Mariah Carey’s 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Movies, According To IMDB

In addition to hundreds of music videos, a dozen or so feature films, and several TV guest-appearances, award-winning singer Mariah Carey has recently reinvented her image as the de facto Christmastime hostess. Her newest yuletide project, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, is scheduled to air via Apple TV on Friday, December 4, 2020.

After topping the musical charts throughout the 1990s, Carey made her big-screen debut in the 1999 rom-com The Bachelor. She’s appeared in several movies since then, playing both herself as well as a few fictional characters. The mixed results of which can be found below.

10 Best – Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) 6.7/10

In the Lonely Island’s hilarious lampoon Popstar, Carey appears as herself alongside a slew of other real-life contemporary pop singers and musicians. The film traces the rise and fall of Bieber-like crooner Conner4Real (Andy Samberg) as he struggles to make a solo record.

Upon splitting up with the popular boyband Style Boyz, Conner finds it much harder to find success on his own. As the industry humbles him with scathing reviews of his solo album, Conner realizes what’s most important to him.

9 Worst – You Don’t Mess With The Zohan (2008) 5.5/10

Carey appeared in two films released in 2008 that both currently hold a 5.5/10 IMDB rating. The first was the broad Adam Sandler comedy You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, in which she appeared in a cameo role as herself.

Sandler stars as Zohan, a skilled Israeli spy who fakes his own demise before setting up a swanky hair salon in New York City. As he becomes the city’s top groomer, his sordid past comes back to haunt him in ways that threaten the entire globe.

8 Best – Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) 7.2/10

Carey began a late-career run in a slew of well-received movies beginning with Lee Daniels’ The Butler, a movie centered on the titular Whitehouse servant (Forrest Whitaker) who worked under the employ of multiple presidential administrations.

In specific, Cecil Gains (Whitaker) served eight different administrations as the chief Whitehouse butler. In his time, Gains saw generational-defining moments such as the Vietnam War, Watergate, the Civil Rights movement, multiple assassinations, etc. Carey plays Hattie Pearl in the film, Cecil’s mother.

7 Worst – Tennessee (2008) 5.5/10

The other 2008 film that Carey appeared in that also boasts a 5.5/10 rating is Tennessee, an adventurous dramedy in which she plays a character other than her real-life persona.

The story follows brothers Carl (Adam Rothenberg) and Ellis (Ethan Peck), who come of age as they set out on a road trip to find their estranged father. Along the way, they meet Krystal (Carey), a dissatisfied waitress who quits her job and escorts the boys cross country in her car to help them find their father.

6 Best – Precious (2009) 7.3/10

Carey launched her collaborative career with Lee Daniels’ on his controversial sophomore effort Precious, which earned Oscar Award wins for Best Supporting Actress (Monique) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher).

The film tells the hardscrabble story of Precious (Gabourey Sidibe), a bullied overweight black teenager in 1987 Harlem as she struggles to overcome her illiteracy through the New York school system. Carey plays Mrs. Weiss, Precious’s empathetic social worker who does all she can to help better the young girl’s life.

5 Worst – The Bachelor (1999) 5.0/10

With the exception of one movie that everyone can probably guess, Carey’s near-worst feature film happens to be her very first. In not too much of a stretch, Carey plays a soapy opera singer in The Bachelor.

Chris O’Donnell stars as Jimmy Shannon, a handsome bachelor afraid to commit to a long-term relationship. When his grandfather offers a $100 million inheritance to find a bride, Jimmy sets out to find his perfect match. Carey plays Ilana, a sexy singer who rejects Jimmy’s advances.

4 Best – The Batman Lego Movie (2017) 7.3/10

In one of her rare animated family films, Carey voices the role of Mayor McCaskill, the governmental leader of Gotham City in TheBatman Lego Movie.

Carey joins a gigantic cast in a story that follows Bruce Wayne/Batman (Will Arnett) as he not only attempts to capture his most famous archenemies but also must deal with the emotional heft of adopting a teenage orphan who wants to become his Robin.

3 Worst – State Property 2 (2005) 4.6/10

Credited as the “Well Dressed Woman” Claudia, Carey probably wants to forget about her participation in State Property 2, a thriller from Roc-A-Fella exec Damon Dash.

Starring Dash and rappers Beanie Sigel and Noreaga, the film follows a trio of aspiring rap artists climbing the ranks of Philadelphia’s music scene. In their pursuit of fame, the rappers are faced with various rivaling street gangs and personal issues that threaten to hinder their path to success.

2 Best – Mariah: The Diva, The Demons, The Drama (2018) 8.6/10

The 2018 made-for-TV biopic, The Diva, The Demons, and The Drama, currently ranks as the best movie Mariah has appeared in thus far, according to IMDB.

Rather than a cradle-to-grave biography, the film centers on Mariah’s musical reign in 2003 and the psychological fallout she began to feel in the wake of her marriage to Tommy Mottola. Carey portrays herself in the film and is supported by a slew of skilled British actors.

1 Worst – Glitter (2001) 2.3/10

With a paltry 2.3/10 IMDB Rating, Glitter is not only the worst movie Carey has ever made to date, but it also bears the distinction of being ranked #21 on IMDB’s Bottom 100 Movies of All Time.

Mariah plays Billie Frank, an aspiring singer who uses her DJ boyfriend to make musical connections on the road to fame and fortune. When Billie becomes successful, she separates from her boyfriend and pursues her career to the top. Although the film became a fluffy diversion for some, the film was immediately lambasted for its inferiority.