18 Best Jennifer Lopez Movies, From 'Selena' to 'Shotgun Wedding'

All hail the undisputed queen of the modern romantic comedy.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Jennifer Lopez's new romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding is finally here! The action comedy movie (now streaming exclusively on Prime Video) stars J. Lo and Josh Duhamel as bride and groom of a destination wedding held to ransom by pirates. Co-starring Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz and Cheech Marin, Shotgun Wedding is decidedly more action-heavy than most of J.Lo's rom-coms, but still very much in line with the star's legacy.

To celebrate the sensation that is Shotgun Wedding, we're rounding up and ranking the best movies from Lopez, a great actress who—despite having one of the most famous faces in the world—can fully disappear into a role, as she's done time and again. Romantic comedy is what she's of course known best for, but she's navigated other genres, and her chops are not to be underestimated. In ascending order, these are the 18 best Jennifer Lopez movies, ranked.

Related: Jennifer Lopez's Net Worth Revealed

Best Jennifer Lopez movies

18. Monster-in-Law (2005)

<a href="https://parade.com/1170616/jessicasager/jane-fonda-net-worth/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Jane Fonda;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Jane Fonda</a>, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Vartan in "Monster-In-Law"<p>New Line Cinema</p>
Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Vartan in "Monster-In-Law"

New Line Cinema

Worth watching solely for the titanic pairing of Lopez and Jane Fonda, and some zingers delivered by Wanda Sykes, this meet-the-parent rom-com should have been much sharper with a cast of this caliber. Less-than-glowing reviews didn't stop the film from being a financial success, though, as it grossed more than three times its budget.

17. ThWedding Planner (2001)

<a href="https://parade.com/culture/matthew-mcconaughey-wife-camila-alves" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Matthew McConaughey;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Matthew McConaughey</a> and Jennifer Lopez in "The Wedding Planner"<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/159824405" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Archive Photos/Getty Images;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Archive Photos/Getty Images</a></p>

The setup of The Wedding Planner (a woman who looks like J. Lo has trouble finding a date?!) is just impossible to buy, and the picture is slavish to rom-com formula, but Lopez has breezy chemistry with co-star Matthew McConaughey, and The Wedding Planner undeniably delivers comfort-food pleasures for the target audience. One of J.Lo's great strengths as an actor is how easily she can do loose and goofy (remember the iconic Mango vs. J.Lo diva feud on SNL?). The Wedding Planner benefits significantly from this.

The Wedding Planner debuted atop the U.S. box office the same week Lopez's album J.Lo was number one, making her the first woman ever to hold the simultaneous honors.

Related: Everything to Know About Jennifer Lopez's Kids

16. Maid in Manhattan (2002)

Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes filming "Maid in Manhattan"<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/119528896" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RJ Capak/Getty Images;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">RJ Capak/Getty Images</a></p>
Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes filming "Maid in Manhattan"

RJ Capak/Getty Images

Like The Wedding Planner, this rom-com sticks to formula, but it mostly works thanks to the charms and commitment of its cast. Lopez plays a New York maid who falls in love with a politician (Ralph Fiennes). John Hughes wrote the story.

15. Enough (2002)

Jennifer Lopez in "Enough"<p>Columbia Pictures</p>
Jennifer Lopez in "Enough"

Columbia Pictures

Lopez plays an abused wife who fights back in this thriller based on the bestselling novel Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. Director Michael Apted had made great films before (the Up documentary series, Coal Miner's Daughter), but Enough is merely a pulpy B-movie—with some tension and fun. The best part is, of course, watching J.Lo kick butt.

Related: The 15 Best, Most Exciting Action Movies on Netflix Right Now

14. Parker (2013)

Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in "Parker"<p>FilmDistrict</p>
Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in "Parker"

FilmDistrict

The pairing of Lopez and Jason Statham under the direction of Oscar nominee Taylor Hackford should have been more of an event, but this action thriller centered on a jewel heist still has its pleasures. The two stars are easily the best part; Lopez ditches much of her signature glamor and shows off her substantial comedic chops.

Related: Jennifer Lopez's Best Up-Tempo Songs

13. Second Act (2018)

Jennifer Lopez in "Second Act"<p>STXFilms</p>
Jennifer Lopez in "Second Act"

STXFilms

Plot contrivances are mostly outshined by Lopez's commanding, charming performance in this rom-com about a woman in her 40s who pursues a corporate career despite not having the kind of credentials that get your foot in the door.

 12. Shall We Dance? (2004)

Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez in "Shall We Dance?"<p>Miramax</p>
Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez in "Shall We Dance?"

Miramax

Based on a 1996 Japanese film of the same name, this crowd-pleasing romantic comedy stars Richard Gere as a lawyer who takes ballroom dancing lessons to bring spark back between him and his wife (Susan Sarandon). Lopez plays his dance instructor. Shall We Dance co-stars Bobby CannavaleLisa Ann Walter and Stanley Tucci.

11. An Unfinished Life (2005)

Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez in "AN Unfinished Life"<p>Revolution Studios</p>
Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez in "AN Unfinished Life"

Revolution Studios

Based on Mark Spragg's novel, Lasse Hallstr?m's Western melodrama tells of a recovering alcoholic rancher (Robert Redford) working to mend a bond with his estranged daughter-in-law (Lopez). An Unfinished Life co-stars Morgan FreemanJosh Lucas and Damian Lewis.

10. U Turn (1997)

Jennifer Lopez and Sean Penn in "U Turn"<p>Tri-Star Pictures</p>
Jennifer Lopez and Sean Penn in "U Turn"

Tri-Star Pictures

Unfocused, but often hypnotizing, crime thriller U Turn marked a departure from politically charged fare for director and co-writer Oliver Stone. The cast includes Sean PennBilly Bob ThorntonJon VoightNick NoltePowers BootheJoaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes.

Related: She Can Make an Infinity Gauntlet With All Those Rings! Inside Jennifer Lopez's Love Life Through the Years

9. Anaconda (1997)

Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube in "Anaconda"<p>Columbia Pictures</p>
Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube in "Anaconda"

Columbia Pictures

A misunderstood and underrated gory creature feature, Anaconda is a B-movie that knows it's a B-movie. If that sounds like your jam, there are a lot of pleasures to be had here. Lopez plays a documentary filmmaker exploring the Amazon when her crew is captured by a lunatic, then hunted by a gigantic serpent.

Some critics trashed Anaconda when it came out. Roger Ebert gave it a glowing review, praising it on the grounds we've just described. This ain't Merchant Ivory; it is a good time.

8. Blood and Wine (1997)

Lopez plays the Cuban mistress of Jack Nicholson's Alex, a seedy wine merchant, in this well-reviewed neo-noir that also stars Stephen DorffJudy Davis and Michael Caine.

7. Antz (1998)

Lopez lent her voice talents to this bug-centric CGI comedy, alongside an all-star cast including Woody AllenChristopher WalkenSharon StoneDan AykroydAnne BancroftDanny Glover and Gene Hackman. Many critics preferred the more adult-friendly Antz over the same year's rival Pixar production A Bug's Life. 

6. Marry Me (2022) 

Jennifer Lopez in "Marry Me"<p>Universal Pictures</p>
Jennifer Lopez in "Marry Me"

Universal Pictures

What a cheery, escapist Valentine's Day surprise this was. Kat Coiro's Marry Me fully delivers on its confidently contrived ambitions. The splashy rom-com is a little too long at nearly two hours, and Sarah Silverman deserved sharper material in a supporting role—but Marry Me is mostly a grin-inducing win.

Above all, the outlandish movie works because the performances are so damn good: Lopez is perfect, and Wilson is in full command of the boyish allure that's made him a star for decades. The chemistry between the veteran actors (mature enough that a bewitching, knowing melancholy seeps through) is understated and even better than expected. Sure, it all feels very 2006—but in a way that's not so much dated as refreshingly retro.

Related: Shotgun Wedding Star Josh Duhamel Tells All

5. Shotgun Wedding (2023)

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel in "Shotgun Wedding"<p>Amazon Studios</p>
Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel in "Shotgun Wedding"

Amazon Studios

Last year, the fare more wholesome throwback Marry Me was a tonic. Shotgun Wedding is more like a hard cider, but just as pleasurable. This is actually even better than expected—it's sort of like a less cerebral White Lotus with explosions. Lopez is effortless, gorgeous and lovable, and the same can be said of Duhamel, who's always been underrated as a leading man. Of course, Jennifer Coolidge steals every scene she's in and makes it look easy, but the cast is great across the board, elevating a decent script to something that's just damn fun, plain and simple.

Shotgun Wedding is a thoroughly fun, if somewhat crude, reminder that J.Lo is, without question, the master of this kind of thing. Maybe one day she'll work with a script as good as Out of Sight again. Until then, this will do just fine.

Related: Jennifer Coolidge on Jennifer Lopez

4. Selena (1997)

Jennifer Lopez in "Selena"<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/51968708" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:SCOTT DEL AMO/Getty Images;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">SCOTT DEL AMO/Getty Images</a></p>
Jennifer Lopez in "Selena"

SCOTT DEL AMO/Getty Images

Gregory Nava's musical biopic, about the rise to fame and tragic early death of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, was Lopez's big-screen breakthrough. Selena is fairly conventional, sometimes feeling like a soap opera—but Lopez is the uncanny embodiment of the subject, who was fresh in the mind of audiences as she was murdered two years before the film's release.

3. The Cell (2000)

Jennifer Lopez in "The Cell"<p>New Line Cinema</p>
Jennifer Lopez in "The Cell"

New Line Cinema

The Silence of the Lambs meets Salvador Dali in Tarsem Singh's grotesquely violent, strange sci-fi horror picture, which polarized critics when it was released. Watching it today, it's clearly an ambitious psychological thriller that satisfies on many levels. Lopez plays a scientist who enters the mind of a serial killer (Vincent D'Onofrio) to save a kidnapped victim. She's chameleonic and brilliant here, playing multiple entities as the film gets trippier. Some reviewers have said the surrealist, sometimes S&M-heavy imagery distracts from the story, and that simply isn't true: it enhances the story. This movie is awesome.

Roger Ebert hailed The Cell as one of the best films of 2000, singling out Lopez's performance, saying she "does a great job of staying calm at the center of the maelstrom."

2. Out of Sight (1998)

Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in "Out of Sight"<p><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/168596721" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Universal Pictures/Getty Images;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Universal Pictures/Getty Images</a></p>
Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in "Out of Sight"

Universal Pictures/Getty Images

In Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed comedy thriller, Lopez plays Elmore Leonard's "tough babe" Karen Sisco, a U.S. marshal who becomes involved with handsome bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney). Crackling direction, an Academy Award-nominated script by Scott Frank, and unmatchable star power make Out of Sight one of the best crime movies of the 1990s.

Related: The 15 Steamiest Movies on Netflix Right Now

1. Hustlers (2019)

Jennifer Lopez in "Hustlers"<p>Gloria Sanchez Productions</p>
Jennifer Lopez in "Hustlers"

Gloria Sanchez Productions

Lorene Scafaria's exciting, funny and humanistic crime picture pulled from real-life headlines was one of the best and most entertaining films of 2019. Lopez's Ramona Vega, a mother hen with a career criminal edge, is a screen presence we're all going to remember for a long time. This was a lamentable Oscar snub, one of the most scandalous of recent years. Hustlers is a terrific film. Lopez's career will continue to thrive—and one day she'll likely have Oscar redemption.

What's your favorite Jennifer Lopez movie? Let us know in the comments.

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