15 Best Anya Taylor-Joy Movies and TV Shows, According to Rotten Tomatoes

Ever since she first graced the big screen in the period horror The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy has continuously proven herself to be an immensely talented actress capable of excelling in any number of roles across a vast range of genres. A committed and bold performer, she has made a habit of commanding the audience's attention with her piercing gaze, her melodic voice, and her incredible ability to convey complex and even conflicting emotions within the same scene.

Despite having worked for less than a decade, she has amassed a staggering filmography that ranges from adored indie cult hits to award-winning miniseries and, in more recent years particularly, to some of the biggest cinematic blockbusters ever made. With the long-awaited Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga her latest picture, now marks the perfect time to revisit the very best films and television series of Anya Taylor-Joy's career, with Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer a useful metric in this regard.

15 'Marrowbone' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%

Director Sergio G. Sánchez's psychological horror film follows four children – Jack, Jane, Billy, and Sam – who move into an old, isolated house. When their mother passes, a strange presence starts to haunt them. The tension escalates when a local girl, Allie, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, gets involved with the family, further complicating the situation.

Atmosphere seeps from Marrowbone, and with the mansion itself feeling like a character, creaking floors and shadowy corners only add to the sense of foreboding. Anya Taylor-Joy, in the role of Allie, acted with a subtle but firm touch, capturing no small measure of her character's innocence and determination as she becomes not just part of the fight with the Marrowbone family but an intrinsic one against their own demons. While most critics point out its thin plot and stereotypical characters, its high audience score on Rotten Tomatoes suggests it's worth viewing for fans of the actor.

Marrowbone (2017)

14 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 59%

The Super Mario Bros. Movie brings the iconic video game characters fans know and love to life in a very colorful and animated adventure. In this, brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) accidentally find themselves in a magical world where one of them is captured by none other than Bowser (Jack Black). Mario teams up with Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to come to the rescue. The two move on to race and battle against more recognizable characters in the game, including one on Rainbow Road.

Anya Taylor-Joy truly stands out as Princess Peach: a mixture of strong and charming. Unlike any other traditional damsel, this Peach is a proactive ruler guiding Mario through all the levels. Her dynamic with Mario allows for storytelling that is far more complex than old rescue tropes, and one that involves mutual respect and teamwork. Some reviewers felt that the film was an exercise in nostalgia and a wonderful visual treat, while others criticized it for a lightweight plot. The stark divide is seen on Rotten Tomatoes, where the 2023 film has a low critics' score but high audience approval.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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13 'Radioactive' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 62%

Featuring Rosamund Pike in the starring role, Radioactive documents the significant achievement that defined Marie Curie as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist whose discovery of radioactivity changed the world. Focusing on Curie’s perseverance in an oppressive world following the death of her husband, it boasts some interesting ideas concerning both the good and the evil of what Curie’s discovery could yield.

It is admirably grounded by a typically dazzling performance from Pike, though credit must also be extended to the supporting cast as well, with Taylor-Joy’s performance as Irene Curie, Marie’s brilliant and bold daughter, a highlight of the movie. While Radioactive has some commanding sequences of inspired excellence, some critics felt it was too weak an exploration of its subject. It’s somewhat middling 62% score is representative of that divide. – Ryan Heffernan

Radioactive

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12 'Last Night in Soho' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%

From director Edgar Wright, Last Night in Soho is a psychological horror about Eloise Turner (Thomasin McKenzie), a young woman enrolled in fashion school with abilities to connect to the unseen. She begins having dreams and visions of the enigmatic '60s woman, Sandie (Taylor-Joy), whose aspiration of becoming a singer splinter into something much darker and dangerous that begins following Eloise in her real life.

This dizzying tale of nostalgic glitz and glamour contrasted with horrifying realities of the past is brought to life by its performances from the main roles of two women connected across time. Anya Taylor-Joy brings strength and duality to the role of Sandie in the thrilling movie filled with nightmares, and the actress even recorded a cover of Petula Clark's song "Downtown" for the film.

Last Night in Soho

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11 'Split' (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

From director M. Night Shyamalan, 2016's psychological thriller Split functions as a rather sneaky successor to the filmmaker's 2000 movie, Unbreakable. Starring James McAvoy as a man with an exaggerated and fictionalized version of Dissociative Identity Disorder, it tracks the progression of his multiple personalities and how they interact with Casey Cooke (Taylor-Joy), a young girl who is kidnapped. All the while, the emergence of a new 24th personality, the Beast, is prepared for.

Playing opposite the erratic and stunningly transformative McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy excelled at portraying Casey as a vulnerable and tormented yet plucky and resourceful captive. While Split did receive some criticism from experts over how it depicted DID, the film did go on to be a landmark success, thriving as a low-budget thriller that went on to win big at the box office.

Split

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10 'Barry' (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

An interesting film given its political context and insight into one of the most significant figures in American history, Barry offers a dramatized depiction of Barack Obama’s (Devon Terrell) college years. Going by the name Barry, it focuses on the issues of identity Obama faced as a young man studying at Columbia University, highlighting the social topics he took an interest in and the educational journey he embarked upon and the impact it had on his family.

Taylor-Joy plays the integral role of Charlotte Baughman, a composite character based on numerous girls Obama dated while attending college. The film was a hit with critics, as evinced by its strong 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it had only a mixed reception from audiences. – Ryan Heffernan

Barry

Watch on Netflix

9 'Emma' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Adapted from Jane Austen's novel of the same name, Emma stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the affluent and elegant Emma Woodhouse who entertains herself by playing matchmaker with those around her. The film follows her as she befriends Harriet (Mia Goth), tries to set her up with mixed results, and ultimately is forced to confront her own feelings when she realizes the love she has been looking for has been in front of her all along.

The Regency-era period romantic comedy presented Taylor-Joy with the perfect opportunity to prove that she could be far more than another horror movie scream queen, with the actress thriving at realizing the mischievous and clever character as well as the adolescent angst that bubbles beneath the surface. The lush Jane Austen adaptation went on to be nominated for two Academy Awards and still stands as a highlight of Anya Taylor-Joy's ability to have fun with her characters.

Emma.

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8 'Thoroughbreds' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

In this mid-budget black comedy thriller, upper-class high schooler Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) is paid to hang out with her former childhood best friend Amanda (The House of the Dragon's Olivia Cooke), who cannot experience emotions. With Lily's stepfather constantly antagonizing her, they hatch a plan to get rid of him at any cost.

Thoroughbreds was received well by critics who praised the writing of its nuanced and complex main female characters. Cooke and Taylor-Joy's lead chemistry becomes the star of the movie, with the duo's unlikely bond driving the film's premise. With the late Anton Yelchin in a supporting role, this film features excellent performances from its cast that shine with the intelligence of the script.

Thoroughbreds

Watch on Hulu

7 'The Menu' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

In The Menu Anya Taylor-Joy plays Margot, a young woman accompanying her date Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) to a high-end restaurant on a private island where they will enjoy a decadent dining experience courtesy of Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). However, what is initially meant to be a lavish night of fine dining takes a dark turn for the guests when Slowik reveals that each course will feature its own skewering, and sometimes even deadly, social message.

This dark comedy horror film featured an ensemble cast as the restaurant's varied rich patrons and dutiful employees, with Anya Taylor-Joy's Margot, a role originally attached to Emma Stone, a reluctant participant with no interest in being associated with the elitist diners she must endure the night with. She plays the part of the out-of-place and street-smart customer with both grit and grace, effortlessly keeping up with Fiennes and shining in the scenes where Margot and Slowik butt heads. The film received a positive reception due to its performances as well as its dark humor.

The Menu

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6 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

From Netflix and The Jim Henson Company comes The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, an epic fantasy television series made as a prequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal. Set on the planet of Thra, it tells the story of three Gelflings – Rian, Brea, and Deet – as they uncover a secret about their rulers that puts their entire planet at risk.

Anya Taylor-Joy voices Brea, the princess of one of the tribes on the planet of Thra. Like all other characters, Taylor-Joy's Brea is brought to life by intricately designed puppets. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance received widespread acclaim from both fans of the original film and new viewers thanks to its gorgeous design and clever puppeteering.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

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5 'The Witch' (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

The film that introduced Anya Taylor-Joy to many viewers, The Witch became a somewhat surprising mainstream folk horror hit as it follows a family of English settlers in 1630s New England who are banished from their Puritan settlement and relocate to a remote homestead next to a forest. Their reclusive new life is disturbed when their infant child goes missing, with the family blaming the eldest daughter, Thomasin (Taylor-Joy), for a perceived connection to evil forces sheltered in the woods.

The Witch is widely regarded to be among A24's best horror movies, excelling as an atmospheric and measured depiction of the deterioration of a family rich with an overwhelming sense of dread and an ominous supernatural presence. It remains an awe-inspiring directorial debut from Robert Eggers armed with a powerhouse performance from Anya Taylor-Joy in what was her feature film debut as well.

The Witch

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4 'The Northman' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Based on the legend of King Amleth, the historical action thriller The Northman follows the Viking prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) as he flees his home as a boy following his uncle's betrayal and embarks on an epic and spiteful quest for revenge. As his hot-blooded pursuit takes him to a sheep farm in Iceland, Amleth poses as a slave where he meets Olga (Taylor-Joy), a cunning Slavic woman who claims to be a sorceress who can help him rescue his mother and have his vengence.

A visual treat of stunning locations and meticulous, authentic set design, The Northman is an engrossing and mythic revenge film that stands as an appropriately ambitious and entrancing effort from director and co-writer Robert Eggers. While Skarsgård's performance is suitably brooding and jaded, it is Taylor-Joy whose presence commands the screen with her mystic prowess, even as the impeccable art directing and scintillating Viking fight scenes transpire around her.

The Northman

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3 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

A sweeping action epic that relishes in returning to the world of Mad Max while allowing Anya Taylor-Joy to flaunt her excellence as an action heroine, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is one of the best big screen spectacles so far this decade. A prequel to the immensely popular Mad Max: Fury Road, it follows a young Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) as she becomes involved with a biker gang led by the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) as they travel the Wasteland and cross paths with Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and the Citadel.

Not only a breathtaking visual spectacle, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga also thrives as a meaningful prequel and gives more retrospective weight to its predecessor with grace and maximum excitement. Anya Taylor-Joy is a perfect fit for the role, making the movie a highlight of her career thus far and suggesting she can easily spearhead more major action films in the future. – Ryan Heffernan

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

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2 'Peaky Blinders' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama TV series that is centered around the titular crime gang operating in Birmingham, England in the direct aftermath of the First World War. Led by the ambition of their leader, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the blinders set their sights on expanding their domain and power in the city and beyond.

The series ran for six seasons, and it was in the fifth when Anya Taylor-Joy joined the cast in one of the main roles as Gina Gray, the ambitious and scheming wife of Michael Gray (Finn Cole), a member of the Peaky Blinders. As the scheming and manipulative tertiary antagonist, Taylor-Joy is mesmerizing in her role, fully stepping into the shoes of a confident and arrogant villain. Thanks to her and the rest of the incredible cast, the series received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike, with everyone enjoying the riveting and stylistic show.

Peaky Blinders

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1 'The Queen's Gambit' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

The Queen's Gambit, set in the mid-'50s and '60s, is a Netflix original miniseries that follows real-life chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Taylor-Joy) as she navigates a complicated upbringing and starts rising up the ranks of the world of international competitive chess. As she hones her skills and continues on her upward trajectory, she faces struggles with her relationships and addiction, all of which jeopardize her ability to compete.

While the actress was already known, this series was what truly catapulted her into stardom by playing the smart and self-destructive Beth with a maturity and heft that was astonishing, especially at the actress' relatively young age. Taylor-Joy captured the brilliance, complexity, and pain of the distinct character, with the miniseries relying heavily on her acting chops. For her performance, she was nominated for many accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award. She won a Golden Globe, a Critic's Choice Television Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

The Queen's Gambit

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NEXT: The Best Female-Led A24 Movies, Ranked

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