Jodie Foster's 5 Best Performances to Watch In-Between True Detective: Night Country Episodes
Ranked by their IMDb scores, these movies are representative of the actress' decades-long career.
With the premiere of season 4 of True Detective, starring Jodie Foster, the actress is the talk of the town once again.
If you want to see more of Foster's work while you wait for another episode of Night Country, here are her top five acting performances.
Nyad (2023, 7.1 on IMDb)
One of Foster's most recent acting credits, this sports biopic was largely overlooked at the time of its release, snowed under by high-profile premieres like Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon. Dedicated to Diana Nyad, the film explores the athlete's multiple attempts to swim the Straits of Florida while also providing a glimpse into her early life. The movie stars Jodie Foster as Bonnie Stoll.
Contact (1997, 7.5 on IMDb)
Based on Carl Sagan's novel of the same name, this sci-fi drama follows Jodie Foster's character, Dr. Eleanor Arroway, as she attempts to make first contact with an alien race. However, along the way, she must battle bureaucracy and human disbelief, making her task a tall order to accomplish. More importantly, Dr. Arroway must maintain her own sanity and faith in what she is doing.
The Mauritanian (2021, 7.5 on IMDb)
This legal drama centers on Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man held without charge at the Guantanamo Bay detention center for fourteen years, and stars Jodie Foster as his lawyer. In an effort to obtain justice for her client, Nancy Hollander must use her legal skills in circumstances where the law doesn't apply.
Taxi Driver (1976, 8.2 on IMDb)
One of Jodie Foster's early roles, this psychological thriller revolves around Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War veteran with severe mental problems, as he tries to adjust to civilian life. Travis works as a taxi driver in NYC, where every day becomes a struggle for him until he meets Iris, a twelve-year-old prostitute portrayed by Foster, whom he takes under his wing. This role earned Foster her first Academy Award nomination.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 8.6 on IMDb)
Arguably Jodie Foster's most famous work, this psychological horror earned the actress one of her two Best Actress Oscars. The Silence of the Lambs follows Foster's character, aspiring FBI agent Clarice Starling, as she hunts for a serial killer who tortures and skins women. In an effort to catch the man, Agent Starling seeks the advice of another infamous serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by the legendary Anthony Hopkins. The unlikely relationship between the two characters becomes the focal point of the film, adding to the complexity of Foster's character.