The 15 Best Lindsay Lohan Movies, Ranked By an Entertainment Editor (and Lohan Stan)
By Nakeisha Campbell,
2024-05-27
The Lindsay Lohan-aissance is well underway, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
After a years-long hiatus from the limelight, the 37-year-old Disney alum made an epic comeback by landing a creative partnership deal with Netflix . She returned to the small screen with her holiday-themed rom-com, Falling for Christmas , in 2022, then followed up with the equally charming Irish Wish in 2024. And now, Lohan is teaming up with Ian Harding for her upcoming comedy, Our Little Secret .
While chatting with Netflix's Tudum about her return to the rom-com genre , Lohan said, "I wanted to come back first after such a long time of being away with a rom-com. And I missed seeing them on TV. I think we need uplifting movies to watch, and I really wanted to bring that back to people and into their homes."
Having watched both films, I can definitely say that they brought me joy, but they also made me crave even more of Lohan's feel-good content. So, I figured, what better way to scratch my nostalgic itch than by revisiting the best Lindsay Lohan movies of all time? In honor of her successful comeback, keep reading for my ranking of her 15 best films (including recs and commentary from my fellow PureWow editors), from the iconic Mean Girls to Just My Luck .
OK, quit giving me the side-eye and just hear me out. Lohan may not have been the best choice to play Elizabeth Taylor, but her passion, her unique charm and her chemistry with Bowler make this so entertaining to watch—especially if you don't take the film too seriously.
Take it from PureWow's VP of News & Entertainment, Philip Mutz , who said, “Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor is simultaneously the best and worst casting in recent memory. She in no way embodies the iconic Taylor, but man I couldn't look away. It wasn't even hate watching—because I genuinely had fun watching the film.”
Cast: Danny Trejo, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba
Director: Robert Rodriguez, Ethan Maniquis
Lohan stepped into new territory when she did this bold action flick. It follows Isador "Machete" Cortez, an ex-Federale who seeks revenge on his former boss, and Lohan delivers a solid performance as April Booth, the daughter of the villain. (Or shall I say, "nun with a gun.")
Rodriguez told MTV News , "Her character has a really good arc, so that surprises people. You'll see it, and you'll go, 'OK, I can see why they chose Lindsay to play this part,' and then by the end, you're like, 'Wow, she's turned into somebody else completely.' Everyone sort of becomes this iconic character that could go on to be in their own movie. That's kind of what I wanted."
In Irish Wish , Lohan is a book editor who gets her wish granted and winds up becoming her crush's bride to be. Things get complicated, however, when she falls for a handsome nature photographer. From Lohan's charming performance to clever rom-com references, it's no wonder this rom-com hit #1 on Netflix.
In her review , Karelle McKay wrote, "It doesn’t try too hard to be funny. The jokes come naturally and they don’t feel forced. From Maddie and James’s witty banter to the hilarious fight scene between Paul and James on Maddie’s wedding day, I couldn’t help but laugh."
Pine and Lohan are simply adorable as love interests in this laugh-out-loud comedy, where Ashley, the luckiest girl in the world, ends up swapping her good fortune with another guy's bad luck when they share a kiss. Is it predictable? Absolutely, but I think this fun mash-up of Cinderella and Freaky Friday makes for the ultimate guilty pleasure movie.
While chatting with Movie Web , Lohan explained that this was a "coming-of-age" project for her. She explained, "You can only act as if you're in high school for so long. It kind of was the perfect thing for me because it's not too dark of a film, so I can still keep the fan base that I've grown with. And it's a really lovely film. It still has a good message...And this is acceptable for the younger audience and for people that are older than me. I think it was hard for me to find that kind of film, so it was nice that I found it."
In this preteen gem, Lexy Gold teams up with her pals to investigate the disappearance of her English teacher, Mr. Walker. Everything about this movie screams early aughts, from iconic Y2K fashion (remember Lexi's bright colored prints?) to old-fashioned spy gadgets.
Fun fact, screenwriter Alana Sanko was inspired by Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery. She told Millennial Hallmarker , "I thought it would be fun to sort of do a play off a kid’s version of that—what if a student thought she could solve the mystery of her missing teacher…? I was also intrigued by the idea that when you’re a kid, you don’t often think of your teachers as having a life outside of school, so there was some fun territory to explore from a kid’s point of view."
Cast: Justin Long, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon, Michael Keaton
Director: Angela Robinson
I'll confess, seeing Lohan embark on a thrilling adventure with her sassy Volkswagen bug, Herbie, was peak entertainment during my teenage years. She stars as Maggie Peyton, a recent college grad who's gifted with a car that's got a mind of his own. And while Herbie gets most of the spotlight, Lohan holds her own, thanks to her comedy chops.
This marked the sixth and final installment in the Herbie series, and according to Lohan, the film has a positive message for women. She told Black Film , "I really felt the character in this movie has a good message, and it's very empowering for women. It's a male-dominated sport in NASCAR."
Cast: Adam Garcia, Glenne Headly, Alison Pill, Carol Kane
Director: Sara Sugarman
Based on Dyan Sheldon's novel of the same name, this tween musical comedy revolves around Lola, an aspiring actress whose family moves from New York to a small town in New Jersey. The major success of Mean Girls , which was released in the same year, totally overshadowed this vibrant and captivating flick, which not only showcased Lohan's comedic talents, but also explored the many intense emotions (and active imaginations) of teenage girls. (I know I'm not the only one who also had over-the-top fantasies at this stage.)
Cast: Jane Fonda, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney
Director: Garry Marshall
You don't want to sleep on Georgia Rule , because there's more to it than meets the eye. On the surface, it's a straightforward dramedy about a troubled girl seeking a fresh start at her grandmother's house, but really, it's a powerful tale about grappling with (and healing from) childhood trauma. Lohan shines as the rebellious Rachel, an abuse survivor who finally opens up about her dark past when she's sent to live with her strict grandma, Georgia.
In March, Lohan told Bustle , “I really enjoyed doing Georgia Rul e. It was different for me at the time. It was more of a little bit of an adult departure for me. So I liked it, because it felt more challenging.”
The queen of feel-good rom-coms struck again when she returned to the small screen in this Netflix movie, which follows a spoiled hotel heiress who gets a marriage proposal from her boyfriend and then stumbles down a mountain. When she gets injured and loses her memory, she's taken in by a handsome lodge owner and, as you'd expect, sparks fly.
Editor Joel Calfee wrote in his review , "Fans of Lohan will appreciate the ways in which the star pulls out her acting tricks, and it feels like a sparkly-wrapped gift to her adorers. But Falling for Christmas is not simply fan service. It stands on its own among Netflix's lineup of holiday originals thanks to its comical writing and charming cast.”
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keillor, Kevin Kline
Director: Robert Altman
The musical comedy takes fans behind the scenes of a long-running radio show as the cast and crew prepare for their final broadcast. Among the cast is Lola Johnson, a teenager who writes morbid poetry, thanks to her obsession with death—and Lohan totally nails this role, even though it's in stark contrast to her light-hearted, rom-com films.
While discussing her motivation for joining the project, Lohan told Phase 9 TV , "I want to show my range. I want to find things that are a bit darker and edgier and that have a stretch. Everyone looks for that in their life. But it's all about the timing."
Cast: Harry Belafonte, Joy Bryant, Nick Cannon, Laurence Fishburne
Director: Emilio Estevez
This insightful drama offers a more intimate look at the hours leading up to U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. (If you recall, the senator was killed at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in 1968.) In the film, Lohan stars as the optimistic Diane, who plans to marry her friend, William, to keep him from being sent to the battlefields of Vietnam. Lohan gives a nuanced performance that's quite different from her typical rom-com role.
Fun fact: This role earned Lohan a Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Breakthrough Actress.
Lohan delivers an unforgettable performance as young Casey, who tries to bring her deceased mom back to life by using a magic spell. However, her plan backfires when she accidentally transforms her Eve doll into a human being. The cult classic thoughtfully tackles deep questions about grief, identity and femininity, and of course, Lohan and Banks make the ultimate duo.
PureWow's Executive Managing Editor, Catrina Yohay , said, “LiLo + Tyra Banks = silver screen gold. It's hilarious, was ahead of its time and addresses the loss of a parent in a really unique but relatable way. Plus, the final theme song, 'Be a Star,' is a timeless bop and no one can tell me otherwise. It walked so the Barbie movie could run. You're welcome, Ryan Gosling!”
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Harold Gould, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon
Director: Mark Waters
This gem stars Curtis and Lohan as a mother-daughter duo whose bodies are switched when they get magical Chinese fortune cookies. TBH, I still think about Murray's off-key rendition of Britney Spears's "Baby One More Time." Oh, and did I mention that Lohan confirmed there's a sequel in the works ?
Regarding the film, PureWow's VP of Editorial Candace Davison said, “Lindsay Lohan doesn't get enough credit for the way she transforms from scene to scene in movies. She's startingly good at this in...wait for it... Freaky Friday . The calm, authoritative demeanor she adopts when she's the 'parent' in a teen's body really makes you feel like Jamie Lee Curtis is embodied in her. Yes, it's a cheesy, silly tween movie, but she shines in it.”
PureWow Associate Editor Chelsea Candelario also agrees. She said, “ Freaky Friday will always be the best teen movie of all time. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis play off so well with each other.”
Cast: Dennis Quaid Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix, Lisa Ann Walter
Director: Nancy Meyers
True story: When I saw The Parent Trap for the first time, I Googled Lohan's name and tried to find out who her twin was, because her portrayals of Hallie and Annie—two very distinct personalities—were that convincing. It's no wonder this film, which follows identical twins who meet at summer camp and plot to reunite their parents, catapulted her to fame.
Yohay describes it as “a feel good movie with gorgeous sets and an undeniably happy soundtrack.” And according to Wellness Director Sarah Stiefvater , “I cannot count the number of times my family has watched The Parent Trap . It's the perfect film: Lindsay Lohan (x2, kinda), Natasha Richardson (RIP), Lisa Ann Walter (thank you to Abbott Elementary for bringing her back to our screens), the list goes on. All that plus a great soundtrack, swoon-worthy houses and the coolest handshake known to man.”
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler
Director: Mark Waters
From the festive (and sultry) "Jingle Bell Rock" routine to Regina's infamous Burn Book, there are so many things to love about this comedy. It revolves around a transfer student who teams up with two outcasts to bring down a popular clique, and thanks to the clever writing and stellar cast, the film has become a pop culture phenomenon.
Regarding Lohan's standout performance, Davidson said, “Lohan's transition as Cady Heron from the soft-spoken girl on the outside to new leader of the Plastics turned what could have been an oat milk-bland character into someone you both root for and want to tell off.”
Also, according to Mutz, “This film is iconic and Lohan is at the height of her powers. She's the heart of the movie as she falls prey to the fabulously wicked Regina George and the rest of the Plastics. The movie is endlessly quotable, so funny and clearly was a cash cow that inspired both a Broadway musical and a musical film (featuring Lohan in a super fun cameo).”
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