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The Essential Uma Thurman: Her Most Iconic Movie Roles Ranked

From Kung Fu Vengeance to Pulp Fiction Cool

Explore the definitive ranking of Uma Thurman's most iconic film roles, featuring Tarantino masterpieces, sci-fi classics, and acclaimed dramas.

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About Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman

In the late eighties, a teenage girl with a face like a Renaissance painting emerged from the surreal fog of Terry Gilliam movies. While she first drew eyes as a literal Goddess in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and a portrait of innocence in Dangerous Liaisons, it soon became clear that Uma Thurman was never intended to stay a decorative fixture. She possessed a strange, statuesque gravity that made her feel both ancient and modern, a quality that eventually transformed her into the ultimate muse for the high-octane pop cinema of the nineties.

Everything changed with a dark bob and a cigarette. As Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, she became the face of a decade. It was a performance built on silence and subtext, capturing a specific brand of bored, dangerous cool that felt entirely fresh. Most actors would have leaned into the celebrity of that moment by playing it safe, but Thurman opted for a restless variety instead. She explored the cerebral melancholy of Gattaca and the grounded, messy intimacy of Richard Linklater’s Tape, proving she could command a tiny hotel room just as easily as a sweeping cinematic canvas.

Then came the yellow tracksuit. The Kill Bill saga didn't just cement her status as an action icon; it redefined what a female lead could endure on screen. As The Bride, she channeled a primal, scorched-earth vengeance that felt deeply human despite the stylized blood splatters. It was a physical and emotional marathon that required a rare blend of athletic prowess and operatic grief. Audiences connect with her because there is an inherent dignity in her vulnerability. Even when she is playing a literal monster in Percy Jackson and the Olympians or a jilted hero in My Super Ex-Girlfriend, she never winks at the camera. She treats every character, from the Broadway glitz of The Producers to the quiet heartbreak of Beautiful Girls, with the same rigorous sincerity.

Her longevity is rooted in an refusal to be pinned down. She can pivot from the period drama of Les Miserables to the sly, comedic authority of a United States President in Red, White and Royal Blue without losing her signature poise. There is a specific mystery to her presence that keeps the public engaged; she remains one of the few stars who can oscillate between high fashion etherealism and grit. Whether she is the focus of a Woody Allen jazz piece like Sweet and Lowdown or the centerpiece of a thriller like Jennifer Eight, she brings a watchful, intelligent energy to the frame. She remains an essential fixture of the cultural landscape because she understands that true stardom isn't about accessibility, it is about the magnetic pull of a woman who always seems to know something the rest of us don't.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

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30
Uma Thurman in Burnt (2015)
Burnt
2015

Adam Jones is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.

Drama
1h 40m
John Wells
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Omar Sy, Daniel Brühl
29
Uma Thurman in Henry & June (1990)
Henry & June
1990

While traveling in Paris, author Henry Miller and his wife, June, meet Anais Nin, and sexual sparks fly as Nin starts an affair with the openly bisexual June. When June is forced to return to the U.S., she gives Nin her blessing to sleep with her husband. Then, when June returns to France, an unexpected, and sometimes contentious, threesome forms.

Romance
2h 16m
Philip Kaufman
Fred Ward, Uma Thurman, Maria de Medeiros, Kevin Spacey
28
Uma Thurman in Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II
2013

The continuation of Joe's sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adult life and what led to her being in Seligman's care.

Drama
Mystery
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf

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27
Uma Thurman in Bel Ami (2012)
Bel Ami
2012

Georges Duroy travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession.

Romance
Drama
1h 42m
Nick Ormerod
Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci, Kristin Scott Thomas
26
Uma Thurman in Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman & Robin
1997

Batman and his sidekick Robin attempt to the foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze, who wants to make Gotham City into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy, a botanical femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contend with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl, joins the ranks of the city's crime-fighters.

Action
Science Fiction
2h 5m
Joel Schumacher
George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman
25
Uma Thurman in The Avengers (1998)
The Avengers
1998

British Ministry agent John Steed, under direction from "Mother", investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter to rule the world with his weather control machine. Steed investigates the beautiful Doctor Mrs. Emma Peel, the only suspect, but simultaneously falls for her and joins forces with her to combat Sir August.

Action
Adventure
1h 29m
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, Sean Connery, Patrick Macnee
24
Uma Thurman in Oh, Canada (2024)
Oh, Canada
2024

Famed Canadian-American leftist documentary filmmaker Leonard Fife was one of sixty thousand draft evaders and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam. Now in his late seventies, Fife is dying of cancer in Montreal and has agreed to a final interview in which he is determined to bare all his secrets at last, to demythologize his mythologized life.

Drama
1h 34m
Paul Schrader
Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Jacob Elordi, Michael Imperioli
23
Uma Thurman in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994

A girl born with enormous thumbs in the repressive era of the 1950s learns to turn her quirks into assets.

Comedy
Drama
1h 36m
Gus Van Sant
Uma Thurman, Lorraine Bracco, Pat Morita, Angie Dickinson
22
Uma Thurman in The Golden Bowl (2000)
The Golden Bowl
2000

Wealthy American widower Adam Verver and his daughter Maggie live a refined life in Europe, surrounded by art. Maggie marries impoverished Italian Prince Amerigo, while Adam marries Maggie's friend Charlotte Stant. The Prince and Charlotte are having an affair, which Maggie discovers and navigates through a silent, psychological battle of wills, ultimately using her cunning to preserve her marriage and protect her father.

Romance
Drama
2h 10m
James Ivory
Kate Beckinsale, Uma Thurman, Jeremy Northam, Nick Nolte
21
Uma Thurman in Robin Hood (1991)
Robin Hood
1991

The Swashbuckling legend of Robin Hood unfolds in the 12th century when the mighty Normans ruled England with an iron fist.

Adventure
TV Movie
1h 44m
John Irvin
Patrick Bergin, Uma Thurman, Jürgen Prochnow, Edward Fox
20
Uma Thurman in Vatel (2000)
Vatel
2000

In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?

History
Drama
2h 5m
Roland Joffé
Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Timothy Spall
19
Uma Thurman in The War with Grandpa (2020)
The War with Grandpa
2020

Peter is thrilled that his Grandpa is coming to live with his family. That is, until Grandpa moves into Peter's room, forcing him upstairs into the creepy attic. And though he loves his Grandpa, he wants his room back - so he has no choice but to declare war.

Comedy
Family
1h 38m
Tim Hill
Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley
18
Uma Thurman in Movie 43 (2013)
Movie 43
2013

A series of interconnected short films are the backdrop for a maniac screenwriter who pitches insane storylines featuring some of Hollywood's biggest and brightest. In some countries, like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the structure differs. Instead of a pitch, the films are connected by a group of three teenagers searching for the most banned film in the world, Movie 43, which will ultimately lead to the destruction of civilization.

17
Uma Thurman in Playing for Keeps (2012)
Playing for Keeps
2012

A former sports star who's fallen on hard times starts coaching his son's soccer team in an attempt to get his life together.

Comedy
Romance
1h 46m
Gabriele Muccino
Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones
16
Uma Thurman in The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
1996

A successful veterinarian and radio show host with low self-esteem asks her model friend to impersonate her when a handsome man wants to see her.

Comedy
Romance
1h 33m
Michael Lehmann
Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Chaplin, Jamie Foxx
15
Uma Thurman in Jennifer Eight (1992)
Jennifer Eight
1992

John Berlin, a big-city cop from LA moves to a small-town police force and immediately finds himself investigating a murder. Using theories rejected by his colleagues, Berlin meets a young blind woman named Helena, whom he is attracted to. Meanwhile, a serial killer is on the loose—and only John knows it.

Crime
Drama
2h 4m
Bruce Robinson
Andy Garcia, Lance Henriksen, Uma Thurman, Graham Beckel
14
Uma Thurman in Beautiful Girls (1996)
Beautiful Girls
1996

During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.

Comedy
Drama
1h 52m
Ted Demme
Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Annabeth Gish
13
Uma Thurman in Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
Sweet and Lowdown
1999

In the 1930s, jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute woman.

Comedy
Drama
Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Anthony LaPaglia, Uma Thurman
12
Uma Thurman in Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Red, White & Royal Blue
2023

After an altercation between Alex, the president's son, and Britain's Prince Henry at a royal event becomes tabloid fodder, their long-running feud now threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. When the rivals are forced into a staged truce, their icy relationship begins to thaw and the friction between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.

Comedy
Romance
1h 58m
Matthew López
Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Uma Thurman, Clifton Collins Jr.
11
Uma Thurman in Tape (2001)
Tape
2001

Jon, a first-time filmmaker, finds himself in Lansing, Michigan to present his film at a local film festival. Vince, his high school friend who is now a volunteer fireman and small-time drug dealer, also visits the town to support Jon on his big day, or so it seems. After a raucous hello and much backslapping, it appears that there is an undercurrent of tension in the air.

Drama
Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Uma Thurman
10
Uma Thurman in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
2010

Accident prone teenager, Percy discovers he's actually a demi-God, the son of Poseidon, and he is needed when Zeus' lightning is stolen. Percy must master his new found skills in order to prevent a war between the Gods that could devastate the entire world.

Adventure
Fantasy
1h 58m
Chris Columbus
Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel
Why it ranks

Transforming into the mythic Medusa, Thurman uses only her eyes and a calculated hiss to steal the spotlight from a sea of digital effects. She elevates the blockbuster material by injecting a sense of genuine, serpentine menace into her brief but wicked appearance.

9
Uma Thurman in The Producers (2005)
The Producers
2005

A conniving Broadway producer and his meek accountant plan to profit from charming wealthy old biddies to invest in an overbudget production, and then put on a sure-fire disaster, so nobody will ask for their money back — and what's more disastrous than a tasteless musical celebrating Adolf Hitler.

Comedy
2h 14m
Susan Stroman
Why it ranks

Thurman surprises with a high-energy comedic turn as Ulla, leaning into the exuberant artifice of Broadway musical theater. She navigates the film's campy demands with a playful, statuesque charm that highlights her versatility beyond grit and noir.

8
Uma Thurman in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Fantasy
Adventure
John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed
Why it ranks

Appearing as a living Botticelli painting, Thurman captures the ethereal and the surreal in one of her earliest and most visually striking outings. Even in a film defined by maximalist art direction, her luminous presence remains the most captivating special effect on screen.

7
Uma Thurman in Les Misérables (1998)
Les Misérables
1998

In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

Crime
Drama
2h 14m
Bille August
Why it ranks

Taking on the mantle of Fantine, Thurman delivers a brief but searing portrait of social disintegration and physical ruin. She bypasses the typical theatrics of the role to find a grounded, agonizing realism that haunts the remainder of the narrative.

6
Uma Thurman in My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
2006

When New York architect Matt Saunders dumps his new girlfriend Jenny Johnson—a smart, sexy, and reluctant superhero known as G-Girl—she uses her powers to make his life a living hell.

Comedy
Science Fiction
Why it ranks

Thurman leans into the absurdity of the rom-com genre by weaponizing her commanding stature for comedic effect. She finds the hysterical sweet spot between a scorned lover and a literal force of nature, demonstrating a rare willingness to deconstruct her own glamorous persona.

5
Uma Thurman in Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
Dangerous Liaisons
1988

In 18th century France, Marquise de Merteuil asks her ex-lover Vicomte de Valmont to seduce the future wife of another ex-lover of hers in return for one last night with her. Yet things don’t go as planned.

Drama
Romance
1h 59m
Stephen Frears
Why it ranks

In a cast of heavyweight veterans, a teenage Thurman holds her own by capturing the tragic, wide-eyed innocence of Cécile de Volanges. Her portrayal of weaponized naivety captures the exact moment a soul is corrupted by the aristocracy, marking her as a formidable period-piece talent.

4

Vincent is an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. He is an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation.

Thriller
Science Fiction
1h 47m
Andrew Niccol
Why it ranks

Thurman provides a haunting, understated grace to this cerebral sci-fi masterpiece, portraying a genetically 'perfect' woman burdened by the limitations of her own biology. Her poised and glacial performance serves as the emotional bridge between the film's cold industrial aesthetic and its deeply human core.

3

The Bride unwaveringly continues on her roaring rampage of revenge against the band of assassins who had tried to kill her and her unborn child. She visits each of her former associates one-by-one, checking off the victims on her Death List Five until there's nothing left to do … but kill Bill.

Why it ranks

While the first volume focused on spectacle, this concluding chapter permits Thurman to expose the hollow ache and maternal desperation driving her character's crusade. She transitions seamlessly from a mythic warrior to a vulnerable soul, proving her dramatic range is just as sharp as any samurai sword.

2

An assassin is shot by her ruthless employer, Bill, and other members of their assassination circle – but she lives to plot her vengeance.

Action
Crime
Why it ranks

Redefining the modern action heroine, Thurman exerts a staggering physical presence as The Bride through a grueling display of martial arts precision and raw, unadulterated fury. This role transformed her into a cinematic icon of vengeance, blending high-fashion elegance with visceral, blood-soaked tenacity.

1

A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster's moll and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time.

Why it ranks

Thurman became an instant pop culture deity as Mia Wallace, channeling a detached, cool-girl magnetism that anchored the film's non-linear chaos. Her ability to command the screen with a single sharp gaze or a rhythmic dance sequence solidified her status as the definitive face of 1990s independent cinema.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The listicle features Uma Thurman's iconic roles in Quentin Tarantino's films including "Pulp Fiction," "Kill Bill: Vol. 1," and "Kill Bill: Vol. 2." These films showcase her versatility in thriller, crime, and action genres, solidifying her status as a cult cinema icon.

In "Gattaca," Uma Thurman stars in a science fiction thriller that explores themes of genetic engineering and identity, contrasting with her more violent and stylized roles in Tarantino's crime and action dramas. This role highlights her ability to tackle complex, futuristic narratives alongside her genre versatility.

Dramatic roles highlighted include her performances in "Dangerous Liaisons," a period romance drama, and "Tape," an intense character-driven drama. These films emphasize Thurman's range beyond action and thriller genres, showcasing her depth in emotionally charged roles.

The ranking includes comedies like "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," "The Producers," and "Sweet and Lowdown," highlighting Thurman's comedic timing and charm. These films reveal her adaptability in both humorous and romantic contexts, expanding her appeal beyond intense dramatic roles.

"The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" is noted as one of Uma Thurman's early iconic roles, portraying a surreal and almost mythical character in a fantasy adventure directed by Terry Gilliam. It marked her emergence as a unique presence in cinema, blending innocence with an ethereal quality.

Uma Thurman's role in "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" represents her foray into family-friendly fantasy adventure films. This inclusion demonstrates her ability to appeal to a diverse audience, balancing blockbuster appeal with her more mature, complex characters.

The listicle highlights Uma Thurman's statuesque presence and versatility, describing her as both ancient and modern. It underscores her capacity to embody a wide range of characters from powerful action heroines to nuanced dramatic figures across various genres.
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