Mikey Madisonis one of the rising stars of the moment. Fresh offher Oscar win, she’sreportedlyfielding offers from various studios and directors, and for good reason. Madison’s lead performance inAnoraproved she’s up for pretty much anything, able to be funny, intense, emotional, and raw, sometimes all within the same scene. It’ll be great to see what this recent Oscar winner does next.
With this in mind,this list reflects on all nine of the feature films Madison has appeared inso far. They’re a diverse bunch, both in tone and in quality, ranging from petty awful to modern classics. She shines in some of them, while others give her little to work with. (In fact, probably her best early performance isn’t in a movie at all but rather as Max Fox inPamela Adlon’s TV seriesBetter Things.) The following films include low-budget dramas, horror sequels, and aTarantinomasterpiece, proving Madison has a surprisingly versatile career for someone so young.
9’All Souls' (2023)
Directed by Emmanuelle Pickett
“You think you know the streets, but the streets know you better.“ Probably the weakest feature Madison has appeared in so far isAll Souls, a shaky crime drama. She leads the cast as River, a single mother coerced into becoming a confidential informant for law enforcement. Facing legal troubles and the threat of losing her child, River agrees to infiltrate a dangerous drug cartel operating in her neighborhood. It’s a decent (if unoriginal) premise, butthe execution is lackluster.
The writing is flimsy, handing the leads plenty of lame or wince-inducing lines.Madison does her best with what little the script gives her, but saving this dud is beyond her talents. Her co-star, rapperG-Eazy, fares a lot worse, struggling to flesh out his character. As a result,All Soulsfeels painfully overlongdespite being just 81 minutes. Overall,All Soulsoffers little reason to seek it out, even for Madison stans.
8’It Takes Three' (2021)
Directed by Scott Coffey
“Sometimes, to win someone’s heart, you need to be someone else.“It Takes Threeisa modern retellingofCyrano de Bergerac, but set in a high school (this conceit has been done before, mostly by Disney Channel). Madison plays Kat Walker, the object of affection for the protagonist, Cy Berger (Jared Gilman). While the movie has good intentions, it’s ultimately not that creative, nor are its protagonists particularly engaging.The whole thing is formulaic and predictable.
It Takes Threeis undeniably sweet, but most of its characters are cardboard cutouts (though Madison is fairly charming), and the plot rehashes storylines we’ve seen a million times before. There’s little character development to be found, and what little there is feels forced by the dictates of the plot rather than emerging organically. Plus, the tone is very uneven throughout. While some younger viewers may enjoy the teen drama,most viewers will want to give this a miss.
It Takes Three
7’Nostalgia' (2018)
Directed by Mark Pellington
“Memories are all we have, in the end.“ Madison has a minor part in this drama as a side character, Kathleen.Nostalgiais a drama that weaves together multiple narratives, each reflecting on how objects hold sentimental value and the stories they carry.The impressive ensemble castincludesJon Hamm,Ellen Burstyn,Nick Offerman,Amber Tamblyn,Patton Oswalt, andCatherine Keener.
It’s a lot of talent in one place, yetthe film doesn’t do all that much with its stars. Hamm is entertaining, and Burstyn turns in a moving performance, but the story itself struggles to maintain momentum. The pacing is off during certain stretches, and the ending isn’t a worthy payoff for all the buildup. As a result, while not terrible,Nostalgiais pretty boringand sometimes cloyingly sentimental. A few of the lines are totally overwritten, too, bordering on intentional comedy. Not to mention, the unrelentingly somber vibe gets a bit much.
6’The Addams Family' (2019)
“Every family is different, but some are more different than others.“ Madison makes a small appearance in this animated Addams Family movie, lending her voice to the side character Candi the Barista. Once again, this project has a stacked cast —Charlize Theron,Oscar Isaac,Chloë Grace Moretz, andNick Krollall appear — that winds up being pretty meh. It adds little to the franchise’s mythology, andits overly sweet tone clashes with the darkness fans know and love.
The animation is good, nicely paying homage to the original cartoons, and the voice acting is solid. Where this version ofThe Addams Familystumbles is with the plot and writing. The movie is only 86 minutes long, yet it tries to juggle three storylines, failing to develop any of them adequately. Plus, by being targeted toward much younger viewers, it fails to get asspooky and macabreas it should. In short,a waste of potential.
The Addams Family
5’Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey' (2017)
Directed by Terry Sanders
“I guess sometimes you have to lose your way to find yourself.“ This movie follows Liza (Madison), a teenager who embarks on a motorcycle journey along the California coast during the 1960s. It’s meant to be one last adventure with her boyfriend (Sean H. Scully), who has to move to New York. Their trips unfold against a backdrop of cultural upheaval, including the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the sexual revolution.
This concept holds a lot of promise, butLiza, Liza, Skies Are Greylacks the rich characterization needed to make us really care for the protagonists. The script is underdeveloped and could have used a rewrite. In general,the movie is let down by its lack of resources. It’s clearly a low-budget affair, and while somemovies make efficient use of their limited elements,Liza, Liza, Skies Are Greystruggles, possibly because it’s trying to recreate the past.Its vision of the ’60s feels inauthentic and frail, meaning the viewer never fully immerses themselves in it.
Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey
4’Scream' (2022)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
“It’s always someone you know.“ Things improve dramatically with 2022’sScream, which is a fine installment inthe beloved slasher franchise. It blends legacy characters with new faces, creating a fresh narrative that pays homage to the original while introducing contemporary themes. Madison takes on the role of Amber Freeman, a character who initially appears as a typical teenager but is later revealed to have a darker side. She’s joined in the cast byNeve Campbell,Courteney Cox,Melissa Barrera, andJack Quaid.
Screamsucceeds because it leans into the series’s meta-slasher formula. In particular, it playfully riffs on the idea of a “requel,” becoming wonderfully self-aware rather than overly serious. Action-wise, there are a few tense sequences and some hard-hitting kills, culminating in an appropriately pulse-pounding climax.Madison is a standout, as the third-act twist allows her to display the same unhinged energy she brought to her breakthrough role in a certain 2019 revisionist history movie that we’ll revisit further up this list. While obviously falling far short of the two original installments, thisScreammoviestill packs a punch. It’s a ton of cheeky, bloody fun.
3’Monster' (2018)
Directed by Anthony Mandler
“Every decision has a consequence.” Madison only has a small part in this, butMonsteris a solid enough legal drama that it merits a high spot on this list. It’s about Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a 17-year-old aspiring filmmaker whose life is upended when he is accused of being an accomplice to a robbery-turned-murder. Steve’s trial serves as the crux of the narrative,examining flaws in the legal system and society’s rush to conclusions.
The movie is occasionally heavy-handed, butthe message is urgent, and the lead performances are top-notch. Oscar nomineeJeffrey Wrightand Oscar winnerJennifer Hudsonplay Steve’s parents with a lot of warmth, whileA$AP Rockyis also surprisingly good in his supporting part. The star of the show, however, is Harrison Jr., who has to do most of the heavy lifting. He’s subtle and believable, elevating the material. All in all,Monstermakes fora fresh take on courtroom drama.
2’Anora' (2024)
Directed by Sean Baker
“Sometimes, love is just another transaction.” Perhapsthe movie that will forever define Madison’s career,Anorafocuses on Ani, a Brooklyn stripper and sex worker who unexpectedly finds herself thrust into the world of unimaginable wealth after marrying Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch. DirectorSean Baker(Tangerine,The Florida Project) tells this story with hyperrealism, making it both an intimate drama and a social statement.
Fast, sharp-witted, and packed with energy,Anoramanages to be botha madcap adventure, a dark comedy, and a moving drama. It borrows structural elements from the comedies ofHoward Hawksbut infuses them with devastating moments of bleakness. A standout is the scene where Ani resists the Russian goons, smashing up a luxurious lounge in the process, their brawn unable to stop her fierceness.Anoraplays to Madison’s strengthsand allows her to explore emotions on-screen she’d only hinted at previously. It’ll be fascinating to see what projects it unlocks for her going forward.
1’Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (2019)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
“I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” Sorry, Sean Baker, but the best movie Madison has appeared in to date isOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. Ranking amongQuentin Tarantino’s most mature and ambitious works, it’s a love letter to 1969 Los Angeles, blending real history with revisionist fantasy. Madison playsSusan “Sadie” Atkins, a member of the Manson Family, who becomes a key player in the film’s shocking, classically Tarantino reimagining of history.
While the real-life Atkins played a major role in the infamous Tate murders, Tarantino flips the script, leading to a brutal, darkly comedic climax where the would-be killers are violently dispatched by stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) and fading TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio).Madison’s portrayal of Sadie is unhinged and ferocious, embodying the manic devotion and disturbing ideology of the Manson cult. Her performance during the climax—where she unleashes a hysterical, expletive-laden tirade before meeting a flamethrower-fueled demise—is one of the film’s most memorable moments and a perfect way to announce herself as a talent to look out for.
