All 3 Movies In Pablo Larrain’s 20th Century Women Biopic Trilogy, Ranked

Over the course of eight years, director Pablo Larraín has released three movies centered on important women from the 20th century, and following the premiere of his 2024 film, Maria, now is as good a time as any to compare the films. Even before the start of this trilogy, Larraín was no stranger to historical films. As early as 2010, the director helmed films that focused on significant historical eras, particularly in his home country of Chile. Just before he began his 20th century women trilogy, Larraín directed a biopic about Pablo Neruda. Thus, the filmmaker has a specific niche.

In chronological order, Larraín directed Jackie in 2016, Spencer in 2021, and Maria in 2024. As previously mentioned, each of these films focuses on a beloved woman from the 20th century who made an impact on history. Notably, there are many places in which these movies intertwine and diverge. For example, Jackie Kennedy and Diana Spencer are both adjacent to politics, whereas Maria Callas was simply an opera singer. On the other hand, all three women suffered from massive public tragedies at different points in their lives. Ultimately, Larraín’s trilogy is incredibly effective, and deserves to be analyzed further.

3

Maria (2024)

The Final Days Of Maria Callas

None of Larraín’s 20th century women movies are bad by any means, but the weakest is arguably Maria. Released in 2024, this movie follows Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers in the world, as she flees to Paris in 1977 and spends her final days of life reflecting. Although Callas was a brilliant performer, her voice began to decline much earlier than it should have, effectively ending her career at the age of 40. All the praise Callas received as a young woman suddenly dimmed, making her premature death at the age of 53 all the more tragic.

At this time, Maria has garnered a Certified Fresh 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, followed by a 66% audience score. Among Larraín’s three biopics, these are unfortunately the lowest scores. Regardless, Maria has seen significant praise, with critics applauding Angelina Jolie for her powerful performance as Callas and Larraín’s captivating atmosphere. Many feel that Maria is an important introduction to Callas as a figure, and more than that, takes a unique approach to telling her story. It is true that Maria’s focus on Callas’ last days makes it stand apart from more traditional biopics.

Unfortunately, the greatest strength of Maria may also be its biggest downfall. By narrowing in on Callas’ final days, Larraín offers a perspective that is fresh and different from what audiences would expect. Yet, this viewpoint also pushes audiences away from the full story of Callas. Maria fails to capture all the juicy details of Callas’ life, which is somewhat disappointing. Viewers may leave the movie feeling emotionally moved, but they may still be in the dark about who Callas truly was. This does not make or break Maria, but it does set the movie below Larraín’s other biopics.

2

Spencer (2021)

A Difficult Holiday With Diana Spencer

The second best of Larraín’s 20th century women trilogy is Spencer. This 2021 movie follows Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales during Christmas of 1991. Over the course of a few days, Diana is racked with pain and unease due to her husband Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. On top of that, Diana struggles with her royal duties and the sense that her peers are against her. In just a short amount of time, Spencer encapsulates the very public struggle of Diana, both due to her failing marriage and her responsibilities as a member of the royal family.

Similar to Maria, Spencer showcases split scores among critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Where critics gave the movie a Certified Fresh 83%, audiences ranked it much lower, at 52%. In terms of positive reviews, Spencer received admiration for its ability to bring Diana to life and make her very specific situation feel incredibly relatable. Once again, lead actress Kristen Stewart also earned heaps of compliments for fully embodying the beloved Princess of Wales. Unlike many biopics, Spencer is not afraid to experiment with abstract elements, and turns Diana’s tragedy into a stunning fable of resilience.

Spencer is another example of Larraín’s filmmaking landing with some and missing the target for others. While many viewers enjoyed Spencer’s stranger, fantastical moments, others were put off by them, and found the movie to be absurdist and over-the-top. Furthermore, audiences did not connect with the movie nearly as much as critics did. Strangely, many viewers found Stewart’s portrayal of Diana to be incredibly lacking, even verging on bad, whereas many critics deemed it the best portrayal of Diana yet. The metaphors and symbolism were also a problem for audiences. Thus, Spencer is Larraín’s most controversial project of the trilogy.

1

Jackie (2016)

Jacqueline Kennedy’s Life After JFK’s Death

Finally, the best of Larraín’s 20th century women biopics is Jackie. In this film, audiences see Jacqueline Kennedy in the week after the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy. In particular, the movie follows Jackie as she completes an interview at her home in Hyannis Port and deals with the horrific grief from the public loss of her husband. In typical Larraín fashion, Jackie pulls no punches when it comes to the vulnerability of his main character. Jackie is portrayed as sad, depressed, and grieving, but is also incredibly strong and in control of her own narrative.

Jackie was the most popular among critics and audiences, earning a Certified Fresh 88% critics score and a 60% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While Larraín’s entire trilogy aims to depict these iconic women in a more truthful light, Jackie arguably does this best. Larraín does not shy away from portraying Jackie’s more problematic qualities, and her inner turmoil is shown as more than just a public scandal. The grief Jackie carries is universal, and her reactions speak to countless viewers. Of course, this performance could not have been done without Natalie Portman, who brings grace and honor to Jackie.

Of course, Jackie is not a perfect movie, and the film’s audience score reflects that. Many viewers were disappointed by the film because of its slow pace. Arguably, this movie is not for everyone. Historical epics, even those that take place over a short amount of time, may not resonate with every viewer who comes across them. However, Jackie, Spencer, and Maria are certainly worth watching for those who want to learn more about great 20th century women. The performances are riveting, the stories are heartbreaking, and Pablo Larraín’s direction will keep interested viewers engaged until the very end.