Now, we all know that Rachel Brosnahan is set to appear as Lois Lane in Superman, and while she fits perfectly in that role, it makes you wonder if you have seen her before somewhere. Did you know that Rachel landed her first acting role in 2009, while she was still in high school? While most of us remember her for her iconic role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, she has appeared in over 40 films and television titles. If you are fascinated by the new Lois Lane, here are all Rachel Brosnahan’s movies and TV shows you should watch while waiting for Superman.
10. Burn Country (2016)
- Release Date- December 6, 2016
- Cast- Rachel Brosnahan, James Franco, Dominic Rains, Melissa Leo, Tim Kniffin, Thomas Jay Ryan, James Oliver Wheatley, Wendy vanden Heuvel, Gabe Maxson
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 60%/4.7
- Director- Ian Olds
Burn Country might not be the highlight of Rachel Brosnahan’s career, but it does offer a fairly decent story. The film follows Osman, an exiled Afghan journalist trying to build a new life in Northern California, only to get tangled up in the local criminal underworld. Rachel Brosnahan plays Sandra, a local actress who befriends him and offers support as things spiral out of control. While the movie has its moments, it also drags in places and received a pretty mixed response from critics. So, if you’re curious, give it a shot—but don’t expect a masterpiece.
9. Louder Than Bombs (2015)
- Release Date- October 2, 2015
- Cast- Rachel Brosnahan, Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, Isabelle Huppert, Devin Druid, Amy Ryan, David Strathairn, Megan Ketch, Ruby Jerins
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 73%/6.6
- Director- Joachim Trier
While Louder Than Bombs does feature Rachel Brosnahan, she’s not front and center here. The film primarily follows Jesse Eisenberg’s character, Jonah, who returns home to reconnect with his father and younger brother after the passing of their mother, a renowned war photographer. Rachel Brosnahan plays Erin, Jonah’s ex-girlfriend—a character who represents the life he’s trying to leave behind. Their brief yet elaborate interactions highlight Jonah’s emotional distress and his struggle with intimacy, adding much-needed layers to his character.
The film brings in a strong cast and aims to explore grief, memory, and broken relationships. But despite its potential, it doesn’t quite break new ground and ends up treading familiar territory. Still, if you have a soft spot for slow-burning family dramas, this Rachel Brosnahan movie might just be worth your time.
8. Spies in Disguise (2019)
- Release Date- December 27, 2019
- Cast- Will Smith, Tom Holland, Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled, Ben Mendelsohn, Masi Oka, Rachel Brosnahan, Reba McEntire
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 77%/6.8
- Director- Nick Bruno
When we talk about animated movies, Spies in Disguise is easily one of the most underrated ones out there, and honestly, it deserves way more appreciation than it got. The story follows a young, quirky scientist who accidentally turns a top-secret spy into a pigeon—yes, a pigeon—and the two must then work together to stop a dangerous terrorist threat. Rachel Brosnahan lends her voice to Wendy Beckett, the late mother of the young scientist, Walter. Though her screen time is limited, her presence is deeply felt. Wendy was a dedicated police officer who died in the line of duty, and her legacy serves as the emotional core of Walter’s character.
Beyond that, the movie shines with sharp humor, top-notch animation, and the unexpected but fantastic chemistry between Tom Holland and Will Smith. So, if you’re planning a family movie night, this one deserves a spot on your list.
7. House of Cards (2013 – 2018)
- Release Date- February 1, 2013
- Cast- Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Rachel Brosnahan, Molly Parker, Michael Kelly, Dominique McElligott, Kristen Connolly, Corey Stoll, Joel Kinnaman, Mahershala Ali, Neve Campbell, Paul Sparks, Michel Gill, Sebastian Arcelus
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 77%/8.6
- Director- David Fincher, James Foley, Robin Wright, John David Coles, Alik Sakharov, Carl Franklin, Agnieszka Holland
If you are someone who has the entire run of House of Cards under their belt, let me just say that I admire your patience. House of Cards came out in 2013 and quickly became the first-ever hit show to come out of Netflix. This show followed a massive cast, but usually, the lead was taken by Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, and Kate Mara. Also, a fun fact—David Corenswet, the new Superman, also appeared in House of Cards, which was one of his earliest roles.
Rachel Brosnahan appeared in three seasons of the show as Rachel Posner, a troubled young prostitute who gets pulled into the dangerous web of politics through Doug Stamper. Her storyline evolves into one of the more emotionally complex arcs in the show and is considered one of her best performances. House of Cards is still considered one of the best satirical takes on U.S. politics and remains popular with viewers around the world.
6. Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People (2018)
- Release Date- September 1, 2018
- Cast- Adam Driver, Liev Schreiber, Lauren Ambrose, Rachel Brosnahan, Sebastian Stan, Hugh Dancy, Ryan-James Hatanaka, Tim Blake Nelson, Billy Magnussen
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 78%/6.7
- Director- Oren Rudavsky
Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People is a compelling documentary that dives deep into the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential journalists. It explores how Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian immigrant, rose to become a newspaper magnate and used his platform to champion the freedom of the press and give voice to the common people. The film doesn’t feature Rachel Brosnahan on screen as an actress, but she appears as a narrator.
5. Patriots Day (2017)
- Release Date- January 13, 2017
- Cast- Mark Wahlberg, Peter Berg, Kevin Bacon, Alex Wolff, Michelle Monaghan, Melissa Benoist, John Goodman, Rachel Brosnahan, Themo Melikidze
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 80%/7.3
- Director- Peter Berg
Patriots Day takes us back to one of the most tragic real-life events in recent American history—the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. The film stars one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, Mark Wahlberg, as Tommy Saunders, a Boston police officer who becomes a central figure in the investigation. As the manhunt unfolds, Tommy works closely with other officers and victims to piece together the clues and track down those responsible for the attack.
Rachel Brosnahan appears as Jessica Kensky, one of the survivors of the bombing, whose life is forever changed after she loses one of her legs in the explosion. Patriots Day is an intense and engaging watch that keeps you invested in the story.
4. I’m Your Woman (2021)
- Release Date- October 15, 2020
- Cast- Rachel Brosnahan, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Frankie Faison, Bill Heck, Arinze Kene, James McMenamin, Marceline Hugot, Bryant Carroll
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 82%/6.2
- Director- Julia Hart
I’m Your Woman might just be one of the finest movies Rachel Brosnahan has appeared in. Set in the gritty backdrop of the 1970s, the film follows her character, Jean, a housewife whose world is turned upside down when her husband, a thief involved in organized crime, betrays his partners and vanishes without a trace. Left with nothing but a baby and a massive target on her back, Jean is forced to go on the run. If you are into noir-style movies, I bet that this one is going to be one of the best you’ve watched recently, so by all means, give it a shot.
3. The Courier (2020)
- Release Date- March 19, 2021
- Cast- Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley, Keir Hills, Angus Wright, Vladimir Chuprikov
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 85%/7.2
- Director- Dominic Cooke
If spy movies make your senses tickle, I think I’ve got just the film for you. The Courier stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne, a British businessman-turned-unlikely spy who gets tangled in Cold War espionage. Based on true events, the story follows Wynne as he becomes a messenger for MI6, the CIA, and Soviet informant Oleg Penkovsky, trying to prevent nuclear disaster during one of history’s tensest standoffs.
Rachel Brosnahan plays Emily Donovan, a sharp and strategic CIA officer who helps orchestrate the covert operation. If you’ve been missing the gripping tension and atmosphere of classic spy thrillers, The Courier will scratch that itch.
2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)
- Release Date- March 17, 2017
- Cast- Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle, Caroline Aaron, Kevin Pollak, Matilda Szydagis, Joel Johnstone, Nunzio Pascale
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 90%/8.7
- Director- Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino
This is the performance that turned Rachel Brosnahan into an international icon. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel transports us to the late 1950s, where Brosnahan plays Miriam “Midge” Maisel — a seemingly perfect housewife living a picture-perfect life. But when her husband suddenly leaves her, Midge is forced to rebuild her world from scratch. That’s when she discovers her knack for stand-up comedy, and the series follows her wild, witty, and emotionally charged journey through New York’s male-dominated comedy scene.
Brosnahan’s performance is nothing short of electric and bold with incredible finesse. The show itself became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most critically acclaimed series to ever hit Prime Video. If you haven’t seen it yet, seriously, forget whatever else is on your watchlist — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel deserves your full attention.
1. Manhattan (2014-2015)
- Release Date- July 27, 2014
- Cast- Ashley Zukerman, John Benjamin Hickey, Katja Herbers, Rachel Brosnahan, Olivia Williams, Christopher Denham, Michael Chernus, David Harbour, Harry Lloyd
- Rotten Tomatoes/IMDb Rating- 91%/7.7
- Director- Thomas Schlamme, Daniel Attias, Andrew Bernstein, Christopher Misiano, Julie Anne Robinson, Daniel Stern, Michael Uppendahl, Paris Barclay, Simon Cellan Jones, Bill D’Elia, Rosemary Rodriguez, Jennifer Getzinger, Kimberly Peirce.
Before Oppenheimer brought the story of the atomic bomb to the big screen, Manhattan was already exploring the subject in a more fictionalized and character-driven way. Set in the secretive town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, the series follows a group of scientists working on the Manhattan Project, balancing the weight of their mission with the personal toll it takes.
Rachel Brosnahan plays Abby Isaacs, the wife of one of the lead scientists, and her performance is nothing short of magnetic. As a character caught between loyalty, confusion, and curiosity, Abby adds emotional depth to the narrative. Brosnahan completely steals the show in every scene she appears in, making Manhattan a must-watch not just for its historical themes, but for her standout role alone.
