Dakota Johnson won’t be enjoying the critical reaction to her latest movie, Madame Web, which is being panned from every direction. Sony’s latest superhero offering has failed to meet even the lowest expectations of such a film, with criticism aimed at its plot, casting, dialogue, and more.
But she needn’t worry. Every actor has a few blips in their filmography, and Dakota Johnson will surely bounce back from this one. Moreover, she appeared in plenty of great films before Madame Web existed.
This piece will take you through five of Johnson’s critically acclaimed movies you should watch instead of the undeniably terrible Madame Web.
The Social Network (2010)
One of Dakota Johnson’s earliest movie roles came in the Academy Award-winning biographical drama The Social Network. The film depicts the founding of the popular social network platform Facebook, with Jesse Eisenberg portraying the company’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, in an Oscar-nominated performance.
Johnson has a minor role as Amelia Ritter, a student from Stanford University who has a one-night stand with Justin Timberlake’s Sean Parker one night after meeting him at a bar. She doesn’t have much to do, but her appearance is a fun insight into the roles some actors take to make their way into the film industry. The Social Network is an engrossing, ambitious movie, brilliantly written, directed, and performed by its all-star cast.
Suspiria (2018)
While not a direct remake, the supernatural horror movie Suspiria is directly inspired by Dario Argento’s classic identically named 1977 Italian film. It’s about a young and unsuspecting American woman who enrolls at a prestigious dance academy in Berlin, Germany, run by a coven of witches, and the ensuing creepiness, twisted occurrences, and downright bloodiness that follows.
Dakota Johnson plays Susanna “Susie” Bannion, the young woman who joins the academy. She’s fantastic and joined by a tremendous supporting cast that includes Tilda Swinton (in multiple roles) and Mia Goth. Suspiria is stylish, daring, arty, aesthetically incredible, genuinely haunting, and impressively tackles several social issues head-on.
Am I OK? (2022)
The comedy-drama movie Am I OK? about a Los Angeles woman who realizes her many unsuccessful dates with men are because she’s homosexual and the subsequent assistance her lifelong friend gives her in coming out, living as a lesbian, and dating women in her 30s.
Dakota Johnson stars as Lucy, the woman who comes out, and Sonoya Mizuno plays her supportive pal Jane. Am I OK? is a charming, earnest, and delightfully funny film with great lead performances. It’s a touching coming-of-age story about self-discovery, which is highly relatable for many.
Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
The romantic comedy-drama Cha Cha Real Smooth follows a 22-year-old college graduate who goes into business as a party starter while beginning a relationship with the mother of an autistic child who’s ten years his senior.
Cooper Raiff plays Andrew, the party starter and Dakota Johnson plays Domino, his romantic interest and the loving mother of the autistic Lola. Cha Cha Real Smooth is unashamedly sentimental and touching, but uniquely so, as it’s unlikely any other romantic comedy-drama. Raiff reveals himself as an actor to keep an eye on, and Johnson is as dependable as ever – even if their characters’ relationship is a tad unconventional.
Daddio (2023)
Daddio is a drama movie about a young woman who takes a taxi from John F. Kennedy International Airport to her Manhattan home. During the journey, she has an unexpectedly deep and frank conversation with her driver, with the discussion topics including s*x, relationships, bereavement, power, and vulnerability.
Dakota Johnson plays the young woman, known only as “Girlie” and Sean Penn plays Clark, the cab driver. Apart from those two and two bit-part actors, there’s nobody else in the film. Both leads are in top form and give brilliant and engaging performances. Daddio is intimate, sweet, and superbly executed by everyone involved. It’s designed to trigger conversations from its viewers, and it undoubtedly succeeds emphatically.
