman’s career. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the movie is about a production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, by a New York City Ballet. The play requires a fragile actress for the White Swan character, for which the committed and reserved dancer, Nina (Portman), is a perfect fit. On the other hand, the role of the sensual Black Swan needs more enigmatic qualities, for which the rival of Nina, Lily (Kunis), is a better fit. Nina begins to slowly lose herself in the process as she tries to compete for the role and feels a sense of pressure. The movie deals with themes of identity and the blurring between reality and imagination as Nina begins to lose her sanity and becomes the symbolic Black Swan. The movie won Portman her first Oscar for Best Actress and the actress gives one of her finest performances. The movie is surreal, hypnotic, and dark, and has incredible cinematography. Natalie Portman is the highlight of the movie, who creates an unnerving atmosphere with her brilliant performance. A must-watch for her fans.

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5. Lady in the Lake

Based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lippman, this period drama miniseries is created by Alma Har’el. Starring Natalie Portman, Moses Ingram, and others, this thrilling show is based in 1960s Baltimore, where a Jewish girl, Tessie, disappears during a Christmas parade. The show has two main characters—Maddie Schwartz (Portman), who is a Jewish housewife, mother, and a journalist. And Cleo Johnson (Ingram), who is an African-American mother, wife, and bartender. When Tessie disappears and Cleo is murdered, Maddie finds herself pursuing the cases with fury and uncovering many dark secrets. The movie has important themes of race and class and is a tense and mature investigative thriller that is elevated by Natalie Portman’s performance. The actress proves that even while she is doing shows, she can morph into the character and deliver a captivating performance.

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6. Jackie

Directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Natalie Portman, Greta Gerwig, and others, this historical drama is based on the life of the former First Lady of the US, Jacqueline Kennedy. Natalie Portman plays the titular role and she received an Oscar nomination for her performance. The movie focuses on the days when Jacqueline was the First Lady of the country and her life after the assassination of her husband, the US President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The movie was a critical and commercial success and Portman gives an impeccable performance as Jacqueline, underscoring her character’s grief and trauma. The actress captures the tragedy that befell Jacqueline and gives a stellar performance as the movie deals with themes of loss and courage. The movie has a captivating screenplay and a beautiful score that makes the movie an engaging watch.

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7. Annihilation

Starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, this sci-fi horror movie is directed by Alex Garland and is based on a 2014 novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. The movie might not have made it big on the box officer, but it received positive reviews from the critics and Natalie Portman proves that she can take on heavy roles in the sci-fi genre as well. The film is about a group of scientists who must enter a mysterious quarantined zone called the “Shimmer”. The zone created mutated and dangerous plants and animals and has been created after a meteor crash landed on Earth. Portman plays the role of a cellular biology professor and former US army soldier, Lena, who is under interrogation about her experience in the mysterious zone. The movie is a unique sci-fi movie as it has themes of human destruction, the environment, and grief. The actress therefore gives a layered and complex portrayal and adds to the existentialist tone of the movie with her thought-provoking performance.

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8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Directed by George Lucas, this epic space opera is the first movie in the prequel trilogy of the Star Wars franchise. Starring Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, and others, the movie is set 32 years before the original movies and is set in an era before the Galactic Empire, when there was the Galactic Republic. The movie focuses on the younger years of Anakin Skywalker, who is a slave with strong powers and the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who must protect Padmé (Portman). The movie was a huge commercial success, though there were some mixed reviews by the critics. The film is an important watch for fans of Natalie Portman, as the movie helped establish the actress in the mainstream media and she gave a stellar performance as Padmé, who is an important character. The movie has great visual effects and is a treat for fans of Star Wars, as it propels the story further.

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9. No Strings Attached

Starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, this romantic comedy movie is directed by Ivan Reitman and is a light-hearted watch for fans of Natalie Portman, who want to see her in a romantic flick. The film is about two friends, Emma (Portman) and Adam (Kutcher), who decide to have a “no strings attached” pact while staying friends. However, the two begin to fall for each other and complications arise in their friendship and the pact they created. While the movie received mixed reviews, it was noted for the lead pair’s chemistry and performances and is a cult classic in the world of rom-com movies. Portman proves that she can not just take on heavy roles, but also light-hearted romantic ones and still deliver a compelling performance. The movie is a must-watch for fans of the actress and is a breezy movie that viewers can watch anytime.

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10. May December

Directed by Todd Haynes, this black comedy drama movie features Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and others. The movie is about an actress Elizabeth (Portman), who must travel to meet and study the life of a woman, Gracie (Moore), who Elizabeth will play in a movie. Gracie is a controversial figure as she is infamous for getting into a relationship with her husband Joe, who was 13-years-old when the relationship began and Gracie was 36. While it slipped under the radar on the box office, it received huge acclaim by critics and had commendable performances by Moore and Portman. The movie has heavy themes of grooming and is a character-driven movie where Moore delivers a strong performance and Portman also gives her finest portrayal till date. The movie is riveting, complex, and nuanced, and is a must-watch for fans of the actress and for all those who want to watch women-centric movies.