Perhaps known most for her 1990s role as Rachel Green on Friends, American actress, director, and producer Jennifer Aniston has also made her mark in film. Making the jump from the sitcom to the big screen was definitely not an easy one, but Aniston managed to master the art of playing roles in both commercial hits and critical roles. Boasting 52 films, with 27 awards, and another 54 nominations, the 44-year-old’s career is far from over. Still, as an actress with a range of roles, ageless beauty, founder of production company Echo films, and signature good looks, Aniston deserves a countdown of her top 10 films so far. Aniston devotes time to charity work and has made several “most beautiful” lists, while also remaining one of the highest paid and most powerful actresses in the business. So, here we go, the top 10 films of Hollywood’s favorite Friend.
The Object of My Affection (1998)
Aniston starred as Nina in this subtle romantic comedy. Her character rents a room to a young man and falls in love with her new roommate, George, (Paul Rudd) despite knowing he's gay and only loves her as a friend. When she becomes pregnant she chooses to raise the baby as a single mother and looks to George for support, rather than be in a relationship with someone she does not love.
Derailed (2005)
Aniston plays Lucinda Harris, an intriguing woman begins an affair with an attractive train companion, Charles (Clive Owen). The affair quickly becomes messy as the two are robbed and Harris raped by an attacker in their hotel room. Aniston takes a break from her classic rom-com role in this serious, suspense film as the two characters deal with the demands of thief in order to keep their affair a secret. The thriller has plenty of plot twists and surprises, and is one her darker films for sure.
The Good Girl (2002)
As Justine Last, Aniston plays the lead in this drama directed by Miguel Arteta, furthering her depth as an actress. Her role a malcontent retail clerk in little Texas town dives into some melodramatic places, revealing a bit about fading dreams and the importance of responsibility. Alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Aniston, stuck in the minds of many audience members with her performance in the film.
The Break-Up (2006)
Aniston plays opposite Vince Vaughn, as girlfriend, and ex-girlfriend Brooke Meyers, an unbelievable catch who feels underappreciated and wronged. When the couple breaks up and both refuse to leave, their condo becomes the grounds for break-up war, each taking the chance to spite the other. The two play off each other beautifully, in both comedic and serious aspects of the film.
Rumor Has It (2005)
As the recently engaged Sarah Huttington, Aniston plays a confused but determined woman looking for answers when she realizes that her strange Pasadena family may be the basis for the book and the movie The Graduate . With the blessing of her fiancé, Jeff, she searches for the man in the middle of it all, Benjamin Braddock, who may be her real father, or the reason why her parent’s marriage fell apart, or why she just doesn’t fit in with her family. Aniston tangles herself up in more complicated relationships on her journey to figure out her past, present, and future.
Office Space (1999)
Though it didn’t hit the box office big, the film made a huge DVD comeback with quite the following from the average cubicle worker. Aniston plays Joana in this comedy about company employees who hate their jobs and collectively rebel against their insatiable boss.
Wanderlust (2012)
As Linda Gergenblatt, Aniston plays one-half (the other as Paul Rudd) of a couple shaken by unemployment. Desperate for a course of action, the two Manhattan dwellers switch it up and try an alternative living options on a rural commune full of different ideals and standards, with free love, free expression and free acceptance of drug experimentation. Aniston experiences quite a different lifestyle and provides many laughs in this recent film.
Marley and Me (2008)
In the hilarious and emotional role of Jennifer Grogan, Aniston plays the wife of Owen Wilson’s character ‘s, a husband who buys a puppy, Marley, to slow down her urges to start a family. Marley grows to be huge, but doesn’t grow out of his puppy-like ways and wins the heart of Aniston, Wilson, and the audience when his untrained behavior becomes the central role of Wilson’s job, and the main source of both love and frustration in their new family with three kids. Aniston does a wonderful job playing a wife, mother, and dog-lover, despite not having a husband or kids in real life.
Along Came Polly (2004)
In this classic comedic film, Aniston plays the quirky love interest, Polly Prince, of Ben Stiller, a wronged newlywed who falls head over heels for his old classmate Polly. Her funny and lovable character won over the heart of many in this film.
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Aniston showed her true talent as a comedic actress in this film, holding her own as Grace Connelly, working opposite of the famous comedian Jim Carrey, playing Bruce Nolan. Aniston stands out in this star-studded hit, including Morgan Freeman and Steve Carell, playing the long-time partner of Nolan. While he gains God-like abilities and learns the responsibilities of being the almighty one, she remains in the dark and faces the challenges it brings to their relationship. She plays a hysterical and dramatic woman in this film, showing both her funny and serious versatility again.