Christina Ricci’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked By IMDb

For over three decades, Christina Ricci has been gracing both film and television screens alike in some really amazing projects. From her pitch-perfect Wednesday Addams to her latest role in Showtime’s Lord of the Flies-esque Yellowjackets, Ricci has consistently given powerhouse performances. With her distinct features and lovely voice, she makes sure to bring her all to every film role.

While she has had opportunities to show her range, Ricci shines when playing dark, unconventional characters. This is evidenced by her latest role as the deranged nurse Misty on Yellowjackets in one of the best TV performances of the year. Before that, however, Ricci has starred in some wonderfully received and beloved movies that have fetched high ratings on IMDb.

10 Mermaids (1990) 6.7

Not at all about the mythical undersea creatures, Mermaids is a charming family drama about a single mother and her two daughters relocating to a small town. It features stellar performances from its cast, easily pulling in audiences with the over-the-top dramatic range of great 80s films.

Kate Flax, the younger daughter (and arguably the most aquatic of the three Flax ladies), was Christina Ricci’s very first movie role at age nine, starring with Cher and Winona Ryder. The film also spawned an international hit with Cher’s recording of “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”. The music video includes both of her on-screen daughters. Even in her first role, Ricci shines as Kate, laying down the foundation of subsequent and similarly excellent movie roles as a child star.

9 Now and Then (1995) 6.8

Now and Then is a classic coming-of-age movie that follows the friendship of four women as adults as they remember their time as teenagers in the 1970s. Often said to be the female version of Stand By Me, it gives a glimpse into the awkwardness of being a young teen. Now and Then seamlessly navigates the delicate time of transformation between the freedom of childhood and the responsibility that comes with growing up.

Ricci’s Roberta is the most resistant to change of the group, resorting to such extremes as duct-taping her chest to hide her developing form. There’s definitely a sense of urgency to Ricci’s performance as she tries to delay the inevitable. The young cast also includes her future Casper co-star, Devon Sawa.

8 Addams Family Values (1993) 6.8

Addams Family Values brings back the same lovable goth charm and the majority of the A-list cast from the original. It also features a standout performance by Joan Cusack as Fester’s murderous wife, Debbie.

The film is Wednesday’s time to shine in all the best ways possible. Ricci is both terrifying and hilarious throughout as the character navigates her creepy “first” smile to navigating a budding romance. Wednesday doesn’t hold any punches in the slightest against those who want to suppress her. This is especially true in her epic speech during the Thanksgiving play at Camp Chippewa that makes the internet rounds every November.

7 Black Snake Moan (2006) 6.9

Blues music plays an integral part in the story of Black Snake Moan; even the title of the film comes from a 1927 blues song by Blind Lemon Jefferson. Written and directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow), the southern melodrama follows a nymphomaniac girl who suffered from sexual abuse and a controlling pastor and former blues-man hell-bent on curing her.

Although Ricci spends a large chunk of the movie barely clothed and chained to a radiator, the relationship between the two characters makes for a fascinating watch. Ricci, especially, more than brings her A-game in the movie, matching Samuel L. Jackson line for line in a deeply compelling way.

6 The Addams Family (1991) 6.9

Barry Sonnenfeld’s first foray into directing resulted in the box-office hit The Addams Family, an offbeat black comedy based on the beloved Charles Addams. The beloved characters are charmingly adapted for the live-action format in a story that exemplifies the importance of familial bonds. Many audiences consider it as one of the best movie versions of the unconventional family.

It’s hard to picture any other actress as Wednesday Addams, especially for millennials who grew up with this version of the family. Ricci utterly inhabits the character, giving a very deadpan performance that never really breaks throughout the film. Her ability to keep that poker face will inspire future interpretations of the character. It will be interesting to see Tim Burton’s take in his upcoming Wednesday series for Netflix starring Jenna Ortega.

5 Sleepy Hollow (1999) 7.3

Inspired by the Washington Irving story, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is a gothic horror that utilizes his signature dark atmospheric visuals and masterful storytelling to create a wonderfully creepy tale.

Sleepy Hollow stars Burton’s frequent collaborator Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, Ricci as love interest Katrina Van Tassel, and Christopher Walken as the amazingly terrifying Headless Horseman. While the film is mostly focused on Depp’s character, Ricci brings an almost sweet ingenue-like energy to the proceeding. Burton goes heavy on the gore in his first true horror, which makes it one of his best movies.

4 Monster (2003) 7.3

A roaring critical success, Monster is a biographical depiction of notorious serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Normally known for her model good looks and as a statuesque action star, Charlize Theron famously altered her appearance to play Wuornos. Theron received several nominations and awards for her performance, including both an Emmy and Academy Award for best actress.

As Wuornos’ lover, Selby Wall, Ricci delivers an underappreciated performance overshadowed by Theron’s gigantic critical success. Even though it is the story of a killer, the movie is also very much a love story between Aileen and Selby, which Ricci and Theron more than sell. The dysfunctional relationship is juxtaposed against the brutal murders and environment that led Wuornos to commit the crimes in the first place.

3 The Ice Storm (1997) 7.4

Ang Lee is known for his emotional character-driven films like Brokeback Mountain and Sense and Sensibility. The Ice Storm, Lee’s second English-language film, showcases the director’s impeccably nuanced talent for storytelling that he mastered with the “Father Knows Best” trilogy.

The film follows the relationships within and between their two families, including parents played by Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, during a weekend ice storm in 1970s Connecticut. Ricci plays Wendy, a teen girl exploring her sexuality with the neighbors, brothers Mikey and Sandy, which juxtaposes interestingly between their parents’ exploration into the swinger lifestyle.

2 Buffalo ‘66 (1998) 7.5

Multidisciplinary artist Vincent Gallo made a splash in the late 90s with the indie film Buffalo ‘66, serving as the director, star, writer, and soundtrack composer. Ricci co-stars in the film as Layla, a girl kidnapped by Gallo’s Billy and forced to pretend to be his wife. Ricci reunites with her on-screen Addams Family mother Anjelica Huston (as Billy’s Buffalo Bills-loving mom) during family dinner.

Gallo developed a reputation for being difficult to work with and hasn’t had much film success since 2003’s controversial Brown Bunny. In an interview with HuffPost, Ricci discusses her challenging experience during filming, saying she “spent most of that movie trapped in a car with a raving lunatic.”

1 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) 7.6

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book by the same name, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a classic trippy comedy directed by Monty Python member Terry Gilliam. Gilliam is known for his surreal and atmospheric style, perfect for the hallucinogen-heavy story.

Johnny Depp stars as Raoul Duke, the fictionalized Hunter S. Thompson character. Ricci has a small role as the underaged, Barbara Streisand-obsessed Lucy, who is found in a questionable situation with Benicio Del Toro’s Gonzo. Despite its lackluster box office performance, Fear and Loathing has a cult following among fans of strange cinema. Ricci’s small role in the film is definitely a memorable one to be sure.

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