Chloë Grace Moretz may only be in her twenties, but it feels like she’s been with movie audiences for a long time now. After moving to New York City with her mother and brother, Moretz developed an interest in acting after helping her brother read his lines. After landing a role on the CBS series The Guardian, it was only a matter of time before she transitioned into larger roles. She was six years old when she started acting in a professional capacity and twelve years old when she landed her breakthrough roles in the films Kick-Ass and Hugo.
Updated January 2023: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Maria McGinnis.
By the time she was twenty-two years old, she had been in about sixty films and television shows, an impressive feat only matched by Dakota and Elle Fanning. Moretz is a versatile actor, who, despite her age, has appeared in films that many R-rated movies most parents wouldn’t let their kids, who would be the same age Moretz was at the age of filming, watch. However, in 2016, Moretz began to reassess her career and dropped out of nearly all of her upcoming projects to rediscover her love for acting. Since then, she has been more selective about her roles, thus making the most of her film’s passion projects. Here are the best Chloë Grace Moretz movies ranked.
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10 Hugo (2011)
Paramount Pictures
Hugo is the 2011 adaptation of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a children’s book detailing the life of young Hugo Cabret, a boy trying to uncover the mystery of an automaton he finds in a museum. Inspired by filmmaker George Méliès, the film is set in 1930s Paris and directed by Martin Scorsese. This was Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D, and while it was considered a box office failure, it was praised by film critics. Imaginative and sweeping, it offers a personal touch to a family-friendly movie, immersing the viewers in its rich world. Moretz plays Isabelle, the goddaughter of a toy shop owner. She becomes Hugo’s partner-in-crime as they try to unlock the secrets behind the automaton. Moretz was fourteen when shooting this film, and, at the time, it was one of the few films she’d been in that she was legally able to see.
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9 Dark Shadows (2012)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Dark Shadows is a fun, fantasy/dark comedy based on the gothic soap opera of the same name that ran from 1966 to 1971. The movie follows vampire Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) who was once imprisoned in a tomb but gets set free centuries later and returns to his family estate, the Collinwood Mansion. Here, he meets his descendants living in the mansion and struggles to adjust to modern life and return the town of Collinwood to its former glory. Moretz plays Carolyn, a rebellious, moody teen who is later revealed to be a werewolf. Moretz plays angsty teen roles very well, and this one in Dark Shadows is a perfect fit for her. It’s a classic Tim Burton movie with great casting and a cool ’70s setting and is well worth a watch if you’re looking for something a little gothic and campy.
8 The Equalizer (2014)
Sony Pictures Releasing
The Equalizer stars Chloë Grace Moretz with Denzel Washington, who portrays Robert McCall, the protagonist of this film. After years of working at a hardware store, he frequents a nearby diner, where he meets Alina (Moretz), a teenage sex worker associated with the Russian mafia. After Alina is assaulted and hospitalized, McCall decides that he needs to take matters into his own hands regardless of the amount of violence necessary to achieve his goals. This film was one of Moretz’s more serious roles outside of the horror and fantasy genres, and her acting was praised by critics. It was a commercial success, drawing in over $192 million globally at the box office.
7 Kick-Ass (2010)
Lionsgate
Kick-Ass, based on the comic series of the same name, established itself as a fan favorite. The film focuses on an ordinary boy living on Staten Island, Dave Lizewski, who dreams of becoming a superhero. After adorning the moniker “Kick-Ass,” he manages to set up a Myspace account that becomes his home base. He ultimately becomes tangled up with the story of a former cop gone rogue (Nicolas Cage) and his young daughter Hit-Girl (Moretz). Moretz was twelve years old at the time of the filming and garnered controversy for her role, as it used profane language and what some deemed excessive violence. The film itself is filled with violence and profanity, evoking strong feelings from those who objected to her starring in the film due to her age. Her character, however, is trained to kill people violently, but there were few objections to that. Regardless, the humor and quality in her performance add a unique charm to the film.
6 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
500 Days of Summer isn’t a typical romantic comedy. Presented in a nonlinear format, it progresses through a failed relationship and lingers on the positive and negative moments. It is told from the perspective of the male character, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who falls in love with a girl and is then broken up with. This movie quickly became a sleeper hit after grossing $60 million globally, establishing it as a fan favorite and culturally impactful. Moretz plays Rachel, the half-sister to Gordon-Levitt’s character. Despite being the younger one in that relationship, she is unusually wise for her age, offering advice beyond her years. Without her character, the film wouldn’t be the same.
5 Carrie (2013)
Stephen King’s 1974 novel Carrie has been adapted on screen several times, and anytime someone steps into the titular role of Carrie, they have big shoes to fill. Sissy Spacek did it originally in 1976, and years later in 2013, Moretz stepped into the role in the fourth Carrie adaptation to date. The 2013 remake certainly isn’t the original, but in all fairness it’s a very solid take on the story with a modern feel. The remake follows the same plot as the original and Moretz is very strong as Carrie. While this remake doesn’t necessarily add anything new to the story, it’s worth watching for Moretz’s performance alone. She thrives in teen roles in the horror genre and Carrie is a great addition to her portfolio.
4 Greta (2019)
Focus Features
Greta is a psychological thriller about Frances (Moretz) a young woman who becomes friends with a lonely widow named Greta (Isabelle Huppert). Greta is an eccentric French piano teacher and Frances, who recently lost her mother, takes a liking to her. At first, it starts as a nice, normal friendship but Greta soon becomes obsessed with Frances and her behavior takes a toxic turn, so Frances has to figure out a way to escape the relationship before things get out of control. The movie received mixed reviews, mainly because of the story, but the acting — specifically from Moretz and Huppert — is what makes the movie good. Greta manages to be creepy and unsettling without being terrifying, and while the story may be a little predictable, and maybe even unoriginal, but the lead performances make it worth it.
3 If I Stay (2014)
If I Stay is a dramatic teen romcom based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Gayle Forman. It’s about Mia (Moretz) a talented cellist who has the opportunity to move and study at Juilliard. But if she follows her dreams of going to Juilliard, she’ll have to leave behind the love of her life Adam. But unfortunately, before she even gets to make this decision, Mia and her family get in a fatal car crash. After the crash, Mia is in the hospital suspended in a state between life and death. She starts having out-of-body, ghostly experiences where she sees her entire life changing in front of her eyes, while her physical body is in a coma in the hospital. When a nurse comes to care for her, Mia is faced with another big choice — whether she wants to stay alive or not. If I Stay is an emotional rollercoaster of a movie and is a really good example of a book-to-movie adaptation done right. It uniquely addresses the topics of life and death, and Moretz does an incredible job of bringing Mia’s character to life.
2 Let Me In (2010)
Overture Films
Let Me In is a remake of a Swedish film: Let the Right One In. Chloë Grace Moretz stars as Abby, a young vampire who befriends a bullied twelve-year-old. The director of Kick-Ass recommended Moretz for the role. The names and locations were updated from the original, adapting it for an American audience, and aspects were borrowed—this would draw criticism, as some felt that this film relied too heavily on the original rather than making it into something new. However, the film was made more accessible for widespread distribution, which was a success. Moretz won several awards for her performance as Abby, and she, alongside her co-star, was praised for her maturity and depth within the role.
1 The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
FilmRise
Chloë Grace Moretz shone in The Miseducation of Cameron Post, a film tackling the topic of gay conversation centers and teenage sexuality. Set in 1993, Cameron Post (Moretz) is sent by her aunt to a conversion center after being caught having sex with her girlfriend. She befriends other teenagers sent there and grapples with the religious ideologies she’s being taught against her own identity as an LGBTQ+ individual. The film would win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival, the highest award one can win at Sundance. Moretz brings a sense of authenticity to her role, humanizing a very-real situation and coming-of-age for gay youths.
