Summary
- Zellweger’s rom-com legacy goes beyond Bridget Jones, with iconic roles in movies like Jerry Maguire.
- From New In Town to Miss Potter, Zellweger shines playing relatable characters in varying classics.
- Zellweger’s knack for comedic timing and portraying real characters makes her performances appealing and aspirational.
Renée Zellweger made her mark on romance movies with her iconic role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, but that doesn’t mean her other classic projects should be overlooked. Throughout her career, Zellweger has established herself as a romantic lead to great acclaim, which has lent itself to all her performances. Zellweger might have started in the romance genre, but she’s contributed greatly to movies of all genres. She was in one of the best movie musicals of the 21st century in Chicago and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Judy Garland in Judy in 2019.
A large part of what distinguishes Zellweger and her performances is that she has incredible comedic timing and has often portrayed characters that are more relatable to large audiences.
Zellweger has been in some of the best movies from the golden age of rom-coms. Though she isn’t quite associated with rom-coms like Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock, her works have been just as influential. A large part of what distinguishes Zellweger and her performances is that she has incredible comedic timing and has often portrayed characters that are more relatable to large audiences. This makes her both appealing to watch and aspirational to viewers in a way that doesn’t alienate them. Watching a romantic film and feeling isolated from the story defeats the purpose of these narratives.
|
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|
New In Town (2009) |
28% |
|
Miss Potter (2006) |
69% |
|
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) |
27% |
|
The Whole Wide World (1996) |
76% |
|
Bridget Jones’s Baby |
78% |
|
Down With Love (2003) |
60% |
|
Jerry Maguire (1996) |
84% |
|
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) |
80% |
Related Renée Zellweger’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Over the past 30 years, the impressive career of Renée Zellweger has included acclaimed performances across comedy, drama, and musicals.
8 New In Town (2009)
As Lucy Hill
New in Town PGComedyRomance Where to Watch
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New in Town is a romantic comedy directed by Jonas Elmer. The film stars Renée Zellweger as a high-powered consultant from Miami who is sent to a small town in Minnesota to restructure a manufacturing plant. Co-starring Harry Connick Jr., the film explores the cultural clash and eventual connection between Zellweger’s character and the local community.
Director Jonas Elmer Release Date January 30, 2009 Cast Renée Zellweger , Harry Connick Jr. , Siobhan Fallon Hogan , J.K. Simmons , Mike O’Brien , Frances Conroy Runtime 96 minutes
Though Lucy leaves the big city for Ted’s small town to industrialize and cut costs, she finds much more than corporate success there.
New In Town‘s premise follows familiar tropes, but it is easily redeemed by the chemistry between Zellweger and her costar, Harry Connick Jr. Though he’s best known for his contributions to the music industry, Connick Jr. has graced the screen in a few strong rom-coms like New In Town. The movie’s premise is well-worn, seeing Zellweger’s Lucy play the part of a high-powered executive who unexpectedly falls in love with the handsome and down-to-earth stranger, Ted. Though Lucy leaves the big city for Ted’s small town to industrialize and cut costs, she finds much more than corporate success there.
The plot is on par with a Hallmark rom-com, but New In Town has enough tongue-in-cheek moments to make the audience that Zellweger and the movie are in on the joke. The film was released just before Zellweger took a hiatus from her intensive period as one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood. Its mostly negative reception gives a clear indication of why Zellweger might have been fed-up with the way the industry treats women and berates rom-coms. However, New In Town has enough charm to make it worth revisiting.
7 Miss Potter (2006)
As Beatrix Potter
Miss Potter PGBiographyDramaRomance Where to Watch
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Director Chris Noonan Release Date December 3, 2006 Cast Renée Zellweger , Ewan McGregor , Emily Watson , Barbara Flynn , Bill Paterson , Matyelok Gibbs Runtime 98 minutes
Ewan McGregor plays another of Zellweger’s love interests, Norman Warne, after their first collaboration in Down With Love a few years earlier. Though Miss Potter is much more subdued and traditionally romantic than Down With Love, the spark the pair demonstrated in the more subversive comedy holds true in this sweeping biographical drama. Zellweger plays Beatrix Potter, the author of the Peter Rabbit books, as the story tracks her early career and rise to fame and fortune. Her relationship with Norman Warne is one of the inspirations for her best work.
There is a twinge of sadness found throughout Miss Potter, as neither Beatrix nor Norman are able to express the extent of their love for as long as they want to. The societal pressures and expectations, along with the disapproval of Beatrix’s parents get in the way of her happiness throughout the narrative. However, by the end of the film, Beatrix has learned to be independent and that she has the power to decide her future, providing a positive moral to a bittersweet tale.
6 Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004)
As Bridget Jones
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) RComedyRomance Where to Watch
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Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is a romantic comedy sequel following the continued misadventures of Bridget Jones, played by Renée Zellweger. As she navigates the complexities of her relationship with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), Bridget finds herself entangled in a series of embarrassing and challenging situations. Directed by Beeban Kidron, the film also stars Hugh Grant and Jim Broadbent.
Director Beeban Kidron Release Date November 10, 2004 Cast Renée Zellweger , Gemma Jones , Jim Broadbent , James Faulkner , Celia Imrie , Dominic McHale Runtime 108 minutes Studio(s) Miramax Films , StudioCanal , Working Title Films , Little Birds Franchise(s) Bridget Jones Expand
After the success of
Bridget Jones’s Diary
and the happy ending that Bridget and Mark received, there wasn’t a significant enough reason or conflict for the sequel to exist or recreate the cultural moment of the first film.
The second installment of the Bridget Jones franchise might be the weakest, but it’s still a strong romantic comedy on its own. After the success of Bridget Jones’s Diary and the happy ending that Bridget and Mark received, there wasn’t a significant enough reason or conflict for the sequel to exist or recreate the cultural moment of the first film. This results in a series of convoluted misunderstandings that all feel invented for the sake of keeping Bridget and Mark apart.
Overall, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason was better received by audiences than critics, but this didn’t stop Zellweger’s performance from consistently being highlighted as one of the best parts of the project. The unlikely chemistry that she and Colin Firth established in the first installment carries over well, but this makes it all too easy to grow frustrated when Bridget and Mark can’t seem to make things work. Fortunately, it was popular enough to warrant the third film years later.
5 The Whole Wide World (1996)
As Novalyne Price Ellis
The Whole Wide World (1996) PGBiographyDramaRomance
The Whole Wide World is a biographical drama directed by Dan Ireland, featuring Vincent D’Onofrio as pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard and Renée Zellweger as school teacher Novalyne Price. Set in the 1930s, the film explores the complex relationship between Howard and Price, interweaving themes of creativity, ambition, and personal turmoil. Adapted from Novalyne Price Ellis’s memoir, it provides a poignant look into the life of the creator of Conan the Barbarian.
Director Dan Ireland Release Date December 20, 1996 Cast Vincent D’Onofrio , Renée Zellweger , Ann Wedgeworth , Harve Presnell , Benjamin Mouton , Helen Cates , Leslie Buesing , Chris Shearer , Sandy Walper , Marion Eaton , Dell Aldrich , Libby Villari , Michael Corbett , Antonia Bogdanovich , Elizabeth D’Onofrio , Stephen Marshall , Bridgett Wolf Expand
Loosely based on the true story of the ill-fated romance between the writer Robert E. Howard and the teacher Novalyne Price Ellis, The Whole Wide World tackles subjects about the intersection of art and love. The film looks at how creatives sacrifice so much and dedicate themselves to their work. One of the central conflicts in The Whole Wide World is Robert’s inability to commit to a serious relationship with Novalyne and how much she has to give up to be with him.
Set in Texas in the 1930s, The Whole Wide World uses its styling and aesthetic to its advantage, transporting the viewer to an age gone by when pulp novels were at the height of their popularity. Zellweger proves she can be believable in any period, and it’s easy to sympathize with the frustrated Novalyne. While their love story doesn’t end in bliss and a happily ever after, it’s still a stirring piece that foreshadows some of Zellweger’s more serious and dramatic roles.
4 Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016)
As Bridget Jones
Bridget Jones’s Baby RRomanceComedyDrama Where to Watch
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The third film in the Bridget Jones franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby stars Renee Zellweger returning to her role as Bridget Jones, who after finding out she is unexpectedly pregnant, must determine which one of her two recent flings the baby’s father is and attempt to decide who she wants to help her raise the child when it’s born. Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Jim Broadbent, and Emma Thompson also star.
Director Sharon Maguire Release Date September 16, 2016 Cast Renée Zellweger , Ben Willbond , Gemma Jones , Shirley Henderson , Colin Firth , Julian Rhind-Tutt , Jim Broadbent , Patrick Dempsey , Sally Phillips Runtime 123 Minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures , StudioCanal
Bridget Jones’s Baby
wears its silliness well and allows the audience to let loose and enjoy every moment of Bridget and Mark’s convoluted love story.
Over ten years after the first sequel, Bridget Jones’s Baby was released to mostly warm critical reception as a fun-filled and inoffensive addition to the Bridget Jones franchise. Bridget Jones’s Baby makes a strong case for its existence, as critics and fans were concerned that there was no real need for the third movie in the wake of so many failed remakes during the 2010s. However, Bridget Jones’s Baby wears its silliness well and allows the audience to let loose and enjoy every moment of Bridget and Mark’s convoluted love story.
Updates for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy have piqued audience interest, and it will be interesting to see where Zellweger takes the franchise for its fourth installment. After the success of Bridget Jones’s Baby, it’s no wonder there’s more in store for Bridget, and Zellweger has been more than up to the challenge of playing Bridget as she ages. Bridget Jones’s Baby is an example of how women’s stories must be told during all phases of their lives and that Bridget will remain a paragon of the everywoman as she navigates growing older.
3 Down With Love (2003)
As Barbara Novak
Down with Love PG-13ComedyActionRomanceThriller Where to Watch
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Down with Love is a romantic comedy directed by Peyton Reed, starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. Set in the early 1960s, the film follows the story of feminist author Barbara Novak who advocates for women’s independence from men, clashing with chauvinistic journalist Catcher Block. Their professional rivalry leads to a series of comedic and romantic entanglements, capturing the essence of the period with a modern twist.
Director Peyton Reed Release Date May 16, 2003 Cast Renée Zellweger , Ewan McGregor , Sarah Paulson , David Hyde Pierce , Rachel Dratch , Jack Plotnick Runtime 101 minutes
The stylized and campy Down With Love is doubtlessly one of Zellweger’s most underrated rom-coms. It sees her team up with McGregor for the first time before their reunion in Miss Porter three years later. Before the modern rom-com came to be, the sex comedies of the 1950s and 1960s were all the rage, and Down With Love is a satirical take on these types of narratives. Down With Love features an all-star cast outside the explosive leads, with Sarah Paulson, Rachel Dratch, and David Hyde Pierce all featured.
Within the narrative, Zellweger gets to subvert and redefine the romance tropes that she helped create in some of her most popular movies. Both Zellweger and McGregor had proved their talents in the musical genre with Chicago and Moulin Rouge, which influenced their casting, as Down With Love featured original music and dance numbers. Despite its middling critical reception, Down With Love has become a beloved cult classic, and was well ahead of its time in its interrogation of feminist themes in rom-coms.
2 Jerry Maguire (1996)
As Dorothy Boyd
Jerry Maguire RRomanceComedyDramaSport Where to Watch
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High flying sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, and writes a heartfelt company-wide memo resulting in a swift termination of his services. Scrabbling to retain his athlete clients, Jerry starts his own management firm, with the only colleague who leaves with him – single mother Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger). Retaining just one client, football player Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Jerry and Dorothy begin to fall in love as their new business venture struggles
Director Cameron Crowe Release Date December 13, 1996 Cast Cuba Gooding Jr , Kelly Preston , Jerry O’Connell , Tom Cruise , Renée Zellweger Runtime 139 minutes
The speech Jerry delivers proclaiming his love is an iconic scene in cinema.
The best Jerry Maguire quotes are some of the best in any onscreen love story, even though the film deals heavily with sports and business. At its heart, Jerry Maguire is a romantic film. In one of his turns in a non-action movie, Tom Cruise plays the titular Jerry, a sports agent who teams up with Zellweger’s Dorothy to start their own agency that prioritizes agent-client relationships. However, it’s difficult for the pair to keep things professional as Jerry steps up to help Dorothy raise her son and shows how much he cares for her.
Jerry Maguire is regarded as a classic romance movie of the 1990s, and Zellweger’s continued success in the romance genre can be attributed in part to the exposure that Jerry Maguire gave her. Cruise is the star of the movie, with Zellweger in the secondary role of romantic interest, but she’s still a character with desires and a drive to succeed, just as Jerry is. Additionally, it’s deeply romantic and touching to see the lengths Jerry goes to win over Dorothy. The speech Jerry delivers proclaiming his love is an iconic scene in cinema.
Related 15 Best Friends-To-Lovers Romance Movies Ever Made
From intense dramas to playful rom-coms, friends-to-lovers story structure has formed the basis of countless romantic movies throughout the years.
1 Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
As Bridget Jones
Bridget Jones’s Diary PG-13ComedyDramaRomance Where to Watch
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Based on the novel by Helen Fielding, the rom-com Bridget Jones’s Diary revolves around a 32-year-old single woman who keeps a diary of her life and romantic encounters. Starring Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant, the 2001 movie was a massive commercial and critical success.
Director Sharon Maguire Release Date April 13, 2001 Cast Renée Zellweger , Gemma Jones , Celia Imrie , James Faulkner , Jim Broadbent , Colin Firth Runtime 97 Minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures
The first Bridget Jones movie not only introduced Zellweger’s most defining character to the world, but it also has become a cultural touchstone in the rom-com genre. Bridget Jones’s Diary has been the subject of heated debate for years, as it was an entirely new breed of romance movie when it was released. Bridget was an imperfect heroine, and her love interests weren’t the dashing heroes of days past; they were just as messy as her. However, over twenty years later, Bridget Jones’s Diary has aged better than its competition.
Though the sequels weren’t quite as strong, their reason for existing is clear: people can’t get enough of Bridget and her misadventures. Renée Zellweger faced harsh criticism and invasive comments about her appearance and the way she played the role, which was symptomatic of the way women have been treated in the film industry for years. However, the endearing popularity of Bridget Jones’s Diary proves that the best kinds of rom-coms are the ones that portray realistic and hilarious versions of their characters.