There are so many actresses that are talked about as some of the greats. These actresses include Julia Roberts, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and of course, Meryl Streep. With over 45 movies in her filmography, it’s hard to narrow down the best Meryl Streep movies of all time. Meryl Streep has shown her range through all these movies, from romances, dramas, musicals, and more.
After her debut in 1975 with Trelawny of the Wells, she has since been part of some of the most amazing films today. And while she’s most recognized in movies like Mamma Mia!, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Post, some of the best Meryl Streep movies are from her earlier roles.
6. Defending Your Life, Prime Video (1991)
Defending Your Life is first on the list of best Meryl Streep movies. The 1991 romantic comedy fantasy film stars Streep alongside Albert Brooks, Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry. The plot follows a man who dies in a car accident and finds himself on trial in the afterlife.
The proceedings of this trial examine his lifelong fears to determine if he’ll be reincarnated on Earth or move on to the next phase of existence. While in this afterlife setting, he meets and falls in love with another person getting ready to move on to the next part of existence. It’s not only a hilarious and romantic watch, but an interesting and deep story about what happens after death.
5. Silkwood, Amazon (1983)
Another one of the best Meryl Streep movies of all time is Silkwood. The 1983 biographical drama film stars Streep with Kurt Russell and Cher. The story follows the life of Karen Silkwood, a nuclear whistle-blower and labor union activist who investigated alleged wrongdoings at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant where she worked.
The story was adapted from the book Who Killed Karen Silkwood by Rolling Stone writer and activist Howard Kohn. In real life, her inconclusive death in a car accident led to a 1979 lawsuit.
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4. The Bridges of Madison County, Prime Video (1995)
Another romantic comedy on the list of best Meryl Streep movies is The Bridges of Madison County. The 1995 movie is based on the novel, which shares the same name as Robert James Waller, with the movie produced by Clint Eastwood. Streep stars in the movie with Eastwood as well, playing a photographer who wanders into her life while her husband and children are away at the state fair.
While staying with her for a few days, they grow a connection. She decides to write about their brief love affair, which the children learn about after her death. It’s a romantic, yet heartbreaking movie that features two accomplished actors.
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3. Kramer vs. Kramer, Prime Video (1979)
One of the best Meryl Streep movies if you want to check out her filmography is Kramer vs. Kramer. The 1979 legal drama stars Streep with Dustin Hoffman, Justin Henry, and Jane Alexander. The story follows a couple’s divorce, its impact on their young son, and the evolution of their relationship and views on parenting.
The movie follows the psychology and follows out during a divorce, as well as the social issues that are presented, such as gender roles, fathers’ rights, work-life balance, and more.
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2. The Deer Hunter, Prime Video (1978)
The second-to-last must-watch if you love Meryl Streep is The Deer Hunter. The 1978 epic war drama is a different genre than we’ve seen so far with her movies, but it’s one of her top performances. The movie follows a trio of Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are upended after fighting the Vietnam War.
The movie takes an in-depth examination of the ways in which the war impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small town in Pennsylvania. While the trio features Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, Streep plays a supporting role and is one of her best.
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1. Sophie’s Choice, Peacock (1982)
Finally, we have the number one spot on the list of best Meryl Streep movies of all time, Sophie’s Choice. The 1982 psychological drama is an adaptation of William Styron’s 1979 novel.
The movie stars Streep as Zofia “Sophie” Zawistowska, a Polish immigrant who survived Nazi concentration camps, who had come to America. She shares a boarding house in Brooklyn with her lover Nathan, a sparkling but unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust. It’s an interesting story that is sensual, yet uncomfortable at the same time.