Honestly, if you look at Julianne Moore’s career, it’s basically a masterclass in never playing it safe. Most actors find a "type" and cling to it like a life raft. Not her. She’s currently 65, and while many of her peers are being relegated to "the grandmother" roles, Moore is out here headlining A24 musicals and Pedro Almodóvar dramas.
You’ve probably seen her in everything from massive blockbusters to those tiny, gut-wrenching indie films that make you want to stare at a wall for an hour. But there’s a specific magic to Julianne Moore movies and tv shows that feels different in 2026. She’s one of the few stars who survived the transition from the "movie star" era to the "streaming era" without losing an ounce of her prestige.
The Roles That Defined Everything (And the Ones We Forgot)
We have to talk about Still Alice. It’s the one everyone brings up because she finally got her Oscar for it in 2015. But if you really want to understand her range, you have to look further back.
Remember Safe (1995)?
It’s this weird, haunting Todd Haynes movie where she plays a housewife who becomes allergic to... well, everything. It’s quiet. It’s terrifying. It’s arguably her best performance, even if it didn't win the big hardware at the time. Then you jump to something like Boogie Nights. Playing Amber Waves, she brought a level of maternal sadness to the adult film industry that honestly shouldn't have worked on paper. But it did.
Why the 2020s Changed the Game
Lately, Moore has been leaning into projects that feel more experimental. She’s not just an actress anymore; she’s a curator.
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- May December (2023): That creepy, subtle performance as Gracie? Chilling.
- The Room Next Door (2024): Her collaboration with Almodóvar and Tilda Swinton was basically the "event" film for people who actually like cinema.
- Echo Valley (2025): A gritty thriller that reminded everyone she can still do high-stakes tension.
She’s currently making waves with an untitled A24 musical directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Yeah, you read that right. A musical. Starring alongside Paul Giamatti, she plays a shy woman who gets cast in a community theater production. It's expected to hit theaters later this year, and the buzz is already leaning toward another awards run.
Julianne Moore Movies and TV Shows: The Small Screen Shift
People often forget she started in soaps. As the World Turns gave her a Daytime Emmy back in the 80s.
She didn't really "do" TV for a long time after that, but when she returned, she went big. Game Change saw her transform into Sarah Palin in a way that was almost scary. She didn't just do an impression; she captured the specific, frantic energy of that political moment.
Then came Lisey’s Story on Apple TV+.
Based on the Stephen King novel, it was polarizing. Some people loved the dreamlike pacing; others found it too slow. But Moore’s performance as a grieving widow was undeniably grounded. More recently, in 2024, we got Mary & George. If you haven't seen it, it’s a raunchy, historical psychodrama where she plays a social-climbing mother in the Jacobean era. It’s Julianne Moore at her most "chaotic neutral," and it is a blast to watch.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
There's this myth that Julianne Moore only plays "sad women."
Sure, she’s great at crying. She has one of the best "on-screen cries" in the history of the medium (see: Magnolia). But she’s also surprisingly funny. Her work in The Big Lebowski as Maude Lebowski is iconic precisely because she plays it so straight while being completely ridiculous.
She’s also one of only two actresses to ever win the "Triple Crown" at the big three European film festivals (Cannes, Berlin, and Venice). That’s not just luck. That’s a level of international respect that few American actors ever achieve.
The Financials: Blockbuster vs. Boutique
It’s easy to think of her as an "indie darling," but her box office numbers tell a different story.
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: She played President Alma Coin with a cold, silver-haired precision.
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Yes, she survived dinosaurs.
- Hannibal: She took over the role of Clarice Starling from Jodie Foster. That was a massive risk, and while the movie itself got mixed reviews, she held her own against Anthony Hopkins.
The "Moore" Method in 2026
What’s the secret? Honestly, it’s her lack of vanity. Whether she’s playing a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s or a villainous drug lord in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, she never looks like she’s "acting." She just exists in the space.
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If you're looking to catch up on her filmography, don't just stick to the hits.
Check out A Single Man. Her scenes with Colin Firth are brief but they’re some of the most vibrant moments in the whole film. Or watch The Kids Are All Right. She plays a flawed, messy, cheating spouse, and somehow you still root for her. That’s the "Moore" magic.
How to Stream Her Best Work Right Now
If you want to dive into Julianne Moore movies and tv shows, the landscape is a bit scattered across platforms.
- Netflix: This is where you'll find May December and The Woman in the Window.
- Apple TV+: Home to Sharper and Lisey's Story.
- Max: Usually carries the older classics like Boogie Nights or her HBO work.
- Criterion Channel: Often hosts her more artistic ventures like Vanya on 42nd Street.
The smartest way to experience her work today isn't to watch chronologically. Instead, pair her roles. Watch Far From Heaven (where she’s a repressed 50s housewife) and then immediately watch Gloria Bell (where she’s a free-spirited divorcee). The contrast will blow your mind.
The Jesse Eisenberg musical is the next big milestone to watch for. It’s currently in post-production and scheduled for a late 2026 release. It’s going to be weird, it’s going to be A24, and knowing Moore, it’s probably going to be the thing everyone is talking about next Oscar season.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Set a Google Alert: Use the phrase "Julianne Moore upcoming projects" to stay on top of the Eisenberg musical release dates.
- Check the "Almodóvar Collection": Many streaming services have grouped her recent Spanish-influenced work together.
- Revisit the 90s: If you’ve only seen her recent stuff, go back to Short Cuts. It’s where the "legend" status really started.
Julianne Moore isn't slowing down. If anything, she's getting more daring with age. In an industry obsessed with youth, she’s proved that being interesting is far more valuable than being young.