Elisabeth Shue’s 10 Best Movies and TV Shows

Elisabeth Shue
He had a stellar career filled with a multitude of roles, from light-hearted films to intense and serious dramas. Although not always featured in the lead role, Shue has made a career out of subtle, supportive performances who provide a much-needed grounding presence for the movie or TV show she’s in. With a nuanced and mature style, her work often goes unnoticed, but she continues to elevate each project she is involved with.

Shue has an eclectic filmography of martial arts teen comedies like The Karate Kid to his stellar role in the epic superhero franchise The boys; she consistently shows her skill and versatility. Even decades after his first roles, she still manages to captivate the audience, playing one of the best characters in the popular series Cobra Kai. Whatever the role requires, Shue makes a point of adding depth and natural quality to each character that leaves a lasting impact, even in supporting roles.

10

Soap Dish (1991)

As Lori Craven

This 1991 comedy film, starring Shue as Lori Craven, is set in the crazy, drama-filled world of soap operas and the personal issues that play out both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. The inner soap is titled The sun also setsand the story follows one of the main cast members who will do anything to sabotage the main actress so that she can take control, gaining prominence and prominence. Lori is drawn into a web of sexual favors, deceit and jealousy, creating a film that is funny but full of drama.

Shue fits in perfectly with the cast, featuring a host of big names like Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, and Teri Hatcher. Shue skillfully plays her supporting role, young Lori, who wants to fit in and succeed as an actress, and provides plenty of laughs with her naïve innocence when it comes to show business. Shue nails the brief and her character has excellent chemistry with all of her co-stars in Soap dish, showing that she could provide an outlet for other humor and drama early in her career.

9

Babysitting Adventures (1987)

As Christina “Chris” Parker

In the directorial debut of the legendary Chris Columbus Shue stars Christina “Chris” Parker, a 17-year-old high school student who gets involved in a wild adventure after agreeing to babysit three children. Starting out as a typical babysitting night, the film abruptly turns into an outrageous comedy full of danger and potential disaster as Chris and the kids are pulled into a scenario involving guns, Grand Theft Auto, and prostitutes.

Although some characteristics Adventures in Babysitting have aged poorly since the 1980s, Shue’s performance isn’t one of them. Shue takes on a somewhat rare lead role for the first time in his career and hits the mark on every level, playing a perfect combination of serious and comedic. Her mix of humor and resilience is an excellent tone for her character, and she elevates the film into something worth watching over and over again.

8

Back to the Future, Part III (1990)

As Jennifer Parker

In the third and final installment of Back to the future In the trilogy, Shue reprises her role as Marty McFly’s girlfriend Jennifer Parker, cementing her place in this iconic film series. This time, set in the American West, Marty has to travel back to 1885 to save Doc after he was “killed” by Biff’s great-grandfather. A time-bending cult classic that combines romance with sci-fi adventure. Back to the Future, Part III culminates the series victoriously.

Shue was recast for the role of Jennifer, and she slips into the character with effortless grace. Although it is a smaller role than some others in his career, she provides a necessary ongoing presence to the narrative, adding an additional emotional arc to Marty’s narrative. Her role brings a unique gender balance to the filmsand her sweet chemistry with Michael J. Fox helped elevate her in pop culture in the early 1990s.

7

Greyhound (2020)

As Evelyn Krause

Greyhound is a 2020 American war film based on the 1955 novel The good shepherd by CS Forester, following Tom Hanks as Commander Ernie Krause on his first major mission. Krause must command four multinational escort destroyers, defending an Allied group of submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic. Shue plays Evelyn, wife of Commander Krausewho appears in a flashback that provides more information about his mental state at the time of the trip.

Again, in a relatively minor role, Shue provides some integral emotional tones to a film that focuses primarily on naval action. Her interaction with Hanks provides an emotional anchor for the film when she turns down his marriage proposal, insisting on waiting until the war is over and he is home safely. It’s a brief but impactful scene, a hallmark of some of Shue’s roles, as it consistently lays the groundwork for the rest of the film and adds another layer of suspense throughout the wartime action.

6

Mysterious Skin (2004)

As Ellen McCormick

In Mysterious SkinShue plays Ellen McCormick, the mother of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Neil, one of the two main characters, in this coming-of-age drama based on Scott Heim’s novel of the same name. It tells the story of two pre-teen boys who experienced sexual trauma as children and how it now affects every aspect of their lives. One of the boys becomes a reckless and promiscuous sex worker, while the other becomes a reclusive sci-fi lover obsessed with alien abductions.

In an already moving narrative, Shue adds another component by portraying Ellen as a troubled and complex character who struggles with the choices she has made. Shue’s portrayal is not black or white as she tries to come to terms with her son’s experiences and his subsequent decisions in his life. Her performance shows that she can handle a variety of tougher, darker roles with a wrenching narrative, showcasing her realistic and grounded approach to a mother who wishes or knows she could have done more for her child.

5

The Karate Kid (1984)

As Ali Mills

The iconic 1984 martial arts film The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a New Jersey teenager who moves with his widowed mother to Los Angeles. Once there, Daniel faces a barrage of harassment and aggression from some local bullies until he meets and befriends Mr. ), who teaches him karate, training him to fight back and compete in a local martial arts tournament. Shue stars as Ali Mills, the ex-girlfriend of one of LaRusso’s main bullies and his new love interest.

The Karate Kid It’s a franchise that’s getting bigger and bigger, with sequels and series still in production. Shue’s performance of a teenage girl caught between her bully ex-boyfriend and his new partner is beautifully conveyed, with Shue and Macchio masterfully portraying innocence and joy of young love. The chemistry they share perfectly matches the spirit of the film and helped Shue become a household name through a confident, measured performance as Ali.

4

Back to the Future, Part II (1989)

As Jennifer Parker

Taking on the role of Jennifer for the first time, Shue joins Fox and Christopher Lloyd in the sequel to the mega-popular original film. The plot continues to follow McFly and Doc as they travel from 1985 to 2015: This time, they must go to the future to prevent McFly’s son from sabotaging his and his family’s future while also fighting enemy Biff Tannen, who steals the DeLorean, use it for personal financial gain.

Shue’s portrayal of Jennifer is typically understated but deftly elevates the film and narrative, adding a vital component that raises the stakes throughout the film. The role is played with sincerity, helping to add an element of realism to the sci-fi adventures and grounding all the other performances. While her role doesn’t require as much screen time, each time she’s involved adds new emotional tones and solidifies her as an integral part of one of the most beloved franchises of the 1980s and 1990s.

3

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

How will it be

Leaving Las VegasBased on John O’Brien’s 1990 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, it’s a gritty drama about an alcoholic who has suicidal thoughts. Ben Sanderson, played by Nicolas Cage, is a troubled screenwriter who, after losing his family and being fired, decides he will drive to Las Vegas with a car full of alcohol and drink until he dies. Upon arrival, he forms an unlikely relationship with a prostitute (Shue), with the film following their relationship and Ben’s problems from her perspective.

Cage and Shue deliver powerful performances in this incredible film, both receiving Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. The entire narrative of the film is engaging from the beginning, with a story of real life and death. Shue and Cage’s dynamic leaps across the screen, creating a palpable masterpiece. Shue’s prostitute character is shown to have layers and depth and is beautifully played with a quiet vulnerability. this gives the film a passionate yet frightening atmosphere, making it one of his best roles ever.

2

Cobra Kai (2018-2025)

As Ali Mills

Cobra Kai is a martial arts comedy-drama TV series and a sequel to the popular The Karate Kid film franchise, with Shue and Macchio reprising their roles as Ali and Daniel. However, the show flips the script and follows Johnny Lawrence’s bully character as the protagonist as he decides to reopen his old Cobra Kai karate dojo after reigniting his rivalry with Daniel. An incredibly successful sequel series that ran for 6 seasons and 55 episodes follows the stories of the old group with some new faces mixed in.

The show brought Shue back in Season 3, no longer the high school cheerleader caught between old and new love interests, but a mature, soon-to-be-divorced woman who reconnects with Daniel and Johnny. Shue’s return was especially well-received, as she played her role to perfection, with the instant chemistry expected from a cast with so much history. Ali’s appearance in Cobra Kai provides a great dose of nostalgia and shows the exceptional character growth of a successful older woman while also hinting at elements of the first film’s sweet and lovable role.

1

The Boys (2019–present)

As Madelyn Stillwell

In arguably one of Shue’s most popular and engaging roles, she plays the character of Madelyn Stillwell on Amazon Prime’s blockbuster superhero series The boys. Stillwell is the cruel and domineering vice president of Vought International, the company that manages and controls all “super.” She plays a vital role in the series by having connections and relationships with all the main stars, adding a much-needed realistic presence and supporting the incredible cast of superhero characters and personalities.

Shue consistently nails her portrayal of Madelyn throughout the first season as a morally complex and menacing presence who exerts an iron grip on people who are used to being literally superhuman and capable of doing whatever they want. She gives a believable performance that shows her versatility as someone who must be charming, witty and kind, but ruthless and brutal when necessary. Elisabeth Shue plays this character perfectly with a balance of all the necessary elements, easily his best performance and in one of the most successful series of all time.