Every Daisy Ridley Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

Summary Ridley's cinematic career, marked by highs and lows, began with shorts and TV appearances before transitioning to feature films.

Despite its success at the box office, Ridley's role in "The Quiet Ones" was underwhelming, marking an unimpressive debut in her filmography.

Ridley's versatility is showcased in films like "Peter Rabbit," where she excels in a vocal role, contributing to the movie's commercial success.

After bursting onto the scene with her starring role in the Star Wars sequel series, Daisy Ridley has established herself as one of the most recognizable performers working today. Despite only making her feature film debut 10 years ago, Ridley has gone on to appear in 18 major movies and documentaries, including some of the most commercially-successful releases of all time. However, while many of her projects have made a major impact at the box office, not every Daisy Ridley movie has been a triumph.

Before appearing in her first full-length movie in 2014, Ridley established her cinematic reputation through a series of short films. Projects like Under, Blue Season, and her debut Lifesaver all proved her potential and led to more high-profile projects later down the line. She also had a series of television appearances throughout 2013 and 2014, including Toast of London and Mr. Selfridge. However, it was only after she began regularly appearing in movies that Ridley's star really began to rise.

Movie Title Role The Quiet Ones (2014) Jane Harper / Evey Dwyer Scrawl (2014) Hannah Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Rey Only Yesterday (2016) Taeko Okajima The Eagle Huntress (2016) Narrator Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Mary Debenham Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Rey Ophelia (2018) Ophelia Peter Rabbit (2018) Cottontail Rabbit Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Rey Asteroid Hunters (2020) Narrator Chaos Walking (2021) Viola Eade The Bubble (2022) Kate Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023) Fran The Inventor (2023) Marguerite The Marsh King's Daughter (2023) Helen Pelletier Magpie (2024) Anette Young Woman and the Sea (2024) Gertrude Ederle

Related Disney's Upcoming Daisy Ridley Movie Proves The Actress Can't Catch A Break Daisy Ridley's career after Star Wars has had more downs than ups, and her next movie, Young Woman and the Sea, has several challenges to overcome.

18 The Quiet Ones (2014)

Ridley's Feature Film Debut Gives No Indication Of What's To Come

The Quiet Ones Director John Pogue Release Date April 25, 2014 Cast Erin Richards , Olivia Cooke , Jared Harris , Sam Claflin

By some metrics, The Quiet Ones shouldn't really count as a Daisy Ridley movie. Only seen briefly as the movie ends, she plays one of the supposedly real people upon which the ghost story is based. Nevertheless, while her tiny role is almost impossible to identify unless viewers know what to look for, the movie nonetheless constitutes Daisy Ridley's first major film appearance – marking her graduation from shorts to feature-length productions.

Unfortunately, despite being a major marker in her career, The Quiet Ones marks a fairly underwhelming debut. The movie was a financial success, making over $17 million against a microscopic $200,000 budget. However, it failed to impress critics, scoring just 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. This, combined with Ridley's incredibly limited involvement, puts it last on her list.

17 The Bubble (2022)

Ridley's Cameo Can't Salvage Substandard Comedy

The Bubble Director Judd Apatow Release Date April 1, 2022 Cast Leslie Mann , Maria Bakalova , Fred Armisen , Nick Kocher , Iris Apatow , Danielle Vitalis , Keegan-Michael Key , Guz Khan , Galen Hopper , Pedro Pascal , Samson Kayo , Harry Trevaldwyn , David Duchovny , Rob Delaney , Vir Das , Karen Gillan , Peter Serafinowicz , Ross Lee Runtime 126 minutes Expand

Another movie that barely uses Daisy Ridley, despite her dramatically higher profile, The Bubble is a high-concept action comedy that wastes what could have been an interesting premise. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie's meta-narrative follows a film crew as they attempt to make an action blockbuster, despite the limitations of lockdown. While Ridley is limited to a cameo appearance, the film boasts a talented ensemble, including Karen Gillan, David Duchovny, and Maria Bakalova.

Directed by Judd Apatow, The Bubble had the potential to be a timely and cutting social commentary. However, critics generally agreed that the film fell flat thanks to a muddled story and unfunny gags, resulting in a 21% Rotten Tomatoes score. Just as with The Quiet Ones, this poor performance and Ridley's fleeting appearance means The Bubble cannot rank highly.

16 Scrawl (2014)

Flawed Horror Marks A Final Pre-Star Wars Appearance

Scrawl Director Peter Hearn Release Date October 17, 2015 Cast Daisy Ridley , Nathalie Pownall , Elizabeth Boag , Morag Sims , Mark Forester Evans , Matty Crawford Runtime 82 minutes

Her tiny role in The Quiet Ones aside, Scrawl is Daisy Ridley's true movie debut. Although it's an understandably significant moment in the 32-year-old's career, it is also a slightly ignominious first appearance. A horror-thriller that centers around a comic book writer whose creations come to life, the film blends fantasy with supernatural elements. Yet despite the promise of its plot, Scrawl fails to come together as a compelling story.

Intriguingly, given her rise to prominence as the heroic Rey just after Scrawl's release, Ridley plays a somewhat villainous figure in the movie. As the mysterious Hannah, it is unclear whether or not her character is the manifestation of the comic creator's darkest impulses – an interesting setup that Scrawl never fully manages to pay off. Ridley's role is arguably emblematic of a movie that explores compelling concepts without successfully bringing together its biggest ideas.

15 Chaos Walking (2021)

Divisive Sci-Fi That Disappointed Critics

Daisy Ridley's first foray into sci-fi after the conclusion of the Star Wars sequels, Chaos Walking is widely regarded as a missed opportunity. Based on the first novel in Patrick Ness' eponymous trilogy, the story is set in a dystopian world without women where creatures can hear each other's thoughts. The uneasy balance between organisms is shattered when Daisy Ridley's Viola arrives, joining forces with Tom Holland's Todd.

Its head-spinning concept, complex production history, and failure to adequately translate some of Ness' core ideas to the big screen (despite the writer's involvement) made Chaos Walking a commercial and critical failure. The movie made just $27.1 million against an estimated $100-125 million budget and received a poor 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite the lukewarm response, viewers who did see it often enjoyed the movie more than its reputation would suggest – with Chaos Walking's 75% audience Rotten Tomatoes score highlighting that the picture is more complex than it seems.

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14 Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

A Disappointing End To A Long-Awaited Trilogy

After the nostalgic rush of The Force Awakens and the controversially bold approach of The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker was a damp squib on which to end the sequel trilogy. Following the conclusion of Rey's story as she reconciles her identity as a Palpatine, the movie was intended to be an epic swansong for a series that had struggled to tell a single cohesive narrative. The result sputtered and ultimately stalled on arrival.

All the Star Wars movies are available to watch on Disney+

In essentially undoing all of the story set-up in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker completely undid any sense of continuity present within the Star Wars sequels. Details, such as Rey's anonymous parentage, were completely abandoned in favor of a new story that replayed the greatest hits from Star Wars glory days. The consequence was a movie that both alienated fans of The Last Jedi and disappointed anyone hoping for a palate-cleanser post-Episode VIII.

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Related Daisy Ridley's Rey Is The Best Thing In The Star Wars Sequels The Star Wars sequel trilogy had high points and low points, but Daisy Ridley's character Rey managed to shine throughout three turbulent films.

13 The Marsh King's Daughter (2023)

A Tense Psychological Thriller That Can't Quite Deliver On Its Promise

The Marsh King's Daughter Director Neil Burger Release Date November 3, 2023 Cast Daisy Ridley , Ben Mendelsohn , Garrett Hedlund , Caren Pistorius , Brooklynn Prince , Gil Birmingham Runtime 108 Minutes

A blend of abduction horror and familial drama, The Marsh King's Daughter is both a mildly entertaining thriller and a major missed opportunity. Ridley plays Helena – a woman who is forced to confront her notorious father when he escapes from prison on a mission to reclaim his family. Mixing survivalist thrills with psychological trauma, the film promises a gripping story. The end result, however, sadly underwhelms.

Despite strong performances from Ridley and Ben Mendelsohn, The Marsh King's Daughter falls in the nether zone between the white-knuckle tension of Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear and the harrowing pathos of Room. Although the movie is by no means a disaster, scoring 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, strange pacing and narrative choices limit its effectiveness. However, in a continuation of a theme established in Chaos Walking, audiences tended to feel much more favorably towards the film than critics – highlighting its positive attributes.

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12 Asteroid Hunters (2020)

A Perfect Daisy Ridley Role Post-Star Wars

Although Asteroid Hunters is a relatively short IMAX documentary (coming in at just 38 minutes), the movie is both a great showcase for Ridley and a fitting testament to an incredible story. The movie offers a glimpse behind the complex study of asteroids, as well as the dedicated teams working behind the scenes to prevent and predict a strike on Earth. As a result, the movie is both illuminating and slightly terrifying.

Her involvement with the Star Wars series makes Ridley the perfect narrator for the subject. Plus, Asteroid Hunters' impressive visuals give the movie a grand sense of scale that really reinforces the stakes involved. However, the movie's limited runtime makes it difficult to declare it one of Ridley's best projects, since its purpose is so comparatively niche.

11 Peter Rabbit (2018)

Replacing the traditionally gentle humor of Beatrix Potter's creation with something altogether more brash and slapstick, Peter Rabbit was an understandably divisive movie on release. However, while it attracted the ire of purists, there's no denying that the movie found an audience. As a result, its success is impossible to deny.

Although James Corden gets star billing as the titular troublesome rabbit, Ridley plays an important role as Peter's sister, Cottontail. Alongside an impressive supporting cast featuring her Star Wars costar Domnhall Gleeson, she gives a charismatic vocal performance that enhances the on-screen action. Making $350 million against a $50 million budget and securing 63% positive reviews, Peter Rabbit ranks as a successful and bold reimagining.

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10 Ophelia (2018)

Shakespeare's Original Story Receives Revisionist Treatment

Simultaneously extremely flawed and intriguing, Ophelia is a daring alternative to one of the most celebrated narratives of all time. Acting as a counterweight to Hamlet, the movie tells the story of the titular Ophelia from her perspective, shining a light on one of the most overlooked characters in literary history. While this approach is fascinating, however, it doesn't excuse all Ophelia's shortcomings.

Ophelia caused controversy on release with accusations of review-tampering.

The movie features many of Hamlet's most notorious moments, including the appearance of a ghost, a play-within-a-play, and many characters' descent into madness. The screenplay distorts many set pieces almost beyond the point of recognition – losing much of what makes Shakespeare's writing so remarkable in the process. However, seeing the story from Ophelia's point of view before her own tragic end is an intriguing twist that rejuvenates the nearly 500-year-old source material.

9 Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

Daisy Ridley Forms Part Of An Impressive Ensemble

A largely-successful update of one of the great murder mystery stories, Murder on the Orient Express itself falls short of classic status. However, in introducing audiences to Kenneth Branagh's version of Hercule Poirot and making full use of an extensive and varied ensemble, the movie is an entertaining – if formulaic – adaptation. The fact that two further Poirot films have followed is a testament to its legacy.

As the demure governess Mary Debenham, Ridley is one of many murder suspects crammed aboard the legendary locomotive. However, as with every passenger on board, it soon becomes clear that there's more to her character than meets the eye. The movie itself was a major financial hit, generating $352 million against a $55 million budget. Critical reviews were more middling, but Murder on the Orient Express was more than worthy of Agatha Christie's iconic whodunnit.

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8 Magpie (2024)

A Slow-Burn Thriller Drawing On Classic Neo-Noir Tradition

Magpie (2024) Director Sam Yates Release Date March 9, 2024 Cast Daisy Ridley , Shazad Latif , Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz , Alistair Petrie , Pippa Bennett-Warner , Niall Wright , Cherrelle Skeete , Andy M Milligan , Jenny Galloway , Emmet Kirwan Runtime 90 Minutes

Written and produced by Ridley's husband and fellow Murder on the Orient Express star Tom Bateman, Magpie is a throwback to the tense personal thrillers that became so popular in the 1950s. The story follows a disaffected husband who, while chaperoning his daughter on a movie set, falls in love with another actress working on the project. What follows is the slow unspooling of a tangled emotional web – with profound results.

Debuting at the Cannes Film Festival, Magpie has been praised for its tense atmosphere and deliberate pace. However, while many critics have responded positively, others have been less kind – with some taking issue with the movie's less-than-subtle morality. Nevertheless, with Daisy Ridley playing a prominent role, the movie represents a successful collaboration between the married couple.

Related Magpie Review: Daisy Ridley Stuns In Compelling, Intoxicating Psychological Thriller The thriller is engrossing, its slow-burn buildup feeding the fire that burns brightly towards an immensely satisfying final act.

7 The Inventor (2023)

A Charming, If Overly Childish Animation

The Inventor (2023) Director Jim Capobianco Release Date August 25, 2023 Cast Stephen Fry , Marion Cotillard , Daisy Ridley , Matt Berry Runtime 92 Minutes

Starring Stephen Fry alongside Daisy Ridley, The Inventor offers a wondrous look at one of history's most enigmatic figures. Fry plays Leonardo da Vinci – the legendary scientist, artist, and inventor – as he travels the courts of Renaissance Europe to discuss his work. On the way, he comes across the French princess Margueritte (Ridley), who helps refine his thought process.

Beautifully detailed and heartwarming, The Inventor makes full use of both Fry and Ridley's vocal talents. However, while the movie secured a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was also criticized for its lack of clear narrative and drama. These issues may explain the film's failure to break even at the box office – generating just $1 million against a $10 million budget.

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6 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

A Controversial But Necessary New Direction For Star Wars

Seven years after its release, The Last Jedi remains the most controversial Star Wars movie ever made. Despite its 91% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes – indicating general acclaim – sections of the fanbase reviled the film, citing its story and character changes as major issues. Despite the understandable uproar, however, it's clear that – with hindsight – The Last Jedi was a necessary attempt to save Star Wars from itself.

The fact that the franchise has regressed since – instead focusing only on past glories rather than bold new ideas – suggests that The Last Jedi was ahead of its time.

The movie sees Daisy Ridley's Rey training under the tutelage of Luke Skywalker – a figure haunted by his failure to train Kylo Ren. Luke's pessimism was a major talking point among fans, with many claiming that the trait wasn't true to his character. However, this and other bold choices enabled The Last Jedi to push Star Wars in a new direction, setting up several potentially fascinating storylines for the future. The fact that the franchise has regressed since – instead focusing only on past glories rather than bold new ideas – suggests that The Last Jedi was ahead of its time.

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5 Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)

Dasiy Ridley's Performance Elevates Office Comedy

Sometimes I Think About Dying Director Rachel Lambert Release Date January 26, 2024 Cast Katy Wright-Mead , Daisy Ridley , Dave Merheje , Parvesh Cheena , Marcia DeBonis , Meg Stalter , Brittany O'Grady Runtime 91 minutes

An understated, melancholy, and surprisingly soulful workplace comedy-romance, Sometimes I Think About Dying is a far cry from Ridley's action-packed turn as Rey. Set in the Pacific north-west, the movie is both an affecting study of isolation and a reminder of how human contact can change everything. The result is one of Ridley's most powerful movies to date.

As Fran, Ridley reveals just how skilled she can be as a performer, imbuing her character with layers of complexity that, in lesser hands, could easily come across as unappealing. While many movies emphasize the extraordinary, Sometimes I Think About Dying revels in the mundane, drawing its power from everyday experiences. This makes the movie a subtle but incredibly rewarding experience.

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4 The Eagle Huntress (2016)

Ridley Narrates Extraordinary True Story

A remarkable story that blends spectacle with a gripping against-the-odds, coming-of-age narrative, The Eagle Huntress shines a light on an underreported part of the world. Centering on 13-year-old Kazakh girl Aisholpan, the film follows her journey to train and compete as an eagle hunter. As the name implies, this extraordinary practice involves training gigantic golden eagles to hunt on command.

Competing in a sport traditionally dominated by men, Aisholpan is forced to overcome many obstacles in her mission to become her family's first female eagle hunter. As a result, The Eagle Huntress speaks to societal oppression that every viewer will be familiar with – albeit in an extraordinary context. Shortlisted for an Academy Award, the movie was acclaimed for its blend of spectacular cinematography and gripping story.

3 Only Yesterday (1991/2016)

Ridley Helps Bring A Celebrated Story To Life

only yesterday Director Isao Takahata Release Date February 26, 2016 Cast Miki Imai , Toshirô Yanagiba

Initially released in 1991 – before Daisy Ridley was born – Only Yesterday is one of many masterful releases from the acclaimed Japanese production company Studio Ghibli. Unlike some of the studio's more fantastical and surreal output, however, the movie is a more grounded look at childhood experience, focusing on a 27-year-old woman who reminisces about her school days. Yet despite its relative proseity, Only Yesterday is still full of Ghibli's signature dreamlike soul.

In 2016, as part of the film's 25-year anniversary, an English-language dub was prepared for the first time, with Ridley appearing opposite Dev Patel in one of two leading roles.

Although her career began long after the movie's release, Daisy Ridley plays a prominent role in Only Yesterday's popularity. In 2016, as part of the film's 25-year anniversary, an English-language dub was prepared for the first time, with Ridley appearing opposite Dev Patel in one of two leading roles. Introducing the film to a whole new audience, Only Yesterday's 2016 re-release is regarded as a major success.

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2 Young Woman And The Sea (2024)

Daisy Ridley Leads Inspirational Biopic

Young Woman and the Sea Director Joachim Rønning Release Date May 31, 2024 Cast Daisy Ridley , Tilda Cobham-Hervey , Stephen Graham , Christopher Eccleston , Jeanette Hain Runtime 100 Minutes

Based on the incredible true story, Young Woman and the Sea is a heartwarming sports movie biopic that successfully manages to balance uplifting melodrama with affecting conflict. Ridley plays Gertrude Ederle, a real historical figure who defied societal expectations and the weight of history to become the first woman to swim the English Channel. However, while this feat is extraordinary, it's the circumstances around her journey that make the movie such a compelling watch.

As Ederle, Ridley is simultaneously vulnerable, determined, indefatigable, and frustrated – a complicated cocktail that demands incredible skill to believably execute. It's largely thanks to Ridley's performance that the movie boasts a Certified Fresh 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, what's arguably even more impressive is how the movie has resonated with audience, scoring a 98% rating with the general public.

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Related Young Woman And The Sea Ending Explained Young Woman and the Sea ends with Trudy Ederle's triumphant swim. Based on a true story, we break down the biopic's biggest moments from the ending.

1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Ridley's Breakthrough Remains Her Defining Performance

It's easy to say, in hindsight, that the Star Wars sequels were a failure. Certainly, neither The Last Jedi nor The Rise of Skywalker managed to justify the febrile anticipation around their release. However, part of the reason that many consider both follow-ups to be such a disappointment is that The Force Awakens was such a resounding success. By playing on viewers' nostalgia, the movie transported audiences back to a pre-prequel era, recapturing the essence of what Star Wars should be. Had The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker been less divisive, The Force Awakens might be even more fondly remembered.

As the self-reliant-yet-fragile Rey, Ridley is a huge reason why The Force Awakens works. More than a Luke Skywalker surrogate, she has an intriguing story of abandonment and independence that future films foolishly wasted. She helps create an empathetic bridge to Star Wars' past and present and steals the show from the likes of Oscar Isaac. Considering it was Daisy Ridley's first major role, The Force Awakens is a remarkable success.