Anne Hathaway’s 13 Best Performances Ranked: From ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ to the Epic Masterpiece ‘Odyssey’

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, from anchoring blockbuster franchises to portraying a devastatingly broken addict or a horseback-riding wife harboring a massive secret, Anne Hathaway has proven herself over the past 25 years to be one of Hollywood’s most versatile and adaptable actresses. As the Oscar winner reunites with Christopher Nolan to play “Penelope” in the epic saga Odyssey—marking one of the most significant milestones of her incredibly busy 2026, alongside The Devil Wears Prada 2—we take a look back at the definitive ranking of her finest cinematic performances to date.

13. Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

• Golden Scene: “Everything good before you was a cheat.”
• Just a year after her breakout in The Princess Diaries, Hathaway donned a British accent in this adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic tale. Performing alongside stars like Charlie Hunnam and Jamie Bell, she beautifully showcases the profound emotional depth of the character.

12. Colossal (2016)

• Golden Scene: Raising her arms on the playground.
• Hathaway’s enigmatic performance as Gloria—an unemployed, alcoholic writer who discovers she has a bizarre connection to a giant monster in Seoul—stands as one of her best and most underrated sci-fi turns. The film thrives entirely on a clever script rather than relying on an expensive VFX budget.

11. Ella Enchanted (2004)

• Golden Scene: Singing “Somebody to Love.”
• Injecting boundless charm and sharp wit into this family fantasy, Hathaway crafts a film that is genuinely engaging even for adult audiences, while displaying fantastic on-screen chemistry with Hugh Dancy.

10. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

• Golden Scene: Saying the word “Oh.”
• Although the inclusion of Selina Kyle (Catwoman) into Nolan’s Batman trilogy initially drew skepticism from fans, Hathaway delivered an exceptional performance in a role that initially seemed outside her wheelhouse, effortlessly handling both the high-octane action and the razor-sharp dialogue.

9. Ocean’s 8 (2018)

• Golden Scene: “Hi Daphne, welcome to the team… Now don’t all clap at once!”
• In an ensemble film featuring heavyweights like Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, and Sarah Paulson, Hathaway steals the spotlight entirely, delivering a brilliantly bold, comically villainous performance as a high-maintenance celebrity.

8. Love & Other Drugs (2010)

• Golden Scene: “In fact, it’s about the nicest thing I can think of doing.”
• The cornerstone of this romantic drama is the electric chemistry between Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal. Hathaway’s deep commitment to portraying a woman grappling with early-onset Parkinson’s disease earned her a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination.

7. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

• Golden Scene: The crushing phone call near the end of the film.
• Time has only proven how critical Hathaway’s role as Lureen was to advancing the narrative and underscoring the tragic depth of the hidden love shared between Jack and Ennis (played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger).

6. Get Smart (2008)

• Golden Scene: “This was my last mile…”
• Starring as Agent 99 opposite Steve Carell, Hathaway transcends the typical sidekick archetype. Relying on her charisma and physical command, she establishes herself as the true hero of this spy-comedy.

5. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

• Golden Scene: The iconic makeover montage.
• While Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt garnered most of the immediate awards attention, Hathaway’s intelligent and remarkably nuanced performance alongside Stanley Tucci is undeniable—a cinematic magic that makes her return for The Devil Wears Prada 2 later this year so highly anticipated.

4. Odyssey (2026)

• Golden Scene: The reunion sequence.
• In her third collaboration with Christopher Nolan, Hathaway portrays Penelope, the Queen of Ithaca, who fiercely protects her kingdom and her sanity during her husband’s two-decade disappearance at sea. Her performance in this epic is a masterclass in internal restraint and sheer willpower. In a star-studded film dominated by male leads like Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Robert Pattinson, Hathaway finds a way to command the screen.

3. The Princess Diaries (2001)

• Golden Scene: “Me? A princess?”
• It is impossible to forget the first time audiences witnessed Hathaway’s immense talent as Mia Thermopolis. In this cult classic, she goes toe-to-toe with the legendary Julie Andrews with absolute confidence.

2. Les Misérables (2012)

• Golden Scene: The continuous, raw performance of “I Dreamed a Dream.”
• Her devastating portrayal of Fantine catapulted Hathaway to the absolute pinnacle of her acting career. Her Best Supporting Actress Oscar win was richly deserved, immortalized in cinema history by her flawless, single-take, live-recorded vocal performance.

1. Rachel Getting Married (2008)

• Golden Scene: “Did I sacrifice all the love in this life because I killed our little brother?”
• Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece drama serves as the ultimate showcase of Hathaway’s ability to anchor and expose the rawest facets of human emotion. Playing Kym, a young woman navigating profound grief and addiction years after accidentally causing her younger brother’s death in a car crash, she oscillates brilliantly between volatile sorrow and deceptive charm. This masterpiece rightfully earned Hathaway her first Oscar nomination and remains the defining milestone of her career.