Uma Thurman is one of the most recognizable actresses of the past several decades. Thurman has starred in some of the most iconic movies of the past two decades. However, the iconic status of these movies does not necessarily mean they are great movies. For instance, her roles in Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction are both incredible and will certainly stand the test of time. Although, her role as Poison Ivy in Batman and Robin is also iconic for a completely different reason.
This article will list Uma Thurman’s 10 best movies and TV shows according to IMDB.
Les Misérables
Les Misérables was a 1998 adaption of the novel by Victor Hugo. Rather than acting as a movie adaption of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, this version is a straight adaption of the novel and features no musical elements. The film masterfully adapts Hugo’s novel and manages to include all of the emotion and action that was in the original novel, while also managing to condense it into movie length.
The film was received warmly by critics, with many praising the outstanding performances of the main cast and the exceptional director.
Dangerous Liaisons: 7.6
1988’s Dangerous Liaisons was an adaption of the 1782 novel by French author Francois Choderlos de Laclos. The film is based around challenges set by Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the vile Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich). The Marquise challenges the Vicomte to seduce Cecile de Volanges (Uma Thurman) before she is married, but the Vicomte proposes a counter challenge that he can seduce the already married Madame de Tourvel.
The film was critically acclaimed with critics praising the strong performances of the cast, as well as the entertaining way in which the film handles the sexual politics of the plot.
Smash: 7.7
Smash was a musical drama series that follows individuals working (or wishing to work) on Broadway. The show did a fantastic job of perfectly showing how the pursuit of Broadway stardom can result in the highest of emotions as well as one of the lowest and most despairing forms of heartbreak.
While the show only lasted for two seasons, it was warmly received by critics. Many described it as a dynamic show that was unique in its interpretation of show business.
Gattaca: 7.8
1997’s Gattaca is a science fiction story that is steeped in ethical concerns. The film is set in a futuristic society in which certain members of society have the ability to rewrite the DNA of their children in order to achieve genetic perfection. This then leads to a class divide in the future society, as the babies born without any genetic alterations are treated as an underclass.
Starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, Gattaca was received well by critics who praised the movie for its intelligent and thought-provoking plot, as well as its strong cast performances.
Imposters: 7.8
Imposters was a show focussed around a con artist named Maddie. In order to trick her victims, Maddie would seduce someone and then leave them without money and heartbroken by the betrayal. Maddie’s time starts to run out, however, after several of her former victims meet up in an effort to find Maddie.
While Imposters wasn’t as influential or as mindblowing as some other TV shows premiering around the same time, it was still an incredibly entertaining watch.
Great Books: 7.9
The series Great Books was a documentary series that explored the time in which many literary classics were written. The documentary does a fantastic job of explaining the context of the time in which certain books were written, which allows us to gain even more understanding of the novel and its themes.
In addition to starring Uma Thurman, Great Books also starred Donald Sutherland, Wes Craven, and Oliver Stone.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: 8.1
Another movie from the famed and acclaimed Japanese director Hayou Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind follows Princess Nausicaä as she rules over her people in the Valley of the Wind. The film is set centuries after the events of a war that devasted human civilization. In addition to featuring conflicts between other clans and societies, Nausicaä also has terrifying creatures and subtle political scheming.
This movie may not have the reputation of Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle, but it truly is a fantastic movie and certainly deserves a watch.
E! True Hollywood Story - Uma Thurman: 8.5
E! True Hollywood Story is a documentary series that retells the stories of certain celebrities as they rose to fame and received some of their biggest breaks. Additionally, the series also explores the rivalries and drama that celebrities may have experienced in the Hollywood industry.
The episode based on Uma Thurman explores the actress’ rise to fame and how she then went on to experience a rough patch in her career, as well as a recent return to form.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair/ Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2: 8.8
While the second-highest rated movie on Uma Thurman’s IMDB page is The Whole Bloody Affair, the movie has not been released commercially. This film is, essentially, a supercut of the two Kill Bill movies and it has only been shown in theatres so far. That being said, as it is a combination of the two Kill Bill movies it still seems fair to include it in this list.
The Kill Bill movies are some of the most loved among Tarantino’s back catalog. Kill Bill is a visual masterpiece with fantastic performances and an all-star cast. The film is gripping from start to end with its revenge themed plot that is masterfully concluded in the second volume.
Pulp Fiction: 8.9
Pulp Fiction is one of the most influential movies of the past few decades. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is a truly seminal movie that drew inspiration from the noir classics and gangster movies that had proven to be so popular among cinema audiences for decades and combined them with an ultra-violent style that was more closely related with slap-stick cartoons than it was live-action.
Due to the film’s highly influential reputation, it would come as no surprise that the movie was universally critically acclaimed. Critics praised the fresh directing of Tarantino and the high-quality screenplay, as well as the stellar performance from the cast.