Meryl Streep movies in order

With a career spanning decades, a packed-portfolio of perfect performances, and a seemingly never-ending string of Oscar nominations, Meryl Streep is one of Hollywood’s big league actors. Few can compare to her talents or her screen presence, and she is highly respected within the industry.

Streep’s first foray into film was back in the 1970’s via a role in the television movie The Deadliest Season. This helped her to get a foot in the door and paved the way for much bigger and bolder parts to come.

As time then moved forward, Streep appeared in a wealth of movies, including iconic pictures such as Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Sophie’s Choice (1982), Out of Africa (1985) and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). She also served up a memorable turn opposite Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her (1992), and played the role of Donna Sheridan in the Mamma Mia! movies.

In this post I am taking a look back at Meryl Streep’s career, through a rundown of all her movies. I will be going through Streep’s back catalogue, decade-by-decade, to showcase all of her pictures, from the well-known titles to the more obscure stuff.

Ever wondered what all of Meryl Streep’s movies are? Then keep reading, so you can see how her movie career has expanded over the years.

__

1970s

As noted above, Meryl Steep kick-started her movie career towards the end of the 1970s, making her on-screen movie debut in the TV movie, The Deadliest Season. This was followed by the big screen story, Julie, and then roles in Manhattan, and The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro.

However, it was 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer which really helped Streep hit the big leagues. Not only was her role as Joanna Kramer a scene-stealer, it also resulted in Streep winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.  

Meryl Streep’s movies during the 1970s included:

• The Deadliest Season (1977)
• Julie (1977)
• The Deer Hunter (1978)
• Manhattan (1979)
• The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979)
• Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

__

The 1980s

Moving into the 1980s now, and in this decade, Streep appeared in many classic movies, earning multiple Oscar nominations in the process. Some of her most notable roles were in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Out of Africa, and Sophie’s Choice – for which she won Best Actress at the Academy Awards.

Meanwhile in 1988, Streep starred in the high-profile Australian mystery-thriller, A Cry in the Dark (aka Evil Angels). Starring opposite Sam Neill, and based on a true story, Streep took on the role of Lindy Chamberlain – a New Zealand-born Australian woman, falsely convicted of the death of her nine-week-old daughter.

The movie was based on a highly publicised case, centred around the disappearance and subsequent death of Azaria Chamberlain. The young girl went missing while on a camping holiday in the Australian Outback.

Other movies in this decade included Ironweed and She-Devil. Streep also appeared opposite Cher in Silkwood.

Meryl Streep’s movies during the 1980s included:

• The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
• Alice at the Palace (1982)
• Still of the Night (1982)
• Sophie’s Choice (1982)
• Silkwood (1983)
• Falling in Love (1984)
• Plenty (1985)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• Heartburn (1986)
• Ironweed (1987)
• A Cry in the Dark (1988) (aka Evil Angels)
• She-Devil (1989)

__

1990s

Into the 1990s, and Streep’s success continued in the likes of Postcards from the Edge, and The River Wild. Streep also appeared opposite Clint Eastwood in The Bridges of Madison County.

One of her most commercially successful movies in this decade was the effects-heavy (and totally fabulous) black comedy, Death Becomes Her. Meanwhile, she rounded out the ’90s working with director Wes Craven on Music of the Heart.

Streep’s movies during the 1990s included:

• Postcards from the Edge (1990)
• Defending Your Life (1991)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• The House of the Spirits (1993)
• The River Wild (1994)
• The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
• Before and After (1996)
• Marvin’s Room (1996)
• …First Do No Harm (1997)
• Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)
• One True Thing (1998)
• Music of the Heart (1999)

__

2000s

Into the 2000s, and Streep continued to work solidly, with movies including Adaptation, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and The Manchurian Candidate. In 2002 she appeared in The Hours with Nicole Kidman; in 2006 she wowed audiences in The Devil Wears Prada; and in 2009 she took on the role of Julia Child in Julie & Julia.

Meryl Streep’s films throughout the 2000s included:

• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)*
• Adaptation (2002)
• The Hours (2002)
• Stuck on You (2003)**
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
• A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
• Prime (2005)
• A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• The Ant Bully (2006)*
• Dark Matter (2007)
• Evening (2007)
• Rendition (2007)
• Lions for Lambs (2007)
• Mamma Mia! (2008)
• Doubt (2008)
• Julie & Julia (2009)
• Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)*
• It’s Complicated (2009)

*Voice role

**Uncredited cameo

__

2010s

Kicking off the 2010s, and for her first movie in this decade, Streep took on the role of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the film, The Iron Lady. The role won Streep a Best Actress Award – her third Academy Award in total – and continued to highlight her status as one of the most talented actresses of all-time.

Other movies in this decade included Ricki and the Flash, Into the Woods, and Little Women. In 2016, Streep provided narration for the animated movie, The Guardian Brothers, while in 2018 she briefly reprised the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!.

Meryl Streep’s movies throughout the 2010s include:

• The Iron Lady (2011)
• Hope Springs (2012)
• August: Osage County (2013)
• The Homesman (2014)
• The Giver (2014)
• Into the Woods (2014)
• Ricki and the Flash (2015)
• Suffragette (2015)
• The Guardian Brothers (2016)*
• Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
• The Post (2017)
• Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (2018)
• Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
• The Laundromat (2019)
• Little Women (2019)

*Voice role

__

2020s

And finally, into the 2020s now, which so far has brought new roles in films such as The Prom, and Don’t Look Up.

Streep’s movies in the 2020s include:

• The Prom (2020)
• Let Them All Talk (2020)
• Don’t Look Up (2021)

__

So, those are all of Meryl Streep’s films, but what are your favourites? Are you a fan of Silkwood or can you just not get enough of Mamma Mia!?

Perhaps A Cry in the Dark is the movie for you, or maybe The Iron Lady? Whatever you believe is the best Meryl Steep movie, be sure to drop a comment below and share your love for the actress, as well as a recommendation (or two) for others.

__

Editor/Writer/Acting Giant

Alex Wiggan

__

Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Meryl Streep movies. For more movie-related content, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.