Jane Fonda doesn't just act in movies; she defines entire eras of culture. If you look at the massive list of jane fonda movies and shows, you aren't just looking at a resume. You're looking at the history of the last sixty years of American life. From the "sex kitten" space travels of the sixties to the fierce, workout-fueled corporate satire of the eighties, and now her late-career renaissance as a comedic powerhouse on Netflix, she's constantly reinventing what it means to be a star.
Honestly, it’s wild. Most actors are lucky to have one "decade." Fonda is currently working on her seventh.
The Roles That Changed Everything
People often forget how much of a risk her early career was. She wasn't just Henry Fonda's daughter; she was a woman trying to find a voice in a studio system that wanted her to stay in a very specific, very pretty box.
Then came Klute in 1971.
If you haven’t seen it, stop what you’re doing and find it. Her performance as Bree Daniel, a high-end call girl caught in a missing person's case, is arguably one of the greatest pieces of film acting ever recorded. She didn't just play the role; she lived it, even shadowing real sex workers in New York to understand the "business" of the character. It won her the first of two Academy Awards.
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But then there’s the stuff most of us grew up watching on repeat. Think about 9 to 5. It’s a comedy, sure, but it was also a radical statement on workplace equality. Watching Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton kidnap their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss was more than just a laugh—it was a cathartic moment for millions of women.
Essential Jane Fonda Movies You Can't Ignore
- Cat Ballou (1965): The movie that proved she could carry a massive hit. It’s a Western, it’s a comedy, and she’s a total outlaw.
- Barbarella (1968): Directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. It’s campy, weird, and features some of the most iconic (and impractical) sci-fi costumes in history.
- Coming Home (1978): Her second Oscar win. This wasn't just a movie; it was a deeply personal project about the physical and emotional scars of the Vietnam War.
- The China Syndrome (1979): A thriller about a nuclear power plant cover-up that felt terrifyingly real because the Three Mile Island accident happened just twelve days after the movie hit theaters.
The TV Comeback and the "Grace and Frankie" Effect
For a long time, movie stars didn't do TV. It was seen as a step down. But Jane Fonda has always been a disruptor. When she teamed up with Lily Tomlin for Grace and Frankie in 2015, they didn't just make a "show for old people." They made a global hit that ran for seven seasons, becoming Netflix's longest-running original series.
Why did it work? Because it was honest.
It dealt with divorce, aging, sexuality, and business in a way that felt fresh. Watching Grace Hanson navigate life after her husband comes out as gay was a masterclass in comedic timing. It also proved that there is a massive, underserved audience hungry for stories about women over 70 who aren't just grandmothers sitting in the background.
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She also killed it in The Newsroom as Leona Lansing. She was only in a handful of episodes, but when she walked into a room, she owned it. That’s the "Fonda Power." You can't look away.
Why She Still Matters in 2026
Lately, she’s been leaning into "ensemble" films that celebrate female friendship. Book Club and its sequel, along with 80 for Brady, might seem like light fare compared to the grit of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, but they serve a purpose. They keep her visible. They keep her relevant to a generation that might only know her from her climate activism or her legendary 1982 workout tapes.
Speaking of those tapes—they literally saved the home video industry. Before Jane Fonda’s Workout, nobody was buying VCRs just to own a movie. They bought them to exercise with Jane.
The Nuance of Her "Hanoi Jane" Legacy
You can't talk about jane fonda movies and shows without acknowledging the elephant in the room. Her 1972 trip to North Vietnam remains one of the most polarizing moments in celebrity history. She has apologized many times for the specific photo of her on an anti-aircraft gun, calling it a "huge mistake," but she has never backed down from her anti-war stance.
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This complexity is what makes her interesting. She isn't a polished, PR-managed robot. She’s a human who has made mistakes, changed her mind, and grown in public for sixty years.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Fonda Marathon
If you’re looking to dive into her filmography, don’t just watch the hits. Explore the transitions.
- Watch the Transformation: Start with Barefoot in the Park to see her as the ultimate 60s ingenue, then immediately jump to Klute. The shift in her eyes, her posture, and her voice is incredible.
- The Comedy Lean: Pair 9 to 5 with Monster-in-Law. Seeing her go toe-to-toe with Jennifer Lopez after a 15-year hiatus from acting shows that she never lost her edge.
- The Redford Connection: She and Robert Redford have a legendary onscreen chemistry. Watch their final collaboration, Our Souls at Night (2017) on Netflix. It’s a quiet, beautiful bookend to their careers.
- The Documentary: If you want the "why" behind the "what," watch Jane Fonda in Five Acts on HBO. It’s the most honest look at her life you’ll ever get.
Jane Fonda’s career isn't over. At nearly 90, she’s still headlining movies and leading protests. Whether you love her or find her controversial, you have to respect the staying power. She didn't just survive Hollywood; she conquered it on her own terms.
To get the most out of her work, try watching her films chronologically to see how her personal activism started bleeding into her creative choices during the late 70s—it makes movies like The Electric Horseman and Julia much more fascinating.