Movies

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit
Image credit: Open Road Films, SPE, Kulture Machine, Warner Bros., HBO Films, Walt Disney Studios, TriStar Pictures, STX Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Miramax, The Weinstein Company, Twentieth Century Fox, Revolution Studios

When you hear "Julia Roberts," blockbusters like 'Pretty Woman' or 'Erin Brockovich' might immediately spring to mind, but America's sweetheart has more aces up her sleeve than just those box office giants.

Beyond the megahits and the Oscar nods, there's a whole roster of films where Julia's charm, wit, and versatility shine, but haven't quite received the standing ovation they deserve.

1. "The Normal Heart" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 1A gay activist attempts to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during the early 1980s, facing bureaucracy and societal indifference in his fervent fight for medical and public recognition.

2. "Michael Collins" (1996)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 2The biographical drama of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, his struggles against the British, and the internal conflicts that led to the civil war in Ireland.

3. "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 3In this musical comedy, a New York City family's personal and romantic complexities intertwine, leading to unexpected yet touching resolutions.

4. "Closer" (2004)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 4The entangled relationships of two couples become a complex web of desire, deceit, and betrayal as they navigate the volatile landscape of love and loss.

5. "August: Osage County" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 5A family crisis brings the strong-willed women of the Weston family back to the house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

6. "Duplicity" (2009)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 6Two corporate spies with a romantic history navigate through a maze of intrigue and suspicion as they attempt to pull off the ultimate con against their respective employers.

7. "The Ant Bully" (2006)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 7After flooding an ant colony, a young boy is magically shrunken down to insect size and must face life in the colony, learning valuable lessons about friendship and teamwork.

8. "Money Monster" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 8A financial TV host and his producer face a deadly situation when an irate investor takes over their studio, demanding answers about a stock crash that ruined him.

9. "Satisfaction" (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 40%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 9A group of teenagers with their rock band and a summer to remember face life lessons and choices that could alter their path to adult life and dreams.

10. "Full Frontal" (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 39%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 10A day in the life of various Los Angeles residents, as their stories, realities, and fantasies cross and collide in the tapestry of a film within a film.

11. "Secret in Their Eyes" (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 39%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 11A tight-knit team of investigators is torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered, unraveling a dark quest for justice.

12. "Something to Talk About" (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 39%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 12A woman's discovery of her husband's infidelity sparks a chain reaction of revelations and reassessments in her extended family and community.

13. "Larry Crowne" (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 37%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 13After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college, where he forms unexpected bonds and begins to see life from a new perspective.

14. "Mona Lisa Smile" (2003)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 34%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 14A free-spirited art history professor challenges the conservative views of her female students about art and life in the 1950s, encouraging them to think beyond traditional societal roles.

15. "Mary Reilly" (1996)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 15A timid maid in the house of Dr. Jekyll confronts her innermost fears and desires as she becomes increasingly entangled in the mysteries of her enigmatic employer.

16. "Dying Young" (1991)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 25%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 16A young woman becomes the caretaker of a wealthy man with leukemia, and as they face his illness together, their bond evolves into a profound love.

17. "Ready to Wear" (also known as "Prêt-à-Porter") (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 17A satirical glimpse into the fashion industry, where the sudden death of a fashion mogul during Paris Fashion Week leads to chaos, competition, and comedy.

18. "I Love Trouble" (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 22%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 18Two rival reporters with contrasting styles reluctantly team up to uncover a conspiracy, finding themselves in dangerous and romantic predicaments.

19. "Fireflies in the Garden" (2008)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 21%
20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 19The complex dynamics of a troubled family come to the forefront when a tragedy brings them back together, challenging their perceptions of love and loyalty.

20. "Mother's Day" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 8%

20 Underrated Julia Roberts Movies That Deserve More Credit - image 20The lives of several mothers intertwine in surprising and touching ways as Mother's Day approaches, revealing the joys and challenges of motherhood.