The best movies of Shailene Woodley are The Descendants, The Fault in Our Stars, The Spectacular Now, The Mauritanian and Snowden, followed by the Divergent series, Adrift and Ferrari. She moved from teen dramas to serious adult roles, and her range is clear across these films. Here are her 10 best movies, ranked, with directors and where to watch.
Shailene Woodley: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Breakout film | The Descendants (2011) |
| Best-known role | Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars (2014) |
| Franchise | Tris Prior in the Divergent series (2014 to 2016) |
| Major TV work | Big Little Lies (2017, 2019), Three Women (2024) |
| Award nominations | Golden Globe for The Descendants; Emmy for Big Little Lies |
10 best movies of Shailene Woodley, ranked
1. The Descendants (2011)
In Alexander Payne’s drama, George Clooney plays Matt King, a Hawaii lawyer whose wife is in a coma after a boating accident. Woodley plays his angry, sharp-tongued elder daughter, Alex. It was her breakout film role and earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
2. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Her most loved role. Woodley plays Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenager with cancer who falls for Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort). Directed by Josh Boone from John Green’s novel, it made about $307 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. Where to watch in India: JioHotstar.
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3. The Spectacular Now (2013)
James Ponsoldt’s coming-of-age film pairs her with Miles Teller. He plays a charming, hard-drinking school senior and she plays Aimee, a shy, bookish girl who falls for him. The two shared a Special Jury Award for acting at the Sundance Film Festival.
4. The Mauritanian (2021)
Kevin Macdonald’s legal drama tells the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, held without charge at Guantanamo Bay. Woodley plays Teri Duncan, a young lawyer working with Jodie Foster’s Nancy Hollander. Tahar Rahim and Benedict Cumberbatch also star.
5. Snowden (2016)
Oliver Stone’s film follows Edward Snowden, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, from NSA contractor to whistleblower. Woodley plays his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, and gives the film its emotional side.
6. Divergent series: Divergent (2014), Insurgent (2015), Allegiant (2016)
Woodley leads the trilogy as Tris Prior, a girl in a society divided into factions who learns she does not fit any of them. Theo James co-stars as Four. Divergent, directed by Neil Burger, is the strongest of the three. Insurgent sees Tris fight back against the Erudite leaders and learn the faction system was an experiment, while Allegiant takes the group beyond Chicago’s wall. A planned final film was never made.
7. Adrift (2018)
Based on a true story, Adrift follows Tami Oldham, who is left stranded at sea with her injured fiance (Sam Claflin) after a hurricane. Woodley also produced the film, directed by Baltasar Kormakur, and carries most of it alone.
8. White Bird in a Blizzard (2014)
In Gregg Araki’s mystery drama, Woodley plays Kat, a teenager whose mother (Eva Green) disappears. The film shifts between the late 1980s and the years after, as Kat starts to question what really happened at home.
9. Ferrari (2023)
Michael Mann’s biopic of Enzo Ferrari stars Adam Driver as the carmaker and Penelope Cruz as his wife, Laura. Woodley plays Lina Lardi, Enzo’s partner outside his marriage, in a mature, low-key role.
10. Dumb Money (2023)
Craig Gillespie’s comedy-drama about the GameStop stock frenzy of 2021 features Paul Dano as investor Keith Gill. Woodley plays his supportive wife, Caroline. It is a fun, fast watch about small investors taking on Wall Street.
Other Shailene Woodley work worth watching
- Big Little Lies (2017, 2019): As Jane Chapman, a young single mother, she earned an Emmy nomination. It co-starred Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern.
- Three Women (2024): She leads this drama series based on Lisa Taddeo’s bestseller.
- Endings, Beginnings (2019): Drake Doremus’s romantic drama, with Jamie Dornan and Sebastian Stan.
- The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021): A romance that moves between the 1960s and the present.
- The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008 to 2013): The TV show that first made her famous.
Why Shailene Woodley’s career stands out
Woodley could have stayed in young adult films after the success of Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars. Instead she chose smaller dramas, true stories and prestige TV. Many of her best roles, from Tami Oldham in Adrift to Teri Duncan in The Mauritanian, are based on real people.
She also tends to work with strong directors, including Alexander Payne, Oliver Stone and Michael Mann, rather than chasing big-budget franchises. That is why her filmography, though not huge, has very few weak spots. Indian fans who found her through The Fault in Our Stars, or its Hindi remake Dil Bechara, have plenty more to explore. For more actor rankings, visit our Hollywood section and listicles.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shailene Woodley’s best movie?
The Descendants is widely seen as her best film, and it earned her a Golden Globe nomination. The Fault in Our Stars is her most popular.
Where can I watch The Fault in Our Stars in India?
It streams on JioHotstar with a subscription.
Will there be a fourth Divergent movie?
No. The planned final film, Ascendant, was cancelled after Allegiant underperformed, and the series was never completed.
What TV shows has Shailene Woodley done?
Her main shows are The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Big Little Lies and Three Women.
Sources: Wikipedia: Shailene Woodley, Wikipedia: The Fault in Our Stars, JustWatch India.
