Actor Dakota Johnson has had quite the busy year. From co-starring in Apple TV+’s dramedy Cha Cha Real Smooth to leading Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Madame Web.
Having gained mass attention for her breakout role in the wildly popular Fifty Shades franchise, Box Office Mojo shows that the talented young actor’s filmography is filled with a wide-ranging collection of movies (in addition to the notorious trilogy) that have received impressive box office returns.
Beastly (2011) – $43.2 Million
Beastly is a teen fantasy romance that acts as an updated retelling of the famed Beauty and the Beast fairytale set in modern-day New York. Starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens, the film’s ing cast includes Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, and Dakota Johnson, in a minor role as Pettyfer’s character’s girlfriend, Sloane.
The movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, likening it to a cheap knockoff version of the Twilight franchise. Many found the performances, script, and overall production to be substandard at best. Despite the undesirable criticisms, Beastly was a moderate box office success mostly due to its relatively small budget of $17 million (via Box Office Mojo).
The Five-Year Engagement (2012) – $54.1 Million
Jason Segel and Emily Blunt co-star as a newly engaged couple whose plans to marry are repeatedly postponed due to a never-ending series of life-changing events. Dakota Johnson’s role in this romantic comedy is very small, but the actor gets a few memorable moments to shine.
Lauded comedy director Judd Apatow produced The Five-Year Engagement, but the project failed to receive the same kind of acclaim as his other works. The film did not sur its $30 million dollar budget in the U.S. (via Jason Segel’s best movies.
Black Mass – (2015) $99.7 Million
Black Mass is a true-crime thriller that focuses on the life of Whitey Bulger, who works with the FBI as an informant in order to dismantle the growing Italian mob presence in South Boston. The film’s ensemble cast includes Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dakota Johnson, who has a sizable role as Whitey’s girlfriend and mother of his child.
Thanks to a truly transformative performance by Depp, the film received both critical and commercial success. With a reported budget of $53 million, Black Mass was able to recoup its investment while gaining an additional $46 million (via Box Office Mojo). Critics applauded not only a career-best turn by Depp, but the compelling narrative and captivating direction also attributed to its positive reviews.
How To Be Single (2016) – $112.3 Million
After moving to New York, Alice (Johnson) decides to figure out what it means to truly be single while navigating the turbulent dating scene in the Big Apple. This romantic comedy stars Johnson in the lead role of Alice, while Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, and Leslie Mann fill out the rest of the main cast.
How To Be Single makes a lot of strides to bring something new to the world of rom-coms. Its refreshing take on a somewhat predictable genre seemed to charm audiences as the movie made well over its $38 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). The film’s critical response was less-than-stellar, with many critics appreciating its depiction of modern-day women, but finding the film too reliant on rom-com tropes.
21 Jump Street (2012) $201.5 Million
21 Jump Street is a comedic adaptation of the popular ‘80s series of the same name. Starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, the film follows a pair of adult cops who go undercover at a high school in order to put a stop to the distribution of a new drug. Johnson has a minimal role as Fugazy, a fellow cop who goes undercover at a neighboring school.
21 Jump Street received an overwhelmingly positive amount of critical reviews. The comedic chemistry between Hill and Tatum is sensational, resulting in a movie that is a nonstop laugh riot from start to finish. The film was also a monumental financial success, more than quadrupling its $42 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). This buddy-cop comedy was so successful for the studio, it warranted the sequel, 22 Jump Street, but sadly Johnson’s character was not brought back.
Need For Speed (2014) – $203.2 Million
After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, a street racer named Tobey sets out to exact vengeance on the person responsible for putting him away. This high-octane thriller is based on the popular video game franchise and stars Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, and Michael Keaton. Johnson has a small but pivotal role as Anita, who helps Tony in his plan for revenge.
car chases to be some of the worst in an action movie.
The Social Network (2010) – $224.9 Million
David Fincher’s 2010 drama focuses on the founding of Facebook and its creators’ tempestuous struggle for ownership. This Best Picture nominee stars Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake. Johnson’s role is very small, but her character is integral to the three leads crossing paths.
Widely considered to be one of The Social Network is a sleek and stylish drama filled with fast-past dialogue, beautiful cinematography, and remarkable performances. It’s also notable for being Dakota Johnson’s first role since starring alongside her mother in 1999’s Crazy in Alabama. The film was made for $40 million and grossed just shy of $225 million (via Box Office Mojo).
Fifty Shades Freed (2018) – $371.9 Million
Anastasia and Christian are finally married and in a state of pure unadulterated bliss. Problems soon arise for the couple when they discover they are the targets of a stalker from Ana’s past. This erotic drama concludes the popular Fifty Shades trilogy.
Fifty Shades Freed was a critical disaster, with many attributing the bad reviews to a nonsensical screenplay, lackluster direction, and wooden performances. The film was also the lowest grossing of the trilogy, bringing in a still impressive $371 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
Fifty Shades Darker (2017) – $381.5 Million
In the highly anticipated sequel, Christian works tirelessly to win back Anastasia, while also combatting the childhood demons that threaten to keep him away from his true love. Ana also struggles in the workplace due to an increasingly uncomfortable work environment.
Jamie Dornan’s best roles. Despite the harsh critical reception, the film was a financial success, bringing in over six times its budget of $55 million (via Box Office Mojo).
Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015) – $569.6 Million
Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic romance film based on the best-selling book of the same name by E.L. James. The plot follows Anastasia Steele, who crosses paths with Billionaire Christian Grey. What begins as a harmless flirtation quickly deepens as Grey introduces Ana to the world of BDSM.
Although not as critically panned as its successors, the film was still bombarded with negative reviews. Many found it to be an improvement on the infamous source material, however, its script and the acting were widely criticized. The movie remains to be the most successful in the franchise, garnering a whopping $569 million on a budget of $40 million (via Box Office Mojo).
