One of my ultimate comfort movies from when I was little was 13 Continue 30, and the star of that film, Jennifer Garner, went on to have quite the career after her appearance in the beloved film (although she was already well-known in the industry before), and her famous appearance in the the film still stands today.
From his appearances on shows such as Congratulations to his great roles in other films, such as Love, Simon, we’ve got the best Jennifer Garner movies and TV shows streaming, and you should check it out.
Bliss (1998)
This popular show about college students had Garner on it for a few guest spots. Congratulations tells the story of a young woman who follows her crush from high school through college, but when things don’t go exactly the way she expected, it’s up to her to live her best life.
Jennifer Garner wasn’t on the show very often, but her role as Hannah Bibb was featured in some of the show’s best episodes and an important character from Noel Crane’s past. Congratulations, in general, is such a good series that everyone should watch if they like school-oriented showsand the cast is great too.
Stream Felicity on Hulu.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
In one of best leonardo dicaprio movies, Catch Me If You Can tells the story of a game of cat and mouse between an outlaw who uses false identities to earn money and live from day to day, and the agent who constantly pursues him.
Jennifer Garner didn’t last long in the film, but her scene with DiCaprio is one of the few in the film that I remember vividly. She plays a call girl who has a fun night out with DiCaprio’s character, and I wish she was in the movie longer, because I really liked her interactions with him. But, I guess he ends up with someone else, that’s fine too.
Rent Catch Me If You Can on Amazon.
13 Carry On 30 (2004)
In this hilarious romantic comedy, 13 Continue 30 tells the story of a young girl who wants her life to be different, in particular to be thirty, flirt and fulfill herself. This wish eventually comes true, as she wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old woman, realizing that this is her future self.
Like I said in the intro, I’ve always loved this movie. There’s something so sweet about it and Jennifer Garner as the lead was the perfect choice, as she acts perfectly like a thirteen year old stuck in the body of a thirty year old. She and Mark Ruffalo are also couple goals. If you want 13 In progress 30, Make sure you watch other movies who resemble him in many ways.
Stream 13 Going on 30 on HBO Max.
Rent 13 Going on 30 on Amazon.
Juno (2007)
In this coming-of-age movie, Juno tells the story of a young woman who wants to experience sex, so she ends up involving her best friend. She becomes pregnant and now has to deal with the repercussions.
Jennifer Garner portrayed Vanessa, the potential adoptive mother of Juno’s baby, and just watching this movie brings me to tears every time. I know it’s not really meant to, given that the movie is also a comedy, but the way Garner shows the desperation of a woman who just wants to have a child and will do anything to prove she’s worth that tells me a lot. It was an excellent performance from Garner, and one that deserved far more praise than it received.
Stream Juno on Starz.
Rent Juno on Amazon.
Aliases (2001-2006)
If you’re looking for a great spy show, check out A.k.a, where Garner played for several years. This show follows Sidney Bristow, a young woman who has been recruited by the CIA and acts as a double agent. But, when her secret work begins to be exposed to those she loves, her life changes.
A.k.a was such a great show, and Jennifer Garner really got to show off her acting skills in every episode, making Sidney not only a badass character, but a relatable one as well. The totality A.k.a to throw is so talented, but Garner takes the cake as the best of everyone here. The casting actually reunited in 2021 and everyone looked so different – but to be honest I just want one A.k.a to restart.
Stream Alias on Amazon Prime.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
If you’re looking for another fun romantic comedy, Ghosts of a girlfriend’s past is a great one to check out. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, this fun film tells the story of a photographer who is the worst womanizer of them all. When he attends his brother’s funeral, however, he ends up being haunted by the ghosts of all his former girlfriends, taking him on a wild ride.
I’ve always really liked Garner’s portrayal of Jenny Perotti in Ghosts of a girlfriend’s past, one of the few women he really loved, and I think McConaughey and Garner did a wonderful job as a couple that went through hell and back, but in the end, all they want is each other. It’s definitely one of Garner’s best performances in a romantic comedy. The same goes for McConaughey – even though he no longer does romantic comediesI can still look back and appreciate them now.
Stream Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past on Netflix.
Rent Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past on Amazon.
Wakefield (2016)
Then we have the little movie, Wakefield, with Jennifer Garner and Bryan Cranston. In this comedy-drama, a couple going through a midlife crisis ends up going through an even bigger problem when the husband suddenly disappears – but truth be told, he’s not far behind. He’s in the attic, watching them every day.
I know this film is smaller than many of his mainstream films, but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Wakefield. Garner’s performance as Diana Wakefield, which is mostly seen through another character’s eyes, is stellar and deserves more praise. The movie itself is a great commentary on how people imagine things when they’re not close to the truth, and inevitably the real truth will come out.
Stream Wakefield via AMC+ on Amazon Prime.
Rent Wakefield on Apple TV.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
This Oscar-winning film is a must-see. In Dallas Buyers Club, we see the story of Ron Woodroof, a man who works as an electrician and faces one of the biggest battles of his life – being diagnosed with HIV in 1986 – and the story of how his treatment led to the treatments that be used down the line.
Jennifer Garner plays Dr. Eve Saks, the senior doctor who works with AIDS patients and treats Woodroff, and I have to say I think this is one of her best acting performances yet. A reunion of her and McConaughy has long been over the top and seeing them act together is always a breath of fresh air, as their on-screen chemistry is top-notch.
Rent Dallas Buyers Club on Amazon.
Alexander and the terrible, horrible, not good, very bad day (2014)
According to the children’s book of the same name, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not a good, very bad day follows the titular boy, as he has a disastrous day and wonders if maybe bad things are happening to him. But, it turns out that his whole family is having a bad day.
Jennifer Garner plays Alexander’s mother in the film, and I’ve always loved her performance in this film, especially for the relationship she has with her son. It’s one of those movies where you sit down and watch it just to put a smile on your face, because she has some of the best advice for her baby boy. And, the main premise of the movie is that everyone has bad days, so keep your head up. What a beautiful message to send to children.
Stream Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day on Disney+.
Rent Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day on Amazon.
Love, Simon (2018)
then, we have Love, Simon. This romantic comedy is about Simon Spier, a young high school student who hasn’t told anyone he’s gay. However, when he begins to fall for an anonymous guy he met online and someone threatens to expose his sexuality at school as blackmail, everything begins to change.
You just have to love Love, Simon. Jennifer Garner plays Simon’s mother and, Ugh, she’s just the best. Jennifer Garner’s character in this movie is the mother we all need. She accepts, loves, and only wants to be there for her son, and she’s a character we can all adore. Love, Simon was so successful that it ended up getting a big spin-off on Hulu called Love, Victor, which you need to check.
Stream Love, Simon on Hulu.
Rent Love, Simon on Amazon.
Danny Collins (2015)
Last but not least, we have Danny Collins. Starring Al Pacino, this little dramedy tells the story of an old rocker who wants to change his ways after his manager discovers an old letter from John Lennon. Once he reads it, he embarks on a journey to reconnect with his family after several years.
Although it is not the best known film, Danny Collins is a great movie and Jennifer Garner is fantastic in it, playing Samantha, the wife of Danny’s son, Tom. I especially love the moments between Samantha and Danny in the movie, because it’s always hilarious to see a dad trying to connect with his kids’ loved ones. If you haven’t seen the movie, be sure to watch it now.
Stream Danny Collins on HBO Max.
Rent Danny Collins on Amazon.
Jennifer Garner is such a force in Hollywood and I’m sure in time she will only become more and more successful and come out with even bigger projects. Until then, you can rewatch some of his best roles.
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