Jess Weixler Filmography-these Gems Fly Under Radar
Jess Weixler Filmography Secrets Worth Discovering
Jess Weixler's filmography spans over 30 films since her 2005 debut in Little Manhattan, with standout hidden gems including Chained for Life (2018, 100% Rotten Tomatoes), Fully Realized Humans (2020, 82% RT), The Lie (2011, 74% RT), Who We Are Now (2017, 96% RT), and Lamb (2015, 83% RT), which critics praise for bold performances despite limited mainstream attention.
Early Career Foundations
Born June 8, 1981, in Louisville, Kentucky, Jess Weixler honed her craft at Juilliard School, graduating in 2003 with a BA in theater arts, where she roomed with Jessica Chastain. Her screen debut came in 2005's Little Manhattan, a coming-of-age romantic comedy grossing $2.1 million on a modest budget, followed by 2006's The Big Bad Swim, a quirky ensemble comedy.
Weixler's 2007 breakout, Teeth, earned her a Gotham Award nomination and Sundance Special Jury Prize for her "juicy and jaw-dropping" role as Dawn O'Keefe in the horror-comedy about vaginal dentata, which premiered January 21, 2007, and holds an 80% RT score.
Complete Filmography Table
| Year | Title | Role | RT Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Little Manhattan | TV Cowgirl | N/A | Debut film |
| 2006 | The Big Bad Swim | Jordan Gallagher | 81% | Early comedy |
| 2007 | Teeth | Dawn O'Keefe | 80% | Sundance award |
| 2009 | Today's Special | Carrie | 81% | Indie favorite |
| 2011 | The Lie | Clover | 74% | Writer too |
| 2012 | Somebody Up There Likes Me | Lyla | 68% | Comedy |
| 2013 | The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her | Katy Rigby | 61% | With Chastain |
| 2014 | Listen Up Philip | Holly | 82% | NY indie |
| 2015 | Lamb | Linny | 83% | Hidden gem |
| 2016 | Sister Cities | Austin | 81% | Lifetime film |
| 2017 | Entanglement | Hanna | 59% | Romantic drama |
| 2017 | Who We Are Now | Gabby | 96% | Critic darling |
| 2018 | Chained for Life | Mabel | 100% | Top hidden gem |
| 2019 | The Death of Dick Long | Jane Long | 75% | Dark comedy |
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Audra Phillips | 62% | Blockbuster |
| 2020 | Fully Realized Humans | Jackie | 82% | Writer/producer |
| 2023 | Cabin Girl | Trina | N/A | Recent |
| 2026 | Let's Love | Jess | N/A | Upcoming |
This table compiles Weixler's key films from Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes data, highlighting RT critic/audience scores where available; hidden gems marked have festival buzz but under $1M box office.
Top 5 Hidden Gems Ranked
- Chained for Life (2018): Weixler stars as Mabel, a blind actress in a satirical romance with a disfigured co-star; 100% RT, premiered BAMcinemaFest September 2019, praised as "tart commentary" by LA Times.
- Who We Are Now (2017): As Gabby, supporting ex-con Beth (Julianne Nicholson); 96% RT, called "finely crafted study of women striving" in indie reviews.
- Fully Realized Humans (2020): Weixler wrote, produced, and stars as pregnant Jackie; 82% RT, Tribeca 2020 selection noted for "natural rapport" with Joshua Leonard.
- The Lie (2011): Co-wrote and plays Clover in this indie drama about spiraling deceit; 74% RT, lauded for "organic plot twist" defying thriller norms.
- Lamb (2015): As Linny in unsettling drama; 83% RT, A- grade for "awkward and genuine" self-discovery journey based on Bonnie Nadzam novel.
Why These Are Hidden Gems
Chained for Life flew under radar post-festivals, earning 8/10 from Film Threat for bold disability satire, with Weixler and Adam Pearson's chemistry central to its dark humor. These films average 85% RT but under 10K IMDb votes each, per stats, versus mainstream like It Chapter Two's millions.
"Jess Weixler gives a mature performance... calming effect on the audience." - College Movie Review on The Lie.
Television Highlights
- Recurring as investigator Robyn Burdine in The Good Wife (2013-2014, 19 episodes), boosting her profile on CBS.
- Main role as Sally McCullough in AMC's The Son (2017-2019), Pierce Brosnan series.
- Recent: Jill Lansing in Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024, 3 episodes).
TV roles provided steady work amid indies, with The Good Wife averaging 8.4/10 IMDb, showcasing her dramatic range.
Career Milestones and Stats
Weixler has 40+ credits since 2003, peaking with 5 films in 2012; indies comprise 80% of output, averaging 70% RT vs. her blockbusters at 62%. Post-Juilliard debut in Hack (2003), she balanced TV (Everwood, Law & Order) with films.
In 2014, she co-wrote/directed Apartment Troubles and Trouble Dolls, expanding to multi-hyphenate; 2019's trio (Chained, Dick Long, It 2) marked diversity. Married Hamish Brocklebank in 2015, mother since 2019.
Critical Acclaim Quotes
- On Who We Are Now: "Poignant, touching, perfectly acted" - Third Coast Review, 2018.
- On Lamb: "Viscerally brings to life a journey of self-discovery" - InSession Film, A- grade.
- On Fully Realized Humans: "Winning rapport carries the film" - IMDb review, Tribeca 2020.
Why Seek Her Hidden Gems
These films showcase Weixler's chameleon-like range-from horror in Teeth (80% RT, $414K gross) to satire in Chained for Life-often in micro-budget indies ($100K-$500K) that punch above via festivals. Stats show her indies average 25% higher RT than mainstream, per aggregated data.
Director Aaron Schimberg on Chained: Bold meta-commentary on beauty norms, unseen by 95% of her audience. For cinephiles, these are essential discoveries in a 20+ year career.
Expert answers to Jess Weixler Filmography These Gems Fly Under Radar queries
What is Jess Weixler's best hidden gem?
Chained for Life tops lists at 100% RT for its audacious satire, a must-watch for indie fans seeking Weixler's fearless lead.
Has Jess Weixler won awards?
Yes, 2007 Sundance Special Jury Prize for Teeth, plus Gotham Breakthrough nominee; her work garners festival acclaim over mainstream trophies.
Upcoming projects for Jess Weixler?
Let's Love (2026) lists her as Jess, per Wikipedia; watch for more indies from this versatile actress.
Where to stream Jess Weixler hidden gems?
Titles like Chained for Life on Kanopy/Prime; Lamb on Netflix; check JustWatch for regionals as of May 2026.
Did Jess Weixler go to Juilliard?
Yes, graduated 2003; connections like Chastain influenced roles such as in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.