Publication date January 12, 2024

From Veronica Mars to... THIS?! Here are the Top 10 Kristen Bell Movies (Ranked by IMDb)

Frozen's Princess Anna, Veronica Mars' witty sleuth, and a queen of comedic timing—Kristen Bell's got it all! From her early years tackling high school mysteries to belting out "Let It Go" on the world stage, she's proven herself a force to be reckoned with, both on-screen and off.

Whether she's making you laugh heartily in rom-coms like "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" or stealing your heart with her dramatic depths in "The Good Place," Bell's infectious charm and talent are always on point. And guess what? She's not slowing down anytime soon! Just last month, news broke that she will star in a brand new Netflix series from Modern Family producer Steven Levitan.

But before we go into the future, let's rewind the magic of Bell's past. Because with so many incredible movies under her belt, choosing where to start can be overwhelming. That's why we've enlisted the help of the almighty IMDb to bring you Kristen Bell's top 10 movies, that will leave you laughing, crying, and maybe even belting out a tune or two (don't judge!).

10. 'Queenpins' (6.3/10 IMDb)

Queenpins

Source: Reddit

With a 6.3/10 IMDb rating,  'Queenpins' is a comedy/detective fiction movie directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. In this movie, Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who becomes bored with her tedious life and decides to begin a journey on a criminal enterprise: creating counterfeit coupons. As we can guess, things quickly wrong. Kristen’s performance is amazing, but the script doesn’t give her much to perform with.  The movie feels average, not even the charm of 

co-stars Vince Vaughn and Kirby Howell-Baptiste can salvage it. Overall, it was a major box office bomb, too, gaining just $1.2 million against a $20 million budget.

9.  'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window' (IMDb: 6.4/10)

he Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Source: Roger Ebert

When it comes to, Kristen Bell Movies on Netflix, this one comes on top. 

The Women in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is a Netflix comedy series that plays on thriller tropes, especially those of slashers like Scream. In this series, Bell plays the role of a woman who is struggling to cope with the death of her husband. She believes that she has witnessed a murder, but her neighbors simply ignore her as crazy, so she sets out to find the truth on her own. 

When you watch the show, you may feel like it is a little slow-paced, but Bell's deadpan performance is frequently hilarious and fans of classic thrillers will definitely enjoy the spoofs. Especially, it satirizes the work of Alfred Hitchcock, Paula Hawkins, and Gillian Flynn.

8. 'Veronica Mars: The Movie' (IMDb: 6.7/10)

Veronica Mars: The Movie

Source: Time

Veronica Mars released on 14 March 2014 is a neo-noir mystery film directed by Rob Thomas and is a film adaptation of the TV series of the same name.  As lead character Kristen Bell, plays the role of the titular character, where she returns to her hometown to help her former high school flame who has been accused of murder. The movie is a terrific blend of nostalgia and suspense, bringing back beloved characters and exploring their relationships while also adding new twists and turns to the story.

Bell’s performance in the movie as Veronica is as outstanding as ever, representing her wit, intelligence, and strength as she continues through the complex and dangerous situation. The movie will not disappoint you, as it stays true to the spirit of the TV series, delivering a satisfying conclusion while also leaving room for potential future additions. 

7. 'Frozen II' (IMDb: 6.8/10)

Frozen II

Source: Deviant Art

This one is my personal favorite, and if you love watching Disney movies Frozen II must be your favorite too. Frozen II, released in November 2019, is an animated musical fantasy film that continues the story of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven as they begin a new adventure to find out the truth about Elsa’s powers and the history of their kingdom. Kristen Bell returns as the voice of Anna, and once again, she delivers an amazing performance.

Bell really did a great job, emphasizing Anna's fears and doubts as well as her unwavering loyalty to her sister. The actress also represents her incredible singing voice with several show-stopping musical numbers. Her performance in Frozen II is proof of her versatility as an actress and set her status as one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time.

6. 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' (IMDb: 7.1/10)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall released in April 2008, was one of the 2000s biggest hit romantic comedies. The movie features Peter (Jason Segal), as he tries to move on from his latest breakup with his celebrity girlfriend, played by Kristen Bell. Russell Brand, one of his early star-making roles,  plays Bell’s new boyfriend character.

In the movie, Bell is just a supporting character, but she still delivers a standout performance as Sarah, portraying her as both charming and flawed. Despite being the one who took the step for the breakup, Sarah struggles with her feelings for Peter and her own insecurities. Kristen’s ability to balance Sarah's confident and vulnerable sides makes her unusually relatable.

5. 'Frozen' (IMDb: 7.4/10)

Frozen

Source: IMDb

Frozen II might have a more nuanced, introspective journey, but it can’t beat the original Frozen in terms of pure entertainment. Because of its animation, jokes, and infectious songs, it's no surprise that the film captured the hearts of audiences around the world. When you watch this movie you’ll feel like you couldn't go anywhere in 2013 without being bombarded by the soundtrack.

Kristen Bell’s role as Anna is lively and endearing. She flawlessly captures Anna's journey of self-discovery as she navigates the challenges of her magical world. The biggest highlight is her singing. Kristen’s rendition of 

"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" is especially memorable. Her performance in Frozen is one of the main reasons for what made the film such a sensation and received soo many awards including two Academy Awards, one for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez for "Let It Go").

4. 'House of Lies' (IMDb:  7.4/10)

House of Lies

Source: Vanity Fair

Released on 8 January 2012, House of Lies was another movie where Bell proved her versatility as an actress. She took a step into dark comely with this House of Lies, a show about Marty Kaan (Don Cheadle) and his team of management consultants, who are always willing to bend the rules to get what they want. 

Kristen Bells plays Jennie Van Der Hooven, Marty's cunning protégé. This role is one of Bell’s more nuanced characters. The movie features Jennie who is driven by cutthroat ambition, but at the same time, she's also vulnerable and not quite as cold as Marty. Hopefully, we get to see Bell playing similar edgy roles in the future.

3. 'Gossip Girl' (IMDb: 7.5/10)

Gossip Girl

Source: Screen Rant

In Gossip Girl,  a teen drama television series based on the novel series of the same name, Bell was the voice of the character who provided the narration throughout the series. Kristen’s sardonic and sometimes biting commentary added an extra layer of interest to the show. Her unique voice was a perfect fit for the role all breathy and light despite despite the sometimes menacing content. While that’s true that she never appeared on screen, Bell’s contribution to the show is undeniable.

2. 'The Good Place' (IMDb: 8.2/10)

The Good Place is a fantasy-comedy television series. In the show, Bell plays the funniest role as Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who mistakenly finds herself in the afterlife's "Good Place" despite living a less-than-moral life on Earth. In her part, Bell is both vulnerable and witty. Kristen’s chemistry with her co-stars, especially Willan Jackson Harper, was a big highlight and their on-screen relationship was one of the most interesting aspects of the series. 

Bell’s performance for reasons was majorly acclaimed. While the series explored complex philosophical concepts, the warm-hearted performances of the leads kept it entertaining. 

1. 'Veronica Mars' (IMDb: 8.4/10)

You may be thinking we have already discussed Bell’s Veronica Mars above so why again? If you don’t know there are two shows with the same name, first, is Veronica Mars (TV Series) which ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2007 and the one is Veronica Mars: The Movie which was released on 14 March 2014.

Although Veronica Mars (TV Series) was one of Bell’s earliest roles, it remains her most beloved character. In the series, Kristen Bell plays a high school student turned private investigator who solves crimes in her hometown of Neptune, California. The season features her best friend's death and a corrupt sheriff taking charge of the town. Each episode features a stand-alone case but is built up to season-long arcs involving the biggest mysteries.

There’s a lot in the series that only works because of Bell. She undoubtedly nails Veronica’s hard-boiled, acerbic dialogue, for example, which sounds like it came out of a Raymond Chandler novel. Moreover, her performance was praised by many filmmakers including Joss Whedon, Kevin Smith, and Stephen King. 








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