Meryl Streep is one of the most celebrated and accomplished actresses of all time. To date, she has amassed an astounding 21 Oscar nominations over the last 40 years, which resulted in her winning three Oscars. Her acting resume is a collection of some of the best movies ever made and some truly amazing performances. Just last year, Streep starred in Mary Poppins Returns and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, both of which were critical and commercial successes.
Mamma Mia! also marked the first time Streep returned for a sequel to one of her movies, which makes us wonder which other previous roles might she revisit. While there are a lot of movies she’s made that could use a sequel, some are just too good to touch. Here are some of Streep’s movies we’d like to see sequels for, and some that are just perfect as they are.
Should Have A Sequel: Julie & Julia
Julie & Julia might not be one of Streep’s deepest movies, but it does boast one of her most likable performances. Based on a true story, the film depicts a frustrated blogger’s attempt to recreate all of the recipes in celebrity chef Julia Child’s cookbook. The film intertwines the story of the blogger (played by Amy Adams) with Child’s own struggles in the cooking profession.
Streep is endlessly charming as Child, making you forget you’re watching an actress and falling in love with the real-life warm-hearted chef. It would be nice to see Streep return to such a fun role to explore more of Child’s life.
No Sequel: Doubt
Streep is no stranger to taking on films containing difficult subject matter, and Doubt certainly fits into that category. Based on a play of the same name, the film stars Streep as a strict Catholic nun who begins having suspicions about the church’s newest priest, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This leads to growing tension among the two, which allows these amazing actors to go head-to-head in some thrilling scenes.
With Hoffman’s sad passing, a sequel seems pointless. But regardless of that fact, this is not a story that needs to be explored further. The ambiguous ending is very purposeful and to try to provide answers would be a big mistake.
Should Have A Sequel: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Meryl Streep in a Wes Anderson film is a bit of dream casting. Even though we don’t get to actually see Streep in the movie, she is still very effective. Fantastic Mr. Fox is Anderson’s first foray into stop-motion animation, in the tale of a wily fox who is torn between his family and his fight against local farmers.
The story is based on a story by Roald Dahl, and while the source material doesn’t have a sequel, it seems like there is more fun to be had with this cast of furry characters. Anderson has yet to make a sequel to any of his films, but if there is one that could be revisited, it’s this one.
No Sequel: Adaptation.
Few collaborators have produced such mind-bending and bizarre work as director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman. Their first film together was the wild Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. is equally as unique and brilliant. Based on Kaufman’s own attempt to adapt a best-selling novel, the film is about a screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman trying to adapt a novel but accidentally writes a movie about himself. Streep plays the author of the novel in question.
While Kaufman could probably have some meta fun with the idea of writing a sequel to this story, it sort of feels like the magic would be gone. Part of the joy of the film was watching the puzzle come together, and after it’s assembled it feels right to walk away.
Should Have A Sequel: The Post
The Post is the kind of movie that just seemed destined to sweep the Oscars. It’s the true story of The Washington Post’s dealing with the Pentagon Papers, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in a movie directed by Steven Spielberg. Streep played the Post’s publisher Katharine Graham, who faced difficult political pressure when it came to publishing the documents.
The movie ends with a hint at the further political history with the Watergate scandal on the horizon. While that story has been told numerous times on film, it would be interesting to see this group of Hollywood legends tell their version.
No Sequel: The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is one of Streep’s very first film roles; the first film for which she was nominated for an Oscar. The film also stars Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, in the harrowing tale of childhood friends who go to fight in Vietnam, experience the horrors of war and how they cope back home.
There is certainly a story to be told about how veterans suffer from their experiences many years later. It would also be great to see Streep and De Niro share the screen again. Howeverm this story seemed to have a definitive end that worked beautifully.
Should Have A Sequel: The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada is one of Streep’s most popular films, and a great display of how wonderful she can be when playing an extremely ruthless person. The film stars Anne Hathaway as a young professional who gets a job as a personal assistant to a world-renowned fashion designer, Miranda Priestly (played by Streep). Miranda proves to be a nightmare of a boss, making impossible demands and making her employees jump through hoops.
Streep obviously had a ball with the role, which has become one of her most iconic parts. It’s actually quite surprising there hasn’t been a sequel yet, as audiences would surely jump at the chance to see her play Miranda again.
No Sequel: Kramer Vs Kramer
Kramer vs Kramer is another of Streep’s earlier roles; one that made Hollywood really take notice of her talents. The story follows a man whose wife leaves him, forcing him to raise their young boy on his own. When his wife (played by Streep) wants to reunite with her son, the two parents must fight for custody.
Streep’s role is relatively small compared to co-star Dustin Hoffman, but she is incredibly impactful. Though it would be interesting to see a film more from her perspective, with all this time that has passed, it’s hard to imagine how that story would be told.
Should Have A Sequel: The River Wild
Few people would name The River Wild as one of Streep’s greatest cinematic achievements, but it is a fun adventure film that lets Streep show another side of herself. She stars as a former river guide who comes across a band of criminals, led by Kevin Bacon, while on a camping trip with her family. The family is taken hostage and Streep is forced to guide the villains down the treacherous river.
The movie isn’t screaming for a sequel to address unanswered questions, but to see Streep play the action hero again. If Liam Neeson and Sylvester Stallone can get away with it, why not her? Streep also managed to elevate the formulaic material with her performance and could surely do the same with a sequel.
No Sequel: Sophie’s Choice
Few films are as gut-wrenching as Sophie’s Choice. Based on a novel of the same name, Streep stars as a Polish immigrant living in New York, where she meets an aspiring writer. As she grows closer to the young writer, she tells him more about her tragic past and her time spent in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Ultimately, she recounts a horrible story that has haunted her for years.
The film is not an easy one to watch and there is really nowhere a sequel could take the story. It comes to a heartbreaking end which feels very inevitable.
