The 10 Best Diane Lane Movies, Ranked (2024)

Diane Lane has been a beloved star of the silver screen for several decades and is recognized for top-notch movies such as Unfaithful, Secretariat, and The Outsiders. Born in New York City, Lane started her acting career at a young age and, at the impressive age of 13, she made her feature film debut in the romantic comedy, A Little Romance, co-starring Laurence Olivier, who called the young actress "the next Grace Kelly."

After a minor break from her career, Lane returned to showbusiness, making a notable comeback after starring in the Western miniseries, Lonesome Dove, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Lane has taken on various roles and film genres throughout her career, ranging from thrillers like Murder at 1600 to liberating dramas such as Trumbo and Hollywoodland. Out of Lane's versatile list of films, including Chaplin and The Cotton Club, these are the 10 best Diane Lane movies, ranked!

10 'Hollywoodland' (2006)

Director: Allen Coulter

Lane stars in Hollywoodland as Toni Mannix, the wife of notorious Hollywood fixer, Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), and the girlfriend of George Reeves (Ben Affleck), who is best known for being the first actor to portray the Man of Steel, Superman. The film dives into the true story of Reeves, his claim to fame, and his shocking death, which was initially ruled a suicide, but after taking a closer look at the case, many believe Reeves' death was a homicide.

Lane gives a stunning performance as the eccentric Mannix who was hopelessly in love with Reeves and forever changed by his death. The film does an excellent job of examining all the potential theories surrounding the case, including Reeves' girlfriend at the time, who many speculate pulled the trigger during a heated argument with the television star. Lane delivers a raw, unapologetic portrayal of Mannix who was labeled as a woman scorned, but Lane brings an emotional honesty to her and insight into one of Hollywood's most mysterious cases.

9 'Chaplin' (1992)

Director: Richard Attenborough

Robert Downey Jr. stars as classic comedian and trailblazer, Charlie Chaplin, who started his career on the streets of London performing on the British Vaudeville circuit and soon found himself to be one of the biggest silent film stars in the United States. As Chaplin's career thrived on the silver screen, his personal life encountered turbulent obstacles such as failed marriages and conflicting political views with Hollywood, ultimately leading the star to be exiled from the United States.

Chaplin is a historical biopic about one of Hollywood's greatest talents who also had a personal life that led him to being forced out of the States, only to return in 1972 to receive an honorary Academy Award. Lane stars as Chaplin's third wife and classic film star, Paulette Goddard, who initially gained notoriety for her marriage to Chaplin, going on to become one of the most prominent leading ladies of Hollywood's Golden Age. Lane gives a flawless performance as the silver screen starlet, mastering everything down to the finest detail of Goddard, including her mannerisms and facial expressions, resulting in one of her finest performances.

Chaplin

PG-13

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Release Date

December 17, 1992

Director

Richard Attenborough

Cast

Robert Downey Jr. , Geraldine Chaplin , Paul Rhys , John Thaw , Moira Kelly , Anthony Hopkins

Runtime

143

Main Genre

Biography

8 'Trumbo' (2015)

Director: Jay Roach

In 1947, screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) and several other writers are added to Hollywood's Blacklist, which ultimately barred them from working in the American film industry and having a detrimental impact on their means to make a living. Unable to accept defeat, Trumbo works around his blackballed status, writing under a pseudonym or having other writers take credit for his work and splitting the profits. As word spreads of Trumbo's successful ghostwriting, he's approached by one of Hollywood's biggest rising stars, Kirk Douglas (Dean O'Gorman), who asks him to write the screenplay for his upcoming film, Spartacus.

Trumbo is an essential film about classic Hollywood and is based on the true story of Oscar-winning screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, who played a major role in ending Hollywood's Blacklist. Lane plays Trumbo's adoring wife, Cleo, who is a monumental force behind her husband's resilience and inability to be shut out because his political beliefs didn't align with the majority. Lane is no stranger to portraying tales of classic Hollywood and in Trumbo, she gives a refreshing performance that adds humor and comic relief to the overall tone of the film.

Trumbo

R

Set against the backdrop of the 1940s Hollywood blacklist, a talented screenwriter fights against political persecution after being targeted for his political beliefs. With his career at stake, he uses his wit and writing skills to outsmart his oppressors and continue his work, even under a pseudonym.

Release Date

October 27, 2015

Director

Jay Roach

Cast

Bryan Cranston , Helen Mirren , John Goodman , Diane Lane , Michael Stuhlbarg , David James Elliott

Runtime

124 Minutes

Main Genre

Drama

7 Watch on Max'Murder at 1600' (1997)

Director: Dwight H. Little

When a secretary is found murdered in the White House, detective Harlan Regis (Wesley Snipes) is assigned to the case and, despite his objections, he is forced to team up with a Secret Service agent, Nina Chance (Lane). As the two conduct their investigation, they discover that the murder is part of a major cover-up, but when they are arrested and labeled as traitors, Regis and Chance must sneak their way back into the White House and expose the killer's identity.

Murder at 1600 is a highly underrated action thriller that also stars Alan Alda, Ronny Cox, and Tate Donovan. Lane gives an intense, suspense-filled performance paired alongside Snipes, creating an excellent crime-fighting duo that lures audiences into this tedious murder mystery. Known for her feminine, romantic roles, Lane takes on an against-type character in Murder at 1600, which she beautifully executes without missing a beat of her action-experienced co-star.

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6 'Secretariat' (2010)

Director: Randall Wallace

Housewife and mother, Penny Chenery (Lane) doesn't have much experience with horses, but when her father (Scott Glenn) becomes ill, she agrees to take over the family's Thoroughbred farm. As Chenery gains her footing and fights her way through the world of horse racing, she and a veteran horse trainer (John Malkovich) team up to train a young colt named Secretariat, who goes on to make history, winning the Triple Crown.

Secretariat is based on the incredible true story of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown Champion, Secretariat, who today, still holds the record for the fastest time in all three racing events. Film critic, Roger Ebert, gave Secretariat four out of four stars, noting the film's consistent authenticity. Lane is front and center as the horse's ambitious owner, Penny Chenery (who also makes a cameo appearance in the film), delivering a heartwarming and upbeat performance in one of the most epic horse racing films of all time.

Secretariat (2010)

PG

Release Date

August 20, 2010

Director

Randall Wallace

Cast

Diane Lane , John Malkovich , Scott Glenn , James Cromwell , Dylan Walsh , Fred Dalton Thompson

Runtime

116

Main Genre

Drama

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5 'The Cotton Club' (1984)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Dix Dwyer (Richard Gere) is a dashing horn player who performs at The Cotton Club in Harlem and dreams of making it big as a Hollywood movie star. When Dwyer meets Vera Cicero (Lane), he starts to fall for her but soon discovers she is the girlfriend of a local mobster, Dutch Schultz (James Remar), making his romantic venture a difficult task. While Dwyer juggles his heart and aspirations, his brother (Nicolas Cage) finds himself in with Schultz's crowd, causing more grievances and complications for Dwyer.

The Cotton Club is a musical crime drama based on the 1977 novel by the same name written by James Haskin and also stars Bob Hoskins, Laurence Fishburne, and tap-dancing legend, Gregory Hines. Despite being a box office failure, The Cotton Club earned praise for its memorable performances by the overall cast and authentic backdrop of the roaring 1920s. Lane takes on the role of a seductive but kind-hearted dame with ease and, between her natural beauty and genuine chemistry with Gere, she is without a doubt one of the main highlights of this Coppola picture.

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4 'Unfaithful' (2002)

Director: Adrian Lyne

When wife and mother, Connie Sumner (Lane) accidentally bumps into a man, Paul Martel (Olivier Martinez), on the street, he offers to treat her scraped knee from the incident and finds herself charmed by his kindness and outlook on life. The two become involved in a whirlwind affair that brings new meaning to Sumner's routine life, but when her husband, Edward (Richard Gere), learns about her secret relationship, he confronts Paul, which unlocks a sense of rage and anger Edward never thought possible.

Unfaithful is an intense thriller directed by Adrian Lyne, who is known for his sexually charged films such as Fatal Attraction and Indecent Proposal. Lane delivers one of her best performances as a woman caught between her morals and desires, unaware that her choices could lead to such dire and detrimental consequences for both her marriage and personal well-being. While the film is full of sexual tension, it does a brilliant job of staying away from clichés that come with similar plots and focuses instead on the complexity of the characters, ultimately leading audiences to an unforeseen twist that sets it apart from other erotic thrillers.

Unfaithful

R

A New York suburban couple's marriage goes dangerously awry when the wife indulges in an adulterous fling.

Release Date

May 10, 2002

Director

Adrian Lyne

Cast

Diane Lane , Richard Gere , Olivier Martinez

Runtime

124 min

Main Genre

Thriller

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3 'Rumble Fish' (1983)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Rusty James (Matt Dillon) is a restless teenager who has pent-up rage and always looking for a fight as an outlet. At home, James tries to escape his alcoholic father (Dennis Hopper) and the heartbreaking fact of his mother abandoning him by spending most of his time with his girlfriend, Patty (Lane), and his misfit group of friends. When his brother, The Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke), returns home, he thinks he might have finally found someone who could help him navigate his way through his turbulent life.

Lane stars alongside a stellar cast of stars in the bold drama, Rumble Fish, which earned three and a half out of four stars from film critic, Roger Ebert. The film was a flop at the box office, but a majority of critics applauded the film's director, Francis Ford Coppola, and his fearless ability to take such a risk with the extravagant film, which is brilliantly carried by a more than capable cast. Lane effectively holds her own against the male-majority cast, delivering a coarse and unforgettable performance that many consider to be one of her breakthrough roles.

Rumble Fish

R

Absent-minded street thug Rusty James struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days of gang warfare.

Release Date

October 20, 1983

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Matt Dillon , Mickey Rourke , Diane Lane , Dennis Hopper , Diana Scarwid , Vincent Spano

Runtime

94

Main Genre

Drama

2 'A Little Romance' (1979)

Director: George Roy Hill

Lauren King (Lane) is a curious teenager who lives in Paris and one day, while on a movie set, she meets a young film buff, Daniel (Thelonious Bernard), who both have an immediate connection. When Lauren's mother forbids her to see Daniel, the two plan to run away together with the help of a petty thief (Laurence Olivier) to Venice, where legend says, anyone who kisses under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset is destined to be together forever.

Lane makes her silver screen debut in the romantic comedy, A Little Romance, which is based on the 1977 novel E=mc2 Mon Amour by Patrick Cauvin. Even though some critics felt the premise of the film was far-fetched, A Little Romance is meant to bend the rules of reality and ultimately a timeless testament to young love and innocence that has yet to be matched. For her first major film, Lane is a pure delight, showing incredible comfort and poise in front of the camera and with her co-stars, especially Olivier, who is considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time.

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1 'The Outsiders' (1983)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, two gangs of teenagers, the Greasers and the Socs, are constantly at odds and when some of the Socs get into a brutal fight with two Greasers, one of the Socs ends up dead. As the Greasers go into hiding, they realize they can't run from their actions and, as they each face uncertain consequences, some are able to redeem themselves while others meet an unfortunate fate.

The Outsiders is a gritty coming-of-age criminal drama based on the 1967 novel by the same name written by S.E. Hinton and features an epic cast of stars including Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Lane again finds herself among an all-male driven cast as Cherry Valance, who essentially serves as a middle player and perspective between the two groups of teens. While the male characters are at the center of this gripping drama, Lane's character plays a crucial role and her captivating performance earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

The Outsiders

PG

Set in a small town, a group of underprivileged teenagers known as the Greasers constantly clash with the affluent Socs. The stark contrast in their socioeconomic statuses leads to a tragic chain of events, testing the bonds of friendship and the notion of loyalty among the Greasers.

Release Date

March 25, 1983

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Diane Lane , Ralph Macchio , Rob Lowe , Emilio Estevez , Matt Dillon , Patrick swayze , C. Thomas Howell , Tom Cruise

Runtime

91 minutes

Main Genre

Drama

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