
has come a long way from sashaying around New York in style as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl
. Now a Met Gala queen and a red carpet favorite, she is also owning everything from thrilling mysteries to heartfelt dramas, even animated and superhero roles,
proving time and again that she has got way more than just one trick up her sleeve.
Want to see the Hollywood magic Blake Lively has been casting for years
now? This countdown ranks her best performances, showing you that there is so much more to Blake Lively than her Gossip Girl
days.
14. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005 & 2008)
Genre:
Coming-of-Age, Drama
Role:
Bridget Vreeland
Why Watch:
A cult favorite, Blake Lively comes alive as athletic, bold Bridget in this classic tale of friendship.
Streaming on:
HBO Max
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
is at #14 not because it is forgettable, far from it, but because it is the nostalgic start of Blake Lively’s career
and there were better to come. Bridget’s fearless energy, grief-driven backstory, and beachside soccer scenes
showed Lively had star power.
blake lively in the sisterhood of the traveling pants pic.twitter.com/WmdwL0umVY
— mariah ♡ (@voguessangel) November 10, 2021
It is a warm hug of a film series, and fans still adore her chemistry with the sisterhood. The role laid the groundwork for the bold, emotional roles she would later master!
13. Accepted (2006)
Genre:
Comedy
Role:
Monica Moreland
Why Watch:
One of her earliest roles, this fun college misfit comedy is fresh, quirky, and nostalgic.
Streaming on:
Netflix, Prime Video
Ranking here for its early-career charm, Accepted
is pure, unadulterated, messy college comedy. While Blake Lively’s role is more supporting eye-candy than substance, her natural charm as the dream girl, Monica, shines through with just the right amount of coolness.
my summer vibe is blake lively in accepted (2006) pic.twitter.com/MREDtAvjFl
— rowan 𓆈 (@mezcalsoda) June 18, 2024
Her chemistry with Justin Long
gives the movie its easy-going heart. It is like Gossip Girl
meets the ultimate teen drama fix
, think fake college, but all the real fun!
12. The Town (2010)
Genre:
Crime, Drama
Role:
Krista Coughlin
Why Watch:
She trades glamorous image to play a troubled Boston mom—and nails her breakout moment with critical acclaim.
Streaming on:
Max, Prime Video
Coming in at #12 because it is an unforgettable transformation. Blake Lively goes full gritty and raw, ditching her classy, stylish reputation to play a single mom addicted to substances
entangled in a world of bank robbers.
The Town, directed by Ben Affleck (who also stars) and starring Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Pete Postlethwaite, Slaine, Owen Burke, Titus Welliver, Dennis McLaughlin, Brian Scannell and Victor Garber, was released on this day in 2010 (USA) pic.twitter.com/KfGLlS73fT
— SciFi31👽 (@SciFi31) September 17, 2023
She holds her own alongside Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner
, impressing with her Boston accent and raw emotion. The Town
is a must-watch if you want to see Lively like you have never seen her before.
11. Green Lantern (2011)
Genre:
Superhero, Action
Role:
Carol Ferris
Why Watch:
Mixed reviews aside, it is where the internet’s most adored couple, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
, first met!
Streaming on:
Max
The film might be a letdown (hence the lower rank), but it is here mostly for the behind-the-scenes sparks.
Green Lantern
may have flopped critically, but it gave the world Reynolds + Lively
. Their chemistry onscreen? Surprisingly electric.
reasons to watch GREEN LANTERN: Blake Lively pic.twitter.com/yX8JzGqkas
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) September 18, 2021
Blake Lively’s Carol Ferris
is a no-nonsense pilot with heart, worth a watch- even if the script did not fully use her talents. Superhero fluff, yes—but it sure is fun to see where this Hollywood power couple began.
10. Savages (2012)
Genre:
Crime Thriller
Role:
Ophelia “O” Sage
Why Watch:
Lively steals the show in a wild love triangle in the violent drug world—gritty, bold, and full of drama.
Streaming on:
Peacock, Prime Video
At #10 for its wild energy and gutsy storytelling. In Savages,
Blake Lively takes a huge swing here—Lively as O is soft, scarred, and caught between two lovers and a cartel queen (Salma Hayek)
.
Blake Lively, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Taylor Kitsch in Savages (2012) pic.twitter.com/WacJnNBSs0
— Frame Found (@framefound) July 12, 2023
The film is messy but still unforgettable. Lively narrates large sections of it, drawing you into her chaotic, dangerous world with emotional depth
. Not for the faint-hearted, but undeniably irresistible!
9. The Age of Adaline (2015)
Genre:
Romance, Fantasy
Role:
Adaline Bowman
Why Watch:
Lively wows as a woman who stops aging after a car accident, bringing grace and a chic vintage vibe that never gets old.
Streaming on:
Prime Video, Apple TV
Landing here for its dreamy storytelling and pure elegance. Blake Lively is mesmerizing as Adaline
—timeless in both style and soul. She is carrying decades of heartbreak in her eyes, and you can feel it through the screen.
Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline (2015) pic.twitter.com/P5EcP94WzI
— Frame Found (@framefound) January 25, 2023
With Harrison Ford delivering a surprise emotional turn
, The Age of Adaline
is a swoony, slow-burn love letter to eternal romance. It is like watching old Hollywood but with a modern twist.
8. The Shallows (2016)
Genre:
Survival Thriller
Role:
Nancy Adams
Why Watch:
In this gripping one-woman show, Lively battles a great white shark in a high-stakes survival thriller.
Streaming on:
Netflix
Solo survival thrillers do not usually scream actress showcase, but Blake Lively turns the tables in The Shallows
. She carries nearly the entire film, facing off against a monstrous shark
, painful injuries, and her own fear.
The attack is just the beginning. See #BlakeLively in #TheShallows on June 24. pic.twitter.com/Ydh3e6l7dZ
— The Shallows (@ShallowsMovie) June 14, 2016
No backup cast, no flashbacks—just one woman and the ocean. She brings tension, vulnerability, and strength. Standing tall at #8, it is a performance that proves she can totally own the screen.
7. Café Society (2016)
Genre:
Romantic Drama
Role:
Veronica Hayes
Why Watch:
Directed by Woody Allen, this 1930s film features Lively in a radiant supporting role, oozing old-Hollywood charm.
Streaming on:
Prime Video
Midway up the list for her glow-up in vintage glam. Lively brings warmth and class as Veronica, a bright spot in Jesse Eisenberg’s love-tangled journey
through Hollywood and New York.
How do I look? #JesseEisenberg and @BlakeLively star in #CafeSociety. pic.twitter.com/zRbOiksg6k
— Cafe Society (@cafesocietyfilm) June 28, 2016
Café Society
oozes style and Lively’s presence adds heart to the romance. She channels a Grace Kelly-esque elegance, giving a subtle but standout performance that perfectly suits the era.
6. A Simple Favor (2018)
Genre:
Thriller, Mystery
Role:
Emily Nelson
Why Watch:
Blake Lively dazzles as a stylish, mysterious woman who vanishes, with sizzling chemistry alongside Anna Kendrick.
Streaming on:
Hulu, Prime Video
This twisty mystery earns #6 for Blake Lively’s deliciously stylish and dangerous switch into Emily
. She is mysterious, sharp-tongued, and always ten steps ahead.
Can you keep a secret? @AnnaKendrick47 and @BlakeLively star in #ASimpleFavor – in theaters September 14. pic.twitter.com/qdZsPbtoPh
— A Simple Favor (@ASimpleFavor) July 12, 2018
Whether in a power suit or sipping martinis, Lively is magnetic—and her scenes with Anna Kendrick sizzle
. A Simple Favor
is sleek, smart, and wickedly entertaining, proving how Blake Lively can play femme fatale like a pro.
5. The Rhythm Section (2020)
Genre:
Action, Revenge Thriller
Role:
Stephanie Patrick
Why Watch:
Lively transforms into a grief-stricken woman turned assassin—underrated and intense.
Streaming on:
Paramount+, Apple TV
Cracking the top 5 for sheer commitment. Lively disappears into the role of Stephanie Patrick, a woman shattered by loss and reborn through rage
. The physicality, the messy vulnerability, the underdog grit—it is all there.
“Blake Lively’s best work to date” – Den Of Geek. #TheRhythmSection is in cinemas now. pic.twitter.com/9IPmPBvs6x
— ParamountUK (@ParamountUK) January 31, 2020
While The Rhythm Section
did not light up the box office, critics and fans applauded her transformation. With wigs, bruises, and unglamorous pain
, with this one Lively was proving she is so much more than just red carpet sparkle.
4. IF (2024)
Genre:
Animated Fantasy
Role:
Voice of Octopuss
Why Watch:
Lively voices an imaginary friend in this fun, heartfelt animated adventure—a family-friendly twist!
Streaming on:
Amazon Prime Video
IF
races to the top spots with its charm and surprise. Blake Lively lends her voice to Octopuss, a snarky, lovable imaginary friend
with charm, sass, and surprising wisdom. Octopuss may be animated, but her delivery is full of warmth and clever comedy.
Get ready for a heart-warming, all-family film from the director of A Quiet Place, the star of Deadpool, and the studio that brought you Annihilation. #IFMovie pic.twitter.com/UU5pPciD76
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 14, 2023
Lively brings her signature stylish sparkle to the role, making even tentacles feel fashionable. With Ryan Reynolds
also in the cast, this one is a feel-good family flick that is too good to skip
and gives off all the right vibes.
3. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Genre:
Superhero, Action-Comedy
Role:
Voice of Ladypool
Why Watch:
Lively pops up as Ladypool, adding a fun meta twist to the multiverse chaos with husband Ryan Reynolds.
Streaming on:
Disney+
Though it is only her voice, Lively’s sassy, sharp-tongued Ladypool cameo
in Deadpool & Wolverine
steals scenes in true Deadpool fashion. Finally sharing the Deadpool
universe with Ryan Reynolds, this wink to fans
is gold.
OFFICIAL | Lady Deadpool is played by Blake Lively in ‘DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’. pic.twitter.com/q0UAVb57eE
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) August 1, 2024
It is a cheeky cameo packed with attitude, humor, and just enough of the Lively flair
to make fans wish she had more screen time in the Marvel madness.
2. It Ends with Us (2024)
Genre:
Romantic Drama
Role:
Lily Bloom
Why Watch:
Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel, Lively shines in her most emotional role yet—a fan favorite!
Streaming on:
Netflix
The first thing that might come to mind when you hear It Ends with Us
is the drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
. But forget the behind-the-scenes buzz for a minute- this film is all about Blake Lively’s raw, emotional performance as Lily Bloom.
She infuses heartbreak, strength, and the vulnerability of breaking cycles into every frame.
First trailer for ‘IT ENDS WITH US,’ starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
In theaters August 9.
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 16, 2024
Lively shares emotionally touching scenes with Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar
, and the story dives deep into trauma and healing, making it a must-watch emotional rollercoaster!
1. Another Simple Favor (2025)
Genre:
Thriller, Comedy
Role:
Emily Nelson
Why Watch:
Lively’s back in A Simple Favor
sequel, wowing audiences at South by Southwest with fresh twists, dark vibes, and her signature style!
Streaming on:
Amazon Prime Video on May 1
At number one—because Blake Lively is back with a vengeance, bolder than ever
. Emily Nelson the fashion icon with a dark side returns
, and Blake Lively looks like she is having the time of her life. Early buzz says the sequel doubles down on the chic mystery and outrageous fun.
It all started with just a simple favor… Another Simple Favor is streaming May 1. pic.twitter.com/Gdu5qG7fnR
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) February 26, 2025
Her chemistry with Anna Kendrick remains electric
, and Blake Lively leans into her femme fatale energy even harder. This time, her secrets are messier, the stakes are higher, and the martinis? Even colder!
From shark-infested waters to time-traveling romances and chaotic comedies, Blake Lively has done it all—and with serious style. Her Hollywood filmography is full of bold choices, surprising cameos, and unforgettable performances that keep us watching.
Do you think we nailed the ranking or totally missed your favorite? Let us know in the comments!