A Ranking of Marilyn Monroe's 10 Best Film Roles
Marilyn Monroe only appeared in a handful of movies in her career, most of them in small supporting roles as a pretty blonde to add a little sex appeal to an otherwise mediocre movie. Once her star began to rise in the early 1950s, however, she was a massive box-office draw and one of Twentieth Century Fox’s MVPs.
The actress began to tire of the dumb-blonde showgirl roles in which she was constantly being cast, and made Hollywood history when she refused to report to work on yet another fluffy comedy. She eventually created her own company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, so she could make the movies she wanted to make, and spent hours studying Method acting and honing her talents.
If one thing is clear, it’s that Marilyn lives on forever in her movies (she died in 1962 at age 36). If you haven’t seen how she lights up the screen, these are the best places to start. Celebrate what would’ve been Marilyn’s 90th birthday with a movie marathon — diamonds optional.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY1/10Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Marilyn’s most memorable role is dizzy, bubbly blonde showgirl Lorelei Lee, who embarks on a European cruise with her BFF, sarcastic brunette Dorothy (Jane Russell). Gentlemen Prefer Blondes showcases Marilyn’s insane comedic timing and musical talent; it’s also notable that she ad-libbed the line, “I can be smart when it’s important, but most men don’t like it.” Lorelei might seem a little dim on the surface, but she’s got more depth and savvy than you think. Appearances are deceiving, after all!
The musical numbers in Gentlemen are many, and each one is more delightful than the next. MM’s show-stopping performance of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” has been mimicked by Madonna and Gossip Girl alike, but the movie itself is far more delightful than any modern interpretation. If you haven’t fallen in love with Marilyn by now, this movie will have you head-over-heels obsessed.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY2/10The Seven Year Itch
Yes, *The Seven Year Itch * is the movie where Marilyn’s white dress flies up as she stands over the subway grate. It’s practically the most iconic movie scene of all time. The entire movie is worth watching, because Marilyn is absolutely perfect as the enchanting, beautiful Girl Upstairs who shakes up Tom Ewell’s faux-bachelor summer.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY3/10How to Marry a Millionaire
*How to Marry a Millionaire * starred Marilyn, Lauren Bacall, and ‘40s pinup star Betty Grable as three models who rent a New York penthouse for the summer in hopes of catching rich husbands. Marilyn is so cute and funny as the nearsighted Pola, who won’t wear her much-needed glasses because, “Men don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses.” Spoiler alert: They do!
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY4/10Bus Stop
Marilyn mega-fans consider this film version of a popular William Inge play to be Marilyn’s best work — and believe she should have been nominated for an Oscar for her work in the movie. She plays a washed-up small-town showgirl named Cherie who falls in love with a young cowboy named Beau. Marilyn was very involved in the production of the movie, helping to design her worn costumes and pale makeup.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY5/10Some Like It Hot
Marilyn and famed comedy director Billy Wilder made magic together, and even though the filming of *Some Like it Hot * was, by all accounts, completely disastrous, you wouldn’t know it by watching. It was shot in black and white to disguise the pancake makeup worn by actors Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, who are posing as women to hide from murderous mobsters. Marilyn sparkles as dumb-blonde bandleader Sugar Kane; her crooning of “I Wanna Be Loved by You” can’t be missed.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY6/10The Misfits
Marilyn’s then-husband, playwright Arthur Miller, wrote the screenplay as a Valentine for his wife, hoping that it would provide her with a really meaty role to sink her teeth into. However, by the time the western was filmed in 1961, their marriage was falling apart. The Misfits is a beautiful, melancholy movie that really showcases Marilyn’s vulnerability and innocence. It was both Marilyn and Clark Gable’s last film, and one of the last to star the fragile, tortured Montgomery Clift.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY7/10The Prince and the Showgirl
This 1957 film was immortalized in the (arguably) fictional My Week with Marilyn starring Eddie Redmayne and Michelle Williams as MM. But the real shoot wasn’t the smoothest production of all time, as Marilyn and co-star Sir Laurence Olivier were constantly at odds. The king of British theatre and the American bombshell failed to find common ground, and the movie was kind of a flop. However, Marilyn is absolutely charming as showgirl Elsie Marina.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY8/10Niagara
Niagara capitalized on Marilyn’s sheer sex appeal, casting her as the cheating, voracious Rose Loomis. Whenever she’s onscreen in that iconic magenta dress, you literally cannot tear your eyes away from her.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY9/10The Asphalt Jungle
This ‘50s film noir was Marilyn’s breakout role. She has a small, but memorable part as Angela, a young woman who gets entangled in a crime. The Asphalt Jungle got Marilyn the attention she needed, and soon after she became a huge star.
GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY10/10Don't Bother to Knock
Even Marilyn had to star in a B-movie or two. *Don’t Bother to Knock * has her cast as a babysitter you'd never want to leave in charge.
