10 Elle Fanning Must-Watch Movies & Shows Ahead of ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Release

The upcoming movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ “Sunrise on the Reaping” has recently made many fans’ biggest dream come true after its leading cast was joined by Elle Fanning. The actress is now set to portray young Effie Trinket, in the original movie series played by Elizabeth Banks.

With its production start scheduled for this summer, Sunrise on the Reaping isn’t coming to theatres until late next year. So you’ve got plenty of time to watch (or rewatch) some of Fanning’s most notable movie and TV projects.

‘A Complete Unknown’ (2024)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, A Complete Unknown holds scores of 82% and 95% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.4/10

In James Mangold’s Oscar-nominated musical drama that stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, Elle Fanning portrays Sylvie Russo. The character is based on Suze Rotolo, an American artist who Dylan was dating back in the 1960s.

‘Maleficent’ (2014)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Maleficent keeps scores of 54% and 70% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie rates 6.9/10

In the reimagining of Disney’s animated classic Sleeping Beauty, Fanning stars opposite Angelina Jolie as Aurora, the King’s daughter who falls under Maleficent’s curse after the latter starts seeking revenge for her ex-lover.

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ (2019)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has scores of 40% and 85% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 6.6/10

In Maleficent’s sequel Fanning reprises her role of Aurora who is the current ruler of the Moors, Maleficent's adoptive daughter and Prince Philip's love interest and later wife.

‘My Neighbour Totoro’ (1988)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, My Neighbour Totoro has a score of 94% from both critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 8.1/10

The English version of Hayao Miyazaki’s hit classic animated movie features both Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota who voice Mei and Satsuki Kusakabe respectively.

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button holds scores of 72% and 80%
• On IMDb, the movie rates 7.8/10

Starring opposite Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, Fanning portrays Daisy Fuller at the age of 7, the younger version of Blanchett’s character who has a turbulent relationship with Pitt’s reverse-aging Benjamin Button.

‘Trumbo’ (2015)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Trumbo has scores of 75% and 79% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 7.4/10

In the Bryan Cranston-led biographical drama Fanning stars as Nikola Trumbo, one of two daughters of Dalton Trumbo who was a renowned Hollywood screenwriter blacklisted for his political beliefs.

‘20th Century Women’ (2016)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, 20th Century Women holds scores of 88% and 74% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie rates 7.3/10

Mike Mills’ coming-of-age drama inspired by his childhood in the 1970s stars Elle Fanning as Julie, a provocative teenage neighbour of single mother Dorothea Fields who seeks some guidance from young women in her son’s upbringing.

‘We Bought a Zoo’ (2011)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, We Bought a Zoo keeps scores of 64% and 71% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 7/10

In this biographical drama that stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, Fanning takes on the role of Lily Miska, a 13-year-old worker in the zoo that belongs to Damon’s Benjamin Mee.

‘The Great’ (2020 — 2023)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Great holds scores of 96% and 85% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show rates 8.1/10

The absurdist satirical take on the story of Empress Catherine the Great of Russia stars Fanning in the leading role of Catherine II who has yet to go from being nobody to becoming one of the key figures in the Russian Empire’s political life.

‘The Lost Room’ (2006)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Lost Room holds scores of 77% and 82% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the show’s rating is 8.1/10

The supernatural miniseries stars Elle Fanning as Anna Miller, an 8-year-old daughter of Pittsburgh detective Joe Miller who discovers a room which possesses unusual powers and inside of which Anna gets lost one day.