A career that now spans almost five decades, with at least one stint in each of the cinematic genres and twenty-one Academy Award nominations, and still going strong. Meryl Streep has done it all. From starring in acclaimed classics like The Deer Hunter to playing a Witch in Into The Woods, Streep has done great justice to all the characters she has portrayed on-screen. She left a lasting imprint of her acting skills in all of her performances, be it a troubled wife (Kramer vs. Kramer), a grieving Holocaust survivor (Sophie’s Choice), a ruthless fashion magazine editor (The Devil Wears Prada), or an aging obnoxious matriarch (August: Osage County).

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She inspires aspiring actors and is a master of performing arts, as exhibited in her iconic filmography that spans all three formats — films, television, and stage. Her movies are mesmerizing to watch, and are masterclasses in themselves. And many of the best ones are now accessible thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix, which holds some of Meryl Streep’s best on their lists.

From her long list of screen credits, we have pulled a small bunch that includes the diverse and distinct roles that Meryl Streep portrayed over the years. Currently streaming on Netflix, these best of Meryl Streep movies features the Academy Award-winning actress in roles that define her versatility and talent and prove her finesse.

Beginning with 80s success, Out of Africa (1985), an epic biographical romance, features Streep alongside Robert Redford, portraying Danish writer Karen Blixen, better known by her nom de plume, Isak Dinesen. Directed by Sydney Pollack, Out of Africa comes from the decade when Streep cemented her status as the most successful actress of her generation. Not only was Out of Africa a financial blockbuster, but it also made Streep the most acclaimed leading star of the age.

At a time when male-oriented action-thrillers were gaining traction, Streep’s female-centric romantic drama beat several odds to come out on top. Despite Robert Redford being credited with top billing, Streep stole eyes with her acting, which many described as an intelligent and thoughtful performance from her end. Even in mixed and polarizing critical circles, Streep stood out as the film’s best element, further glorified by the stunning cinematography. Years later, Out of Africa is still viewed through the lens of skillful and dedicated acting brought on-screen by Meryl Streep.

Later, in the 2000s, Streep rose to unprecedented success even after twenty-five years in the industry. By the time Julie & Julia (2009) arrived, Streep had already shown the new generation what she could do in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and many other films. Playing once again a real-life character, Julia Child, a celebrated and pioneering TV chef and cookbook author who trained in France I after World War II and rose to international prominence the 1970s, Streep gained outstanding praise for her performance. The film was a massive venture being Nora Ephron’s final film as a director; however, post-release, Streep’s acting gave the movie an exclusively positive response.

The film is often credited to Streep’s portrayal of Julia Child in Julie & Julia. This film took on a non-linear storytelling approach and unraveled the best of Streep in flashbacks. Starring alongside Amy Adams, Streep received the only Oscar nomination for the film, in the Best Actress category.

Leaping forward in time, Streep’s next decade was filled with extraordinary cinematic ventures. That included her Oscar-winning role as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011). But, Meryl Streep’s recent role as President Janie Orlean in Adam McKay’s polarizing Don’t Look Up (2021) is something off-beat among Streep’s masterpieces on Netflix.

While she has always been a terrific leading lady, watching her in a Trump-esque avatar, featuring as an antagonistic character, is hilariously enjoyable. Even with lesser screen time in the film, which was studded with a vast ensemble, Meryl Streep offered layers of expressions and emotions, hiding her character’s cunningly narcissistic traits. It’s a role where she doesn’t necessarily stand out as a leading lady. Yet, it’s astonishing to witness her developing an equally enthusiastic dynamic with two vastly distinguished actors, Jonah Hill and Mark Rylance — the two she shares most scenes with. Don’t Look Up is Streep’s must-watch masterclass, because it shows her artistic abilities to delve into any character type she is given.

The three movies mentioned above feature Streep in three diverse stories — an epic romance, a biopic drama, and a sci-fi dark comedy. Even in these three hits, Streep challenges herself with different character types and stands out as the best. That’s the best part about her as a creative. And among these varieties of genres, Streep has even experimented well with musicals. Who can forget Mamma Mia! (2008) or Into The Woods (2011)?

Continuing her love for jukebox comedies, Streep took a significant role in The Prom (2020). Released as a Netflix original, The Prom was a musical coming-of-age starring newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman as a gay student barred from attending the prom with her girlfriend. The Prom isn’t Streep’s finest. And probably will be at the bottom of her Netflix available(s).

Ryan Murphy’s The Prom offers eclectic vibes. Studded with an ensemble including Andrew Rannels, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Keegan-Michael Key — besides Streep, the film could have been better in the genre. But, after a long while, Streep’s stint with a musical became a subject of fans’ anticipation. The fault was that The Prom didn’t make the best of the ensemble and couldn’t touch upon the topic with the profoundness visible otherwise in Ryan Murphy’s movies. Yet, in “It’s Not About Me,” Streep transcends into a true Broadway diva.

The Laundromat (2019) isn’t as refined as Streep’s The Post, both of which traversed a high-profile scandal, the former would probably be an excellent watch for its subject and Streep’s multiple hyper-linked roles, choreographed and put together per Steven Soderbergh’s experimental sequencing techniques. It’s mostly a plot-driven story featuring Soderbergh’s vision through the gaze of his ensemble. However, Meryl Streep was able to carry the film’s overlapping narrations.

Released in 2019, The Laundromat comes when Streep is already an established veteran actor and is massively experienced in her craft and skills. And that’s visible throughout the film, which, despite a relatively weaker screenplay, becomes interesting because of some iconic performances, including that of Streep.

The Giver (2014) features Streep in another supporting role. Based on Lois Lowry’s novel of the same name, The Giver sets itself in a dystopian future, which deliberately devoids humans of emotions and their sense of color. Streep portrays the Chief Elder, who runs this new community of neutral, next-generation, genetically-engineered humans. The Giver might be a forgettable film overall. Still, one can’t miss the two veterans, Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep, pitted against each other in this sci-fi venture.

Streep and Bridges share a dynamic representing opposing views on humanity, and anchored the film’s thematic elements with much comfort and sophistication. Introducing Streep as a building-sized hologram, The Giver is most notable for the actress’s effortless dive into a gray character and her scenes with Jeff Bridges. Though The Giver loses its value compared to its source material, it’s another piece of evidence that Meryl Streep will impact any script she takes up.

Netflix is a black hole of cinematic content. And Meryl Streep’s name will list many more of the famed actress’ performances on the platform. But anything — even her best work from her initial years — may not match what she did in this final entry on our list of Meryl Streep’s Netflix masterclass entries. We saved the most perfect and drastically pained one for the end—Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County. The film is a modest commercial success and has received a divisive response. But Meryl Streep, at her best alongside Julia Roberts and many more, brings Tracy Lett’s tragic dramedy to life with such utmost emotional intensity that this experience is unmatchable.

Streep stars as the matriarch whose family is forced into an unwanted and unpleasant reunion upon her husband’s demise. The painful unraveling of their broken relationships and the familial hypocrisy make August: Osage County Streep’s most underrated yet astonishing performance. Much of the credit must go to Letts’ writing, who based the film on his Pulitzer-winning play; however, no one other than Streep could have done justice to a character arc that devastatingly destructs itself throughout the narrative.

If anyone ever wishes to watch Streep at her truly finest of her later career — and wishes to learn from analyzing her performance, August: Osage County is the film to watch. Streep is an actor who will break barriers of all types if a role requires, and this film pushes and challenges her to do so. August: Osage County is the Streep acting masterclass.

Meryl Streep’s television roles comprise another dimension of her skills, and she is continuously exploring that format alongside films. For now, Netflix has a bunch of her movies, and these seven, though not chronologically best of her career, show how far Streep’s grasp of characters stretches. These films exemplify and embody her talent and adaptability for any role she is given. If you are a Meryl Streep fan or want to begin exploring her filmography, find these at one place on Netflix, and start binging.