A Summation of Sandra Bullock’s Iconic Career
Sandra Bullock is a well-known actress and film producer who has been in many famous movies. In 2010 and 2014, she was the world’s highest-paid actress, showing just how successful she has become. Bullock is renowned for her roles in movies like The Blind Side, The Proposal, and Ocean’s 8, among many others. Her acting skills have earned her several major awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. In 2010, Time magazine even named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Sandra Bullock also founded her own production company, Fortis Films, where she has produced and starred in several of her projects. Additionally, she contributed to the ABC sitcom George Lopez. With everything she’s accomplished, many might wonder which films were key to her rise in Hollywood. This list will highlight some movies that helped shape her successful career.
10. ‘Two Weeks Notice’ (2002)
This film stars Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant as the main characters. Sandra Bullock plays Lucy Kelson, a dedicated, intelligent, and liberal lawyer who goes to work for a billionaire developer, George Wade (Hugh Grant), who is known for being a narcissist and a playboy towards women. Although they clash at first, the two gradually develop an unexpected connection. But when Lucy puts in her two weeks’ notice and finds a replacement named June Carver (Alicia Witt), she soon gets jealous as she sees June do things she would normally do for George.
The movie was directed by Marc Lawrence and produced by Sandra Bullock. When it came to making the film, the movie received a budget of $60 million and ended up making $199 million at the box office worldwide. It was even in the top 10 during the first five weeks at the box office. While it did receive a lot of money, this is one of Sandra’s movies that received mixed reviews from critics.
Watch Two Weeks Notice on YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video now!
9. ‘The Proposal’ (2009)
The Proposal is a romantic comedy that stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds as the main characters, including Betty White, who plays a supporting character. Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a Canadian editor-in-chief who finds herself in hot water when she learns that she could face deportation from the U.S. when her visa renewal application was denied. In fear that she may face deportation or lose her position as editor-in-chief, she goes to her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), to be her temporary fiance.
This film earned Bullock a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. It also became a box-office success by grossing over $317 million worldwide while having a budget of $40 million. While the film blew up at the box office, the movie received mixed reviews from critics, explaining that while the duo between Bullock and Reynolds did a fantastic job working together, the screenplay could have been structured better.
Watch The Proposal on Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
8. ‘Miss Congeniality’ (2000)
Meet the tough, tomboy agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock), who the FBI recruits to go undercover as a contestant in the Miss United States pageant to prevent a terrorist bombing. Miss Congeniality is an action comedy film produced by Bullock, where she plays the lead role. With a budget of $45 million, the film grossed over $212 million worldwide during its release over Christmas weekend.
The film received mixed or average reviews from critics and earned Bullock another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. It was also the fifth highest-grossing film in North America during its opening weekend and climbed to third place the following week. A sequel, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, was released in 2005 but did not perform as well as the original. It only grossed $101 million worldwide and received negative reviews from critics.
Watch Miss Congeniality on YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video now!
Watch Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous on YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video now!
7. ‘A Time to Kill’ (1996)
Based on John Grisham’s 1989 novel of the same name, A Time to Kill follows Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), who is the father to a 10-year-old girl who two white males attack. After shooting both men, he finds himself getting in trouble with the law and now must turn to an untested lawyer, Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), and his assistant, Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock). It is also the second of two films based on Grisham’s novels, with the first being The Client, which came out two years prior.
While Bullock is not the main focus in this movie, she plays a major role and performs strongly. It received mixed reviews but was successful, making $152 million worldwide and number one in the box office during the first two weeks it was released.
Watch A Time to Kill on Paramount+, YouTube, Hulu, FuboTV, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
6. ‘Crash’ (2005)
Crash is a crime drama film with an ensemble cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, and others. The movie weaves together several interrelated stories, all centered around racial and social tensions in Los Angeles. Director Paul Haggis drew inspiration for the film from his personal experience of being carjacked. Despite facing tough competition, Crash won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2005, beating Brokeback Mountain.
While the film garnered positive reviews, it also faced criticism for presenting race relations in a manner some found overly simplistic and unsubtle. Made on a modest $6.5 million budget, the film went on to gross $98.4 million worldwide at the box office.
For Sandra Bullock, Crash provided an opportunity to showcase her dramatic talent. Her powerful performance contributed to the film’s success and earned her a Screen Actors Guild Ensemble Award, which was her first one to win.
Watch Crash on CW, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
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5. ‘The Blind Side’ (2009)
Based on Michael Lewis’s book and inspired by a true story, the film tells the journey of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless black teenager who has struggled in and out of the school system for years. With the support of Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her husband, Sean (Tim McGraw), Michael is taken in by the Tuohy family, who help him unlock his full potential both academically and athletically, ultimately leading him to join the high school football team.
The film became a commercial success, grossing $309 million on a modest $29 million budget. Despite receiving mixed reviews, Sandra Bullock’s performance was widely praised, and her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
Watch The Blind Side on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
4. ‘While You Were Sleeping’ (1995)
While You Were Sleeping may not be a film that everyone immediately remembers, but it was one of Sandra Bullock’s biggest critical and commercial successes. Bullock stars as Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, a lonely transit worker who saves the life of Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher) after he is pushed onto the train tracks. As Peter remains in a coma, Lucy becomes entangled in his life, only to fall in love with his brother, Jack (Bill Pullman).
The film was a critical and box office success, grossing over $182 million on a $17 million budget. It was the 13th-highest-grossing film of 1995 in the United States. Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman received praise for their performances, and Bullock earned her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. At first, Demi Moore and Julia Roberts were offered the role of Lucy Moderatz, but they both turned it down.
Watch While You Were Sleeping on Disney+, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
3. ‘The Heat’ (2013)
In this buddy cop action-comedy, The Heat brings together an unlikely duo in Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. The film follows FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Bullock), known for her exceptional skills but also her arrogance, and Shannon Mullins (McCarthy), a fiery, foul-mouthed detective. Despite their clashing personalities, the two must team up to take down a drug lord. Although they initially don’t get along, their partnership gradually evolves into a friendship as they work together.
The Heat allowed audiences to see Bullock step out of her usual roles and match McCarthy’s gritty, comedic style. The film received mixed to mostly positive reviews and grossed $229 million worldwide on a $43 million budget. It earned $39.1 million on its opening weekend, placing second behind Monsters University. The chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy captivated audiences, making the film a standout.
Watch The Heat on Hulu, Disney+, Sling TV, YouTube TV, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and FXNOW now!
2. ‘Speed’ (1994)
Although Sandra Bullock had already appeared in 10 films before this one, Speed is the movie that truly showcases her talent and establishes her as an incredible actress. This action-thriller stars Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, and Dennis Hopper in the lead roles. The plot centers around Howard Payne (Hopper), a vengeful extortionist who rigs a bus to explode if its speed drops below 50 mph. LAPD officer Jack Traven (Reeves) is tasked with preventing the catastrophe and rescuing the passengers trapped aboard. A regular passenger, Annie Porter (Bullock) is thrust into the chaos, helping Jack find a way to stop the bus without triggering the deadly explosion.
Speed received positive reviews and was a commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide on a $30–37 million budget. It became the fifth-highest-grossing film of 1994. However, three years later, a sequel was released, which failed to live up to the original and was widely considered one of the worst sequels and action films ever made.
Watch Speed on Starz, YouTube, Hulu, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Philo, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
1. ‘Gravity’ (2013)
Of all Sandra Bullock’s performances, Gravity stands out as one of her best and is also the highest-grossing film of her career. In this movie, Bullock portrays Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer, on her first shuttle mission, joined by veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (played by George Clooney). Their mission takes a disastrous turn when their shuttle is destroyed, leaving most of the crew dead. Only Stone and Kowalsky survive; together, they must figure out how to contact Earth or find an alternative way to return home.
In the first half of Gravity, audiences witness the dynamic teamwork between Bullock and Clooney, delivering stellar performances. In the second half, the focus shifts entirely to Bullock, and she keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with a gripping performance. The film became the eighth-highest-grossing movie of the year, earning over $723 million worldwide on a $100 million budget.
Watch Gravity on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home now!
Gravity (2013) Official Warner Bros. Pictures Trailer
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Janaye is a graduate student at Rowan University, pursuing a degree in Writing Arts. She previously earned her bachelor's degree in the same field, specializing in creative writing and public publishing.
I am an aspiring author living and working out of Honolulu, Hawaii. I received my bachelor's degree in Art History at Westmont College and then pursued a master's in Museum Studies at the University of Hawaii. I am currently working on a few novels, and am thankful for the opportunity to expand my creative writing voice at Dead Talk Live.