Brie Larson, the Oscar winner and star of the superhero film Captain Marvel, is no stranger to leading roles. She has a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy to her name, among many other awards. Moreover, Time magazine listed her among the 100 most influential individuals in 2019.
Larson made her professional acting debut in 1998 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when she was just nine years old. She dabbled in music for a while, releasing an album called Finally Out of P.E. in 2005. Larson’s breakout performance as the lead character was in the critically lauded indie drama Short Term 12. (2013). The 2017 action film Kong: Skull Island served as her first major release. And finally, there’s Captain Marvel which made her a household name worldwide.
As Larson’s Hollywood career continues to skyrocket, we take a look back at the 10 best films she’s been a part of thus far.
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Room
Plot: A mother and her young son are freed after being imprisoned for seven years, giving the boy his first taste of the outside World.
About the movie: Emma Donoghue writes the Room’s screenplay based on her engrossing 2010 novel of the same name. The movie also stars William H. Macy, Sean Bridgers, and Joan Allen also star in the movie.
Brie’s role: Brie Larson gives a career-defining performance as the mother, elevating herself to Hollywood’s A-list. She reportedly did extensive research on trauma and nutrition for her role. As a result, her efforts paid off, and she won the Best Actress Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards for the movie.
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Short Term 12
Plot: Together with her coworker and long-term boyfriend, a young woman in her 20s navigates the challenging environment of a residential treatment facility.
About the movie: The original short film by Destin Daniel Cretton served as the inspiration for Short Term 12. According to reports, his work experience in a teen facility served as the base for Short Term 12. In addition, numerous critics included the feature film on their best 2013 lists, praising its realism and intimacy.
Brie’s role: In her first major film role, Brie Larson plays a manager. She gives a star-making performance, full of subtle but significant details like her character’s nervous tick of digging at her thumb cuticle throughout the film. The truth is that the small detail makes the character relatable to many of us.
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Captain Marvel
Plot: Captain Marvel is the 21st MCU movie that centers on Danvers as she transforms into Captain Marvel. Earth was amidst an intergalactic conflict between two alien civilizations in 1995.
About the movie: Several actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, return from previous MCU films in Captain Marvel. They were all digitally de-aged to fit the film’s 1990s setting. Despite mixed reviews, the film became the first superhero movie to gross over $1 billion.
Brie’s role: Brie Larson’s commanding performance as the title character rivals any recent turn by a male superhero. It’s no surprise that a sequel, The Marvels, is in the works. The release is slated for 2/17/2023.
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The Spectacular Now
Plot: This is the moment that matters to Sutter Keely. A senior in high school who is already showing signs of alcoholism. Sutter gets drunk after being dumped by his girlfriend and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finecky watching him. She’s not like the other girls; she’s the nerdy science fiction reader who doesn’t have a boyfriend. The poles apart individuals are somehow drawn together in the movie.
About the movie: The Spectacular Now, a novel by Tim Tharp, was the inspiration for the 2013 American coming-of-age film of the same name. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller, Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bob Odenkirk, and Kyle Chandler. The film was well-received by critics. Moreover, it was nominated for two awards at the 29th annual Independent Spirit Awards.
Brie’s role: Larson, who plays Sutter’s ex-girlfriend, showed signs of being a future A-lister in her teen years chemistry with Teller. In addition, 21 Jump Street highlighted her ability to establish instant rapport with other Hollywood heavy hitters despite her young age.
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Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Plot: Inspired by Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series of the same name. Scott Pilgrim stars Michael Cera as Scott. Scott is a slacker musician who enters a competition to get a record deal while also fighting off the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays the girlfriend, Ramona Flowers.
About the movie: The film had its world premiere at Comic-Con International: San Diego in July of 2010 and was re-released in the United States for its tenth anniversary in 2021. Unfortunately, the $85 million production budget was not recovered at the box office, despite the fact that the film’s visual style and humour were praised by critics. Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World also got nominated for several awards, including the 83rd Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Brie’s role: Larson plays Scott’s evil ex-girlfriend Envy Adams, who apparently became famous after breaking up with Scott. In this scene-stealing role, Larson demonstrates a rare talent for comedic timing, a side that she rarely got the chance to show in her filmography.
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Kong: The Skull Island
Plot: A group of scientists seeking refuge from the carnage of the Vietnam War find themselves trapped on an uncharted island in the Pacific, the home of the mighty Kong, and must fight their way out.
About the movie: The second film in Warner Bros.’ expanding Monsterverse, The Skull Island, made over $566 million against a $185 production budget.
Brie’s role: Brie Larson portrays an intrepid reporter and anti-war photographer named Mason Weaver. She goes to Skull Island for her own reasons. Unfortunately, the guests get more than they bargained for when a Giant Ape throws a tantrum. After that, Larson will need the help of the other oddballs if they have any hope of surviving and eventually saving Kong.
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21 Jump Street
Plot: Two underperforming police officers are re-deployed to a local high school in an attempt to infiltrate a synthetic drug ring.
About the movie: Earning over $200 million worldwide on a budget of only $42 million, 21 Jump Street was a huge financial success. It was the highest-grossing comedy ever made, which was enough to cement 21 Jump Street as a successful franchise. In addition, the Teen Choice Award for Best Movie was given to the film. The critics praised it as a “smart, affectionate satire of ’80s nostalgia and teen movies tropes.”
Brie’s role: Brie Larson’s character Molly is a smart high school student and Jonah Hill’s love interest in the film. Hill and Channing Tatum’s Schmidt and Jenko’s undercover cops get into all sorts of hijinks and fall for Brie Larson’s Molly when they infiltrate a high school to track down the source of a new drug.
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Trainwreck
Plot: A commitment-averse professional woman who meets a good guy may be forced to confront her belief that monogamy is impossible.
About the movie: Trainwreck, a comedy that cost only $35 million to make, grossed over $140 million around the World. The result was enough to place the film in the top three of all comedies for the year. It was nominated for various awards, such as Best Actress and Best Musical/ Comedy at the Golden Globes and Best Ensemble Cast at the MTV Movie Awards. It is widely regarded as the most prestigious ceremony of its kind.
Brie’s role: Brie plays Kim, Amy Schumer’s sister, in the film. Although her screen time is limited, she is the one who comes to Amy’s aid in times of crisis, stands by her side, and encourages her to develop into a better person.
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Don Jon
Plot: Jon Martello, a handsome man has a middle name “Don” because he can secure time with any woman he wants. But he would rather be alone and watch porn than to have to interact with and grow fond of the many files that comes into his life. However, his perspective shifts when he meets the good Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson), a romantic novice who knows romance by watching classic films. In an effort to transform Jon into the ideal Prince Charming, they put these films through their paces by experiencing the highs and lows of romantic relationships.
About the movie: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who also plays the lead in the movie, takes charge behind the camera. He delivered an unexpectedly funny and charming comedy. In addition to its powerful message about love and the media’s influence on our understanding of what love is, this film also features a strong sense of community.
Brie’s role: Brie joins the team as Jon’s sister, Monica Martello, in this modern take on the “boy meets girl” story. The movie also addresses issues of addiction and obsessive personalities.
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Free Fire
Plot: In 1978 Boston, a meeting between rival gangs in a deserted warehouse escalates into gunplay and a struggle for survival.
About the movie: This modest promotional effort contributed to its lacklustre box office performance. Nearly $4 million was lost out of a budget of $7 million. However, despite not being universally praised, most people agree that Free Fire accomplished what it set out to. Do you seek a film featuring excessive gunfights? If so, then you should watch Free Fire.
Brie’s role: Justine, played by Brie Larson, is a mysterious businesswoman who, along with Ord, played by Armie Hammer, tries to negotiate a black market deal with Chris, played by Cillian Murphy, but things quickly go awry. But, as the action in this witty and brisk thriller heats up, everyone will soon be firing their weapons at one another.
