The 10 Best Lily James Movies, Ranked (2024)

Starring in many well-known features, Lily James has slowly earned a spot among the most famous British female actors. While the star's breakthrough came in the period drama series Downtown Abbey, playing Lady Rose MacClare, James eventually got her big breakout when she landed the starring role in Kenneth Branagh's live-action remake of Disney's Cinderella, where she gracefully brought the beloved princess to life.

James has been cast in a few interesting projects ever since, showcasing her talents in compelling movies ranging from period dramas to blockbuster musicals, such as the highly enjoyable Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the prequel/sequel to Meryl Streep's summer hit. Without further ado, these are the best Lily James movies so far, ranked.

10 Lisa Temple in 'Fast Girls' (2012)

Director: Regan Hall

The family-friendly, thoroughly enjoyable Fast Girls is a film centering on a street-smart runner (Leonora Crichlow) who develops a rivalry with an ambitious young athlete (James) after joining the World Championships. Needless to say, it is a must-see for Olympic enthusiasts. Although it is not James' best work to date, this inspirational Regan Hall film is still an enjoyable, utterly entertaining, and feel-good sports drama that sends out a positive message about girlhood, female friendships, and the importance of teamwork. On the other hand, the unnecessary romantic subplot Hall's film features on top of all the sports clichés lowers the bar a bit. Plus, it is safe to say that everyone would appreciate a bit more of Lily James in this movie.

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9 Peggy Piggot in 'The Dig' (2021)

Director: Simon Stone

Set in 1938 and based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston, The Dig sees a self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) and his team embarking on the historical excavation of Sutton Hoo after being hired by landowner Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan). It reimagines the discovery that provided one of the richest sources of archaeological evidence for the Anglo-Saxon period of England's history.

Simon Stone's film is a pretty decent attempt at depicting a real-life event, and it is elevated by its strong performances, including James'. Although Peggy Piggot's storyline in the film wasn't that very well-received, mostly given the fictional romantic subplot, James showcases her acting talents pretty well. Furthermore, The Dig is a thoughtful meditation on life and its fragility.

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8 Deb Hale in 'Little Woods' (2018)

Director: Nia DaCosta

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Set in Little Woods, North Dakota, and centering around two estranged sisters (James and Tessa Thompson) who struggle to cope with the death of their mother and are left with one week to pay back her mortgage, Nia DaCosta's neo-Western features amazing performances and well-written character studies.

What's so great about The Marvelsdirector's empathetic, slow-burn directorial debut is how it observes and meditates on America's healthcare system, making for an affecting watch with substance that viewers can relate to. It is non-judgemental and truly humane, sending out a powerful message not only about American issues but also about family not bonded by blood but by love.

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7 Juliet Ashton in 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society' (2018)

Director: Mike Newell

Taking audiences back to the aftermath of World War II, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society follows a free-spirited writer (James) who forms an unexpected connection with the residents of the once German-occupied Guernsey Island after she writes a book about their experiences during the war. Juliet then begins to exchange letters with a Channel Islands farmer (The Haunting of Hill House's Michiel Huisman).

A delightful and entertaining film based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Mary Ann Shaffer, Mike Newell's period drama will sweep viewers off their feet with its romantic narrative and beautifully shot landscapes. At its heart, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society reflects on how books bind people and connect them, offering audiences a great time in front of the screen.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

NR

Drama

Romance

Where to Watch

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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 19, 2018

Director

Mike Newell

Cast

Lily James , Michiel Huisman , Glen Powell , Jessica Brown Findlay , Matthew Goode , Tom Courtenay , Penelope Wilton

Runtime

124 minutes

Main Genre

Drama

Writers

Don Roos , Kevin Hood , Thomas Bezucha , Mary Ann Shaffer , Annie Barrows

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6 Ella in 'Cinderella' (2015)

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Lily James' role in Cinderella is possibly her most recognizable, especially to Disney fans. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this fan-favorite live-action tells the story of the iconic Disney princess, from the unexpected death of her father, which leaves Ella at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and evil stepsisters, to her relationship with Prince Charming (Richard Madden).

In addition to the incredible chemistry between the two leads, Branagh's enchanting take on the beloved tale managed to improve upon its source material while remaining true to its essence, given its careful attention to detail. It is just a magical film all around, and its performances — especially Blanchett as the evil stepmother — are worth checking out. Many strong aspects make 2015's Cinderella rank high among the best Disney live-action remakes.

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5 Young Donna in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' (2018)

Director: Ol Parker

A sequel to the Meryl Streep-led 2008 film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again invites viewers to look inside young Donna's life, now wonderfully portrayed by the charismatic Lily James. Set both in the past (mostly 1979) and the present day, OI Parker's film follows the protagonist as she navigates through love and adventure, and meets Sophie's (Amanda Seyfried) potential fathers along the way. In the meantime, Sophie is preparing for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna while reuniting with her mother's old friends (Christine Baranski and Julie Walters).

Although the two films are very on par, providing incredible soundtracks and a good dose of summer fun, Here We Go Again is possibly an even more entertaining feature than its predecessor. It is an irresistible sing-a-long watch that will likely have audiences mesmerized by James' free-spirited Donna while offering a funny but touching narrative.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

PG-13

Musical

Comedy

Romance

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date

July 9, 2018

Cast

Lily James , Meryl Streep , Amanda Seyfried , Pierce Brosnan , Colin Firth , Stellan Skarsgård

Runtime

120

Director

Ol Parker

Main Genre

Musical

Writers

Richard Curtis , Catherine Johnson , Ol Parker

4 Elizabeth Layton in 'Darkest Hour' (2017)

Director: Joe Wright

Starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, Darkest Hour takes place in May 1940, where the fate of WWII hangs on the politician who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or stand up and fight, knowing that such a thing could potentially mean the death of the British Empire.

With awe-inspiring makeup transformations and undeniably good lead performances, Joe Wright's Oscar-winning period drama is essential viewing for history buffs, as well as an intriguing character study that examines one of the most important moments in time and meditates on finding hope in the face of adversity. Lily James, who plays Churchill's secretary and typist Elizabeth Layton, gets more screen time than expected, but with great results.

Darkest Hour

PG-13

Drama

History

War

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date

November 22, 2017

Cast

Gary Oldman , Kristin Scott Thomas , Ben Mendelsohn , Lily James , Ronald Pickup , Stephen Dillane

Runtime

114 minutes

Director

joe wright

Main Genre

Drama

Writers

Anthony McCarten

3 Pam Adkisson in 'The Iron Claw' (2023)

Director: Sean Durkin

Sean Durkin's The Iron Claw is one of 2023's best movies, and its performances — especially Zac Efron's, who fully embodies his on-screen counterpart — are part of what makes it stand out. The A24 sports drama tells the true story of the inseparable Von Erichs (Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons), the brothers who made history in the competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

Although the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again star has a small role in this as Pam Adkisson, Kevin Von Erich's wife, Lily James does an impeccable job of stepping into her shoes. The incredible film, which was critically acclaimed, emphasizes love and grief by depicting the tragic but heartwarming story of the Von Erich brothers as well as the challenges they endured, which were far beyond physical.

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2 Detroit's White Voice in 'Sorry to Bother You' (2018)

Director: Boots Riley

Featuring a Black Mirror-ish narrative and intriguing fantasy elements, Boots Riley's 2018 surrealist comedy-drama is set in an alternate present-day version of Oakland and centers around Cassius Green (LaKeith Stanfield), a Black man working as a telemarketer. While selling to white people over the phone, he discovers that the key to success in the industry is to put on a high-pitched accent.

Sorry to Bother You is a captivating film that explores capitalism, greed, and the power dynamics between races, satirizing discrimination when it comes to linguistics and all else. James only does voice acting in this film, but truly showcases her skills, serving as Tessa Thompson's character Detroit's "white voice." On top of its engaging narrative, Riley's film also features incredible cinematography.

Sorry to Bother You

R

Comedy

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 6, 2018

Cast

Tessa Thompson , Armie Hammer , LaKeith Stanfield , Patton Oswalt , Steven Yeun , Terry Crews

Runtime

105

Director

Boots Riley

Main Genre

Comedy

Writers

Boots Riley

1 Debora in 'Baby Driver' (2017)

Director: Edgar Wright

With a plethora of beloved projects under his belt (including the Cornetto trilogy), Edgar Wright is a fan-favorite filmmaker in the industry. Baby Driver centers around a young man (Ansel Elgort) who works as a getaway driver after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey) and sees himself taking part in a doomed heist.

Although their relationship is but a subplot in Baby Driver, Wright's film benefits from the chemistry between Baby and Debora, James' waitress character for whom the protagonist falls. Despite some of its controversial cast members, Baby Driver is a solid, technically impressive film that deserves its flowers and is guaranteed to appeal to fans of car chase crime stories.

Baby Driver

R

Action

Comedy

Crime

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date

June 28, 2017

Cast

Jamie Foxx , Jon Hamm , Jon Bernthal , Ansel Elgort , Lily James , Eiza Gonzalez , Kevin Spacey

Runtime

113 minutes

Director

Edgar Wright

Main Genre

Action

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