10. 28 Days (2000)
The top 10 Sandra Bullock movies don’t always sugarcoat things. Having no control over your alcohol consumption is one to face.
What do you do when you have a drinking problem and don’t know it? Well, if you’re our main character Gwen Cummings you experience one too many embarrassing moments.
Gwen drives a car straight into a home. And for the heavy drinking journalist, that’s a major problem. To avoid the slammer, she checks-in to a treatment center. It is at this moment that she discovers who she is and who she wants to become.
Director: Betty Thomas
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Diane Ladd, Elizabeth Perkins, Azura Skye, Steve Buscemi
Release date: April 14, 2000
Runtime: 104 minutes
9. Premonition (2007)
Although she has made some great comedies, I prefer to see the Academy Award winner in dramatic pieces. Premonition is such a film. Linda Hanson is going through a typical life when she is blindsided by the news of her husband’s death.
Her performance really takes shape when she has a dream so detailed, she believes it was real. She shares her thoughts, but no one believes her. Dismissed as just experiencing grief, Linda must figure out what is going on.
Director: Mennan Yapo
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Nia Long, Kate Nelligan, Amber Valletta, Peter Stormare
Release date: March 16, 2007
Runtime: 96 minutes
8. The Proposal (2009)
Next on our official list takes us to the boardroom. Hard-working book publisher Margaret Tate is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone steers clear of her except her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds).
All is well with Margaret until she finds out her work Visa has expired and must return to Canada. She and her reluctant personal assistant hatch a plan to marry to halt the deportation. It’s no secret they fall in love, but not before some very funny scenes take place. A romantic comedy that’s funny but not cheesy.
Director: Anne Fletcher
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Åkerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White
Release date: June 19, 2009
Runtime: 108 minutes
7. Miss Congeniality (2000)
Congeniality did nearly $225 million at the box office and is one of the movie star’s best comedies. The writing team of Marc Lawrence, Katie Ford, and Caryn Lucas create an unforgettable federal officer.
Going undercover, FBI Agent Gracie Hart enters the Miss United States pageant to catch a serial killer. Nope, this is not farfetched at all. But she pulls it off brilliantly.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go unscrew my smile!”
Yes, she is very rough around the edges. And the chances of the unladylike Gracie fooling anyone that she is a legit beauty contestant are improbable, but she wins everyone over.
Director: Donald Petrie
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen, William Shatner, Ernie Hudson
Release date: December 22, 2000
Runtime: 109 minutes
6. Murder by Numbers (2002)
Ms. Golden Globe has been in 46 films according to IMDb. And this psychological thriller is the most disturbing. It starts with a murdered woman’s body being found in the woods.
Richard Haywood (Ryan Gosling) and Justin Pendleton (Michael Pitt) are responsible for the heinous act and prove very intelligent in avoiding detection. They poke and dangle their intelligence at homicide detective (Bullock) and her green partner (Ben Chaplin).
The frustrated cops seem outwitted and always one step behind. But as their egos grow, Richard and Justin start to make mistakes.
The cat and mouse game with the two cocky high school kids comes to an end. Outdone by their own arrogance.
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt, Agnes Bruckner, Chris Penn, R. D. Call, Ben Chaplin
Release date: April 19, 2002
Runtime: 120 minutes
5. Speed (1994)
Our list of one of Time’s 100 most influential people must include her first major role. Annie Porter is taking her normal bus ride home. But things quickly turn deadly as we find out this bus has been outfitted with a bomb.
Lunatic Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) enjoys playing games. He’s old what’s the worst that can happen? But it’s not so good if the bus that Annie is on drops below 50mph.
So, LAPD Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) hops onboard the ticking time bomb. The action is intense and worth your two hours.
Director: Jan de Bont
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels
Release date: June 10, 1994
Runtime: 116 minutes
4. A Time to Kill (1996)
Our star is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. The Fortis Films founder earns $10 million per movie, and it was money well spent in this racially tense drama.
Although she’s just a law student, Ellen Roark is critical to a trial that finds a black man on trial for murdering white men. Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) shot the men for brutally assaulting of his daughter.
The only one that can keep Carl Lee from a life behind bars is his attorney Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey). But Jake does not accomplish the unlikely by himself. Ellen’s deep knowledge of the law and determination are pivotal.
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Brenda Fricker, Oliver Platt, Charles S. Dutton, Donald Sutherland, Ashley Judd, Patrick McGoohan, Kiefer Sutherland
Release date: July 24, 1996
Runtime: 149 minutes
3. Gravity (2013)
Although it’s our third highest-rated picture here, there aren’t too many pictures that will keep your attention like this one. The task is made harder when there’s just two main characters.
This is an experience in space that you will not soon forget. Your heart will pump uncontrollably. You will sit up in your seat. You will catch your breath when the movie ends.
Gravity is not the highest grossing film for the Meisner trained actor–Minions holds that honor at a billion–but it is one of her most powerful.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Cast: Matt Damon, Clive Owen, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Franka Potente, Julia Stiles, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Release date: June 14, 2002
Runtime: 119 minutes
2. Bird Box (2018)
A somewhat spooky production from Netflix. Navigating a deeply wooded area, in a boat, with two little kids while blindfolded is challenging for sure.
But this is just what a mom is forced to do to save her and her children. What are they running from? Entities that if glanced at will cause you to commit suicide. One of Bullocks more recent movies is also one of her more frightening.
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Danielle Macdonald, Sarah Paulson
Release date: December 14, 2018
Runtime: 124 minutes
1. Crash (2004)
When your screenplay delivers 14 times your budget, you’re doing something right. Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco wrote a great one here.
How much will you dislike the Virginia born actress in this picture? Well, it tough to say. She plays a privileged wife of district attorney Rick Cabot (Brendan Fraser).
The movie is filled with moral and race issues in L.A. But the characters and the story can, and do, exist anywhere. The picture’s plot follows the lives of multiple individuals after a car wreck.
The material is intense and upsetting, but the tough conversations happen. An awesome production throughout and that’s why we’ve ranked it as her finest.
Director: Paul Haggis
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Thandiwe Newton, Michael Peña, William Fichtner, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate
Release date: May 6, 2005
Runtime: 112 minutes
