Audrey Hepburn is an incredibly famous actress, primarily known for her work in the 1950s–1960s. Her filmography is a goldmine if you’re looking for those “classic” Hollywood romantic comedies. But there are also enjoyable movies of other genres to be found in her work as well. This year, I’ve gotten deep into her movies, and today I’d like to share my opinions on not all, but many of her most famous films!
(Warning: many spoilers)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Roman Holiday was the movie that really brought Audrey into the mainstream, and to this day, I believe it’s one of her best. It follows her playing a princess who is sick of her royal responsibilities and, while on a tour, runs away temporarily to experience freedom while spending time in the city of Rome. She also finds a love interest along the way. Audrey won many awards for her performance, and I believe that’s very well deserved. It’s an absolutely magical film and classic love story. Personally, I love traveling and watching travel content, so it’s no wonder that I also love movies centered around that. This movie does, however, end on a sad note when the love interests find they cannot be together because of their difference in status and duties. Personally, I appreciate the added layers that the melancholy brings. With so many classic movies being somewhat cliché, I appreciate the slight change in pace this movie goes for.
There’s not necessarily much to say—it’s just a good time! After watching this movie, I now want to go to Rome!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) 
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is definitely Audrey’s most famous movie, and it’s incredibly iconic. Despite its popularity, I knew very little about this film before watching it and left surprised at what it was actually about. Then again, maybe I was the fool for assuming the movie took place in a breakfast diner. The movie follows Audrey Hepburn as a New York playgirl trying to marry a Brazilian millionaire, but she ends up finding something special with her new neighbor in her apartment building while also dealing with her tough past with her family. However, I think I have a somewhat unpopular opinion: although I do like this movie, I don’t like it as much as some other people do. I think it can be a bit lackluster at times in the way that I still kind of don’t know what the point of it all was, and I wish she didn’t end up with Paul—he’s not very likable in my opinion (especially when he said, “You belong to me.” Like what???).
But by far the worst thing about this movie is the horrible anti-Asian (specifically anti-Japanese) “jokes,” which are not funny at all. I feel it would be wrong for me to not mention that, as it certainly sours the watching experience. The multiple brief scenes come at you like a jumpscare in a horror movie—except instead of a serial killer, it’s racism.
Despite that, the movie is a nice watch, and Audrey’s character is fun and, I find, very relatable. This is also another movie with a lot of great fashion that I enjoy. Audrey singing “Moon River” lives rent-free in my mind purely because of how beautiful it was. I still find myself laughing at how the two main characters went into Tiffany & Co. with only $10. I was very upset when she left her cat out in the rain at the end, but at least it made for a very iconic scene when she went back to get it.
I think perhaps a re-watch would give me a clearer and better impression of this movie. But for now, I still see it as a worthwhile recommendation.
Funny Face (1957) 
Funny Face is a musical movie based on a 1927 Broadway production of the same name. It portrays a simple story where a classic book-loving girl leaves the comfort of her bookstore job and becomes a world-famous model, along the way finding a love interest in the photographer who discovered her. For the negatives, I find the movie is quite archetypal and predictable in its characters, and the romance feels quite rushed and a bit forced, and I don’t think it was necessary to tell a good story. However, I find that the former doesn’t actually bother me; in fact, it makes this movie very charming. I really think this is a great example of a classic story done right!
My favorite thing about this movie has to be the fashion—it’s absolutely spectacular, and Audrey’s elegance is admirable. The musical numbers are very enjoyable as well. There’s also something about the cinematography that’s so aesthetic and pleasant to me. The most ridiculous thing, though, is them trying to convince us that Audrey Hepburn, of all people, has a “funny face.” C’mon now.
For whatever shortcomings it may have, Funny Face is a very enjoyable and worthwhile watch.
Sabrina (1954) 
Sabrina is personally one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies, though I think it may be the kind of film that’s not for everyone. It primarily has to do with a love triangle with two brothers, where Audrey spends her life pining after one brother, only to find the other brother is who she was meant to be with all along. I can understand people not liking the clichés, but I personally found it quite sweet. There’s a part of me that does find the relationships and age gaps a bit weird, and that feeling is hard to completely shake off, yet it still found the movie charming. The fashion is also quite wonderful and might be one of the most well-known things about the movie.
Honestly, the reason I love this movie has very little to do with any of the men in it—I’m enamored by Audrey here! She’s absolutely wonderful, and I enjoy watching her every time she’s on screen. I find it a comfort movie more than anything else. This movie has black-and-white cinematography, amazing fashion, and aesthetic French quotes from Audrey Hepburn—what more could you want?
Charade (1963) 
Charade is a thriller murder mystery movie that I found intriguing and also slightly confusing at times. I think this movie is a nice change of pace in Audrey’s filmography. It follows Audrey’s character as she discovers her husband has been murdered and comes to realize he was not who he said he was. As a result, she has to deal with multiple people after her life and money, which she doesn’t have. I thought it was very entertaining and kept me on my toes. However, and this might be an unpopular opinion: although I love the movie, it sometimes felt like they were just going back and forth—“Oh, I’m this. Oh actually I’m that. But I’m actually this. But no, I’m not”—to the point it felt a little disorienting and a tad annoying by the end. But that may just be a personal gripe of mine. Different people may feel differently. I don’t have much to say since it’s been a while since I’ve watched this, but it’s certainly a good time that provides a different flavor among Audrey’s work.
The Nun’s Story (1959)
This is the Audrey Hepburn movie I’ve most recently watched, and I believe this was one of the best performances in her career, with a very restrained and authentic portrayal with impeccable facial acting. It follows Audrey’s character’s journey of being a nun, from her beginning to her eventual decision to leave. Although I’m not religious myself, I found myself deeply respecting and finding beauty in the faith and sacrifice depicted in this movie. It also seems that this film deeply impacted Audrey herself, who, after filming in the Congo, went on in her later life to become a UNESCO ambassador and dedicate much of herself to humanitarian aid causes. My only complaint is that it’s a bit lengthy and slow at times. Regardless, I think this is a great movie to watch if you want to get out of your comfort zone a little bit. This movie was beautiful, and I think it’s even more meaningful that it was part of leading Audrey to make meaningful contributions to the world.
Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
Paris When It Sizzles is quite a flawed but good time. It follows Audrey helping a guy write a movie, and it ends with the two of them essentially having a movie romance themselves. The film jumps between real life and the story they’re writing, and although it’s fun, it can be a bit lackluster. The ending in particular was quite all over the place—it was this chase and costume party, and it was so messy that I’m having a hard time figuring out how to describe it well. I heard someone say in a review that this movie is clever at first but wears thin, and I think that’s a good way of putting it. Overall, it’s a good movie to look at and passively put on. I think the best way of describing it is like very nice wallpaper. There was also this funny line at the end where the male lead said the only things he cares about are “money and good wine,” which made me laugh.
I think this movie is good if you’re just in it for the “old movie Audrey Hepburn aesthetic” of it all. But if you want more to chew on, maybe look at other entries she has to offer. It’s a pleasant watch, yet it stands as one of the weaker additions here, in my opinion.
The Children’s Hour (1961)
This might just be my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie purely based on the impact it had on me. It’s a movie focused on two women (Audrey Hepburn and her co-star Shirley MacLaine) running a school for young girls who get accused of being lesbians, and their entire careers get ruined because of it.
I watched this on the first day of Pride Month this year, and since it’s an old movie, I had low expectations for the message it would portray, but I came out of this movie surprised by what it actually is. The movie does a great job at showing the humanity and hurt that the main characters experience, and it ends with Martha (Audrey’s co-star) committing suicide because she found it unbearable to continue living while not being allowed to live peacefully as her true self.
I can’t help but think about what life was—and still can be—for the LGBTQ+ community. I think this movie was especially important for its time, as I think in the end the purpose was to show that gay people are, in fact, people, and they are worthy of love and respect the same as anyone else. This is perhaps the most meaningful and heartbreaking of all the movies Audrey has been in, and I respect her greatly for doing this in a much more difficult time period. Some have said that the movie itself can be a bit slow and dull at times, and although I agree, I can’t find myself to care. The ending physically hurt me to the point I had to stare at a wall for 10 minutes after watching it. For that alone, I can’t help but appreciate this movie more than her others. 
