Mary Stuart Masterson’s 10 Best Films, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

Mary Stuart Masterson’s 10 Best Films, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Mary Stuart Masterson started her appearing profession at a younger age together with her first look in The Stepford Wives in 1975. Masterson’s profession would turn out to be outlined by her roles in such movies as Benny & Joon and Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes. Nonetheless lively with over 50 credit to her identify, Masterson’s current profession reveals the actor not slowing down, together with a component within the upcoming horror movie Friday Night time at Freddy’s.
From little one actor to main woman, we take a look at Mary Stuart Masterson’s finest films, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes by critics’ rating.
10 Gardens of Stone – 44%
Francis Ford Coppola is a prolific director identified for such hits as Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, Misplaced in Translation, and American Graffiti, to call a number of. But, not all of his movies had been met to reward among the many director’s exhaustive filmography, with Gardens of Stone being one of many director’s lowest-scored movies on the location.
Nonetheless, the drama that explored the Vietnam Conflict’s repercussions and the dealing with of the demise of troopers on the house entrance provided a memorable solid, together with James Caan, Anjelica Huston, James Earl Jones, Dean Stockwell, and Mary Stuart Masterson, which helped elevate an in any other case flawed film. Within the movie, Masterson performs Rachel Feld, who marries the protagonist Jackie Willow, performed by D.B. Sweeney.
9 Mr. North – 50%
Following a younger, enigmatic heartthrob that involves a small, rich Rhode Island city and positive aspects a popularity for therapeutic its inhabitants, Mr. North is an underrated ’80s comedy that hardly hit rotten on the Tomatometer. Whereas that is off on eight vital opinions, and the viewers rating is even decrease, one ought to take this with a grain of salt, because the movie has a constructive 5.9 on IMDB with 1.6k consumer rankings.
Nonetheless, the one consensus throughout the board is that Mary Stuart Masterson’s function within the movie was nicely dealt with for the younger actor. In Mr. North, Masterson performs Elspeth Skeel, a younger girl who turns into enamored with Mr. North after he cures her migraines. This results in many endearing reactions between her and lead actor Anthony Edwards.
This early efficiency from Masterson marked her first award-winning efficiency, successful the Nationwide Board of Assessment Award for Best Supporting Actress for her function as Lucy, a pregnant teen who has regrets after providing up her unborn child for adoption. The movie additionally noticed her act throughout two huge names, Glenn Shut and James Woods.
Rapid Household explores the complexities of the adoption course of and teenage being pregnant. Whereas the fan and important response to the movie was combined, the sincerity in approaching complicated themes and memorable performances from Masterson and Kevin Dillon as two younger teenagers fighting the concept of giving up their kids make Rapid Household worthy of its contemporary rating.
7 Probabilities Are – 65%
Robert Downey Jr. will get a second likelihood at life within the rom-com Probabilities Are. The movie follows Downey’s character Alex Finch, who, after being reincarnated, falls for his daughter… Yikes! Nonetheless, quickly after studying in regards to the familial relationship, Alex tries to interrupt off the connection earlier than angels wipe his reminiscence, and he’s caught in a romantic affair along with his daughter, Miranda.
Regardless of the precarious state of affairs that might have veered into the uncomfortable, the film was praised as one of many higher body-swap comedies of the ’80s. Masterson, who performed Miranda, additionally noticed a good quantity of reward for her function. Washington Publish said her efficiency was “pensively provocative.” General, the film is a stunning gentle comedy backed by a pointy script and nice performances, giving it a contemporary rating amongst critics and audiences.
6 As You Are – 68%
A teen drama steeped in melancholy and disillusionment, As You Are explores ’90s teenage angst by means of a trio of pals, Jack, Sarah, and Mark. The film additionally introduces thriller and crime components, with an ongoing investigation hovering over the city the place the three reside.
The movie noticed reward for debuting director Miles Joris-Peyrafitte’s means to craft a timeless portrayal of youth. This is among the few movies within the listing the place Masterson performs solely a minor function as Karen, Jack’s mom.
5 Some Form of Fantastic – 76%
Author John Hughes outlined the ’80s maybe extra so than anybody different scriptwriter on the time, having tasks equivalent to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Breakfast Membership, and Bizarre Science turning into synonyms with the last decade. These movies are nonetheless revered to this present day, and whereas Some Form of Fantastic falls barely in need of the infamy of the beforehand talked about movies, it’s nonetheless a few of the sharpest and most entertaining writing to return from Hughes.
Masterson performs the character of Watts, a street-wise teenager who’s pals with the principle protagonist Keith (Eric Stoltz). Her function has been praised by many, and her cool, crass character is peek ’80s perfection.
4 Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes – 76%
Whereas Masterson’s function in Pal Inexperienced Tomatoes didn’t lead to the identical fanfare as Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy, her function as Imogene “Idgie” Threadgoode was iconic in its personal proper. Thought of forward of her time for her portrayal of a powerful and proud tomboy and lesbian, Masterson’s character additionally drew reward for her sturdy will and enterprise savvy.
Whereas the emotions and terminology of the LGBTQ group have modified because the launch of Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes in 1992, Masterson drew lots of reward for her bravery in taking up a job that challenged typical norms of the time. It’s a defining efficiency from Masterson, and never stunning that the movie was met with vital acclaim.
3 Benny & Joon – 76%
For followers of Masterson, Benny & Joon is, arguably, the defining efficiency of her profession. Masterson performs Juniper “Joon” Pearl, a mentally unwell artist whose struggles trigger her brother Benny (Aidan Quinn) nice fear and even consideration about discovering her housing the place folks can assist her. Nonetheless, Joon’s life begins to vary when an eccentric man named Sam (Johnny Depp) involves reside with the siblings and begins to construct a romantic relationship with Joon.
The function was thought-about difficult for Masterson, as conveying the mentally unwell with sincerity is not any straightforward feat for even essentially the most gifted actors. Nonetheless, below her skills, she was capable of flip the film right into a whimsical rom-com about psychological sickness, household, and new-found love. Depp’s character portrayal additionally sparked reward, with a lot of the constructive vital reception specializing in the performances of 1 or each actors.
2 Daniel Is not Actual – 84%
This indie horror film from the thoughts of Adam Egypt Mortimer was extra beloved by critics than audiences, sitting at 84% from critics and 59% from the viewers. Nonetheless, movies that take an experimental method are all the time extra more likely to see a extra divisive ranking. Daniel Is not Actual is an intriguing story of insanity the place a person finds himself managed by an imaginary buddy he introduced again to assist him take care of trauma.
Mary Stuart Masterson performs the function of Claire within the movie. Claire is the mom to protagonist Luke (Miles Robbins), who turns into a goal of Daniel (Patrick Schwarzenegger) as his jealousy of all of Luke’s family and friends will increase. Claire is a troubled character, coping with psychological well being points contributing to Luke’s issues in maturity. The half is minor, steeped in tragedy, however it’s nonetheless integral to the movie and nicely executed by Masterson.
1 At Shut Vary – 86%

Mary Stuart Masterson’s most critically acclaimed movie might come as considerably of a shock for a lot of. Whereas At Shut Vary has a romance story on the coronary heart of it, with Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) falling in love with Terry (Masterson), this neo-noir crime thriller is extra in regards to the struggles of coping with the ‘sins of the household.’ Notably, Brad Jr. decides to go towards his father’s needs, performed by Christopher Walken, which ends up in a violent confrontation on the film’s crux.
The movie is lesser identified because it was a flop on the field workplace. Nonetheless, the movie gained buzz amongst critics for its uncompromising and violent examination of a troubled household backed by a powerful script and performances.
It will not be as iconic a job as Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes or Benny & Joon, however it’s the highest-ranked movie on Rotten Tomatoes for Mary Stuart Masterson.