RIP Gena Rowlands: Where to stream the actress' most iconic films

The film world, and world write large, suffered a tremendous loss on August 14. Gena Rowlands, the actress many considered to be one of the finest screen performers of all time, passed away. Variety confirmed that Rowlands died at her home in Indian Wells, California.

It would be silly to attempt a comprehensive list of Rowlands' best performances, or attempt to single one out as the absolute best. She continuously challenged herself, whether it be in independent films directed by her husband, John Cassavetes, or mainstream romances directed by her son, Nick.

Instead, what we have done here is provide a guide, a means to discover some of Gena Rowlands' most iconic performances, or rediscover them in light of her passing. 94 years old is far from tragic, yet Rowlands shined so bright the medium does somehow feel dimmer.

Gloria (1980)

Gloria was released two decades into Gena Rowlands' acting career, and yet, it became her signature role. The premise is simple: gangster's ex-girlfriend goes on the run to protect a child who witnessed a crime, but Rowlands brings so much gravitas and charisma to the table that it feels wholly original.

Gloria, which was directed by John Cassavetes, earned Rowlands her second Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The classic noir film is currently streaming for free on Tubi. It's also available to rent on Amazon Prime.

A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Rowlands' performance in A Woman Under the Influence is one of the greatest ever committed to the screen. She absolutely disappears into the role of the titular woman, who struggles to find parity with her blue-collar husband (close friend and collaborator, Peter Falk).

Rowlands rightfully earned an Oscar nomination for A Woman Under the Influence as well. Whether she should have won remains to be seen, but you can decide for yourself by watching the film on Max.

The Notebook (2004)

Rowlands acolytes will scoff at the inclusion of The Notebook, but it's the actress' most famous release of the 21st century. The bulk of the screen time is reserved for Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, but Rowlands is undeniably effective as a woman suffering from dementia.

The ending (which was bizarrely tweaked by Netflix in 2019) still hits like a freight train after two decades. Rowlands' collaboration with her son, Nick Cassavetes, is not part of any subscription service at the moment, but it is available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Opening Night (1977)

Another Rowlands-Cassavetes collaboration, another barnstormer of a drama. The former plays a famous actress who begins to come undone when she sees the face of an understudy who took her own life years earlier.

Few performers have been able to convey anguish the way that Rowlands did, and Opening Night is a prime showcase for an actress at the peak of her powers. Opening Night is now streaming on Max.

Another Woman (1988)

Gena Rowlands didn't really do light fare, in case that wasn't already clear. She preferred to dive into damaged psyches, and find emotions that the average person tries to bury on a daily basis. Another Woman (1988) gave her an opportunity to do so alongside Mia Farrow.

Another Woman is one of the lesser known Woody Allen films, but both Rowlands and Farrow are superb as a professor and the troubled woman who fascinates her. The Bergman-esque drama is streaming on Amazon Prime.

Night on Earth (1991)

Night on Earth is a curveball, but a delightful one. An anthology drama helmed by Jim Jarmusch, the film chronicles the experiences of different people around the world during various taxi rides. Gena Rowlands headlines the first segment, and she plays a stiff businesswoman who strikes up a bond with her cabbie, played by Winona Ryder.

It's a delight to see the two stars go back and forth, and a reminder that no matter the size of the role, Rowlands made her characters seem larger than life. Night on Earth is available to stream on Max.

And a general rule of thumb: if you stumble upon a Gena Rowlands film in the wild, watch it.