Fans of iconic coming-of-age comedy flicks Whip It and The To Do List will be sad to learn that these performances do not rank in the actor's top 10 credits. In these, Shawkat perfects "the best friend" archetype, transcending the restrictive box these roles are usually limited to. These are the highest-rated shows and movies featuring Alia Shawkat, ranked by their fan-rated IMDb scores.
Amreeka premiered to great reviews at the 25th Sundance Film Festival, as the directorial debut of Cherien Dabis. Based on her own experiences as a Palestinian immigrant to the US, it concerns the lives of a family as they move from the West Bank to post-9/11 Chicago.
In this terrifying thriller from Jeremy Saulnier, Alia Shawkat plays the bassist in a punk band that finds themselves in the unfortunate situation of performing to a room filled with neo-Nazi skinheads. After playing a cover of The Dead Kennedy's 'Nazi Scum F--k Off', and then witnessing a murder, the band find themselves trapped in the bar's Green Room in a desperate and escalating situation.
The band played their own instruments in the film, and join an excellent ensemble cast of the late great Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots and Patrick Stewart; who plays the malevolent skinhead ringleader. Although the film didn't make much at the box office, it was noted by many as one of the best recent horror films.
Alia Shawkat kicks off Kelly Reichart's First Cow, as a modern-day mushroom forager who discovers mysteriously placed human bones. The story then switches to two travellers in 1820, who steal the milk of a prized dairy cow in their mission to get rich quickly on the American Frontier.
Distributed by A24, the drama adaptation of Jonathan Raymond's novel, 'The Half Life' fell victim to the covid pandemic and was pulled from cinemas in March 2020 to be released on VOD. Despite this, the film received brilliant reviews, with 119 critics including it in their 10 best films of 2020 lists.
Alia Shawkat has a supporting role in this fantasy film directed by the makers of indie sensation Little Miss Sunshine. Paul Dano plays Calvin, a lonely writer who finds a way to invent a character who will love him and bring her into his reality, raising some heavy questions when she does anything that he wills her to in his writing.
Shawkat plays Mabel, a fan of Calvin whom he goes on a brief date with. She represents a real woman, in contrast to his idealized version of a girlfriend: Ruby. Praised for its excellent writing (written by Zoe Kazan, who plays the eponymous character) and charming performances, the critic's consensus was overwhelmingly positive.
Set in 1979, the titular 20th Century Women are those that surround the main character, Jamie, as he comes of age in a boarding house in Santa Barbara. Starring Annette Bening as his mother, and also featuring performances from Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning, and of course, Alia Shawkat.
She plays the punk best friend of Gerwig's character, Trish, who has a brief love affair with Jamie. Joining a fabulous ensemble cast, she shines in this minor role. The film itself gained director Mike Mills an array of award nominations and wins, gaining a coveted nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 2017 Academy Awards.
Alia Shawkat was at the helm of this much-loved cult tv show, as lead character Dory Sief. It's a witty satire of millennial culture, as a team of self-absorbed New Yorkers finds themselves absorbed in the mystery of the disappearance of an old college alumnus. Shawkat's character leaps at a chance for recognition and fulfillment after years of going-nowhere jobs.
The sitcom concluded in January of this year, and was praised throughout its run. Often regarded as a new comedy classic, this is one whodunit that never lets fans down with acerbic humor and excellent performances.
After an excellent and absorbing first season, Shawkat's latest TV project comes very highly recommended. Jeff Bridges is at the center as The Old Man, a retired CIA agent who is on the run from multiple assassins when the organization attempts to tie up their loose ends. Fellow iconic actor John Lithgow is the officer in charge of his capture, as he leads the operation to take him out.
Despite featuring these titans of cinema, Shawkat stands out in her performance of Agent Angela Adams. Collider said that she "steals the show" with her powerhouse performance, making it a must for fans of her acting.
The modern classic Comedy Central show utilized Alia Shawkat for just one fantastic episode. Broad City concerns the everyday yet outrageous shenanigans of 20-something Abbi and Ilana as they try to get by in NYC.
In her cameo, she plays the object of Ilana's affection at a party and the two begin to date before Abbi tells her what everyone else is thinking: that they look exactly alike. Before this appearance, fans of both Shawkat and Ilana Glazer had noted their physical similarities. Highly rated across all Broad City episodes, season 2's "Coat Check" technically beats out the next entry on the list for its overall series' ranking.
Nothing could have beaten Alia Shawkat's longest and most loved role as Maeby Fnke in Arrested Development. She grew up on the show in the sixteen years it was on the air, as she starred alongside the likes of Micheal Cera, Jason Bateman, Will Arnet, and Jessica Walters on the zany sitcom.
Featuring the wealthy Bluth family and their fall from grace (and the dysfunction that follows- or that has always been present), the show gained a cult following and pioneered the single-camera format in comedy TV. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, it has gained consistent positive reviews and resonated with audiences with long-running gags and numerous catchphrases. And rightly so, being Alia Shawkat's best role.
Kalank marks the most recent Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan movie, where they share the screen. Set in pre-independence India, the narrative delves into the intertwined lives of six individuals from disparate families, grappling with themes of love, betrayal, revenge, and despair. Alia portrays the character of Roop, while Varun plays Zafar; however, their love story remains unfulfilled. Despite the film's lackluster performance at the box office, the on-screen chemistry and emotional depth exhibited by the duo were widely appreciated by audiences.
Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan gained widespread acclaim as a beloved on-screen couple following their appearance in Badrinath Ki Dulhania. The film follows the story of Badri, the son of a wealthy man, who crosses paths with Vaidehi at a wedding, igniting a spark between them. While Badri is eager to marry her, Vaidehi harbors aspirations of becoming an air hostess. Serving as the second installment in the Dulhania franchise, the movie resonated strongly with audiences, receiving high praise and box office numbers.
Among the most adored Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan movies is Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, where Kavya, hailing from Ambala, is on the brink of an arranged marriage with an NRI. During her bridal shopping in Delhi, she encounters Humpty, a carefree individual, and gradually develops feelings for him. Marking the beginning of the Dulhania franchise, the film captivated audiences with its heartwarming narrative and endearing characters.
Student of the Year, the first of the Alia-Varun movies, narrates the tale of Rohan and Abhimanyu, erstwhile rivals who forge an unexpected friendship. Their camaraderie faces trials when they compete fiercely in a demanding school competition and vie for the affections of the same girl, Shanaya. The debut performances of the actors garnered love, laying the groundwork for promising careers in the film industry.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the long-awaited reunion of VarIa, as they affectionately call them, on the silver screen. While looking forward to their forthcoming collaborations, we hope you delight in this list of their films.
Alia Bhatt's Hollywood debut Heart Of Stone is streaming on the OTT giant, Netflix. The film also stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan.
WION's Kshitij Rawat called the film a 'hollow spy-thriller'. "This movie encapsulates everything that makes watching movies feel like a chore rather than a joy. The pacing, or lack thereof, is an additional grievance that underscores the film's inability to maintain even a modicum of excitement. In a genre where velocity and momentum are key to sustaining engagement, Heart of Stone disappoints by neglecting to harness the very element that could have breathed a sort of life into it," wrote Rawat in his review.
Alia had two releases this year within a span of two weeks. Apart from Heart Of Stone, Alia was also seen in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani opposite Ranveer Singh.
Dune: Part Two has been highly anticipated ever since the release of its 2021 predecessor, with the movie adapting the rest of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel. To this end, it introduces several new characters, from the previously-mentioned Emperor Shaddam IV to the psychotic Feyd-Rautha. Another character has a much more minor (yet pivotal) role, and the actor playing her has long been rumored to do so.
Alia Atreides is the newest member of the House Atreides, and perhaps its most powerful.Played by Anya Taylor-Joy, most of her "screentime" in the movie is in a truly prototypical form. This results in the character's story being altered quite a bit compared to the book and other adaptations of Dune.
In Dune: Part Two, Lady Jessica is pregnant with her daughter Alia, though she never gives birth. In the previous movie, a vision was shown of her holding her young daughter, though in both films, she's unnamed. After taking the Water of Life to become the Reverend Mother to the Fremen, Jessica's fetus acquires the same abilities and powers. This makes the unborn child as much of a Reverend Mother as the woman carrying her, allowing her to speak with Jessica mentally. Through this connection, Alia manipulates her mother into spreading the idea that Paul is the prophesied "Lisan al Gaib."
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