Every Milla Jovovich Action Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

Here’s a comprehensive list of every Milla Jovovich ranked from worst to best. Jovovich has become one of the most recognizable faces in the genre, appearing in numerous hugely popular films. But while she may be one of the most reliable action stars in Hollywood, her films have not always been the most successful.

Milla Jovovich is a Ukrainian-American actress who got her start in modeling at the age of 12. Her mother, Galina Jovovich, was a famous Russian actress in the Soviet Union before becoming her daughter’s agent and appearing in American films. Jovovich has a propensity for appearing in action films, with VH1 declaring her the “reigning queen of kick-butt” in 2006.

Jovovich has led several live-action adaptations, from classical tales to modern video games. Her commitment to the physicality and demands of the genre has more than earned her place as one of the deadliest action stars in Hollywood’s history. With that said, here is a look at the failures and successes of her work in the genre thus far.

15. Future World (2018)

Future World is a futuristic sci-fi action thriller set in an apocalyptic wasteland. Inside a desert oasis, a queen lays dying as her son Prince travels across barren wastelands to find a near-mythical medicine to save her life. The film is directed by James Franco, with Franco and Jovovich both appearing as villains. The project ends up feeling like a half-baked Mad Max ripoff, bordering almost on parody at times. With the abysmal quality of the film, it is hard to believe that Franco was able to get so much star power behind the project.

14. The Rookies (2019)

The Rookies is a Chinese action movie and is one of the Dazed and Confused star’s worst critical and financial failures. An extreme sports enthusiast gets unknowingly tangled in the world of illegal trade and is forced to team up with a mixed group of professionals to take down a terrorist organization. Jovovich plays Bruce, an international special agent and the leader of this ragtag group. Upon release, the film made only $3 million and was overwhelmingly poorly received. The plot is chaotic and nonsensical to the point that it too feels like a parody of itself.

13. Ultraviolet (2006)

Ultraviolet is set in a dystopian future ravaged by “hemoglophagia,” a strange vampiric virus. Many of those who are infected have acquired superhuman abilities, stoking fear among the uninfected and prompting a civil war. Jovovich plays Violet Song Jat Shariff, one of the afflicted who encounters a boy with a potential cure in his blood. The horror movie from the 2000s’ aesthetic felt immediately dated, and its chances of success were dampened with the release of Aeon Flux (a film that seems similar on the surface) a year prior. The writing was lazy, the acting was largely uninspired, and the production was very “sex over substance.”

12. Hellboy (2019)

Hellboy is a reboot of the 2004 movie based on the comics of Mike Mignola. A half-demon child is raised by a US scientist to fight against the forces of evil, despite his foretold destiny to bring about the end of days. Jovovich plays the villain, The Blood Queen, Nimue, an ancient sorceress from the Arthurian era. Although the 2004 version from director Guillermo Del Toro was well-received, the 2019 reboot lacked the artistic vision and cohesion of its predecessors. The film was surprisingly dry and forgettable, which is difficult to believe given the outlandish nature of its characters.

11. Monster Hunter (2020)

Monster Hunter is a movie adaptation of Capcom’s popular Monster Hunter video game series. The film stars Jovovich as Artemis, the captain of a US military unit that is transported to a new world filled with giant creatures and terrifying monsters that they must navigate in order to find their way back home. The Monster Hunter movie bears no similarities to the source material in regard to tone or plot, simply lifting set pieces and characters from the games to shoehorn into a sub-par shoot-em-up rather than in any way servicing the fantasy elements of the game. It had some redeeming qualities (Tony Ja’s characters being the highlight of the film), but overall, the film was a disappointment to both fans of the game and newcomers to the series alike. Even so, with the massive success of the games, it seems likely that Monster Hunter 2 is in the works.

10. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Resident Evil: Retribution is the fifth installment in the Resident Evil franchise, which is also based on a popular Capcom video game. Alice and friends find themselves deep within an Umbrella facility, slowly revealing the inner workings of Umbrella while uncovering pieces of Alice’s past. The film also introduces Leon Kennedy, a fan-favorite character from the games, but his portrayal failed to appease fans. Retribution is on a completely different scale than the other movies, almost making it at times feel like a parody of itself. The plot is convoluted and contradictory, clashing directly with the story of previous films, and it is undoubtedly the most forgettable installment in the series.

9. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

As the name suggests, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is the last installment in Jovovich’s Resident Evil adaptation series, but it was also among the worst-received. Alice returns to Raccoon City, storming Umbrella’s underground headquarters in search of an antidote to the T-virus. In an attempt to wrap up the series, The Final Chapter retcons numerous elements from previous films, making the story feel random at times. Although the film markets itself as the series’ end, the story itself lacks finality, shying away from any meaningful resolution to leave room for another sequel that will never come.

8. Survivor (2015)

Survivor is a crime thriller starring Jovovich and Pierce Brosnan. A Foreign Service Officer in London tries to prevent a terrorist attack set to hit New York City but is forced to go on the run when she is framed for crimes she did not commit. The story feels cliche, drawing clear inspiration from its contemporaries and struggling to contribute much of significance to the genre. Much like most of Jovovich’s movies after Resident Evil, Survivor significantly lacks originality.

7. The Three Musketeers (2011)

The Three Musketeers is a retelling of the classic tale by author Alexandre Dumas. The story centers primarily around a young D’Artagnan, the oft-forgotten fourth musketeer who has set off to France in hopes of joining the famous heroes’ ranks. Jovovich plays Milady de Winter, an ex-lover of Athos and co-conspirator of the film’s antagonist, Count Richelieu. The absolute powerhouse of a cast carries the film’s relatively bland script on its shoulders, propping the movie up with star power and saving it from being what would have otherwise been a rather impactful film.

6. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil: Afterlife is the fourth installment in the franchise and marks director Paul W.S. Anderson’s return to the role. Alice finds herself teaming up with another group of misfit survivors, this time encountering Claire Redfield suffering from memory loss. The film brings together all of the characters it’d taken from the Resident Evil games so far, as well as introducing Claire’s brother, Chris Redfield. The story is rather mediocre, inevitably feeling somewhat reminiscent of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, but it is a relatively inoffensive and largely enjoyable continuation of the franchise.

5. Kuffs (1992)

The oldest movie on the list, Kuffs, is an action-crime thriller starring Christian Slater as George Kuffs. The broke and desperate George travels to San Francisco to ask his brother, Brad, for a loan, but after Brad is murdered, George is determined to find his killer, uncovering a network of conspiracy along the way. Jovovich plays George’s pregnant girlfriend, Maya Carlton. Kuffs predates every Resident Evil movie, and although it is one of Jovovich’s smallest roles on the list and the film itself is relatively unknown, the star-studded cast and ‘90s action have made it one of her most well-received films in the genre.

4. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse is the second film in the franchise and is perhaps the most video game-inspired, taking characters and story elements from the game Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The Umbrella Corporation has closed off Raccoon City, making it ground zero for the T-virus outbreak and condemning all those within its walls. Alice meets Jill Valentine, a popular character from the games, and the two are perused by a menacing figure called Nemesis, one of the creatures from the Resident Evil games. The film’s balance of original and referential elements is navigated most appropriately in Apocalypse, bringing a more nostalgic aesthetic to the film than in any of the other installments.

3. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Extinction is the third film in the franchise and is stylistically different from the rest of the series. Alice is at her most powerful, having received genetic modifications to give her superhuman abilities, which she uses to lead a group of misfit survivors through the Nevada deserts. The film introduces Claire Redfield, another popular character from the games, and is the first film in the series to take place outside of Raccoon City. The story is largely original, and it pushes the boundaries of what could be possible in a world now ravaged by T-virus.

2. The Fifth Element (1997)

The Fifth Element is an underrated ‘90s sci-fi movie with an unusual and well-developed futuristic backdrop. Korben Dallas, a New York City cab driver from the 23rd century, finds the fate of the world in his hands when Leeloo (Jovovich), a physical embodiment of the fifth element, falls into his cab. With the help of an eccentric radio personality, Dallas must journey to reunite Leeloo with the other four elements in a race against time and the efforts of the villainous Zorg. The Fifth Element is likely the best-received film in Jovovich’s career and is an absolute must-see for sci-fi fans.

1. Resident Evil (2003)

The first Resident Evil film is undoubtedly the best and has more than earned its place at the top of this list. Although the film borrows more than a few elements from the games, the story is again predominantly original, establishing Alice for the first time in the franchise as Alice has never appeared in the video games. The film is filled with now-iconic moments, and it is perhaps the most significant role in Milla Jovovich’s career. It began the saga for which she is undoubtedly best known, it helped to carry the careers of both her and her now ex-husband, and it remains one of the best-received video game adaptations of all time.

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