Some movies just don’t quite come together the way filmmakers hoped, but that doesn’t mean every performance falls flat. In fact, some of the most jaw-dropping acting moments have happened in films that critics called messy, uneven, or just plain disappointing.
LGBTQ+ actresses in particular have repeatedly shown up, delivered powerhouse performances, and walked away with all the praise. Here are 15 remarkable women who outshone the films they starred in.
1. Kristen Stewart in Seberg (2019)
Few actors can carry a flawed film on sheer magnetic presence alone, but Kristen Stewart did exactly that in SebergTime. Playing real-life actress Jean Seberg, Stewart delivered a raw, emotionally layered performance that magazine ranked among the year’s best.
The film itself got mixed reviews, but critics consistently pointed to Stewart as the reason to watch.
Her ability to channel vulnerability and quiet defiance made every scene feel urgent and alive, even when the script stumbled.
2. Kristen Stewart in American Ultra (2015)
Called “criminally slept-on” by fans who discovered it years later, American Ultra gave Stewart a role that let her blend warmth, humor, and heart in ways that surprised even skeptics. Her character Em was the emotional backbone of the whole story.
Critics who dismissed the film still paused to acknowledge that Stewart brought something genuinely special to every frame.
Her chemistry with Jesse Eisenberg felt effortless, turning a chaotic action comedy into something unexpectedly touching.
3. Sarah Paulson in Ocean’s 8 (2018)
Surrounded by an all-star ensemble that included Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson still managed to carve out a scene-stealing role as Tammy, a suburban mom who fences stolen goods on the side. The film received mixed reactions from critics, but Paulson’s deadpan comic timing and lived-in energy made Tammy a fan favorite almost instantly.
She made the most of every moment on screen, proving that supporting roles can absolutely run away with a movie.
4. Sarah Paulson in Blue Jay (2016)
Shot on a shoestring budget in black and white, Blue Jay was a quiet, small film that could have easily disappeared without a trace. What kept it alive was Sarah Paulson’s deeply felt, achingly honest performance as a woman reconnecting with a former flame.
Critics singled her out as the film’s heartbeat, the one element that made the whole thing worth experiencing.
Her restraint and emotional precision turned a simple story into something genuinely moving.
5. Lily Tomlin in The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
When The Incredible Shrinking Woman first hit theaters, critics weren’t exactly kind. But over time, audiences began recognizing it as a sharp, slyly feminist satire, and Lily Tomlin’s dual performance was the engine driving the whole thing.
Written by her wife Jane Wagner, the film gave Tomlin room to be both hilarious and pointed in her social commentary.
Revisiting it today, her work feels ahead of its time, layered with wit that the original reviews completely missed.
6. Jodie Foster in Contact (1997)
Blending philosophy, religion, and big-budget special effects into one movie is risky business, and Contact didn’t always stick the landing. But Jodie Foster’s performance as Dr. Ellie Arroway was rock solid from start to finish.
Critics who found the film uneven consistently described her as the one consistent strength holding everything together through its more chaotic stretches.
Her grounded, intelligent portrayal gave the film an emotional anchor that special effects alone never could have provided.
7. Jodie Foster in Nyad (2023)
Playing the coach and best friend of long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, Jodie Foster brought fierce loyalty and quiet heartbreak to every scene in this uneven but uplifting sports biopic. Alongside Annette Bening, Foster helped keep the film emotionally credible even when the pacing dragged.
Critics praised her “outstanding performance” as one of the key reasons the movie resonated with audiences at all.
Her work reminded everyone why Foster remains one of Hollywood’s most reliable and compelling performers.
8. Elliot Page in Hard Candy (2005)
At just 18 years old, Elliot Page took on one of the most demanding leading roles imaginable in Hard Candy, a deeply unsettling psychological thriller that left audiences breathless. USA Today called it “one of the most complex, disturbing, and haunting performances of the year.” The film itself was divisive and difficult to watch, but Page’s commanding screen presence was impossible to dismiss.
It announced, loudly and unmistakably, that a major talent had arrived in Hollywood.
9. Elliot Page in Super (2010)
Playing a psychopathic teenage sidekick in a black comedy superhero film sounds like a recipe for scene-chewing chaos, and honestly, that’s exactly what Elliot Page delivered in Super. Some critics called him “easily the best part of the movie,” a wild compliment in a film that also starred Rainn Wilson.
The overall reception was mixed, but Page’s unpredictable energy kept viewers genuinely glued to the screen.
There’s a fearlessness in his performance that makes every moment feel electric.
10. Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters (2016)
Even the most enthusiastic defenders of the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot admitted the film was uneven, but almost everyone agreed on one thing: Kate McKinnon as Jillian Holtzmann was an absolute blast. Her comedic instincts were so sharp and so fully committed that she practically existed in a different, better movie than the one playing around her.
Audiences fell hard for Holtzmann.
McKinnon turned what could have been a generic ensemble role into an instant pop culture moment that fans still talk about.
11. Amandla Stenberg in Everything, Everything (2017)
Critics had plenty of quibbles with Everything, Everything, calling it predictable and overly formulaic for a young adult romance. But Amandla Stenberg’s performance as Madeline was consistently described as charming, heartfelt, and far more nuanced than the material demanded.
She brought a genuine emotional intelligence to a role that could have easily felt one-dimensional in less capable hands.
Stenberg made you root for Madeline completely, even when the plot stretched believability to its limits.
12. Ruby Rose in SAS: Red Notice (2021)
Ruby Rose stepped into the role of a highly skilled mercenary antagonist in SAS: Red Notice and delivered the kind of physical, committed performance that action films live or die by. The movie received mixed reviews overall, but her fighting sequences were consistently highlighted as genuine highlights.
Critics who panned the film still found themselves impressed by Rose’s screen intensity.
Even in projects that haven’t fully landed, she brings a focused, hard-edged energy that cuts right through mediocre material.
13. Wanda Sykes in Undercard (2026)
Best known for her sharp stand-up comedy and scene-stealing TV roles, Wanda Sykes surprised everyone with her first dramatic lead in the boxing film Undercard. Critics largely found the film itself shoddily written and directed, but Sykes’s portrayal of Cheryl “No Mercy” Stewart was called solid, captivating, and excellent.
She carried the film’s considerable shortcomings on her back with remarkable skill.
It’s the kind of performance that reframes an entire career and demands people take a second look.
14. Michaela Jae Rodriguez in The Boogeyman (2023)
Coming off her historic Golden Globe win for PoseThe Boogeyman, Michaela Jae Rodriguez brought quiet authority to her role as Dr. Weller in the horror film . The movie received mixed reviews, but critics pointed to her nuanced, grounded performance as one of its more memorable elements.
She resisted the urge to play the role for easy scares, choosing depth instead.
Rodriguez proved that her dramatic range extends well beyond the groundbreaking role that first made the world pay attention.
15. Ella Hunt in Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
A zombie Christmas musical sounds like the kind of concept that collapses under its own ambition, and Anna and the Apocalypse was indeed a wildly uneven ride for critics and audiences. But Ella Hunt’s breakout performance as Anna was the glue holding the whole chaotic experiment together.
Her singing, her emotional honesty, and her sheer likability gave the film its cult following.
Without Hunt at the center, this strange little movie would never have found the devoted audience it now proudly calls its own.