Charlize Theron Sci-Fi Filmography: Her Absolute Best Roles in Sci-Fi Movies
When it comes leading female actors in the sci-fi genre, few are comparable to – let alone better than – Charlize Theron. Check out some of her absolute best roles and Charlize Theron Sci-Fi Filmography below.
Aeon Flux
Although Aeon Flux earns Charlize Theron “only” a single accolade (Spike Video Game Award for the Best Performance by a Female), her portrayal of the titular character turns out to be a major part of her on-screen persona for many movies that follow. It is a massive leap from her award-wining performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, but it doesn’t take away even the slightest bit of her brilliance. In Aeon Flux, her character is terrifyingly beautiful with the memorable asymmetrical black hairstyle and superb martial arts capability.
Hancock
Theron doesn’t play the leading role in the 2008 anti-superhero film Hancock; the honor goes to Will Smith. Unlike most superhero movies where the main protagonists are much loved and praised, John Hancock is not particularly a model citizen. He is careless in every way and an alcoholic. The hero causes more problems than he solves. Theron is Mary, whose husband has been saved by Hancock. Despite having superhuman strengths of her own, Mary has settled for a quiet normal life, away from doing anything heroic. That said, eventually Mary still shows her true powers.
Prometheus
In Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a prequel to Alien, Charlize Theron plays Meredith Vickers. It is her shadowy company that funds the interstellar expedition to discover the origin of humans. The crew sets out on a journey into the unknown aboard a ship called Prometheus. Because her company bankrolls the expedition, Vickers puts herself as the authority figure among the crew; everyone else is inferior. It is her icy corporate mannerism that brings much welcome dynamics to the inevitable interpersonal conflicts.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mel Gibson used to be Mad Max. Tom Hardy has filled the senior actor’s shoes in Mad Max: Fury Road. Alongside the titular character is Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa. With Theron at his side, both characters become the leading roles. Furiosa is a one-armed female warrior whose job is to lead an army of post-apocalyptical soldiers in every raid. Yes, it is a Mad Max film, but Theron introduces a hefty ferocity to the screen to where it almost feels and looks like a Furiosa film. Despite her smudgy-faced overall dreariness, Theron still appears stylish and charismatically glamorous.
The Old Guard
A group of elite immortal warriors continues to fight for justice as centuries roll by. At the helm of their operations is Andromache of Scythia, portrayed by Charlize Theron. In The Old Guard, the actor is back with the asymmetrical black hair mode as seen in Aeon Flux, along with the impressive killing skills. While it is true, the film does not really shine as much as Mad Max: Fury Road, perhaps because of genre conventions, Theron’s performance in the action sequences is brutally good. Everybody wants a second movie. If the first film cannot do her justice, hopefully the sequel (already filming) will give more room for Theron to charm.
The Road
Based on a novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the post-apocalyptic fiction tells the story of a father and his son on their journey to nowhere. Along the way, they must navigate through the now-desolate America and deal with the unpleasant remnants of humanity. Theron plays the boy’s mother, appearing only in flashback. It is her job to portray a paradise lost; however, the flashback presents an idea that at some point she deserted her husband and child. Theron plays the intriguing characterization with flying colors.
Snow White and the Huntsman
Snow White and the Huntsman is a fantasy film, but all the magical powers and wonders have their roots in sci-fi. Charlize Theron portrays the Evil Queen, whose life is consumed by an obsession to always be the fairest of them all. Her ice-cool and proud persona never completely diminishes even when she learns that Snow White has come of age and thus is fairer. Theron delivers a devilishly spectacular performance as a sociopathic sorceress; you almost fall in love with her rather than with Snow White.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Against his mother’s instructions, Kubo stays out late and falls victim to the Sisters, who now want him dead. His mother uses her power to rescue him and tells him to go find the armor of his deceased father. When Kubo wakes up, he finds himself in an empty expanse and his monkey charm suddenly comes alive. In the stop-motion fantasy Kubo and the Two Strings, Theron portrays the mother and Monkey, which turns out to be the reincarnation of the former.
The School for Good and Evil
First things first, The School for Good and Evil will not be released until October 2022, so there is still a month away before we get to see how well Charlize Theron portrays Lady Lesso, the leader of the School of Evil. The film features a somewhat similar atmosphere to Hogwarts, and in fact is expected to gain as much success as Harry Potter films. The role is like Evil Queen, but dissimilar to other Charlize Theron sci-fi movies, Lady Lesso is allowed to have fun rather than being serious all the time; such characterization brings a promise of a praise-worthy performance.
We love the versatility of Charlize Theron in being able to play protagonists and antagonists with equal enthusiasm and skill. She is an awesome, 5-star actress! Do you have a favorite actor/actress who plays in sci-fi movies or shows? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
15 of Charlize Theron’s greatest films ranked from worst to best by goldderby.com
15. Atomic Blonde (2017)
14. Mighty Joe Young (1998)
13. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
12. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
11. In the Valley of Elah (2007)
10. The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
9. The Italian Job (2003)
8. The Cider Houses Rules (1999)
7. Prometheus (2012)
6. Bombshell (2019)
5. Tully (2018)
4. Young Adult (2011)
3. North Country (2005)
2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
1. Monster (2003)
Early Charlize Theron
According to britannica.com Charlize Theron was born in 1975 in Benoni, South Africa. She is known for her versatility and earned an Academy Award for best actress as a real-life serial killer in the 2003 movie titled Monster. She grew up on a farm near Benoni. And she studied ballet and at 13 she went to a a boarding school that specialized in the arts. At 15, she visited home and her mother shot and killed her father in self-defense during a domestic abuse situation. At 16 she moved to Marian to work as a model. Two years later she lived in New York City where she continued to model and began studying ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School. Her chances of having a career in ballet ended with a knee injury. She unsuccessfully attempted acting jobs and eventually went to Hollywood. She was discovered by an agent while making a loud scene in a bank when a teller refused to cash a check for her.
Monster: 10 Behind-the-Scenes Facts about the Charlize Theron Movie
