Denise Richards’ 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Denise Richards movies and TV shows prove that that the 90’s model-turned-actress transcended look-based typcasting. Born in 1971 in Illinois, Denise Richards broke into Hollywood with a mix of charm, confidence, and that unforgettable megawatt smile. Whether she’s lighting up a campy teen flick or commanding the screen as a Bond girl, Richards brings undeniable charisma to every role. She made her big-screen breakthrough with Starship Troopers in 1997 and became a pop culture icon with hits like Wild Things and The World Is Not Enough, and her fans have been hooked ever since.

Denise Richards has never been afraid to go big, bold, or offbeat. That’s part of what makes her so magnetic. Her roles range from dark comedies to romantic dramas, sci-fi action to espionage thrillers, and she always finds a way to steal the scene. Whether she’s playing the girl next door, a cunning seductress, or an undercover agent with a hilarious twist, Richards brings a unique spark to every project. The best Denise Richards movies and TV shows include several cult classics and blockbuster hits, with each role being truly unique.

10

Love, Actually (2003)

Denise Richards Plays Carla

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Love Actually

R

Comedy

Drama

Holiday

Romance

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8/10

18

7.7/10

Release Date

November 14, 2003

Runtime

135 minutes

Director

Richard Curtis

Writers

Richard Curtis

Cast

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Richard Curtis’s Love, Actually is a beloved 2003 holiday rom-com that juggles multiple interwoven storylines about love, heartbreak, and awkward airport reunions. With its massive ensemble cast and heartwarming finale, the British movie has become a Christmas classic and a comfort watch for millions every year. Denise Richards pops up in the film’s final moments as Carla, who makes a surprise appearance in the story of Colin, the British guy who flies to the U.S. hoping to woo American women with his accent.

It’s a short but memorable role, and Richards brings the perfect amount of warmth, sparkle, and comedic timing to the scene. Her cameo is small but significant, helping cap off one of the movie’s more lighthearted storylines with a wink and a smile. Though it’s not a leading role, her appearance in Love, Actually showed that Richards could drop into an A-list ensemble and still make an impression. Between the star-studded cast – Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, and more – and Richards’s delightful final-scene energy, it’s easy to see why this moment stands out.

9

Valentine (2001)

Denise Richards Plays Paige Prescott

Denise Richards in Valentine

Directed by Jamie Blanks, Valentine is a glossy, early-2000s slasher that brings a dash of high-fashion horror to the genre. The 2001 movie follows a group of women who begin receiving creepy Valentine’s Day cards before being stalked by a masked killer seeking revenge. With a sleek aesthetic and eerie tone, Valentine leans hard into the era’s love for sexy thrillers and stylish murder mysteries. In Valentine, Denise Richards plays Paige Prescott, the fierce and flirty one of the friend group who’s unbothered, unapologetic, and always up for a good time – until things get deadly.

Denise Richards is effortlessly fun to watch as a slasher horror character, bringing both humor and edge to the role. Her performance adds an extra layer of sass to the film, and she’s part of one of the movie’s most unforgettable (and terrifying) scenes involving a hot tub. While Valentine wasn’t a massive hit when it came out, it’s since become a cult favorite among slasher fans, and Richards is a big part of that. Her performance is classic early-2000s scream queen energy, cementing Valentine as one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows.

8

Tammy And The T-Rex (1994)

Denise Richards Plays Tammy

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tammy and the t-rex

PG-13

Science Fiction

Horror

Romance

Release Date

December 28, 1994

Runtime

82 minutes

Director

Stewart Raffill

Writers

Gary Brockette

Producers

Diane Kirman

Cast

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    Denise Richards

    Tammy

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    Billy

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    Bobby

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If you’re looking for Denise Richards at her most outrageous and gleefully over-the-top, Tammy and the T-Rex is the ultimate ride. Directed by Stewart Raffill, this 1994 sci-fi comedy is bombastic in the best way: a teen romance that involves brain transplants, mad scientists, and a dinosaur boyfriend. It’s so wild that it went from forgotten VHS fare to cult classic gold thanks to its sheer ridiculousness. Denise Richards stars as Tammy, a cheerleader who finds herself heartbroken when her boyfriend is mauled by a lion and then has his brain implanted into a robotic T-Rex. Yes, really.

Denise Richards gives the kind of committed, big-hearted performance that makes the absurd premise of Tammy and the T-Rex work. She plays it straight, which makes everything around her even funnier. Whether she’s tearfully whispering to an animatronic dinosaur or dancing at a school party, she treats Tammy’s emotions with sincerity – and that’s exactly why the film works as well as it does. She stars opposite Paul Walker in one of his earliest roles, and the two have an unexpectedly sweet chemistry. Tammy and the T-Rex isn’t just a wild cult watch, it’s a showcase for Richards’ willingness to embrace the weird roles in movies full of chaotic joy.

7

Empire (2002)

Denise Richards Plays Trish

Denise Richards in Empire

Empire

R

Crime

Action

Drama

Release Date

December 6, 2002

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

Franc. Reyes

Writers

Franc. Reyes

Producers

Daniel Bigel

Cast

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    Jack

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    Denise Richards

    Trish

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    Vincent Laresca

    Jimmy

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In the gritty 2002 crime drama Empire, directed by Franc. Reyes, Denise Richards trades in her usual glam roles for something darker and more intense. The movie stars John Leguizamo as Victor Rosa, a successful drug dealer looking to go legit through a shady Wall Street investment, and Richards plays a key part in the downfall that follows. It’s a slick, streetwise thriller that blends gangster grit with white-collar schemes.Denise Richards plays Trish in Empire, a seductive and manipulative figure who’s part of the financial world Victor gets sucked into. Her character is layered, mysterious, and never quite what she seems, which gives Richards plenty to sink her teeth into.

She’s magnetic in every scene she’s in, holding her own alongside a powerful cast that includes Leguizamo, Peter Sarsgaard, and Isabella Rossellini. Empire may not have received massive mainstream attention, but it’s a hidden gem in Denise Richards’s filmography. Her performance shows she can do much more than just play to her looks – in Empire she’s dangerous, smart, and pivotal to the plot. For fans looking to see a different, more dramatic side of her work, Empire earns its place as one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows.

6

Undercover Brother (2002)

Denise Richards Plays Penelope Snow/White She-Devil

Denise Richards in Undercover Brother

Undercover Brother

PG-13

Action

Comedy

Release Date

May 31, 2002

Runtime

86 minutes

Director

Malcolm D. Lee

Writers

John Ridley

Producers

Bill Carraro, Brian Grazer, Damon Lee, Kim Roth, Michael Jenkinson

Cast

  • Headshot Of Chris Kattan

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    Mr. Feather

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    Eddie Griffin

    Undercover Brother

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    Denise Richards

    White She Devil

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    Sistah Girl

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Director Malcolm D. Lee’s Undercover Brother is a satirical spy comedy that skewers stereotypes, secret organizations, and pop culture with nonstop laughs. The 2002 movie stars Eddie Griffin as the titular character, a funky freelance agent recruited by a Black underground spy group to stop “The Man” from dumbing down society, and Denise Richards brings the heat as the seductive double agent trying to stop him. Richards plays Penelope Snow, a.k.a. White She-Devil – a hilariously over-the-top femme fatale who is both the trap and the punchline.

Denise Richards leans fully into the parody of Undercover Brother, delivering every line with deadpan comedy and channeling her inner Bond villain with campy perfection. Her chemistry with Griffin is electric, especially as their characters fake-fall in love (only for her to develop real feelings). Richards is clearly having the time of her life, and it shows. She’s surrounded by comedy pros like Dave Chappelle and Chris Kattan, but she more than holds her own. Undercover Brother became a cult classic, and Richards’s performance is one of its sharpest highlights. For fans of clever comedies and bold performances, this is hands-down one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows.

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5

Tail Lights Fade (1999)

Denise Richards Plays Wendy

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Tail Lights Fade

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Comedy

Action

Drama

Release Date

December 3, 1999

Runtime

87 minutes

Director

Malcolm Ingram

Producers

Christine Haebler

Cast

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    Bruce

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    Angie

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    Wendy

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Tail Lights Fade, directed by Malcolm Ingram, is a gritty 1999 indie road movie that throws romance, comedy, and chaos into the backseat as it careens through a wild ride of love and desperation. Centered around a brother-sister duo trying to recover their dead mother’s body while evading enemies, the movie leans into late ’90s indie charm with a mix of offbeat humor and unexpected heart. Denise Richards joins the cast of Tail Lights Fade as Wendy, the rebellious girlfriend of the protagonist who gets pulled into the madness.

Richards plays Wendy with a mix of vulnerability and attitude, making her more than just a side character and delivering an emotionally grounded performance that keeps the chaos feeling real. While Tail Lights Fade wasn’t a box office smash, it’s got a cult following that appreciates its wild spirit and raw indie vibe. Richards’s role stands out as a rare, grounded performance that proves she can carry dramatic beats even amid the absurd. It’s a quieter gem in her filmography, and easily one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows for fans who want to dig deeper into her underrated work.

4

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Denise Richards Plays Becky

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Drop Dead Gorgeous

PG-13

Comedy

9/10

Release Date

July 23, 1999

Director

Michael Patrick Jann

Writers

Lona Williams

Cast

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A pitch-black comedy wrapped in glitter and tiaras, 1999’s Drop Dead Gorgeous is the kind of satire that only gets better with age. Directed by Michael Patrick Jann, this mockumentary-style cult classic skewers small-town beauty pageants with a razor-sharp script, a jaw-dropping cast, and enough quotable lines to last a lifetime. Denise Richards shines as Becky Leeman, the smug and seemingly perfect pageant princess backed by her terrifyingly ambitious mom (played by Kirstie Alley). With a toothy smile and ice-cold charm, Richards absolutely nails the role of the golden girl who’ll stop at nothing to win.

Richard’s performance in Drop Dead Gorgeous walks the perfect line between over-the-top and unsettlingly real, especially in that unforgettable scene where she performs a patriotic dance with a Jesus mannequin (yes, it’s as wild as it sounds). The movie also features Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, and Amy Adams in her screen debut. Though it didn’t get much love upon release, Drop Dead Gorgeous has become one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows thanks to its biting wit and endlessly quotable moments. Denise Richards’s performance is a highlight in a movie full of scene-stealers, and she owns every glitter-soaked minute.

3

Wild Things (1998)

Denise Richards Plays Kelly Lanier Van Ryan

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Wild Things

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

March 20, 1998

Runtime

108 Minutes

Director

John McNaughton

Writers

Stephen Peters

Cast

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In the late ’90s, Wild Things was impossible to ignore. Directed by John McNaughton, this sultry, twist-packed thriller is dripping in scandal, secrets, and double-crosses – and Denise Richards is at the center of it all. This is the role that turned her into a pop culture phenomenon and solidified her as one of the most daring actresses of her generation. Richards stars as Kelly Van Ryan, a wealthy high school student who accuses a guidance counselor (Matt Dillon) of assault, only for the story to spiral into a mess of lies, manipulation, and shocking alliances.

Kelly Van Ryan is a bold, provocative role, and Richards plays it with fearless conviction. She’s seductive, mysterious, and completely in control, flipping the “innocent teen” trope on its head. Her performance opposite Neve Campbell, Bill Murray, and Kevin Bacon is electric, and the movie’s now-iconic pool scene made headlines for a reason. Wild Things was controversial when it came out, but it’s since been reappraised as a cleverly constructed neo-noir. Richards received major praise for her daring performance, which remains one of her most talked-about roles. There’s no denying it, Wild Things is one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows, and one of the boldest swings of her career.

2

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Denise Richards Plays Dr. Christmas Jones

The World Is Not Enough Film Poster

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The World is Not Enough

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Thriller

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6/10

8/10

Release Date

November 19, 1999

Runtime

128 minutes

Director

Michael Apted

Writers

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Bruce Feirstein, Ian Fleming

Cast

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Being a “Bond girl” has helped launch the careers of many actresses over the decades, and Denise Richards made a big splash in the legendary 007 franchise as nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough. Directed by Michael Apted, this 1999 installment stars Pierce Brosnan as 007 and dives into a story of oil pipelines, global power, and deadly betrayal, with Richards playing one of the most memorable Bond girls of the Brosnan era.

Denise Richards plays Dr. Jones with a mix of brains, beauty, and action-star energy. While she couldn’t avoid her name becoming a punchline, Richards brought a tough, no-nonsense attitude to the role, showing she could handle a machine gun just as well as any spy. She held her own in scenes with Brosnan and Sophie Marceau, giving Bond a partner who wasn’t just there for eye candy. Her performance may have been polarizing, but it’s unforgettable, and undeniably iconic. Love it or laugh with it, The World Is Not Enough still ranks as one of the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows thanks to its sheer Bond-level spectacle and her gutsy performance.

1

Starship Troopers (1997)

Denise Richards Plays Carmen Ibanez

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Starship Troopers

R

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Action

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

6/10

21

7.9/10

Release Date

November 7, 1997

Runtime

129 minutes

Director

Paul Verhoeven

Writers

Edward Neumeier

Sequel(s)

Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, Starship Troopers: Invasion, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars

Cast

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Franchise(s)

Starship Troopers

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Directed by Paul Verhoeven, 1997’s Starship Troopers is a sci-fi action juggernaut disguised as a biting military satire – and it’s the movie that launched Denise Richards into the Hollywood spotlight. With its epic battles, fascist undertones, and giant alien bugs, it’s equal parts thrilling and subversive. And Richards? She soared right alongside the starships. As Carmen Ibanez, Richards plays an ambitious pilot-in-training who rises through the ranks of Earth’s space fleet. Carmen is smart, determined, and fiercely independent, qualities Richards brings to life with strength and charm.

Her chemistry with co-stars Casper Van Dien and Neil Patrick Harris helps ground the story, and she gets to do everything from navigating epic space battles to facing down heartbreak and danger. While the film was divisive on release, it’s now hailed as a cult masterpiece, and Richards’s performance has aged incredibly well, feeling more relevant now than it did in the 1990s. She helped redefine what a sci-fi heroine could look like in the ’90s: smart, capable, and not afraid to take charge. For many fans, Starship Troopers remains the ultimate Denise Richards movie, full stop. With its lasting legacy and thrilling mix of brains and bugs, it earns the top spot among the best Denise Richards movies and TV shows.