“I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”
Kathleen Turner became a pivotal force on the silver screen during the 1980s, initially gaining notoriety for Romancing the Stone and the steamy romantic thriller, Body Heat. Known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry good looks, Turner was born in Springfield, Missouri, and started her acting career in the early 1970s, appearing in local theater productions and eventually on the Broadway stage. In 1981, she made her film debut in Body Heat, skyrocketing her to stardom and establishing her as one of the decade’s most popular sex symbols.
To avoid being typecast as the classic femme fatale, Turner turned to more romantic and comedic roles, appearing in hit films such as John Huston‘s Prizzi’s Honor, Peggy Sue Got Married, and The War of Roses. Due to severe health problems, Turner’s leading lady career took a bit of a beat seat, but she continued to work, starring in House of Cards, Serial Mom, and The Virgin Suicides. Today, Turner remains active, appearing in guest roles on television and minor parts in popular films, but out of her list of filmography, including The Accidental Tourist and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, these are the 10 best Kathleen Turner movies, ranked.
10 ‘House of Cards’ (1993)
Director: Michael Lessac
After the unexpected death of her husband, Ruth Matthews decides to move her and her children back to their family home in a quiet suburban town, hoping it will help them grieve and move on with their lives. Her son, Michael (Shiloh Strong), manages to adjust to his surroundings but her daughter, Sally (Asha Menina), begins to show unusual behavior and starts building houses out of playing cards and photographs. When Matthews is court-mandated to have Sally see a professional, she is introduced to Jake Beerlander (Tommy Lee Jones), who specializes in child autism.
Turner delivers one of her best dramatic performances in the 1993 film, House of Cards, which is a telling story about love, grief, and understanding carried by an exceptional cast. Initially, the film earned mixed reviews from critics, but some praised the film for addressing uncommon and difficult subjects as well as the well-rounded characters who, despite a predictable finale, remained genuine and heartfelt in the end. Even though House of Cards wasn’t a major box office hit, Turner still gives a riveting portrayal of a mother and grieving wife that is an absolute must-see at least once in a film fan’s lifetime.
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9 ‘The Accidental Tourist’ (1988)
Director: Anne Tyler
When Macon (William Hurt) and Sarah Leary’s young son is murdered, the traumatic event takes a toll on their marriage and results in Sarah moving out. After enduring a freak accident, Macon is bound to crutches and moves back in with his siblings at their family home, where he meets a lively dog trainer, Muriel (Geena Davis), and the two strike up a friendship. Word of Macon and Muriel’s newfound relationship eventually reaches Sarah, who tries to reconcile with her estranged husband, leaving Macon to make a difficult decision.
The romantic drama, The Accidental Tourist, is based on the 1950 novel of the same name written by the film’s director, Anne Tyler. The film gives an in-depth look into the aftermath of a traumatizing event, and while other films may portray the characters in a consistent sympathetic light, it doesn’t shy away from the genuine follies and flaws of human nature. Turner gives a bittersweet performance as a grieving mother and desperate wife trying to hold on to what little of her past life she has and while she resorts to manipulation and other unflattering behavior, she still manages to earn sympathy from audiences. The Accidental Tourist received positive reviews, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay, and ended up winning for Best Supporting Actress for Davis.
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8 ‘Serial Mom’ (1994)
Director: John Waters
Turner stars as a picturesque housewife and devoted mother, Beverly Sutphin but when her son’s teacher speaks negatively of her pride and joy at a parent-teacher conference, she runs the woman down and kills her. After the terrible event, Sutphin surprisingly develops an insatiable desire to kill and goes on a relentless killing spree, but after racking up a body count of six, the local authorities eventually catch on to her and her murderous rampage.
Serial Mom is an outlandish dark comedy directed by the legendary John Waters and also stars Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, and Scream star, Matthew Lillard. Turner is simply sinister but hysterical as the wholesome mother and wife turned menacing murderer and instead of choosing to play her downward spiral into madness with the go-to Waters’ campy tone, she instead resorts to a sense of realism, creating a rather terrifying and convincing character audiences could imagine living next door to them. Despite earning a mixed response, a majority of critics praised Turner’s performance in Serial Mom, noting it as brilliantly bold and fiercely hilarious.
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7 ‘The Virgin Suicides’ (1999)
Director: Sofia Coppola
In Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a group of neighborhood boys, now grown men, recall their childhood during the 1970s and their secret affection for the lovely Libson sisters, whose untimely demise continues to haunt them. Through a series of flashbacks, the men reflect on the mystery surrounding the all-American sisters who appeared to have the world at their fingertips, and as they unravel the girls’ strict home life and longing for freedom and expression, they begin to realize the age-old saying; things aren’t always what they appear to be.
The Virgin Suicides is a fascinating look into the world of American adolescents and is based on the 1993 novel by the same name written by Jeffrey Eugenides. Turner takes on the role of the girls’ mother, Mrs. Lisbon, who, despite her good intentions and devotion to her family, somehow pushes her daughters to the edge of no return. Even though Turner has a minor role, her character plays a vital part in the Libson girls’ choices. While she believes she is doing right by her girls, her and her husband’s strict rules inevitably cause their daughters’ doomed fate. Most would feel hatred towards Turner’s character, but her gut-wrenching performance is one that heavily resonates with audiences long after the credits have finished rolling.
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
- Release Date
- May 19, 1999
- Director
- Sofia Coppola
- Cast
- James Woods , Kathleen Turner , Kirsten Dunst , Josh Hartnett , Scott Glenn , Michael Paré , Danny DeVito
- Runtime
- 97 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Drama
6 ‘The War of Roses’ (1989)
Director: Danny DeVito
After being married for seventeen years, Barbara and Oliver (Michael Douglas) Rose both want a divorce but neither of them wants to give up their extravagant home, resulting in an all-out battle of the sexes. As the husband and wife resort to extreme and destructive heights that leave the house and their family in utter shambles, their lawyer, Gavin D’Amato (Danny DeVito), tries his best to stop them before there’s nothing left for them or their children.
Turner stars alongside Douglas in the black comedy, The War of the Roses, which is based on the 1981 novel by the same name written by Warren Adler. Much like their previous films together, Turner and Douglas have hilariously electric chemistry in The War of Roses and are perfectly pitted against one another in a series of absurd tactics and pitfalls that essentially prove they’re perfect for each other. Between DeVito’s brilliant direction and the acid-dipped tale of revenge portrayed by the epic duo of Turner and Douglas, The War of the Roses is easily one of Turner’s finest films.
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5 ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ (1988)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Former Toontown detective turned private eye, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), is hired by the head of a major studio to find out if the wife of his biggest star, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), is fooling around behind his back. After showing Roger the proof of his wife’s infidelity with Marvin Acme (Stubby Kay), Acme winds up murdered, making Roger the authorities’ number one suspect. Roger, who claims he’s innocent, desperately begs Valiant to help him clear his name, ultimately leading to them uncovering a much bigger scandal.
In one of the best-animated crime films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Turner provides the speaking voice of the sinfully beautiful femme fatale, Jessica Rabbit. While Turner had tried to avoid taking on femme fatale roles, there’s no other actress who could have brought Jessica to life as well as Turner did, adding an authentic charm and sultry, vivacious attitude to the character. Considering this was one of her first voice-over roles, Turner is an absolute pro and a natural behind the microphone, using her voice to cultivate Jessica’s genuine emotion, dry humor, and elusive heart of gold, proving her incredible range of talent.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- Release Date
- June 21, 1988
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast
- Bob Hoskins , Christopher Lloyd , Joanna Cassidy , Charles Fleischer , Stubby Kaye , Alan Tilvern
- Runtime
- 103
- Main Genre
- Animation
4 ‘Prizzi’s Honor’ (1985)
Director: John Huston
Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson) is a hitman for the Prizzi crime family in Brooklyn who happens to meet a beautiful and skilled assassin, Irene, who lives in California. When Partanna follows Irene back to the West Coast, he tries to balance his work life and his new romance with her, but after he gets a new contract from his bosses back in New York, things become extremely complicated for him.
Turner is at the top of her game in John Huston’s black comedy, Prizzi’s Honor, which also stars Anjelica Huston, Robert Loggia, and Stanley Tucci in his feature film debut in a minor role. Nicholson is simply sublime, but he and Turner are together a dangerously funny duo who eventually find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse that is ripe with a comedic tone. Prizzi’s Honor was met with critical acclaim from critics and audiences, earning several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. The film ended up winning for Best Supporting Actress for Huston’s magnificent performance.
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3 ‘Romancing the Stone’ (1984)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
In New York City, a romance author, Joan Wilder, learns that her sister, Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor), has been kidnapped and must travel to the jungles of Colombia to give her captors a treasure map to save her. With the help of a brazen and handsome American, Jack (Michael Douglas), the two set out into the dangerous jungle and decide to find the priceless emerald the map leads to before handing it over to the kidnappers, but their mission is complicated by a corrupt colonel who has been trailing Elaine since she arrived.
Turner and Douglas are a perfect match in the romantic comedy adventure, Romancing the Stone, which upon its release was labeled as a rip-off of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Despite the similarities, Romancing the Stone still holds its own with a sharp and witty story and is a thrilling good time riddled with lighthearted humor and comical banter between Douglas and Turner. The movie is a reflection of the classic adventure films and is intended to be embellished with certain fantasy aspects similar to Wilder’s profession as an overly dramatic, romance writer. Romancing the Stone was a success at the box office and while it doesn’t have the popular legacy of Raiders of the Lost Ark, it still reigns as one of Turner’s best performances in a category of its own.
Romancing the Stone
- Release Date
- March 30, 1984
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast
- Michael Douglas , Kathleen Turner , Danny DeVito , Zack Norman
- Runtime
- 106 minutes
- Main Genre
- Adventure
2 ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’ (1986)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
After Peggy Sue separates from her cheating husband, Charlie (Nicolas Cage), she reluctantly attends her 25th high school reunion where she begins to regret her life choices, mainly getting pregnant by Charlie while both were in high school. When Peggy Sue faints at the event, she wakes up and realizes the year is 1960, giving her a chance to do things differently in her life, but as she begins to notice Charlie’s charm and devotion to her, some choices prove to be more difficult than she initially imagined.
Turner stars in Francis Ford Coppola‘s fantasy dramedy, Peggy Sue Got Married, which puts a spin on the classic time-traveling movie and instead focuses on how the grass isn’t always greener on the other. Turner runs away beautifully with the picture and gives an outstanding performance as a conflicted woman on the edge of divorce and, despite having the opportunity for a second chance, discovers the unforeseen silver lining of her current life. Peggy Sue Got Married was a massive success, earning three Academy Award nominations, including Turner for Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.
Peggy Sue Got Married
- Release Date
- October 10, 1986
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast
- Kathleen Turner , Nicolas Cage , Barry Miller , Catherine Hicks , Joan Allen , Kevin J. O’Connor
- Runtime
- 103
- Main Genre
- Comedy
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1 ‘Body Heat’ (1981)
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
When a lawyer, Ned Racine (William Hurt), starts having a passionate affair with a married woman, Matty Walker, they start plotting a way to kill Walker’s husband so they can run away together with his money in tow. Racine recruits help from one of his former criminal clients, Teddy Lewis (Mickey Rouke), who is a skilled bomb maker, but the couple’s plan is complicated by a double-cross, putting Racine in the middle of a much more dire situation than he signed up for.
Body Heat is a heart-pounding psychological thriller featuring Turner in her absolute best performance, which essentially established her as a promising film star and iconic sex symbol. Turner portrays a devilishly dangerous femme fatale with such ease and poise that it effortlessly presents the audience with intense, unwavering curiosity about the character’s true intentions. For a film debut, Turner no doubt knocks it out of the park as the seductive Walker who, in some sense, is a modern version of Phyllis Dietrichson from Billy Wilder’s classic film noir, Double Indemnity, and uses her master skills of mind games and manipulation to get what she wants, no matter the consequences.
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This article was originally published on collider.com