Jennifer Garner has been a familiar face since the 90s, and her talents have led her to a diverse range of roles across a variety of genres. She first gained recognition in the spy series Alias—which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary—before quickly making the leap to film roles, leading her to become a household name. Garner has been acting for decades, and there’s no type of film she hasn’t lent her talents to.

She is widely known for her roles in iconic 2000’s rom-coms such as 13 Going on 30, and equally so for her nuanced performances in dramas such as Dallas Buyers Club or the heartfelt Juno. She shines in all of her performances, bringing a humanity to the screen which feels warm and authentic. Here’s a look at Jennifer Garner's best movies, ranked.

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7 The Tribes of Palos Verdes

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Brendan and Emmet Malloy directed 2017’s The Tribes of Palos Verdes, which starred Jennifer Garner as Sandy Mason. The film tells the story of the lives of a family who move to Palos Verdes, an affluent suburb of Los Angeles. The Mason family move to the suburb in support of Phil's (Justin Kirk) career. He and Sandy have two children who are played by Cody Fern and Maika Monroe. The cracks in their family dynamic start to show as it’s revealed that Phil is cheating on Sandy. Sandy experiences an internal turmoil with her new location and husband's absence, and the best thing about the film is Garner’s performance.

6 Yes Day

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Miguel Areta’s 2021 family comedy Yes Day saw Garner Alison Torres, a mother who feels like she is constantly telling her kids ‘no’. She and her husband (Édgar Ramírez) decide to have a ‘yes day’, throughout which they say ‘yes’ to everything, which quickly leads to chaos and some comical scenes. The film received mixed reviews, but Garner embodies the mother role extremely well, and it’s an enjoyable viewing experiencing which demonstrates her versatility as an actress. What's more, Garner is set to return for the sequel Yes Day 2.

5 Love, Simon

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2018’s Love, Simon was directed by Greg Berlanti, and stars Nick Robinson in the titular role of Simon Spier, and his parents are played by Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner. Love, Simon focuses on Simon, who is a closeted gay high school student who is struggling with the pressures of school and teenage life. He experiences blackmail online from someone threatening to out him as he struggles to come to terms with his identity. Garner stars as his mother and brings a warmth and comfort to the story in a way that she always does. She consoles Simon and acts as a source of comfort in a way which doesn’t feel too cliché and is genuinely moving.

4 Wakefield

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Wakefield was directed by Robin Swicord and released in 2016. It tells the story of a successful lawyer, Howard (Bryan Cranston), who is unhappy in his 15-year marriage to Diana (Jennifer Garner). He believes that his family will be happy without him and leaves the house only to spy on them from the family attic. He stays there for several months, and as he spies on his wife, we realize the intricate layers to their relationship and how he had previously been abusive towards her. The story is generally dark and twisted, and Garner is a saving grace, adding a layer of sweetness and vulnerability.

3 Dallas Buyers Club

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Dallas Buyers Club was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée for release in 2013 and received commercial success as well as huge critical praise. Matthew McConaughey stars as Ron Woodroof, who in 1980s Texas, discovers that he has AIDS and has only 30 days to live. He refuses to give up and along with a fellow patient (Jared Leto), he begins selling unapproved drugs to combat the virus, which have been smuggled into the US. Jennifer Garner stars as Dr Eve Saks, who oversees both characters' treatments.

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2 Juno

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One of the most notable indie movie successes of the modern era is Jason Reitman’s Juno, released in 2008. It’s a touching coming of age drama which is equally funny and heart-warming. The film was responsible for kick-starting the careers of Elliot Page and Michael Cera, who star as two teenagers who lose their virginity to each other which results in an unexpected pregnancy. Juno is a teenager who understands the world in a mature way, and the pregnancy gives an unexpected power over the richer adults who are prospective adopting parties (played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). Jennifer is Vanessa who is the prospective adoptive mother, and her longing alongside Juno’s cavalier attitude makes for a great viewing experience.

1 13 Going On 30

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Gary Winick’s 13 Going On 30 is a classic example of the formula which is needed to create a successful 2000s rom-com. The film’s protagonist is Jenna Rink, who makes a wish to be an adult when she finds the stresses of teenage life too much to handle. Overnight, she is magically transformed into the 30-year-old version of Jenna, played by Jennifer Garner. She then has to navigate the newfound adult world she finds herself in, making for a charming performance full of classic rom-com moments and laughs. Garner’s performance adds life to the script, and she perfectly embodies the playfulness of a young girl who abruptly finds herself living in adulthood.