7 Hits And 7 Misses From Rachel McAdams’ Film Career

hopping from Mean Girls one-liners to the haunting intensity of Spotlight. Some roles, like The Notebook’s tearjerking romance or Midnight in Paris’ whimsical charm, became instant classics, quoted and GIFed across the internet for years.

Others stumbled, even her effortless charisma unable to lift them into iconic status. Dive into seven times Rachel absolutely owned the screen and seven moments fans wish they could forget.

Whether you stan Red Eye thrills or fangirl over About Time feels, this rollercoaster of hits and misses is a must-read for every movie buff. Discover which films are must-watch and which are just… memorable for the wrong reasons.

1. HIT: Mean Girls (2004) – Regina George Rules the School

Few movie villains are as iconic as Regina George, and Rachel McAdams owned every single second of that role. Her sharp delivery, perfect hair flips, and ice-cold stares made Regina unforgettable.

Honestly, being called a “Mean Girl” became almost a compliment after this film.

Mean Girls became a full-blown cultural phenomenon, spawning Broadway shows and a 2024 movie musical remake. McAdams was just 25 and already rewriting the rules of teen comedies.

2. HIT: The Notebook (2004) – A Love Story for the Ages

If there is one film that turned Rachel McAdams into a full-blown superstar, it was The Notebook. Playing Allie Hamilton opposite Ryan Gosling, she brought a passionate, complicated romance to life so convincingly that audiences everywhere grabbed their tissues.

Fun fact: Gosling and McAdams reportedly did not get along during filming but later dated in real life. Talk about method acting!

The film remains a beloved classic over two decades later.

3. HIT: Wedding Crashers (2005) – Charming the Comedy World

Wedding Crashers proved Rachel McAdams had serious comedic chops to match her dramatic skills. As Claire Cleary, she played the smart, warm love interest who slowly sees through Owen Wilson’s hilarious schemes.

The film grossed over 285 million dollars worldwide, making it one of the biggest comedies of 2005. McAdams held her own alongside comedy legends Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, and audiences absolutely loved her for it.

4. HIT: Red Eye (2005) – Thrills at 30,000 Feet

Wes Craven is best known for horror, but Red Eye showed he could master tight, nail-biting thrillers too. McAdams played Lisa Reisert, a hotel manager trapped on a flight next to a very dangerous stranger.

Critics praised her performance for keeping viewers genuinely on edge throughout the film’s brisk runtime. If you want proof that Rachel can carry an entire thriller almost single-handedly, Red Eye is your answer.

5. HIT: Midnight in Paris (2011) – Woody Allen’s Sparkling Gem

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris charmed critics and audiences alike, earning four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. McAdams played Inez, the sharp-tongued fiancee whose priorities clash hilariously with her dreamy partner’s romantic obsessions.

Despite her character not being exactly likable, McAdams played her with such confident wit that Inez became genuinely entertaining. The film grossed over 150 million dollars worldwide, making it Allen’s highest-grossing movie ever.

6. HIT: Spotlight (2015) – Oscar-Worthy Journalism Drama

Spotlight is widely considered one of the finest films of the 2010s, and Rachel McAdams earned a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as reporter Sacha Pfeiffer.

Playing a journalist investigating the Catholic Church abuse scandal, McAdams brought quiet intensity and genuine emotional depth to every scene. The film won Best Picture at the 2016 Oscars, and her performance remains one of her proudest career achievements.

7. HIT: Game Night (2018) – Comedy Gold with Perfect Timing

Game Night is one of those comedies that sneaks up on you and turns out to be way smarter and funnier than expected. Paired with Jason Bateman, McAdams played Annie, a hilariously competitive game enthusiast caught in an increasingly wild mystery.

Critics raved about her comedic timing, calling it some of the sharpest work of her career. How often does a mid-budget comedy earn this much genuine love?

Game Night absolutely earned it.

8. MISS: The Hot Chick (2002) – A Rocky Start

Before Regina George, there was The Hot Chick, a body-swap comedy starring Rob Schneider that critics absolutely roasted. McAdams played a popular high school girl whose soul ends up trapped in a grown man’s body.

Though it was an early career role, the film scored a dismal 8 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and flopped commercially. Every superstar has a stumble, and this was clearly McAdams’s warm-up lap before the real race began.

9. MISS: The Family Stone (2005) – Holiday Awkwardness That Did Not Quite Work

Holiday movies are supposed to warm your heart, but The Family Stone left many viewers feeling more confused than cozy. McAdams played Amy Stone, the sharp-tongued sister who clashes relentlessly with her brother’s uptight girlfriend.

Critics called the film tonally uneven, unsure whether it wanted to be a comedy or a tearjerker. McAdams gave a solid performance, but even her energy couldn’t smooth out a script that kept tripping over itself.

10. MISS: Married Life (2007) – A Period Piece That Lost Its Way

Period dramas can be stunning when everything clicks, but Married Life did not quite find its footing. McAdams played Kay Nesbitt, the unknowing target of a murder plot, in a story set in post-World War II America.

Though the costumes and sets looked gorgeous, the film felt cold and emotionally distant to most viewers. It quietly slipped out of theaters without making much of a splash, which was genuinely disappointing given the promising cast.

11. MISS: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) – Blink and You’ll Miss Her

Irene Adler is one of literature’s most fascinating characters, so fans were thrilled when McAdams appeared in the first Sherlock Holmes film. Sadly, Game of Shadows sidelined her almost immediately, giving her barely enough screen time to make an impression.

The sequel earned strong box office numbers but received mixed critical reviews overall. McAdams deserved far more to work with, and her limited role felt like a wasted opportunity for everyone involved.

12. MISS: Passion (2012) – Style Without Substance

Director Brian De Palma brought his signature visual flair to Passion, a glossy erotic thriller set inside a cutthroat advertising agency. McAdams played Christine Stanford, a ruthless executive locked in a dangerous power struggle.

Unfortunately, style overwhelmed story, and critics found the film more silly than suspenseful. Commercially, it barely registered at the box office.

Even McAdams fans admitted this one was a tough sit, no matter how polished it looked on screen.

13. MISS: A Most Wanted Man (2014) – Lost in Translation

A Most Wanted Man featured the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his final performances, and the film had serious espionage thriller potential. McAdams played a human rights lawyer caught between competing intelligence agencies.

However, critics singled out her German accent as unconvincing, which became a distraction from an otherwise gripping story. The film received mixed reviews overall, and McAdams herself has acknowledged the accent was a challenge she struggled to fully conquer.

14. MISS: The Vow (2012) – Sweet But Forgettable

Inspired by a true story, The Vow cast McAdams as Paige Collins, a woman who loses all memory of her husband after a serious car accident. It sounds heartbreaking, and McAdams clearly gave it her all.

Audiences showed up in big numbers, but critics found the film too predictable and formulaic to be truly moving. Sometimes a sweet premise and likable stars just aren’t enough to lift a script above the ordinary.