If you only know Elizabeth Olsen for her role as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you are missing out on her other outstanding work. She has appeared in films ranging from indie favorites to Hollywood blockbusters.
Among her finest performances is the Facebook Watch drama series Sorry for Your Loss, which ran for two seasons. It demonstrates her ability to depict grief with nuance and realism.
1. The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Elizabeth Olsen made her MCU debut as the telekinetic Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in this action m4u free movies film. She and her quick-as-lightning brother Pietro help the Avengers take down Ultron, a crazed AI hellbent on destroying humanity.
Joe and Anthony Russo packed this blockbuster with big themes, and Olsen brought the character to life with ease. She’s definitely one of the brightest stars in this ensemble cast.
Back in the indie spotlight, Olsen starred alongside Aubrey Plaza in this dark comedy about the parasocial relationships fueled by Instagram fame. It premiered at Sundance and has a 7.9 rating on IMDb.
2. Wind River
Elizabeth Olsen was a breakout star in the indie drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, which premiered at Sundance in 2011 and follows a young woman who escapes from a cult. It was her best work to date and showcased her acting range.
Her latest movie is Wind River, a murder mystery that takes place on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. It stars Jeremy Renner as Cory Lambert, a Fish and Wildlife agent who is called in to investigate the murder of a young Native American woman.
Olsen gives a powerful performance as Natalie, whose death reopens old wounds for the FBI agent. The movie was well-received by critics and currently holds a 69% rating on IMDb.
3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
The third Twilight film is a complete mess. It’s been a long time since Stewart looked this bored on screen, and Pattinson isn’t helping with his anemic Bella performances.
This fourth and final Twilight movie in the franchise brings everything to a boil with Bella’s marriage, honeymoon, and childbirth bringing unforeseen complications for everyone involved. Plus, this is the first one to feature a real werewolf (Cam Gigandet).
The film follows Bella Swan who moves to Washington state and meets the Cullen family during high school biology class. She quickly realizes that her new classmates are vampires. Her feelings for Edward are complicated by the fact that his family doesn’t approve of their relationship. She also discovers that she’s pregnant and must decide whether to abort or carry to term. The movie was directed by David Slade and written by Melissa Rosenberg.
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
Whether you’re new to The Twilight Saga or you’re hunkering down for your 101st viewing, it’s important to watch the movies in their proper order. That way, you get the most satisfying conclusion to this long-running franchise.
Bill Condon’s take on the final book in Stephenie Meyer’s series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, a pair of star-crossed lovers who meet against the backdrop of small-town suspicion and a clan of vampires. Mackenzie Foy rounds out the cast as Bella’s half-vampire daughter Renesmee.
Though Eclipse is the best-reviewed movie of the series, Breaking Dawn Part 1 lands in second place with a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 52% on Metacritic. It covers Bella and Edward’s wedding and honeymoon, as well as the conflict between their family and a rival vampire clan.
5. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The first big role Elizabeth Olsen took on as a young actress was the thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene. It was her breakout role, and she handled the complex material with aplomb. This movie focuses on a young woman who escapes from a cult and experiences hallucinations. Though the film has some great acting, it’s the performance of Olsen that really stands out.
Olsen was a revelation in this coming of age drama starring Dakota Fanning and herself. The film was well received by critics and audiences alike.
