All 9 Grace Van Patten Movies So Far, Ranked

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Grace Van Patten is having a major moment on television right now. Her recent miniseries, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, is perfect for those who love to binge-watch, and her Hulu series, Tell Me Lies, keeps impressing both viewers and critics with each new season. However, Van Patten’s talent extends beyond TV. She’s also achieved significant success in theater and film. So far, she’s appeared in nine movies, and it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of her on the big screen soon.

Growing up surrounded by creative talent, Grace Van Patten seemed naturally inclined towards a career in entertainment. Her father is Tim Van Patten, an Emmy-winning director famous for his work on shows like Sex and the City, The Wire, The Sopranos (he even made a brief appearance in The Sopranos), Black Mirror, and Game of Thrones. Additionally, Grace is the niece of well-known actors Dick Van Patten and Joyce Van Patten.

Here’s a ranking of all 9 movies starring Grace Van Patten, from least favorite to most favorite, as we anticipate even more fantastic performances from her in the future.

9
‘Central Park’ (2017)

A group of wealthy teenagers in New York City (including one played by Grace Van Patten) haven’t been having much fun recently. So, when they secretly head to Central Park for a night of playful trouble, they’re incredibly happy. However, their fun doesn’t last long when a masked killer starts targeting them. This mysterious villain holds a grudge against the privileged, leaving these unlucky youngsters in a dangerous situation in Central Park?

Not the Night They Hoped For

2017 offered a wealth of excellent horror films, including Get Out and It, but this one might stand out. The story’s location in Central Park is a rarely seen setting for horror, making it feel fresh, and the stunning visuals truly bring the scenery to life. The narrative is both disturbing and touching, with Van Patten delivering a powerfully emotional performance. However, the film relies heavily on familiar horror clichés, and the pacing feels slow due to an extended buildup. Furthermore, the villain’s reasons for their actions aren’t fully explained.

8
‘The Wilde Wedding’ (2017)

At the start of The Wilde Wedding, retired movie star Eve Wilde (Glenn Close) is getting ready for her fourth marriage – this time to famous British writer Harold Alcott (Patrick Stewart). The wedding brings together a lot of people, including Eve’s former husbands, friends, and family – her children and grandchildren (with one grandchild played by Van Patten) – and things quickly become chaotic as they all interact.

An Underutilized Cast

Director Damian Harris delivered a solid effort with this funny and impactful story about the rigid social norms of the wealthy. He discovered a strong lead in Van Patten, who excels as a curious young person trying to understand the strange behavior of the adults around him. However, he didn’t fully utilize the skills of the rest of his capable actors. With talents like John Malkovich and Glenn Close on board, the film could have achieved more. Unfortunately, the plot is also quite predictable, falling into familiar rom-com tropes.

7
‘Stealing Cars’ (2015)

Stealing Cars tells the story of Billy Wyatt (Emory Cohen), a troubled but intelligent teenager who ends up in a juvenile detention center after being caught stealing cars. While there, he struggles to get along with others, masking a lot of hurt from his past. Over time, Billy begins to open up and forms a connection with Maggie (Van Patten), whose parent works at the center.

Not the Fast and the Furious

This film, packed with famous actors, raises difficult issues surrounding legal guardianship, mental wellbeing, and what society considers acceptable behavior. Van Patten delivers the needed emotional depth for her character, and William H. Macy and Mike Epps also give strong performances. However, despite its attempts to address serious topics, the movie falls short because it follows a predictable storyline. This kind of story – a young person triumphing over adversity – has been told countless times. Perhaps a unique location or setting could have made a difference.

6
‘The Violent Heart’ (2020)

I’m really drawn into the story of Daniel, a talented young mechanic, played by Jovan Adepo. He’s clearly still haunted by a terrible tragedy – the murder of his sister when he was a child – and it’s affecting his ability to move forward, even though he has a promising future. Then he meets Cassie, played by Grace Van Patten, a high school senior who feels lost and frustrated with her own family. They connect and things seem to be going well for them in The Violent Heart, but their happiness is threatened when Cassie uncovers some truly shocking secrets from Daniel’s past.

Good Times Never Last

Filmed by cinematographer Ricardo Diaz in a small Tennessee town, this carefully made drama is visually beautiful. The use of shadows and realistic camerawork subtly suggests upcoming problems. The film is poetic, tender, incendiary, and haunting – a long-forgotten gem that deserved some recognition for its technical skill. Van Patten and Mary J. Blige also deliver outstanding performances. However, the story itself isn’t quite as strong. Several choices made by the characters feel illogical and don’t quite add up.

5
‘Mayday’ (2021)

There are plenty of fantasy war films, but Mayday is different. It’s a complicated story about a young woman named Ana (Grace Van Patten) who unexpectedly finds herself in a strange, dreamlike version of World War II after an argument. She quickly joins a group of all-female soldiers, led by Marsha (Mia Goth), who are fighting a war against men. Their tactic? They attract men to their doom by sending out fake emergency radio signals. As you might expect, Ana soon feels deeply troubled and full of regret.

War Like You’ve Never Experienced It Before

Karen Cinorre makes a strong first impression as a director with a beautifully poetic story exploring themes of feminism and traditional gender roles, focusing on questions of ethics and meaning. She clearly made an excellent choice in casting the lead, as Van Patten commands attention in almost every scene. Mia Goth is equally captivating, proving she’s perfectly suited for complex characters like this one. While the film could have benefited from a stronger emphasis on mood and dreamlike visuals, it prioritizes narrative. It’s more about how it *looks* than what it *says*, but the striking visuals are more than enough to keep you engaged.

4
‘Under the Silver Lake’ (2018)

Sam (Andrew Garfield), a man living in L.A. and featured in Under the Silver Lake, can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right about his neighbor Sarah’s (Riley Keough) disappearance. He thinks it’s part of a bigger plot, so he starts investigating strange markings around the city, hidden messages in pop culture, and suspicious characters. Is he just becoming paranoid, or is there a real, significant event unfolding?

Is He Overthinking?

Filmmaker David Robert Mitchell, a master of light and shadow, expertly builds tension throughout this story. He uses dreamlike visuals and a smooth, sweeping camera to hint at hidden threats. However, viewers hoping for a substantial role for Grace Van Patten may be let down. Her character serves more as a representation of an idea, and she doesn’t have a lot of screen time. Even so, you’ll find the unfolding plot incredibly engaging.

3
‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)’ (2017)

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) centers around a New York family with a lot of unresolved issues. The father, Harold Meyerowitz (Dustin Hoffman), remains surprisingly composed, but his grown children – Danny (Adam Sandler), Matthew (Ben Stiller), and Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) – are constantly at odds with each other. To make matters more complicated, Danny’s daughter, Eliza (Van Patten), is struggling and has started creating rather daring short films.

A Powerful Ensemble Performance

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) received many nominations and awards, including a Best Cast award from the Boston Society of Film Critics. In the film, Van Patten skillfully portrays Eliza as both direct and concise, showing how this comes from her worry about letting her family down. While we usually see Sandler and Stiller as comedic actors throughout the 112-minute film, they deliver surprisingly serious performances, which really work well. Sandler, in particular, gives what many consider to be one of his best performances ever. You really shouldn’t miss this honest and uplifting family story.

2
‘Tramps’ (2016)

Danny (Callum Turner), a young man of Polish-American descent, finds his life changing when his brother, who is now in prison, asks him to deliver a briefcase. Ellie (Grace Van Patten), a woman hoping for a new beginning, is offered money if she helps him escape after the delivery. However, Danny accidentally gives the briefcase to the wrong person. Ellie initially tries to distance herself, but when she realizes she won’t get paid unless the delivery is successful, she decides to help him fix the mistake. The film Tramps leaves us wondering: will they be able to resolve the situation and achieve a positive outcome?

Course-Correcting Has Never Been This Much Fun

Right from the start, you can sense something’s not quite right with this mission, and the two leads do a fantastic job of hinting at it. I was particularly impressed with Van Patten’s performance as Ellie. She nails the character’s desperation and confidence, giving us a really moving look at a woman determined to turn her life around. It’s a nice touch that her character even pushes for equal pay – a small detail that adds to the realism. Honestly, I hope we see Van Patten diving into more crime dramas. That kind of gritty atmosphere really seems to suit her strengths. She’s a natural in this genre.

1
‘Good Posture’ (2019)

After a difficult split, Lilian (Grace Van Patten), known from Good Posture, starts living with Julia (Emily Mortimer), a famous but private writer. Lilian’s unpredictable lifestyle soon disrupts Julia’s peaceful and solitary life. The question is, can these two women find a way to make it work?

Learning To Be Better

In Good Posture, the constant, annoying noise surrounding Lilian is smartly set against the peacefulness of her new home. We quickly realize that Lilian is the one who isn’t fully grown up, but a flawed character like this can be a gift for an actor, and Van Patten handles it brilliantly. Dolly Wells both wrote and directed the film, which explains why the conversations feel so natural and well-crafted. It’s surprising that this lovely movie never received any Oscar nominations.

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2025-10-05 03:05