Elisabeth Shue has had a stellar career packed with a myriad of roles, from more lighthearted films to intense, serious dramas. While not often spotlighted in the leading role, Shue has made a career out of subtle and supportive performances that provide a much-needed grounding presence to the movie or TV show she is in. With a nuanced and mature style, her work often flies under the radar, but she continues to elevate every project she is involved in.
Shue has an eclectic filmography from teenage martial arts comedies like The Karate Kid to her stellar role in the epic superhero franchise The Boys; she consistently shows her ability and versatility. Even decades after her first roles,she is still able to captivate audiences, playing one of the best characters in the popular series Cobra Kai. Whatever the role requires, Shue makes sure to add depth and a natural quality to each character that leaves a lasting impact, even in supporting roles.
10 Soapdish (1991)
As Lori Craven
Soapdish is a comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman, centered on Celeste Talbert, the star of a long-running soap opera. Amid declining ratings, her co-star and producer plot against her by bringing back her former lover and introducing her niece, stirring chaos behind the scenes.
Director Michael Hoffman
Release Date May 31, 1991
Writers Robert Harling , Andrew Bergman
Runtime 97 minutes
This 1991 comedy film starring Shue as Lori Craven is set in the crazy, drama-filled world of soap operas and the personal issues that go on both in front of the camera and backstage. The in-setting soap is titled The Sun Also Sets, and the story follows one of the main cast members who will do anything to sabotage the leading actress so they can take over, gaining the spotlight and starring role. Lori gets drawn into the web of sexual favors, deceit, and jealousy, creating a funny yet drama-packed film.
Cobra Kai is back and the trend continues with Karate Kid movie characters returning to reprise their roles. Here they are in order of appearance.
Shue meshes perfectly with the ensemble cast, featuring a host of big names like Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, and Teri Hatcher. Shue skillfully plays her supporting role, the young Lori, who wants to fit in and succeed as an actor, and provides a lot of laughs with her naive innocence when it comes to show business. Shue nails the brief and her character has excellent chemistry with all her co-stars in Soapdish, showing she could provide an outlet for other humor and drama early in her career.
9 Adventures In Babysitting (1987)
As Christina "Chris" Parker
Adventures in Babysitting (1987) follows high school student Chris Parker, played by Elisabeth Shue, who finds herself in a chaotic night of mishaps when a simple evening of babysitting turns into an unexpected urban adventure. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film combines elements of comedy and drama as Chris and the children encounter various challenges while navigating through downtown Chicago.
Director Chris Columbus
Release Date July 3, 1987
Writers David Simkins
Runtime 102 minutes
In the legendary Chris Columbus' directorial debut, Shue stars Christina "Chris" Parker, a 17-year-old high school student who gets drawn into a wild adventure after she agrees to babysit three children. Starting off as a typical babysitting night, the film takes an abrupt turn into an outrageous comedy full of danger and potential disaster as Chris and the kids get pulled into a scenario involving guns, Grand Theft Auto, and prostitutes.
Adventures in Babysitting
was the first ever film released by the Walt Disney Company to have a PG-13 rating.
While some features of Adventures In Babysitting have aged poorly since the 1980s, Shue's performance isn't one of them. Shue takes a slightly rare lead role for one of the first times in her career and hits the mark on every level, playing a perfect combination of serious and comical. Her blend of humor and hearty resilience is an excellent tone for her character, and she elevates the film into something worth watching again and again.
8 Back To The Future Part III (1990)
As Jennifer Parker
The final entry in Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's timeless trilogy, Back to the Future Part III wraps up Marty McFly and Doc Brown's adventures through time when Marty travels to 1885's Wild West to save his mentor, meeting Biff Tannen's ancestor "Mad Dog" and almost changing the course of history once again along the way.
Director Robert Zemeckis
Release Date May 25, 1990
Studio(s) Universal Pictures
Writers Robert Zemeckis
Runtime 118minutes
In the third and final installment in the Back To The Future trilogy, Shue retakes her role as Marty McFly's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, cementing her place in this iconic film series. This time, set in the American West, Marty has to travel back to 1885 in order to save Doc after he was "killed" back then by Biff's great-grandfather. A time-bending, cult classic that combines romance with sci-fi adventure, Back to the Future Part III winningly culminates the series.
Shue was the recast for the role of Jennifer, and she slips into the character with effortless grace. While it is a smaller role than some of the others in her career, she provides a continued presence that is needed for the narrative, adding an additional emotional arc to Marty's narrative. Her role brings a unique balance of genre to the films, and her sweet chemistry with Michael J. Fox helped elevate her in pop culture going into the early 1990s.
7 Greyhound (2020)
As Evelyn Krause
Greyhound is a 2020 Apple TV+ war film starring and written by Tom Hanks. Hanks plays Captain Krause, a US Navy Commander who must lead his crew as they are hunted by the Germans during World War II. Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, and Matt Helm star alongside Hanks in this Aaron Schneider-directed film.
Greyhound is a 2020 American war film based on the 1955 novel The Good Shepherd by C. S. Forester, following Tom Hanks as Commander Ernie Krause on his first major assignment. Krause must command four multinational escort destroyers, defending an Allied group of U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic. Shue portrays Evelyn, the wife of Commander Krause, who appears in a flashback that provides further insight into his mental state at the time of his voyage.
Again, in a relatively minor role, Shue provides some integral emotional tones to a film that mainly focuses on naval action. Her interaction with Hanks provides an emotional anchor to the movie as she declines his marriage proposal, instead insisting on waiting until the war is over and he is home safe. It's a brief but impactful scene, a trademark of some of Shue's roles, as she consistently lays the groundwork for the rest of the film and adds another layer of suspense throughout the wartime action.
6 Mysterious Skin (2004)
As Ellen McCormick
Mysterious Skin is a drama film directed by Gregg Araki, released in 2005. It follows the intersecting lives of a teenage gay hustler and a young man fixated on alien abductions, as they reconnect years after a troubling incident from their past.
Director Gregg Araki
Release Date March 30, 2005
Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Brady Corbet , Michelle Trachtenberg , Jeffrey Licon , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Elisabeth Shue , Lisa Long , Bill Sage , George Webster , Chase Ellison , Rachael Nastassja Kraft , Riley McGuire , David Lee Smith , Chris Mulkey , Kelly Kruger , Ryan Stenzel , Richard Riehle , Larry Marko , Clover , Bruno Alexander , Forrest Fountain , Zane Huett , Reedy Gibbs , David Alan Graf , John Ganun
Runtime 105 minutes
In Mysterious Skin, Shue plays Ellen McCormick, the mother of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Neil, one of the two lead characters, in this coming-of-age drama based on Scott Heim's novel of the same name. It follows the story of two pre-adolescent boys who both experienced sexual trauma as children and how it now affects every aspect of their lives. One of the boys becomes a reckless and promiscuous sex worker, while the other becomes a reclusive sci-fi lover obsessed with alien abductions.
The 10 Best Elisabeth Shue Films
IMDb Rating
Soapdish (1991)
6.6/10
Adventures In Babysitting (1987)
6.9/10
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
7.4/10
Greyhound (2020)
7.0/10
Mysterious Skin (2004)
7.6/10
The Karate Kid (1984)
7.3/10
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
7.8/10
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
7.5/10
Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
8.4/10
The Boys (2019-Present)
8.7/10
In an already heartwrenching narrative, Shue adds another component by portraying Ellen as a troubled and complex character who struggles with the choices she has made. Shue's portrayal isn't black or white as she tries to come to terms with her son's experiences and his subsequent decisions in his life. Her performance shows she can handle a variety of tougher and darker roles with a painful narrative, showcasing her realistic and grounded approach to a mother who wishes or knows she could have done more for her child.
5 The Karate Kid (1984)
As Ali Mills
Released in 1984, The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso on his unexpected journey to becoming a Karate expert under the tutelage of a martial arts master. Recently relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Daniel and his mother are trying to adapt to their new home. Unfortunately, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When his handyman, Mr. Miyagi, saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him his Karate to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.
Director John G. Avildsen
Release Date June 22, 1984
Studio(s) Delphi II Productions
Distributor(s) Columbia Pictures
Writers Robert Mark Kamen
Runtime 126 minutes
The iconic 1984 martial arts film The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a teenager from New Jersey who moves with his widowed mother to L.A. Once there, Daniel faces a barrage of harassment and assaults from some local bullies until he meets and befriends Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), who teaches him karate, training him to fight back and compete in a local martial arts tournament. Shue stars as Ali Mills, the ex-girlfriend of one of LaRusso's main bullies and his new love interest.
The Karate Kid is a franchise that just keeps getting bigger and bigger with sequels and series still being produced. Shue's performance of a teenager caught between her bully ex-boyfriend and her new partner is beautifully conveyed, with Shue and Macchio masterfully portraying the innocence and joy of young love. The chemistry they share perfectly matches the spirit of the film and helped Shue become a household name through a confident and measured performance as Ali.
4 Back To The Future Part II (1989)
As Jennifer Parker
Taking up where the first movie left off, Back to the Future Part II sees Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel to the year 2015, where their efforts to fix the future end up causing even bigger problems as Biff Tannen wreaks havoc across the timeline with the help of a stolen sports almanac. Martin J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd return in Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's second installment of their iconic trilogy.
Director Robert Zemeckis
Release Date November 22, 1989
Studio(s) Universal Pictures
Writers Bob Gale
Runtime 108 minutes
Taking up the role of Jennifer for the first time, Shue joined Fox and Christopher Lloyd in the sequel to the mega-popular original film. The plot continues to follow McFly and Doc as they have to travel from 1985 to 2015: This time, they must go to the future to prevent McFly's child from sabotaging his and his family's future while also battling enemy Biff Tannen, who steals the DeLorean, using it for personal financial gain.
Back to the Future has three movies of Marty McFly and Doc Brown's time-travelling antics, leading to a great cinematic trilogy, but which is best?
Shue's portrayal of Jennifer is typically understated but expertly elevates the film and the narrative, adding a vital component that pushes the stakes higher throughout the film. The role is played with sincerity, helping to add an element of realism to the sci-fi adventures and grounding all the other performances. While her role doesn't require that much screen time, every time she is involved, it adds new emotional tones and solidifies her as an integral part of one of the most beloved franchises of the 1980s and 1990s.
3 Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
As Sera
Leaving Las Vegas is a drama directed by Mike Figgis, featuring Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. Elisabeth Shue stars as Sera, a prostitute who forms a complex relationship with Ben. The film explores themes of addiction, despair, and human connection.
Director Mike Figgis
Release Date February 9, 1996
Leaving Las Vegas, based on John O'Brien's semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name, is a gritty drama about an alcoholic experiencing suicidal thoughts. Nicolas Cage's Ben Sanderson is a troubled screenwriter who, after losing his family and being fired, decides he's going to drive to Las Vegas with a car full of liquor and drink himself to death. Once he arrives, he forms an unlikely relationship with a prostitute (Shue), with the film then following their relationship and Ben's troubles from her perspective.
Cage and Shue both deliver powerhouse performances in this incredible film, both receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. The whole narrative of the movie is gripping from the start, with a story of real life and death. Shue and Cage's dynamic leaps from the screen, creating a palpable masterpiece. Shue's prostitute character is shown to have layers and depth and is beautifully played with a quiet vulnerability that gives the film a passionate yet haunting atmosphere, making for one of her finest roles ever.
2 Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
As Ali Mills
Set decades after the events of the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai shifts gears and puts viewers into the perspective of a former rival/antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. In his 50s and down on his luck, a chance encounter with a bullied young man leads Johnny back to Karate. Agreeing to help him, Johnny takes the opportunity to revive his former home, the Cobra Kai dojo - becoming a refuge for outcast teens.
Cast Tanner Buchanan , Xolo Mariduena , Mary Mouser , Connor Murdock , Ralph Macchio , Nichole Brown , Jacob Bertrand , Griffin Santopietro , William Zabka
Seasons 6
Writers Josh Heald , Jon Hurwitz , Hayden Schlossberg , Michael Jonathan , Mattea Greene , Bill Posley , Stacey Harman , Joe Piarulli , Bob Dearden
Directors Jon Hurwitz
Showrunner Jon Hurwitz
Cobra Kai is a martial arts comedy-drama TV series and a sequel to the wildly popular The Karate Kid film franchise, with Shue and Macchio reprising their roles as Ali and Daniel. However, the show flips the script and follows Johnny Lawrence's bully character as the protagonist as he decides to reopen his old Cobra Kai karate dojo after rekindling his rivalry with Daniel. An incredibly successful series sequel that has run for 6 seasons and 55 episodes follows the stories of the old group with some new faces mixed in.
The show brought Shue back in season 3, no longer the high school cheerleader caught between old and new love interests but a mature, soon-to-be-divorced woman who reconnects with both Daniel and Johnny. Shue's return was especially well received as she played her role to perfection, with the instant chemistry expected from a cast with such history. Ali's appearance in Cobra Kai provides a great hit of nostalgia and shows exceptional character growth into an older, successful woman while still hinting at elements of the sweet, lovable role from the first film.
1 The Boys (2019-Present)
As Madelyn Stillwell
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
In undoubtedly one of Shue's most popular and engaging roles, she takes on the character of Madelyn Stillwell in Amazon Prime's smash-hit superhero series, The Boys. Stillwell is the cut-throat and domineering VP of Vought International, the company that manages and controls all the "supes." She plays an vital role in the series by having links and relationships with all the lead stars,adding a much-needed realistic presence and propping up the incredible cast of superhero characters and personalities.
The Boys co-star Elisabeth Shue wowed audiences with her portrayal as calculating superhero handler Madelyn Stillwell, but how did she exit the show?
Shue consistently nails her portrayal of Madelyn throughout the first season as a morally complex and menacing presence who exerts an iron grip over people who are used to being quite literally superhuman and able to do anything they want. She gives a believable performance that showcases her versatility as someone who must be charming, witty, and kind, yet ruthless and brutal when needed. Elisabeth Shue plays this character perfectly with a balance of all the necessary elements, easily her best performance and in one of the most successful series of all time.
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