Florence Pugh is one of the biggest stars in show business right now, and when you look at her filmography, it makes perfect sense.
From horror to children’s movies to action, the 29-year-old actress has done it all.
Whether you’re excited to see her in Marvel’s Thunderbolts* or just walked out of the theater and want more, you should check out five of the best Pugh movies.
‘Black Widow’ (2021)
Without Black Widow, there would be no Thunderbolts*. This MCU mid-quel (it mostly takes place between after the events of Captain America: Civil War and the end of the Infinity Saga) tells the origin story of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), the elite spy and Avenger with a sketchy past.
Pugh stood out in this film as Yelena Belova, Natasha’s “little sister” who went through the same brutal assassin training that she did. She charmed viewers with her sense of humor, her love of really cool vests and her emotional, layered performance. The movie also introduced Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) to the MCU, so if you were fuzzy on some of their backstories while watching Thunderbolts*, you can refresh your memory here.
Watch Black Widow on Disney+.
‘Little Women’ (2019)
Greta Gerwig’s (Barbie) take on the American classic novel was beloved by critics and fans alike, and Pugh was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Amy March. Little Women tells the story of the March sisters, Meg (Emma Watson), Jo (Saoirse Ronan, who also received an Oscar nomination for her role in the film), Amy and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) as they come of age in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 19th century. Timothée Chalamet plays Laurie, the literal boy next door who the March sisters all adore in different ways.
It would be an overstatement to say that Pugh is actually believable playing the 12-year-old version of Amy, but her performance is so heartfelt and full-bodied that you forgive her for it. And as grown-up Amy, she delivers one of the best monologues in the film.
Rent Little Women on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV+.
‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
Pugh adds her voice to the Shrek universe of fractured fairy tales as Goldilocks, who is on a mission along with her bear-y family in this swashbuckling animated masterpiece. Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) learns he is on the last of his nine lives and finds himself crippled with terror as Death (Wagner Moura, Narcos) itself begins hunting him down. Puss seeks out a magical wishing star in hopes of restoring his lost lives. Goldy, as she’s called in the film, hopes to find the star in order to wish for a family that’s “just right” — failing to realize that the one she has is pretty wonderful.
This colorful and intelligent film is both funny and poignant, and Pugh’s performance as the famous blonde home invader is, to borrow her catchphrase, “just right.” She brings an endearing vulnerability to the character, who in this universe is a tough-as-nails outlaw and thief.
Watch Puss in Boots: The Last Wish on Amazon Prime.
‘Midsommar’ (2019)
The movie that inspired hundreds of Halloween costumes and Ariana Grande’s birthday party is a horrific and engrossing showcase for Pugh’s talents. (It was released in the same year as Little Women, and the two films couldn’t be more different.) In Midsommar, Pugh plays Dani, a young woman grieving the traumatic deaths of her parents and sister. She reluctantly joins her distant boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), on a research trip to Sweden for a midsommar ritual. Unfortunately, the hapless couple find themselves at the center of a terrifyingly violent cult ritual.
Given her powerful performance, it’s fitting that Pugh’s twisted, horrified face dominates the poster for this movie, whose bright and cheery setting contrasts with its dark subject matter. Director Ari Aster (Hereditary) is a master of horror, and he uses violence to intelligently tell the story of a relationship gone sour.
Rent Midsommar on Amazon.
‘The Boy And The Heron’ (2023)
The master of Japanese animated films, Hayao Miyazaki, is the mind behind this sweeping, epic film. During World War II, a young boy named Mahito (Luca Padovan) is sent to the country to avoid the bombings in the cities, like the one that claimed the life of his mother. When he meets a mysterious talking heron (Robert Pattinson, though his vocal performance is so wild that you’ll barely believe it’s him) who promises to help him find his mother, Mahito is transported to another world. Pugh voices Kiriko, a fearless and magical fisherwoman who guides Mahito on his perilous journey.
The Boy and the Heron is a layered portrayal of grief and love with stunning visuals typical of Studio Ghibli. Don’t miss this powerful film, whose English voice cast also features Christian Bale, Mark Hamill, Willem Dafoe and more.
Watch The Boy and the Heron on Max.
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