Amy Ryan’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked By IMDb

While she is arguably best known for her work in television comedies, such as her role as Holly Flax in The Office and recent appearance as Jan in Only Murders in the Building, actress Amy Ryan has spent the last couple of decades putting together an impressive filmography primarily comprised of dramas.

Some of her best films have been under-appreciated indie gems such as Win Win while others have been high profile dramas such as Capote, Changeling, and the Best Picture-winning Birdman. Though she often appears in a supporting role, Amy Ryan always leaves a strong impression on the viewer with her nuanced and empathetic performances.

10 Win Win (7.1)

-Available to buy or rent on Apple TV, YouTube, and Amazon

The comedic sports drama Win Win is about a struggling lawyer, who also coaches high school wrestling, as he takes in a client’s troubled grandson and discovers that the young man is a gifted wrestler, giving the team a chance to win their league championship. Amy Ryan plays Jackie Flaherty, the wife of the lawyer and wrestling coach.

With believable characters and a grounded yet humorous tone, Win Win is one of the best sports movies of the last decade. The film is filled with emotional and relatable performances, led by Paul Giamatti, Alex Shaffer, and Amy Ryan.

9 Chicago 10 (7.3)

-Stream on Peacock, Tubi, and AMC+

Chicago 10 is a unique film that combines elements of animation and documentary in order to tell the real-life story of the trial of protesters of the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Amy Ryan lends her voice to Anita Hoffman, the wife of activist Abbie Hoffman.

Like The Trial of the Chicago 7, the film covers one of the most important real trials in American history. The film’s unconventional approach and stellar voice cast help set it apart from other, similar historical movies. It is an insightful and creative look at a pivotal moment in history.

8 Capote (7.3)

-Stream on AMC+, DIRECTV, and Max Go

The 2005 biographical drama Capote follows writer Truman Capote during the research and writing of his renowned book In Cold Blood, about the violent murder of a family on their Kansas farm in 1959. In the film, Amy Ryan plays the pivotal role of Marie Dewey, the wife of detective Alvin Dewey who persuades him to invite Capote over and share information about the case.

Capote is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s best films, anchored by his stellar performance in the titular role. The film is a compelling and moving look at the composition of one of the more influential books in recent history and the emotional toll that the brutal story took on its author.

7 Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead (7.3)

-Stream on Starz, Tubi, Hoopla, Fubo, Plex, and Kanopy

The final film from legendary director Sydney Lumet, the crime thriller Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead follows a pair of brothers who attempt to rob their parent’s jewelry store when things go horribly wrong. Amy Ryan plays Martha Hanson, a member of the complicated central family.

The film is a tense and thrilling ride that utilizes a non-linear structure that revisits the events from different characters’ points of view. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is one of Ethan Hawke’s best movies thanks to strong performances, excellent direction, and compelling characters caught up in dysfunctional relationships.

6 Beautiful Boy (7.3)

-Stream on Amazon Prime Video

Inspired by a true story, the drama Beautiful Boy follows a father and son’s relationship as the son deals with drug addiction. Drawing inspiration from memoirs written by both the father and the son, the film captures both perspectives to show the effects of addiction. Amy Ryan plays Vicki Sheff, the supportive matriarch of the family.

While the film revisits some familiar territory, its use of multiple perspectives helps add an emotional weight to the movie. Moving and well-acted, it is an intimate and heartbreaking portrait of a family dealing with real-life issues.

5 You Can Count On Me (7.5)

-Stream on Max Go, DIRECTV, and Cinemax

Renowned writer-director Kenneth Lonergan’s drama You Can Count On Me is a drama that follows an orphaned brother and sister as they grow up and choose very different paths in life. Amy Ryan only appears briefly in the film, but she plays the important role of Mrs. Prescott, the children’s mother who is killed at the beginning of the movie.

The film is a small and intimate look at the effect that childhood trauma can have later in life and the different methods that people can take to cope with loss. Filled with great performances and sharp dialogue, You Can Count On Me is a moving and often melancholy character study.

4 Bridge Of Spies (7.6)

-Available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Amazon, and YouTube

Set during the Cold War, the historical drama Bridge of Spies follows James B. Donovan, an American lawyer tasked with negotiating for the release of an Air Force pilot who was shot down in the Soviet Union in exchange for a captured KGB spy. Amy Ryan plays James B. Donavan’s wife, Mary Donovan.

The film shines a light on an underrepresented but important moment in history, using a quieter story to explore a different side of the Cold War. While not as action-packed as other Spielberg-Hanks wartime films, Bridge of Spies is a captivating period-piece character study.

3 Gone Baby Gone (7.6)

-Stream on Paramount+

Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, the crime thriller Gone Baby Gone follows a pair of private investigators as they search for a missing woman who was abducted from her mother’s apartment in Boston.

The film is a thrilling and twisty mystery filled with nuanced and morally ambiguous characters brought together by the central case. The impressive cast gives excellent performances including Amy Ryan’s Oscar-nominated role as Helene McCready, the missing woman’s mother. Like many of Affleck’s other films, the movie is a gritty and realistic depiction of Boston.

2 Changeling (7.7)

-Stream on HBO Max

Set in the 1920s, Changeling is a crime drama that tells the true story of Christine Collins, a California woman whose son goes missing. When she is later reunited with her son by the police, she insists that the boy is an impostor. Amy Ryan appears in a supporting role as Carol Dexter, a woman who has been wrongfully detained in a psychiatric hospital for challenging the police.

The film is a shocking and poignant exploration of the historical mistreatment of women and the systemic abuse of power. Benefitting from an unbelievable true story, the film is a well-written and powerfully acted mystery that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

1 Birdman (7.7)

-Available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Amazon, and YouTube

The 2014 comedic drama Birdman follows Riggan Thompson, an aging actor as he becomes increasingly unstable as he desperately tries to reclaim his former fame, starring in a new Broadway show as the hopefully first step in his comeback. Amy Ryan plays Sylvia Thompson, Riggan’s ex-wife who was hurt by his infidelity.

Presented as mostly one long unbroken shot, the film is a brilliantly directed look at ego, fame, and self-worth. Anchored by a captivating lead performance from Michael Keaton, the movie is filled with excellent work from its A-list cast. Funny, insightful, and often heartbreaking, the film earned the Best Picture Oscar and cemented itself as the best movie in Amy Ryan’s filmography.

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