Greta Gerwig’s Best Films as a Director, Writer, and Actor: ‘Barbie,’ ‘Frances Ha,’ ‘Lady Bird,’ and More

After years as an indie darling, Greta Gerwig has become a box office sensation. The filmmaker’s third directorial effort “Barbie” has become one of the biggest movies of 2023, posting a massive $155 million opening weekend. And although the film’s numerous pleasures — including fantastic performances from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, a blockbuster pop soundtrack, and immaculate (pink!) production and costume design — would have likely helped it find fans regardless. Gerwig’s confident direction and strong voice as a filmmaker is what’s really made the movie into a cultural juggernaut.

“Barbie” and its massive success seems to signal a completely new era of Gerwig’s career. Her next project will see her venture even further into blockbuster filmmaking with two film adaptations of “The Chronicles of Narnia” for Netflix. The films will likely be even bigger than Barbie (at least as a matter of budget), signaling that Gerwig has fully graduated into her status as a major studio directer. Heck, she even has a screenwriting credit on next year’s “Snow White” movie.

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It’s a surprising direction, given the director’s indie darling roots. Gerwig got her start as an actor in “LOL” and “Hannah Takes the Stairs” by Joe Swanberg. She later co-directed another effort with Swanberg, “Nights and Weekends,” and embarked on a solid character actress career with roles in films like “The House of the Devil,” “20th Century Women,” and “No Strings Attached.” But her career (and personal life) changed when she starred in 2010’s “Greenberg,” directed by her current romantic partner Noah Baumbach.

Gerwig and Baumbach became a writing duo, with their features “Frances Ha” and “Mistress America” racking up accolades. In 2017, Gerwig attracted acclaim when she branched out into her first solo directorial effort, the beloved “Lady Bird” starring Saoirse Ronan. The film became one of the most acclaimed indies of its decade, and Gerwig quickly followed it up with her equally adored adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” Both movies turned Gerwig from an indie darling into a household name, and one of the most in-demand directors in all of Hollywood.

Although she’s only three solo directorial features in, Gerwig’s talent and her distinctive, wry energy can be found in her writing efforts, her acting roles, and movies that contain both. In celebration of “Barbie,” IndieWire rounded up the best films Gerwig has participated in, either as a writer, director, or actor. While it’s admittedly a bit difficult to weigh her acting roles against her directorial efforts, we focused on what the auteur brings to each project — and what makes the films great Gerwig showcases. Read on for the essential guide to Gerwig’s best movies.

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