The Best Margot Robbie Movies Ranked
From Wall Street to Barbie Land
Discover the finest cinematic performances of Margot Robbie, ranked by critics and cultural impact, from her breakout roles to award-winning lead turns.
About Margot Robbie
In the decade since Margot Robbie first commanded the screen with a single, perfectly aimed pump to Leonardo DiCaprio’s chest in The Wolf of Wall Street, she has evolved from a breakout lightning bolt into the most formidable architect of modern Hollywood. To watch her work is to witness a rare alchemy of old-school movie star magnetism and a gritty, blue-collar work ethic. While many of her contemporaries are content to wait for the right script, Robbie has spent the last several years building the table she sits at, pivoting seamlessly between the chaotic anarchy of the DC Universe and the high-stakes prestige of award season.
Her genius lies in an uncanny ability to find the humanity within larger-than-life archetypes. As Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey, she didn't just play a comic book villain; she crafted a frantic, neon-soaked portrait of female liberation that made her the definitive face of the franchise. It is the same feral intensity she brought to Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, a role that signaled her arrival as a dramatic powerhouse. She forced audiences to empathize with a pariah, stripping away the tabloid headlines to reveal the jagged edges of the American dream. Even in quieter, more ethereal turns, like her portrayal of Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood or her brief but luminous appearance in Asteroid City, she possesses a transformative quality that anchors the most surreal narratives in something palpably real.
Audiences connect with her because there is a discernible lack of vanity in her choices. She is willing to be ugly, to be loud, and to be profoundly vulnerable. In the frantic, cocaine-dusted excess of Babylon, she vibrates with an electric desperation that feels like a high-wire act. Yet, she can just as easily dial back the noise for the corporate tension of Bombshell or the period gravity of Mary Queen of Scots and Suite Française. Whether she is navigating the heartfelt whimsy of About Time or the wartime reporting of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, her presence ensures the project feels vital and current.
The cultural seismic shift of 2023’s Barbie solidified her status not just as a leading lady, but as a visionary producer. By personifying the world’s most famous doll, she managed to satirize and celebrate womanhood simultaneously, turning a pink-hued block-buster into a global philosophical conversation. This is the Robbie trademark: taking a recognizable icon and infusing it with a soul. From the early days of The Legend of Tarzan and Goodbye Christopher Robin to her current position as a titan of the industry, she has proven that she is less interested in being a star than she is in being an engine for storytelling. She remains one of the few performers who can balance the demands of a massive studio machine with the adventurous spirit of an independent artist, ensuring that whatever she builds next will be impossible to ignore.
Peter Rabbit
2018Peter Rabbit's feud with Mr. McGregor escalates to greater heights than ever before as they rival for the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover who lives next door.
Focus
2015Nicky, an accomplished con artist, gets romantically involved with his disciple Jess but later ends their relationship. Years later, she returns as a femme fatale to spoil his plans.
Asteroid City
2023In an American desert town circa 1955, the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
The Big Short
2015The men who made millions from a global economic meltdown.
Goodbye Christopher Robin
2017The behind the scenes story of the life of A.A. Milne and the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories inspired by his son Christopher Robin.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
2016In 2002, cable news producer Kim Barker decides to shake up her routine by taking a daring new assignment in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dislodged from her comfortable American lifestyle, Barker finds herself in the middle of an out-of-control war zone. Luckily, she meets Tanya Vanderpoel, a fellow journalist who takes the shell-shocked reporter under her wing. Amid the militants, warlords and nighttime partying, Barker discovers the key to becoming a successful correspondent.
Suite Française
2015France, 1940. In the first days of occupation, beautiful Lucile Angellier is trapped in a stifled existence with her controlling mother-in-law as they both await news of her husband: a prisoner of war. Parisian refugees start to pour into their small town, soon followed by a regiment of German soldiers who take up residence in the villagers' own homes. Lucile initially tries to ignore Bruno von Falk, the handsome and refined German officer staying with them. But soon, a powerful love draws them together and leads them into the tragedy of war.
Mary Queen of Scots
2018In 1561, Mary Stuart, widow of the King of France, returns to Scotland, reclaims her rightful throne and menaces the future of Queen Elizabeth I as ruler of England, because she has a legitimate claim to the English throne. Betrayals, rebellions, conspiracies and their own life choices imperil both Queens. They experience the bitter cost of power, until their tragic fate is finally fulfilled.
The Legend of Tarzan
2016Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.
Robbie attempts to breathe modern fire into the 'damsel' trope, imbuing Jane Porter with a defiance that frequently outshines the surrounding CGI spectacle. Even within the constraints of a traditional blockbuster, her screen presence remains vivid and remarkably grounded.
Bombshell
2019Bombshell is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.
Portraying a composite character among real-life figures, Robbie provides the film's moral compass and its most devastating emotional beats. She skillfully handles the internal collapse of a young woman caught in a predatory corporate machine, earning critical acclaim for her understated restraint.
About Time
2013The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
In this gentle sci-fi romance, Robbie utilizes her classic screen-siren aesthetics to play an idealized foil that fuels the protagonist's growth. Though a supporting role, her presence signals the early arrival of an actor who could effortlessly embody the 'dream girl' archetype while hinting at sharper instincts.
Babylon
2022A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters in an era of unbridled decadence and depravity during Hollywood's transition from silent films to sound films in the late 1920s.
As the feral Nellie LaRoy, Robbie is a human tornado of ambition and self-destruction, personifying the silent era’s transition into sonic chaos. Her uninhibited work here captures the frantic, desperate soul of early Hollywood stardom with bone-deep intensity.
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
2020Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.
Robbie revels in the chaotic independence of a post-Joker Harley, utilizing the film’s frantic energy to showcase her comedic timing and stunt-heavy physicality. It serves as a loud, color-saturated manifesto for her dedication to producing and leading female-driven genre cinema.
I, Tonya
2017Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
In this gritty deconstruction of a public pariah, Robbie sheds every ounce of vanity to inhabit Tonya Harding’s abrasive vulnerability and athletic desperation. It is the transformative role that cemented her status as a heavy-hitting dramatic technician capable of anchoring a complex biopic.
The Suicide Squad
2021Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
James Gunn finally gives Robbie the kinetic, Looney Tunes-inspired sandbox her Harley Quinn deserved, resulting in a performance that is as elegantly choreographed as it is manic. This iteration perfected the character's blend of lethal gymnastic prowess and psychological unpredictability.
Barbie
2023Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
Navigating the perilous line between plastic artifice and existential crisis, Robbie crafts a subversive portrait of the world’s most famous doll. Her performance provides the necessary emotional anchor for a high-concept meta-comedy, turning an icon into a deeply human vessel for self-discovery.
Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton, a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth, his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate, who has just married the prestigious Polish director Roman Polanski…
Acting primarily through radiant physicality and a joyful presence, Robbie’s Sharon Tate serves as the ethereal heartbeat of Tarantino’s revisionist fairy tale. She evokes a sense of lost innocence without relying on heavy dialogue, proving her ability to dominate the screen through sheer atmospheric grace.
A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography.
Robbie’s breakout turn as Naomi Lapaglia is a masterclass in weaponized charisma, out-shouting DiCaprio and commanding the frame with a fierce, Brooklyn-tough magnetism. It remains the definitive moment she transitioned from an unknown to a formidable Hollywood power player.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts
- "The Wolf of Wall Street" is ranked number one due to Margot Robbie's breakout performance that announced her as a major Hollywood talent. Her portrayal of Naomi Lapaglia showcased a blend of charisma and complexity, earning critical acclaim and establishing a strong foundation for her career.
- In "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," Margot Robbie delivers a nuanced portrayal of Sharon Tate, combining grace and poignancy. The film's critical success and Tarantino's direction highlight her ability to embody real-life figures with authenticity and charm.
- "Barbie" (2023) represents a playful and adventurous side of Margot Robbie's range, moving away from her dramatic and intense roles. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film blends comedy and fantasy, showcasing Robbie's versatility and appeal in family-friendly blockbuster cinema.
- Action roles in "The Suicide Squad" and "Birds of Prey" underscore Margot Robbie's dynamic presence in the superhero genre, especially as Harley Quinn. These films highlight her ability to bring depth and humor to high-energy, comic book characters, broadening her appeal and box office success.
- "I, Tonya" is notable for Margot Robbie's transformative portrayal of figure skater Tonya Harding, earning her an Academy Award nomination. The film's blend of drama and dark comedy allowed Robbie to demonstrate her dramatic range and commitment to complex, flawed characters.
- The list includes some surprising picks like "Babylon" and "Suite Française," highlighting Robbie's versatility beyond mainstream hits. However, certain smaller or earlier films might be omitted to focus on roles with significant cultural impact or critical acclaim.
- The ranked list reflects Margot Robbie's strategic approach to selecting diverse roles across genres, from intense dramas like "Bombshell" to blockbusters like "Barbie." This range illustrates her evolution as an actor balancing artistic credibility with commercial success.
- "The Big Short" features Margot Robbie in a memorable cameo role where she breaks the fourth wall to explain complex financial concepts. This inclusion highlights her willingness to take on unique, impactful roles even in ensemble casts, contributing to the film's critical success.
