From her breakout performance in Fifty Shades of Grey to her critically praised roles in independent films, Dakota Johnson has established herself as a versatile and engaging actress. Known for her subtle charm, emotional complexity, and bold decisions, Johnson consistently captivates audiences across various genres—from romance and drama to psychological thrillers and quirky comedies.
Whether you are a longtime admirer or are just beginning to explore her work, this compilation of the 10 best Dakota Johnson films highlights the range and skill that position her as one of Hollywood’s most fascinating stars. Her recent movie with Chris Evans, Materialists, is still running in cinemas, so catch that as well if you wish to. Let’s explore the essential films that showcase her developing career.
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1. The Social Network
- IMDb Rating-7.8/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-96%
- Smartprix Rating-9/10
- Runtime-2 hours
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Andrew Garfield, Aaron Sorkin & others
About the Movie – Mark Zuckerberg creates a social networking site, Facebook, with his friend Eduardo’s help. Though it turns out to be a successful venture, he severs ties with several people along the way. You can watch it on Sony LIV, Amazon Prime Video, and Zee5.
Dakota Johnson played Amelia Ritter, a Stanford University student who has a one-night encounter with Sean Parker. Though her role is limited, her scenes are important for the plot. This was one of her early appearances before the actress rose to fame with the Fifty Shades trilogy.
2. The Peanut Butter Falcon
- IMDb Rating-7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-95%
- Smartprix Rating-8.8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 37 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen & others
About the Movie – A man with Down syndrome runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler. Later, he meets with an outlaw who becomes his friend and coach. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
The actress stars as Eleanor, a social worker in the movie. Though the character is stern and hesitant, she gradually becomes more emotionally invested. It might not be the central character, but it offers grounding and perspective, and Dakota brings warmth, humor, and heart to the role.
3. The Lost Daughter
- IMDb Rating-6.7/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-94%
- Smartprix Rating-8.5/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 1 minute
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Olivia Colman, Ed Harris & others
About the Movie – A middle-aged woman’s seaside vacation goes awry because of her fixation on a mother-daughter duo in a nearby villa, which awakens some of her dark memories from the past. You can watch it on Netflix India.
In the movie, Dakota plays Nina, a young, vacationing mother whose moody complexities subtly anchor the film’s exploration of maternal identity. The actress plays each scene her own way while playing the character, and she has been praised by critics for her performance. She depicts the conflicted, unspoken struggles of motherhood well and marked a shift in range for the actress.
4. A Bigger Splash
- IMDb Rating-6.4/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-89%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton & others
About the Movie – As Marianne, a rockstar, vacations on a secluded Italian island with her lover Paul, a filmmaker, their old pal Harry arrives with his daughter, leading to a cocktail of envy, passion, and peril. You can watch it on Dailymotion.
Dakota plays Penelope Lannier, a key catalyst in the drama unfolding on a sun-drenched Sicilian Island. Her character is mysterious and alluring, and the actress captures the subtlety and ambiguity, allowing viewers to question how much of her behaviour is genuine or orchestrated. Her chemistry with Ralph Fiennes is crackling.
5. Our Friend
- IMDb Rating-7.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-85%
- Smartprix Rating-8.4/10
- Runtime- 2 hours 4 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Casey Affleck, Isabella Rice & others
About the Movie – Matt finds his life completely upended when his wife is diagnosed with cancer. Help arrives from unexpected quarters when her friend Dane moves in with them to support the family. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Dakota Johnson appears as Nicole Teague, the wife whose heartbreaking battle with cancer is central to the film’s emotional core. The actress maintains warmth and humor early on, which starkly contrasts with her later suffering. The calm yet emotionally charged style fits a woman confronting mortality, and critics have praised her for her spirited and witty performance.
6. Am I Ok?
- IMDb Rating-6.1/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-82%
- Smartprix Rating-7/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 26 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Sonoyo Mizuno, Molly Gordon & others
About the Movie – Lucy and Jane have been best friends for most of their lives and think they know everything there is to know about each other. But when Jane announces she’s moving to London, Lucy reveals a long-held secret. As Jane tries to help Lucy, their friendship is thrown into chaos. You can watch it on Apple TV+.
In the movie, the actress shines as Lucy, a 32-year-old LA Salon receptionist and artist who realizes she’s lesbian later in her life. Her performance is a mix of vulnerability and comedic timing, and it perfectly captures Lucy’s messy self-discovery. Dakota Johnson received praise from critics and the audience alike for her performance.
7. Fifty Shades Trilogy
- IMDb Rating-4.5/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-20-40%
- Smartprix Rating-5/10
- Runtime- around 2 hours
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Jamie Dornan, Luke Grimes & others
About the Movie – The Fifty Shades series has three movies, based on a novel trilogy by the same name. The movie was criticised for its bold content, which was considered offensive, but gained huge popularity among the masses, hence low ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. It traces the journey of Ana and Christian from their first meeting to achieving their happily ever after.
The actress plays Anastasia Steele, who becomes involved with Christian Grey, and the movies trace her journey from shy innocence to empowered partner, both emotionally and sexually. The movies might be criticised, but Johnson received praise for her grounded, subtle, and emotionally sincere performance. The role made her a household name, but she used her post-Fifty Shades career to seek out bold, indie films and more emotionally rich characters.
8. The High Note
- IMDb Rating-6.4/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-71%
- Smartprix Rating-7/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 53 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Tracee Ellis Ross, June Diane Raphael & others
About the Movie – Maggie world as a personal assistant to Grace Davis, a singing superstar who is experiencing a mid-career crisis. When she meets David, a young singer, she ends up helping both him and Grace. You can watch it on JioHotstar and Amazon Prime Video.
In this movie, the actress plays Maggie Sherwood, overworked personal assistant to legendary singer Grace Davis, who dreams of becoming a music producer herself. Her portrayal is warm, earnest, and quietly magnetic. Critics note she brings gentle magnetism and smart shading even to mundane tasks. The actress has strong chemistry with Tracee Ellis Ross.
9. Persuasion
- IMDb Rating- 5.8/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-30%
- Smartprix Rating-6/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 49 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Cosmo Jarvis, Henry Golding & others
About the Movie – When Fredrick Wentworth, the one who got away, crashes back into Anne Elliot’s life, she must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances. You can watch it on Netflix India.
In the movie, Johnson stars as Anne Elliot, a smart, disillusioned woman who was once persuaded to end an engagement with Captain Fredrick Wentworth. She brings a distinctly modern edge to Anne, uses contemporary language, and even drinks red wine from a bottle. The actress infuses Anne with charm and wit in quieter moments using dry humor and vulnerability.
10. Cha Cha Real Smooth
- IMDb Rating-7.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-85%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 47 minutes
- Starring- Dakota Johnson with Cooper Raiff, Odeya Rush & others
About the Movie – Fresh out of college and stuck at his New Jersey home without a clear path forward, 22-year-old Andrew begins working for bar mitzvahs. While attending a bar mitzvah, he discovers his talent as a party organizer, which brings him numerous jobs. When he forms a unique friendship with a young mother and her teenage daughter with autism, his life begins to flourish. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Johnson stars as Domino in the movie, a single mom whose life intertwines with Andrew’s. The actress offers emotional depth and warmth, a mix of strength, vulnerability, and maternal instinct. Her chemistry with Raiff is electric and natural, so much so that critics call it undeniable. She has even co-produced the film and helped shape Domino’s character via collaborative improvisation, drawing inspiration from real moms in her life.
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