Honestly, for a while there, it felt like Julia Roberts was kind of done with the whole "movie star" grind. She was picking and choosing projects with such surgical precision that you'd only see her every few years. But things have shifted lately. If you've been keeping an eye on recent movies with Julia Roberts, you’ve probably noticed she isn't just making movies—she's making uncomfortable movies.
The "America's Sweetheart" era is officially in the rearview mirror.
Nowadays, Roberts seems more interested in playing characters who are prickly, morally gray, or just flat-out unlikeable. It’s a bold move for someone whose career was built on the world's most famous laugh. From apocalyptic thrillers on Netflix to intense campus dramas, the work she’s putting out right now is some of the most experimental of her career.
The Luca Guadagnino Factor: After the Hunt
If you haven't seen After the Hunt yet, brace yourself. Directed by Luca Guadagnino—the guy behind Challengers and Call Me by Your Name—this film is a far cry from a cozy rom-com. It hit theaters in October 2025 and just landed on Prime Video this past November.
Roberts plays Alma, a high-level college professor. Her life is basically a curated museum of academic success until one of her students (played by the incredible Ayo Edebiri) accuses a colleague (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault.
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The movie isn't a simple "who done it."
Instead, it’s a messy, claustrophobic look at how people protect their own interests when the truth gets inconvenient. Alma has her own dark secrets, and watching Roberts navigate that internal panic is fascinating. Critics were a bit divided—it holds around a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes—but most agreed that Julia's performance is her best since Erin Brockovich. She’s not trying to be your friend in this movie. She’s trying to survive.
Why the Mixed Reviews?
Some people found the film too "intellectual" or distant. Guadagnino filmed it mostly on soundstages in England, even though it’s set at a fictionalized Yale. That gives it this weird, artificial vibe that mirrors the "polite" but fake world of elite academia. It’s a "love it or hate it" type of flick.
The Netflix Power Move: Leave the World Behind
Before the campus drama, we had the end of the world. Leave the World Behind was everywhere when it dropped in late 2023. It remains one of the most talked-about recent movies with Julia Roberts because of how much it annoyed people—and I mean that as a compliment.
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Roberts plays Amanda Sandford, a woman who literally says in the first five minutes, "I f***ing hate people."
She takes her family to a luxury rental on Long Island, and then the internet dies. Then a massive oil tanker runs aground on the beach. It’s a slow-burn nightmare where nothing is explained clearly, which drove some viewers crazy. But Roberts is brilliant as a "Karen" who is forced to realize that her money and status mean absolutely nothing when the satellites fall out of the sky.
Reuniting with the "Old Guard"
Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. Roberts still knows how to lean into that classic chemistry when the script is right.
- Ticket to Paradise (2022): This was the big "return to form" moment. Starring alongside George Clooney, it was a massive box office hit ($168 million!). It proved that people still want to see two beautiful stars bickering in a beautiful location (Bali, though they actually filmed in Australia).
- Ocean's 14: This is the big one everyone is whispering about right now in early 2026. Roberts recently confirmed she’s read the script, and Warner Bros. has reportedly greenlit the budget. Seeing Tess Ocean back in a heist movie with Clooney, Pitt, and Damon is exactly the kind of nostalgic hit we need after all those heavy psychological thrillers.
What's Next? Panic Carefully
Looking ahead to 2027, Roberts is staying in the "prestige thriller" lane. She’s re-teaming with Sam Esmail (the Leave the World Behind director) for a movie called Panic Carefully.
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The cast is stacked:
- Eddie Redmayne
- Elizabeth Olsen
- Brian Tyree Henry
It’s reportedly about the hunt for a cyber-terrorist. Warner Bros. snatched this one away from Netflix, which tells you they think it’s a theatrical heavyweight. It’s scheduled for a February 26, 2027 release, including IMAX screens.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to catch up on this new "Dark Julia" era, here is how you should prioritize your watch list:
- For the "Classic Julia" fix: Re-watch Ticket to Paradise on Peacock. It’s the last time we’ll see her in a traditional rom-com for a while.
- For the "Thinker": Watch After the Hunt on Prime Video. It’s a tough watch but worth it for the acting masterclass between Roberts and Edebiri.
- For the "Anxious Night In": Put on Leave the World Behind on Netflix. Just don't expect a neat ending.
The biggest takeaway here is that Julia Roberts is no longer playing it safe. She’s using her massive "A-list" leverage to fund weird, prickly, and socially relevant movies that don't always have happy endings. And honestly? It’s a lot more interesting than another Notting Hill.