Honestly, it is kind of wild to think about how most people only know Elizabeth Olsen as the woman who shoots red hexes out of her hands. Don’t get me wrong—Wanda Maximoff is iconic. But if you actually sit down and look at the full list of Elizabeth Olsen movies and tv shows, you start to realize she’s one of the few actors who can jump from a billion-dollar blockbuster to a gritty, $12 million indie without breaking a sweat.
She isn't just "the third Olsen sister." She’s a powerhouse.
Back in 2011, before the Avengers was even a cohesive team on screen, she shook everyone at Sundance with Martha Marcy May Marlene. She played Martha, a girl escaping a cult, and the performance was so raw it felt uncomfortable to watch. One minute she’s staring blankly into space, the next she’s having a full-blown breakdown. It’s the kind of debut that usually wins an Oscar, but instead, it just launched her into the stratosphere of "actors to watch."
The MCU Era and the "WandaVision" Pivot
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the Scarlet Witch.
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Most fans’ introduction to Elizabeth Olsen movies and tv shows happened in a post-credits scene for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Then came Age of Ultron, Civil War, and the massive Infinity War / Endgame double feature. For a while, it felt like she was just "the supporting magical girl."
Then 2021 happened. WandaVision changed everything.
WandaVision wasn't just a superhero show; it was a grief-stricken love letter to American sitcoms. Olsen had to mimic acting styles from the 1950s all the way to the 2010s. One day she’s doing her best Lucille Ball impression, and the next she’s channelling the "mockumentary" vibes of Modern Family. It’s probably her best work to date because it demanded such a weird, specific range.
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Essential Non-Marvel Performances You Probably Missed
If you’ve only seen her in a cape, you’re missing out on some of the best stuff in her filmography.
- Wind River (2017): She plays a rookie FBI agent in the freezing Wyoming wilderness. It’s a bleak, brutal mystery. Her chemistry with Jeremy Renner here is totally different from their Hawkeye/Wanda vibe—it's professional, desperate, and cold.
- Ingrid Goes West (2017): This one is painfully relatable if you spend too much time on Instagram. She plays Taylor Sloane, a "perfect" influencer who gets stalked by Aubrey Plaza. Olsen plays the "fake-deep" social media star so well it’s almost scary.
- Sorry for Your Loss (2018–2019): This was a Facebook Watch original (yeah, I know), but it’s genuinely incredible. She plays a young widow trying to piece her life back together. It’s quiet, devastating, and far more grounded than her big-budget roles.
- Love & Death (2023): She went full suburban-gothic for this HBO miniseries, playing Candy Montgomery. It’s a true-crime story about an axe murder in Texas. Watching her flip from "sweet housewife" to "calculated killer" is a trip.
What’s Happening Now? (2025 and 2026 Updates)
As we move through 2026, Olsen is clearly leaning back into her indie roots and high-concept dramas.
She recently starred in Eternity (2025), a fantasy rom-com from A24 that basically asks: if you died and went to the afterlife, but had to choose between spending eternity with your long-term husband or your "the one who got away" first love, who would you pick? It’s hitting Apple TV+ this February (2026), and critics are calling it a "spiritual successor" to classic screwball comedies. She produced it too, which shows she’s taking more control behind the scenes.
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There’s also the Netflix film His Three Daughters where she stars alongside Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne. It’s just three sisters in an apartment dealing with their dying father. No explosions. No CGI. Just pure, high-stakes acting.
The Full Timeline of Major Works
- The Breakthrough: Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) – The cult drama that started it all.
- The Indie Grind: Liberal Arts (2012) and Kill Your Darlings (2013).
- The Blockbuster Jump: Godzilla (2014) – Fun fact: she played Aaron Taylor-Johnson's wife here, right before playing his sister in the MCU.
- The Marvel Peak: WandaVision (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
- The Prestigious Pivot: Love & Death (2023) and The Assessment (2024).
- Current Projects: Eternity (2025) and upcoming voice work in Marvel Zombies.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the breadth of Elizabeth Olsen movies and tv shows, don't just binge the MCU. Start with Martha Marcy May Marlene to see her raw talent, then move to Wind River for her dramatic grit.
Keep an eye on Apple TV+ in February 2026 for the streaming debut of Eternity. It’s a great example of how she’s blending her "movie star" charisma with weird, A24-style storytelling. If you’re looking for something more intense, Love & Death on Max is the way to go—just maybe don't watch it if you're feeling particularly anxious about your neighbors.
She has proven that she doesn't need a franchise to stay relevant; she just needs a script that lets her be a little bit "unhinged," which is exactly where she shines the most.