Grace Van Patten is currently killing it on TV. Her latest miniseries, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, is everything a binge-watcher would dream of, while her Hulu drama, Tell Me Lies, continues to wow fans and critics with each new season. But Van Patten isn’t just a television actor. She has done incredibly well on stage and in the cinema, too. The fast-rising star has been in nine movies so far, and we can expect to see many more in the near future.
Grace Van Patten was always destined for a life on the screen, given the surrounding influences. She is the daughter of Emmy-winning filmmaker Tim Van Patten, best known for directing select episodes of Sex and the City, The Wire, The Sopranos (where Van Patten also had a cameo), Black Mirror, and Game of Thrones. She is also the niece of actors Dick Van Patten and Joyce Van Patten.
As we look forward to more great work from Grace Van Patten, here are all 9 of her movies so far, ranked from worst to best.
9
‘Central Park’ (2017)
Fun has eluded a group of privileged New York City teenagers (one portrayed by Grace Van Patten) lately, so when they sneak into Central Park for a night of mischief, they are overwhelmed with happiness. But their joy is quickly cut short when a masked killer targets them. The mysterious villain has a grudge against the elite, so what now for the unfortunate youngsters in Central Park?
Not the Night They Hoped For
From Get Out to It, there was no shortage of great horror movies in 2017, but you might find yourself preferring this to many others. The Central Park setting rarely gets explored in horror movies, so everything feels unique, with the incomparable cinematography bringing the green and the shadows to shimmering life. The tale is also upsetting and bittersweet, with Van Patten lavishing each of her lines with emotion. Regrettably, the movie is full of horror tropes, and the buildup lasts too long. The villain’s motivation is never properly explored either.
8
‘The Wilde Wedding’ (2017)
Retired Hollywood actress Eve Wilde (Glenn Close) is preparing for her fourth wedding at the beginning of The Wilde Wedding. This time, she is getting married to the celebrated British author, Harold Alcott (Patrick Stewart). At the gathering, chaos ensues as Eve’s ex-husbands, friends, children, and grandchildren (one portrayed by Van Patten), clash.
An Underutilized Cast
Director Damian Harris did a decent job while making this potent, hilarious tale of an upper-class sense of propriety. He found a rather agreeable star in Van Patten, who’s brilliant playing a young observer who cannot help but wonder what the hell is wrong with these adults. However, he never made great use of the rest of his talented cast. When you have John Malkovich and Glenn Close in your cast, you really ought to do better. Even worse, this is as predictable as a rom-com can get.
7
‘Stealing Cars’ (2015)
Stealing Cars concerns the fate of Billy Wyatt (Emory Cohen), a rebellious but smart teen who gets locked up in a juvenile detention center for car theft. Inside, he clashes with everyone while hiding deep pain stemming from his upbringing. Eventually, he lets his guard down and bonds with Maggie (Van Patten), the daughter of one of the detention center’s staff members.
Not the Fast and the Furious
This star-studded feature poses thorny questions about guardianship, mental health, and societal mores. Van Patten brings the necessary warmth required of her role, while William H. Macy and Mike Epps also impress. But as much as the movie tries to tackle heavy themes, it fails itself by relying on the usual story beats. We’ve seen such an arc (where a young person overcomes pain) many times before. A different kind of setting might have helped.
6
‘The Violent Heart’ (2020)
Still traumatized by the childhood murder of his sister, Daniel (Jovan Adepo), a young mechanic, barely functions despite great career prospects. When he meets Cassie (Grace Van Patten), a spirited high school senior unhappy with her family, they develop a strong bond. Things go smoothly for them in The Violent Heart until Cassie discovers shocking secrets about Daniel’s past.
Good Times Never Last
With cinematographer Ricardo Diaz shooting the small-town Tennessee setting, the meticulously crafted drama is aesthetically splendid, with shadows and observational camerawork hinting at future troubles. Poetic, tender, incendiary and haunting, this long-overlooked picture should have won a few awards for its technical aspects. Van Patten and Mary J. Blige give incredible performances, too. Regrettably, the storytelling isn’t as good as it should be. Many character decisions don’t make sense.
5
‘Mayday’ (2021)
There are fantasy war movies, and then there is Mayday, a twisty tale about a young woman who gets transported to a dreamlike version of WWII after a confrontation. Her name is Ana (Grace Van Patten), and she is soon indoctrinated into a platoon of all-female soldiers led by Marsha (Mia Goth), who are waging a war against men. Their strategy involves luring members of the opposite gender to their deaths using radio distress calls. Predictably, Ana becomes guilt-wracked and remorseful.
War Like You’ve Never Experienced It Before
For her feature directorial debut, Karen Cinorre impresses with a very lyrical story about feminism and the classic gender divide centered on the crises of morality and purpose. And she sure did cast the right person in the role of a conflicted woman. Van Patten owns nearly every scene, but Mia Goth doesn’t fall far behind in the performance charts. She was born for such roles. However, the film could have been a little better, as it relied more on story than on atmosphere and surreal imagery. It is style over substance, but you’ll find yourself loving the style, nonetheless.
4
‘Under the Silver Lake’ (2018)
L.A. man Sam (Andrew Garfield) from Under the Silver Lake, is convinced that there is more to the disappearance of his neighbor Sarah (Riley Keough). He believes there is a larger conspiracy in play, so he studies cryptic street symbols, pop culture codes, and sinister-looking people. Is it paranoia, or is something major really happening?
Is He Overthinking?
A known connoisseur of light and shadow, filmmaker David Robert Mitchell heightens the anxiety enveloping this saga, using surrealist imagery, and a gliding all-seeing camera to convey the unseen dangers around us. Unfortunately, those who click on the play button with the sole intention of watching Grace Van Patten will be left disappointed. Her character is merely a symbol, so we never get to see much of her. Still, you’ll love how the twists play out.
3
‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)’ (2017)
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) involves the reunion of a dysfunctional New York family. The aging patriarch, Harold Meyerowitz (Dustin Hoffman), is as calm as ever, but his adult children — Danny (Adam Sandler), Matthew (Ben Stiller), and Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) — keep feuding. Even worse, Danny’s daughter, Eliza (Van Patten), is taking a questionable path. She has resorted to making provocative short films.
A Powerful Ensemble Performance
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) was nominated for numerous accolades, including Best Cast by the Boston Society of Film Critics. Here, Van Patten manages to capture both Eliza’s outspoken nature and her clipped tone, stemming from the fear of disappointing her family. As for Sandler and Stiller, we expect them to provide comic relief throughout the 112-minute running time, but they are mostly serious, to great effect. Sandler specifically gives one of the best performances of his career. Thou shalt not miss this revealing and inspirational family drama.
2
‘Tramps’ (2016)
The life of Danny (Callum Turner), a young Polish-American, takes an interesting turn when his recently incarcerated brother tasks him with delivering a briefcase. Ellie (Grace Van Patten), a young woman looking to start a fresh life, is promised money if she serves as his getaway driver. Unfortunately, Danny leaves the briefcase with the wrong person. Ellie initially ignores him, but after learning that she won’t be paid if the drop isn’t perfect, she teams up with him to correct the situation. Will everything end well in Tramps?
Course-Correcting Has Never Been This Much Fun
Even before the mission, cracks are visible, and they are subtly evoked by the two leads. Van Patten portrays Ellie with the desperation and confidence required, creating a moving portrait of a woman who will do everything to ensure her life gets back on track. Her character even demands equal pay. Hopefully, Van Patten makes more and more forays into the murky world of crime dramas. Such atmospheres suit her perfectly.
1
‘Good Posture’ (2019)
Lilian (Grace Van Patten) from Good Posture moves in with her father’s friend, Julia (Emily Mortimer), a reclusive and celebrated novelist, after a nasty breakup. As the days fly by, she becomes trouble, her chaotic life clashing with Julia’s quiet, reclusive existence. How will the two sort this out?
Learning To Be Better
In Good Posture, the endless, grating hubbub that often circles Lilian is cleverly contrasted with the relative tranquility of her new dwelling. It soon becomes clear that she is the immature one, but such a negative trait always brings out the best in an actor when handled correctly, and Van Patten truly delivers. Dolly Wells wrote and directed this, ensuring the dialogue was perfect. It’s a mystery how no Oscar nominations ever came for this beautiful picture.
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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K.J. Steinberg
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Grace Van Patten
Amanda Knox
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Sharon Horgan
Edda Mellas
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Giuseppe De Domenico
Raffaele Sollecito
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John Hoogenakker
Curt Knox
