Whenever the conversation of the best living actors and actresses starts up, one name that doesn’t come up enough is Allison Janney. Seriously, over the course of her career, the talented film, TV, and stage star has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, seven Primetime Emmy Awards, dozens of other accolades, including two Tony nominations, and appears to be a genuinely amazing person.
Don’t believe me? Well, just take a look at some of the best Allison Janney movies and TV shows that show off everything she’s working with, whether it be comedy, drama, or one of the most respected series of all time (which she has referenced time and again). And just in case you want to check these out for yourself, we’ve included streaming links and other ways to give them a spin.
To Leslie (2022)
Michael Morris’ grueling 2022 drama film, To Leslie, centers on Andrea Riseborough’s titular character after she wins nearly $200,000 in a West Texas lottery that could forever change the course of her life and bring an end to her lifelong downward spiral. But instead, the fortune is squandered, leaving Leslie, her son, James (Owen Teague), her mother, Nancy (Allison Janney), and everyone else in her orbit to pick up the pieces.
Riseborough’s incredible and incredibly heart-wrenching portrayal of a woman in crisis is astounding, as is the rest of the cast, including Janney. The Academy Award-winning actress shines in the role of a loving yet fed-up mother, and she provides the emotional anchor throughout stretches of the movie.
Lou (2022)
The 2022 Netflix movie, Lou, sees Allison Janney try her hand in the world of action thrillers in a movie that sees her take on the role of a former CIA agent living on an island off the coast of Washington. When her tenant’s former lover, who was presumed dead, shows up in town and kidnaps his daughter, Janney’s Lou Adell becomes the young girl’s only chance.
Anna Foerster’s tense thriller is full of twists and turns, with major revelations being brought to the surface throughout its nearly two-hour runtime. Janney is especially convincing as a former field agent with secrets (and skills) she wishes to keep hidden.
I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Tonya Harding was at the center of the 2017 biographical drama, but it was Allison Janney who stole the show, and won her first Academy Award for her take on the infamous figure skater’s mother, LaVona Golden. How the actress played the abusive mother who pushed her daughter to greatness but also down a troubled path was nothing short of masterful.
What’s really impressive about Janney’s performance in Craig Gillespie’s shocking and wickedly funny sports drama, which also netted her a Golden Globe, is that there are times where it’s hard to tell if you’re watching the real LaVona Golden or an actress. And the mockumentary style of the picture also gives Janney’s character even more time to shine.
Stream I, Tonya on Hulu.
Buy/rent I, Tonya on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
The West Wing (1999 - 2006)
Over the years, there have been several great TV shows set in the White House, like Veep and House of Cards, but neither of those or others like them hold a candle to the greatness that was Aaron Sorkin’s landmark series, The West Wing. And who had a prominent role in the show’s expansive ensemble cast? None other than Allison Janney, whose character, C.J. Cregg, went from Press Secretary to Chief of Staff by series end.
Janney won an impressive four Primetime Emmy Awards (twice as a Supporting Actress, twice for Lead Actress), four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a whole slew of nominations and other accolades. I think the hardware speaks volumes about Janney and her breakout role. And don’t get me started on her walk and talk technique.
Stream The West Wing on HBO Max.
Buy The West Wing on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.
Juno (2007)
As far as movie moms go, there are few that are in the same category as Bren MacGuff (Allison Janney) in Jason Reitman’s 2007 coming-of-age comedy, Juno. When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) becomes pregnant at a young age and decides to go through with the pregnancy and give up the baby for adoption, her stepmom is right there beside her through it all and is supportive as can be, even though she is under no obligation to be so.
In a movie that is also filled with tremendous and heartfelt performances by the likes of J.K. Simmons (in one of his best roles), Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and Michael Cera, Janney remains one of the most beloved and endearing throughout. Upon repeated viewings, it’s easy to catch subtle acts by the caring woman that show she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness and comfort for that of her child.
Stream Juno on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Juno on Amazon.
Get it on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.
Mom (2013 - 2021)
When talking about the best Allison Janney movies and TV shows, you can’t go too long before her long-running sitcom, Mom, is brought up. Over the course of eight seasons, Janney took on the role of Bonnie Plunkett, a recovering alcoholic who rekindled her relationship with her daughter, Christy (Anna Faris), who was also battling addiction.
Janney would end up taking home two more Primetime Emmy Awards for her role on the successful series, and she was more than deserving of both. The way Janney handled some delicate topics with grace, care, and most importantly, humor, was a breath of fresh air to the format. And, it doesn’t hurt that she and the rest of the cast had tremendous chemistry.
Stream Mom on Hulu.
Buy Mom on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.
American Beauty (1999)
A movie that made a surprisingly large amount of money at the box office, American Beauty largely centers on Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a middle-aged man in the midst of an existential crisis that wraps up not just his family but also his neighbors, coworkers, and his children’s friends as he begins losing touch with the world around him.
But the Burnhams aren’t the only family going through their own personal hells in American Beauty, as their new neighbors, the Fitts, also have a tremendous amount of pain and confusion in their home. This is best seen in the character of Barbara (Allison Janney), who is largely silent and despondent throughout the movie. And even though she only says a few words, Janney’s body language speaks volumes.
Stream American Beauty on Pluto.
Rent/Buy American Beauty on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Although not the best Pixar movie, Finding Nemo is in that top tier of the studio’s body of work, and a lot of that can be attributed to the cast and the way they help flesh out the story about a clownfish going to great lengths to reunite with his missing son. And yeah, that includes Allison Janney’s character, Peach, the sea star who helps Nemo escape a fish tank.
One of the best examples of Janney’s brilliance in this role comes during a scene when the group of sea creatures living in the fish tank are supposed to escape, an attempt that is thwarted by a new filtration system. The way she goes from saying “Good morning” with so much glee to a state of panic is incredible, and adds a nice pop to the scene.
Stream Finding Nemo on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Finding Nemo on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
The Help (2011)
Tate Taylor’s 2011 hilarious and poignant comedy-drama, The Help, has its share of incredible characters played by Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain, but it would be impossible to discuss the movie about a young writer shedding light on the stories of the Black women who worked in prominent Jackson, Mississippi households without mentioning Allison Janney.
Sure, Janney’s character, Charlotte Phelan, doesn’t have the courage of her daughter, Skeeter (Stone), at least not initially, but she more than makes up for it in the latter part of the movie. Everyone loves a good story of someone coming around and seeing the flaws in their ways, which is very much the case here.
Stream The Help on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy The Help on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.
Masters Of Sex (2013 - 2015)
The Showtime drama series, Masters of Sex, largely focused on the professional and personal lives of human sexuality researchers William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) in the mid-part of the 20th Century, but the show also featured a great number of guest stars, including Allison Janney.
Throughout parts of the series, Janney popped up as Margaret Scully, a close friend of Masters and Johnson who goes throughout a sexual reawakening thanks to their research and becomes a stronger, more independent, and happier woman in the process. And, it should be noted Janney won a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal.
Buy Masters of Sex on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
The Way Way Back (2013)
The 2013 coming-of-age comedy, The Way Way Back, is a movie that doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as it deserves, which is a shame considering it tells a tremendous story about an awkward teen named Duncan (Liam James) who finds himself over the course of a summer spent at the seaside.
It also doesn’t hurt that Nat Faxon and Jim Rash put together one hell of a cast that includes Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, and Allison Janney, who plays Betty, Duncan’s neighbor for the summer. She’s direct, honest, and always with a drink in hand, making her one of the most electric and exciting characters of the bunch.
Stream The Way Way Back on Hulu.
Stream The Way Way Back on Freevee.
Rent/Buy The Way Way Back on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
The 1999 dark comedy mockumentary, Drop Dead Gorgeous, follows a group of teenagers participating in a small town beauty pageant, but things take a turn when the contestants begin dying under rather suspicious circumstances.
In addition to serving as one of Amy Adams’ first movies, Drop Dead Gorgeous also helped take other rising stars to the next level, including Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, and Allison Janney. Throughout the movie, Janney’s character, Loretta, is an absolute firecracker who gets the most out of every scene, even those where she’s in the background. You won’t find it streaming (for now), but it’s more than worth the DVD purchase to see Janey in action.
Bombshell (2019)
Bombshell, which followed several female Fox News employees in their attempt to expose Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) for unwanted sexual advances, is a wild ride from start to finish. In the middle of that storm is Susan Estrich (Allison Janney), a complicated character who provides Ailes with legal device.
Throughout each of her scenes, Janney does an incredible job of personifying the conflicted nature of her character. By the end, you don’t necessarily love the character or what she represents, but it’s impossible to not give the actress props for her approach to the role.
Rent/Buy Bombshell on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Hairspray (2007)
Hairspray, the 2007 remake of John Waters’ cult classic of the same name, tells the story of Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Bolonsky), a teenage girl with aspirations of earning a spot on The Corny Collins Show in hopes of bringing about radical change to the popular series and the city of Baltimore in general, while also having a lot of fun.
Allison Janney steps in as Prudence “Prudy” Pingleton, Tracy’s best friend’s racist, close-minded, fun-hating, nosy mother who fears change more than she fears God. Janney is remarkable in her portrayal of such an unlikable person in the musical comedy and stands out as one of the most detestable characters of the movie.
Stream Hairspray on HBO Max.
Stream Hairspray on Freevee.
Rent/Buy Hairspray on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.
Expect this list to keep growing in the coming months, as Allison Janney is set to appear in True Love, Gareth Edwards star-studded sci-fi drama set to be released near the end of the 2023 movie schedule. Janney will also return to the small screen for the Apple TV+ period comedy series, Mrs. American Pie, which could very well end up being one of the biggest 2023 new shows.
