20 of the Best Sandra Bullock Movies, Ranked

Rom-com queen Sandra Bullock has come a long way since she rose to fame during the '90s. After starring in classics like Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice, she ventured into crime dramas, sci-fi thrillers and post-apocalyptic horror, proving that her talents know no bounds. And of course, we can’t forget about her latest action-adventure film, The Lost City, which made headlines when it dropped in 2022.

But now that the Oscar winner is taking a well-deserved break to focus on her family, we suddenly felt the urge to binge-watch her best work. From Speed to While You Were Sleeping, keep reading for the 20 best Sandra Bullock movies, ranked.

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Ashok Amritraj, Jon Jashni, Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
• Director: Mennan Yapo

In this cross between Memento and Groundhog Day, Linda, a homemaker, embarks on a mission to save her husband's life when she starts having premonitions about his forthcoming death. The movie raises interesting questions about fate and mortality, but it's Bullock's standout performance that really makes this film shine.

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt
• Director: Barbet Schroeder

When a dead body is found in the woods of a small California town, Cassie, a seasoned detective, and her partner decide to investigate. Along the way, they unveil evidence that's linked to two high school students who seemingly executed the perfect crime.

18. 28 Days (2000)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins
• Director: Betty Thomas

Gwen Cummings is a New York-based journalist who struggles with alcohol addiction—so much so that she has a drunken episode at her sister's wedding. The incident lands her in rehab, where she meets an eccentric group and embarks on a life-changing journey to recovery. The film successfully tackles serious themes, like suicide and addiction, while maintaining a light-hearted tone.

17. The Thing Called Love (1993)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney, Sandra Bullock
• Director: Peter Bogdanovich

Determined to make a name for herself in the country music scene, Miranda Presley moves to Nashville to pursue her dream—but it's not easy. While there, she develops a close friendship with her new pal, Linda Lue, and gets entangled in a love triangle with two aspiring songwriters.

16. Practical Magic (1998)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Goran Visnjic
• Director: Griffin Dunne

Bullock and Kidman star as two witch sisters who discover that a curse is preventing them from finding true love. But do they have what it takes to undo its damage? Both actresses are a delight to watch in this magical cult classic, best enjoyed on a cold night during Halloween season.

15. Ocean's 8 (2018)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling
• Director: Gary Ross

Following in the footsteps of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean is his ambitious little sister, Debbie (Bullock), who immediately enlists the help of her all-women crew to carry out a major heist after getting released from prison. The task? To steal a $150 million necklace during New York City's Met Gala. (What could possibly go wrong?) Bullock shines as the hardened and power-hungry criminal, but there are still a few traces of her familiar charm in there.

14. The Heat (2013)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir
• Director: Paul Feig

Stick a type-A FBI agent with a foul-mouthed detective and what you’ll get is pure comedy gold. In The Heat, Agent Ashburn (Bullock) and Detective Mullins reluctantly team up to catch a notorious Boston criminal. And their clashing personalities inspire some of the funniest moments you’ll ever see. But when they finally find their rhythm, their chemistry is off the charts. Bullock’s uptight character will totally remind you of Gracie from Miss Congeniality.

13. Bird Box (2018)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich
• Director: Susanne Bier

Think A Quiet Place, except in this instance, characters are forced to shield their eyes to stay alive. Bullock portrays a determined single mom who tries to protect her two kids as they travel down a river in search of a safer home—but without the use of their sight. It’s a cleverly done thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, but it’ll also leave you with more questions than answers.

12. A Time to Kill (1996)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock
• Director: Joel Schumacher

Racial tensions reach an all-time high in ‘80 Mississippi when a heartbroken Black father is put on trial for murdering the white men who assaulted his child. And now, it’s up to his attorney, Jake (McConaughey), to help him out, even as they’re both targeted by racist groups. Bullock appears as a part of Jake’s legal team, but she steals every scene with her fearless drive and encyclopedic knowledge of all things law.

11. Demolition Man (1993)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock
• Director: Marco Brambilla

After spending nearly four years in "CryoPrison,” where criminals are cryogenically frozen, a violent criminal named Simon and a determined cop are finally freed in the year 2032, where Los Angeles is a crime-free Utopia. Unfortunately, Simon is determined to wreak havoc, sparking an intense war between him and the officer. Although Snipes and Stallone are the ones who really shine in this film, Bullock holds her own with a memorable performance as Lieutenant Huxley.

10. The Lost City (2022)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt, Patti Harrison
• Directors: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee

Don’t expect any complex themes or deep philosophical musings here, but do prepare for a fun time and plenty of mindless laughs. The screwball comedy follows a shy romance writer (played by Bullock) who gets kidnapped by an unstable fan. But when he forces her to help him find the “Lost City” from her novel, it’s up to her book’s cover model to save the day. (Major kudos to Bullock and Tatum for their playful chemistry.)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands, Mae Whitman
• Director: Forest Whitaker

Bullock stars as Birdie, a Chicago housewife who's stunned to learn that her husband is having an affair while appearing on a talk show. To escape the chaos, she moves back to her small hometown. But starting over proves to be difficult as she tries to be a single parent and fix her relationship with her mother.

8. The Proposal (2009)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Craig T. Nelson
• Director: Anne Fletcher

Bullock steals the show as a high-strung editor-in-chief who convinces her assistant to marry her so she can keep her U.S. visa and avoid deportation to Canada. But as they try to keep up the act, a genuine romance forms between the unlikely pair. Is the plot ridiculously far-fetched? Absolutely, but it’s easily one of the best comedies that Bullock ever made. (FYI, that dancing scene in the woods with Betty White still lives rent-free in our head.)

7. Crash (2004)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon
• Director: Paul Haggis

In this Academy Award-winning film, we see how the stories of multiple characters connect during the aftermath of a car crash. Set in Los Angeles, these stories touch on issues like morality, racism and xenophobia. Plus, Bullock totally nails her role as the wealthy drama queen who’s oblivious to her own prejudices.

6. Speed (1994)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock
• Director: Jan de Bont

Confession: We’re really glad that Meryl Streep and Kim Basinger turned down Bullock’s role, because we couldn’t imagine anyone else as the charismatic Annie Porter. In the film, Annie, an everyday bus passenger, joins forces with a police officer, played by Keanu Reeves, to keep their moving bus from exploding after learning that it’s been rigged to blow up if its speed drops below 50 mph. Talk about intense.

5. The Blind Side (2009)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron
• Director: John Lee Hancock

It’s the film that earned Bullock an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress—and it’s easy to see why. In this poignant biographical film, she embodies the headstrong Leigh Anne, who goes out of her way to support her adopted son, Michael.

As we see Michael’s inspiring journey from homelessness to success on the football field, it’s impossible to not admire Leigh's fierce loyalty.

4. While You Were Sleeping (1995)

• Rating: PG
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher
• Director: Jon Turteltaub

Leave it to Bullock to charm your socks off with her lovable and endearing character. The actress shines as Lucy, a lonely token collector who saves the life of her crush and plays along after she’s mistaken for his fiancée. Things get rather complicated, however, when she meets and falls for her crush’s attractive brother.

3. Miss Congeniality (2000)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt
• Director: Donald Petrie

Bullock truly has a gift for making even the silliest plots work, and this classic film is proof. Miss Congeniality is about Gracie Hart, a tough FBI agent who agrees to go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant. The mission? To catch a terrorist who threatened to bomb the event. From witty dialogue to Bullock’s standout performance, this movie deserves a spot on your queue.

2. Infamous (2006)

• Rating: R
• Who’s in it: Toby Jones, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig
• Director: Douglas McGrath

In this underrated film, we follow Truman Capote’s life and career from the mid ’50s to the mid ’60s, when he did some traveling to research and write his bestseller, In Cold Blood. Bullock delivers a captivating performance as Capote’s friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Harper Lee and she nails her portrayal of the reserved writer all the way down to her accent and mannerisms. Lee’s easy chemistry with Capote is also a big highlight throughout the movie.

1. Gravity (2013)

• Rating: PG-13
• Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
• Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Bullock is at her best in this nail-biting sci-fi thriller, which earned an impressive ten Oscar nominations and seven wins, including Best Cinematography. Bullock and Clooney star as two American astronauts who are left stranded in space after their Space Shuttle gets damaged by high-speed space debris. And throughout the film, we see Bullock’s brave character, Dr. Ryan Stone, struggle to overcome a series of life-threatening obstacles on her own. Not only is Gravity visually stunning, but it takes you on an emotional roller coaster, keeping you absorbed from start to finish.