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Steinfeld has appeared in multiple acclaimed movies and is no stranger to lead roles. She is also building quite an impressive TV resume, appearing as Dickinson’s eponymous character and voicing Vi in Netflix’s Arcane, the League of Legends series. As Hawkeye starts its run on Disney+, viewers might find themselves interested in exploring more of Steinfeld’s resume. These are Hailee Steinfeld’s best movies.
Updated November 24, 2021 by Mark Sammut: Now that Hawkeye is out on Disney+, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop has finally made her MCU debut. Steinfeld rose to prominence as an actress at a very young age, instantly proving herself to be one of the most exciting performers in the film industry. The actress’ filmography speaks for itself, but only a very small handful of her past projects were blockbusters in the vein of an MCU release. Steinfeld has starred in Westerns, gripping dramas, action flicks, and even animated features, excelling in nearly every role. Hawkeye fans wanting more of Kate Bishop should check out these great movies starring Hailee Steinfeld.
10 True Grit (2010)
A lot of actors have a hard time finding decent roles at the beginning of their careers. Hailee Steinfeld is one of the luckier ones since one of her first major roles saw her act opposite famous actors, such as Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, or Josh Brolin.
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Despite the star-studded casting of the western True Grit, Steinfeld’s performance still stands out. She portrayed Mattie, a fourteen-year-old girl whose father is murdered, spurring her desire to get revenge. The directing duo Joel Coen and Ethan Coen have created many popular movies, and True Grit has a lot to offer to anyone who enjoys their work.
9 The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
Outside of the Western that put Hailee Steinfeld on the map, The Edge of Seventeen is the strongest showcase of the actress’ immeasurable talent. A coming-of-age story that tackles grief, isolation, and loneliness, Steinfeld’s Nadine feels disconnected from her family and peers, a distance that grows wider when her closest friend begins dating her brother.
Nadine is not necessarily likable, as she can be mean, manipulative, and judgemental; however, Steinfeld instills the character with such genuine frustration and sadness that it is difficult to not empathize with her. The Edge of Seventeen might not have much in common with the MCU but it is a must-watch for anyone remotely interested in seeing Hailee Steinfeld at her best.
8 3 Days To Kill (2014)
In a post-Taken world, 3 Days to Kill was one of many films that mimicked its “veteran actor kills bad guys while trying to reconnect with an estranged daughter” premise. A CIA agent suffering from a terminal illness, Kevin Costner’s Ethan Renner decides to try and reconnect with his child, Hailee Steinfeld’s Zooey, before his death. Naturally, Ethan gets embroiled in an operation to capture an arms trafficker.
3 Days to Kill is by no means a brilliant film but it is a solid way to spend two hours. The action set pieces are generally well done, while the family drama is elevated by strong performances from the cast. This film doesn’t give Steinfeld too much to do but she makes every second count.
7 When Marnie Was There (2014)
While Studio Ghibli needs no introduction for anime fans, those unfamiliar with Japanese animation are unlikely to have heard of When Marnie was There. Hailee Steinfeld voices Anna, a young girl who spends a summer at a seaside town where she meets the eponymous character inside a mansion. Struggling to connect with her foster parents and suffering from identity issues, Anna builds a charming and heartfelt rapport with Marnie, who also comes with quite a tragic history.
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When Marnie was There is visually stunning and emotionally satisfying. The anime does a fantastic job of exploring its main characters, and Steinfeld delivers a good performance as Anna.
6 Ender’s Game (2013)
Ender’s Game is one of the most popular sci-fi literary series of all time. Even though Asa Butterfield plays the main character, it’s impossible to overlook Hailee Steinfeld in the film. She plays Petra, a friend of Ender who also trains at the same place he does.
Despite being in a supporting role, Steinfeld is sympathetic as Petra and she and Butterfield create a strong duo together. Plus, the film won’t disappoint any sci-fi fan and its plot twist can be surprising for many.
5 Romeo And Juliet (2014)
Those who enjoy seeing Hailee Steinfeld in leading parts shouldn’t miss out on watching the 2014 adaptation of the William Shakespeare classics Romeo and Juliet. Even though most members of the audience know in advance how the story will end, the film is still touching.
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It helps that both Steinfeld and her onscreen partner Romeo, played by the British actor Douglas Booth, give excellent performances. In the past, it was common to cast older actors in the roles of Romeo and Juliet, but Steinfeld was a teenager when she made the film, just like her character, which helped the realism of her performance.
4 Barely Lethal (2015)
Young people never have it easy during their teenage years, especially if they’re very different from the rest of their generation. Steinfeld’s heroine Megan knows the feeling. She never knew her parents and was raised in a special school for future assassins. However, Megan decides it’s time to learn more about real life, fakes her own death, and starts going to a high school under a fake identity.
The film is a lot of fun and full of bizarre situations that allow Steinfeld to show her comedy chops. It’s a balanced mix of action and comedy, and despite lower ratings, no fan of Steinfeld should miss it. It helps the film’s cast is full of known faces - other than Steinfeld, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophie Turner, or Jessica Alba all appear in the film.
3 Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Hailee Steinfeld doesn’t excel only at cracking jokes and doing action scenes or dramatic scenes. Another of her talents people might not know about is that she’s a capable singer. Steinfeld demonstrated her singing skills in the second part of the popular Pitch Perfect franchise.
She appeared alongside the likes of Anna Kendrick or Rebel Wilson, and her character Emily is easily one of the most sympathetic heroines in the film. Steinfeld then reprised her part in Pitch Perfect 3 just two years later.
2 Bumblebee (2018)
Bumblebee might not have been such a huge hit as other movies from the Transformers series but it’s easily one of the best feel-good films in the franchise. And that’s largely thanks to the friendship between Hailee Steinfeld’s heroine Charlie and her new quiet, but still expressive friend Bumblebee.
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Bumblebee is one of the most popular Transformers and his solo film gives him even more opportunity to shine. It helps the film take place in 1987 which gives it a pleasantly nostalgic atmosphere. Even the audience members who aren’t so excited about the Transformers might enjoy the film thanks to the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee.
1 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop could make it easy to forget she has already appeared in a Marvel production, albeit not in person. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse turned out to be a highly successful animated superhero film and it won an Academy Award for a best-animated picture.
It stars a highly talented cast and Hailee Steinfeld voiced one of the leading roles in the film – Gwen Stacy aka Spider-Gwen. Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales’s Spider-Man build a strong friendship (and maybe something more) in the film. Steinfeld’s Gwen is sympathetic, smart, brave, and bold. If the audience wants to get a taste of Steinfeld as a superhero before the show premieres, watching this film is the best way how to do it.
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