Editing Michelle Pfeiffer (section)

==Career==
===Late 1970s and 1980s===
[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer - Studio Portrait (1979).jpg|thumb|upright|Pfeiffer in 1979]]

Pfeiffer made her acting debut in 1978, in a one-episode appearance of ''[[Fantasy Island]]''.<ref name="Egan">{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Tim |author-link=Timothy Egan |date=August 6, 1995 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer, Sensuous to Sensible |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/06/movies/michelle-pfeiffer-sensuous-to-sensible.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm |access-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903235841/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/06/movies/michelle-pfeiffer-sensuous-to-sensible.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm |archive-date=September 3, 2020}}</ref> Other roles on television series followed, including ''[[Delta House]]'', ''[[CHiPs]]'', ''[[Enos (TV series)|Enos]]'' and ''[[B.A.D. Cats]]'', as well as in the made-for-CBS film ''The Solitary Man'' (1979).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dev.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/151595%7C0/Michelle-Pfeiffer#life-events |title=Michelle Pfeiffer Live Events |website=TCM |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128120609/http://dev.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/151595%7C0/Michelle-Pfeiffer#life-events |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pfeiffer transitioned to film with the comedy ''[[The Hollywood Knights]]'' (1980), with [[Tony Danza]], appearing as high school sweethearts. She subsequently played supporting roles in ''[[Falling in Love Again (1980 film)|Falling in Love Again]]'' (1980) with [[Susannah York]] and ''[[Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen]]'' (1981), none of which met with much critical or box office success. She appeared in a television commercial for [[Lux (soap)|Lux soap]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Weekly Review |magazine=Weekly Review |publisher=Weekly Review Ltd |year=1983 |issue=1186 |page=96}}</ref> and took acting lessons at the [[Beverly Hills Playhouse]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhplayhouse.com/michelle-pfeiffer |title=Alumni videos: Beverly Hills Playhouse |website=Beverly Hills Playhouse |access-date=July 10, 2011 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123054900/https://www.bhplayhouse.com/michelle-pfeiffer |url-status=dead }}</ref> before appearing in three 1981 television movies – ''Callie and Son'', with [[Lindsay Wagner]], ''[[The Children Nobody Wanted]]'' and ''[[Splendor in the Grass (1981 film)|Splendor in the Grass]]''.

Pfeiffer obtained her first starring film role as the female lead in ''[[Grease 2]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brantley |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Brantley |date=February 1989 |title=The Enigma Next Door |url=https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1989/2/the-enigma-next-door |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> the sequel to the smash-hit musical film ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]'' (1978).<ref name="thompson"/> With only a few television roles and small film appearances, the 23-year-old Pfeiffer was an unknown actress when she attended the casting call audition for the role, but according to director [[Patricia Birch]], she won the part because she "has a quirky quality you don't expect".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/Bio_013.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118134913/http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/Bio_013.htm|url-status=dead|title=The Genesis of ''Grease 2''|website=pfeiffertheface.com|archive-date=January 18, 2010}}</ref> The film was a critical and commercial failure but Pfeiffer's performance was noted as a standout.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanford |first=James |date=July 5, 2007 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer fans, rejoice: She's this year's comeback kid |url=https://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo_gazette_extra/2007/07/michelle_pfeiffer_fans_rejoice.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406160106/https://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo_gazette_extra/2007/07/michelle_pfeiffer_fans_rejoice.html |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=[[MLive.com]]}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' remarked: "[A]lthough she is a relative screen newcomer, Miss Pfeiffer manages to look much more insouciant and comfortable than anyone else in the cast."<ref>{{cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|author-link=Janet Maslin|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9d02efdb143bf932a25755c0a964948260|title=''Grease 2'' (1982): More Grease|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 11, 1982|access-date=April 25, 2011|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108072705/https://www.nytimes.com/reviews/movies|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite escaping the critical mauling, her agent later admitted that her association with the film meant that "she couldn't get any jobs. Nobody wanted to hire her."<ref name="thompson">{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Douglas |title=Pfeiffer: Beyond the Age of Innocence |publisher=Warner Futura |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-7515-1030-0}}</ref> On her early screen roles, she asserted: "I needed to learn how to act ... in the meantime, I was playing bimbos and cashing in on my looks."<ref name="Egan"/>

Director [[Brian De Palma]], having seen ''Grease 2'', refused to audition Pfeiffer for ''[[Scarface (1983 film)|Scarface]]'' (1983), but relented at the insistence of [[Martin Bregman]], the film's producer. She was cast as cocaine-addicted trophy wife [[Elvira Hancock]].<ref name="talk">{{cite web|title=Michelle Pfeiffer Biography|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/michelle_pfeiffer_biog/4|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926071520/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/michelle_pfeiffer_biog/4|archive-date=September 26, 2008|access-date=October 23, 2008|website=[[TalkTalk Group|Talk Talk]]|publisher=Tiscali UK Limited trading|quote=Michelle, renowned as the most beautiful actress in the world ...}}</ref> The film was considered excessively violent by most critics, but became a commercial hit and gained a large [[cult following]] in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oek-PyR-70UC&q=scarface%20violent&pg=PA162 |title=New forms of consumption: consumers, culture, and commodification |first=Mark |last=Gottdiener |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8476-9570-6 |date=2000}}</ref> Pfeiffer received positive reviews for her supporting turn; [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time Magazine]]'' wrote, "most of the large cast is fine: Michelle Pfeiffer is better ..."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951028-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022232016/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951028-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2007 |title=Say Good Night to the Bad Guy |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|first=Richard |last=Corlis |date=December 5, 1983 |access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> while [[Dominick Dunne]], in an article for ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' titled "Blonde Ambition", wrote, "[s]he is on the verge of stardom. In the parlance of the industry, she is hot."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Vanity Fair |first=Dominick |last=Dunne |title=Blonde Ambition|year=1984|volume=47|number=3 |page=58}}</ref>

[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer 01.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pfeiffer in 1985]]

Following ''Scarface'', she played Diana in [[John Landis]]' comedy ''[[Into the Night (1985 film)|Into the Night]]'' (1985), with [[Jeff Goldblum]]; Isabeau d'Anjou in [[Richard Donner]]'s fantasy film ''[[Ladyhawke (film)|Ladyhawke]]'' (1985), with [[Rutger Hauer]] and [[Matthew Broderick]]; Faith Healy in [[Alan Alda]]'s ''[[Sweet Liberty]]'' (1986), with [[Michael Caine]]; and Brenda Landers in a segment of the 1950s sci-fi parody ''[[Amazon Women on the Moon]]'' (1987), all of which, despite achieving only modest commercial success, helped to establish her as an actress. She finally scored a major box-office hit as Sukie Ridgemont in the 1987 [[The Witches of Eastwick (film)|adaptation]] of [[John Updike]]'s novel ''[[The Witches of Eastwick]]'', with [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Cher]], and [[Susan Sarandon]]. The film received positive reviews and grossed over $63.7&nbsp;million domestically, equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|63.766510|1987|r=0}}}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars,{{inflation-fn|US}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=witchesofeastwick.htm |title=The Witches of Eastwick |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 27, 2011}}.</ref> becoming one of her earliest critical and commercial successes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=All Michelle Pfeiffer Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-michelle-pfeiffer-movies-ranked/|access-date=February 18, 2012|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref><ref name="Marx-2023">{{Cite web |last=Marx |first=Rebecca Flint |title=Michelle Pfeiffer – Biography by Rebecca Flint Marx |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/p56469 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228064103/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/p56469 |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |access-date=August 8, 2021 |website=[[AllMovie]]}}</ref> Praising their comedic timing, [[Roger Ebert]] wrote that Pfeiffer and her female co-stars each "have a delicious good time with their roles",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=June 12, 1987|title=The Witches of Eastwick|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-witches-of-eastwick-1987|access-date=November 19, 2020|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> while the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' film critic [[Sheila Benson]] said Pfeiffer makes her character "a warm, irresistible character."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=Sheila|author-link=Sheila Benson|date=June 12, 1987|title=Movie Review: 'Witches' Curse Goes to the Devil|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-12-ca-4000-story.html|access-date=November 19, 2020|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Pfeiffer was cast against type, as a murdered gangster's widow, in [[Jonathan Demme]]'s [[mafia comedy]] ''[[Married to the Mob]]'' (1988), with [[Matthew Modine]], [[Dean Stockwell]] and [[Mercedes Ruehl]]. For the role of Angela de Marco, she donned a curly brunette wig and a [[Brooklyn]] accent,<ref name="yahoo">{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800016613/bio |title=Michelle Pfeiffer biography |website=Yahoo Movies |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=April 27, 2011}}</ref> and received her first [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination as [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]], beginning a six-year streak of consecutive Best Actress nominations at the Golden Globes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity-awards-and-nominations/michelle-pfeiffer/?ipp=15&startingItem=31 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer – awards and nominations |website=MSN Movies |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923122344/http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity-awards-and-nominations/michelle-pfeiffer/?ipp=15&startingItem=31 |archive-date=September 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29761 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521180439/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29761 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2006 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer |website=Golden Globe Awards |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |access-date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref> Pfeiffer then appeared as chic restaurateuse Jo Ann Vallenari in ''[[Tequila Sunrise (film)|Tequila Sunrise]]'' (1988) with [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Kurt Russell]], but experienced creative and personal differences with director [[Robert Towne]], who later described her as the "most difficult" actress he has ever worked with.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/M_1988_CT.htm |title=Tequila Sunrise: Michelle Pfeiffer |website=Pfeiffertheface.com |access-date=October 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101171617/http://www.pfeiffertheface.com/M_1988_CT.htm |archive-date=November 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At Demme's personal recommendation,<ref name="thompson"/> Pfeiffer joined the cast of [[Stephen Frears]]'s ''[[Dangerous Liaisons]]'' (1988), with [[Glenn Close]] and [[John Malkovich]], playing Madame Marie de Tourvel, the virtuous victim of seduction. Hal Hinson of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' saw Pfeiffer's role as "the least obvious and the most difficult. Nothing is harder to play than virtue, and Pfeiffer is smart enough not to try. Instead, she embodies it. Her porcelain-skinned beauty, in this regard, is a great asset, and the way it's used makes it seem an aspect of her spirituality."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/dangerousliaisonsrhinson_a0a8d4.htm |title=Dangerous Liaisons |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= January 13, 1989 |access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> She won the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=1989 |title=Past winners and nominees – Film nominations 1989 |website=British Academy of Film and Television Arts |access-date=April 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525123102/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=1989 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and received a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989 |title=61st Academy Awards winners |website=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref>

Pfeiffer then accepted the role of [[Susie Diamond]], a hard-edged former call girl turned lounge singer, in ''[[The Fabulous Baker Boys]]'' (1989), which also starred [[Jeff Bridges]] and [[Beau Bridges]] as the eponymous Baker Boys. She underwent intense voice training for the role for four months, and performed all of her character's vocals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/150-greatest-movie-performances-of-all-time-1/146-michelle-pfeiffer-susie-diamond-the-fabulous-baker-boys-1989 |title=150 Greatest movie performances of all time |website=TotalFilm.com |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> The film was a modest success, grossing $18.4&nbsp;million in the US and Canada (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|18.428904|1989|r=0}}}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fabulousbakerboys.htm |title=The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> Her portrayal of Susie, however, drew unanimous acclaim from critics. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] compared her to [[Rita Hayworth]] in ''[[Gilda (film)|Gilda]]'' and to [[Marilyn Monroe]] in ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'', adding that the film was "one of the movies they will use as a document, years from now, when they begin to trace the steps by which Pfeiffer became a great star".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19891013/REVIEWS/910130303/1023 |title=''The Fabulous Baker Boys''|first=Roger |last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=October 23, 2008 |date=October 13, 1989 |archive-date=May 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135632/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-fabulous-baker-boys-1989 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the 1989–1990 awards season, Pfeiffer won as Best Actress at the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globes]], the [[National Board of Review Award for Best Actress|National Board of Review]], the [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress|National Society of Film Critics]], the [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress|New York Film Critics Circle]], the [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] and the [[Chicago Film Critics Association]]. Pfeiffer's performance as Susie is considered to be the most critically acclaimed of her career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/02/the-roles-of-a-lifetime-michelle-pfeiffer.html|title=The Roles of a Lifetime: Michelle Pfeiffer|last1=Gorman|first1=Allison|last2=Gorman|first2=Anna|date=February 2, 2015|website=Paste|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064653/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/02/the-roles-of-a-lifetime-michelle-pfeiffer.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haskell |first=Robert |date=February 7, 2019 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer is Back (as if She Ever Left) |url=https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/michelle-pfeiffer-march-feature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402173812/https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/michelle-pfeiffer-march-feature |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=February 17, 2019 |website=[[InStyle]] |quote=The Fabulous Baker Boys — in which she gave her most widely lauded performance, as the lounge singer Susie Diamond}}</ref> The scene in which her character seductively performs "[[Makin' Whoopee]]" atop a grand piano is considered to be a memorable scene in modern cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nathan|first=Ian|date=January 1, 2020|title=The Fabulous Baker Boys Review|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fabulous-baker-boys-review/|access-date=June 2, 2021|website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=West|first=Rachel|date=April 29, 2018|title=Michelle Pfeiffer's 10 Best Roles|url=https://etcanada.com/photos/321985/michelle-pfeiffers-10-best-roles/#image-321989|access-date=June 2, 2021|website=[[Entertainment Tonight Canada]]|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406160105/https://etcanada.com/photos/321985/michelle-pfeiffers-10-best-roles/#image-321989|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Graham-2010">{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Jane |date=October 16, 2010 |title=The Fabulous Baker Boys: No 24 best romantic film of all time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/16/fabulous-baker-boys-romance-film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010213505/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/16/fabulous-baker-boys-romance-film |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=June 2, 2021 |website=[[The Guardian]] |quote=this is Pfeiffer's movie, the one that made her the biggest female film star in the world}}</ref><ref name="Barlow-2009">{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2009|title=Michelle Pfeiffer: ageless beauty|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/michelle-pfeiffer-ageless-beauty-20090629-d28b.html|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|quote=When Michelle Pfeiffer purred the words to while sprawled across a grand piano in 1989's s, the scene went down in history as one of cinema's sexiest moments.}}</ref>

===1990s===
[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer 1990.jpg|thumb|upright|Pfeiffer at the [[63rd Academy Awards]] in 1990]]
In 1990, Pfeiffer formed her own film production company, Via Rosa Productions, with business partner Kate Guinzburg, whom she had met on the set of ''Sweet Liberty'' (1986). The company was under a picture deal with [[Touchstone Pictures]], a film label of [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|The Walt Disney Studios]]. That year, Pfeiffer began earning $1 million per film,<ref name="Empire-2010">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1, 2010 |title=She sings! She dances! She acts! – The Fabulous Pfeiffer Girl |url=http://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/blog/she-sings-she-dances-she-acts-february-1990/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825064957/http://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/blog/she-sings-she-dances-she-acts-february-1990/ |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=April 29, 2017 |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |via=Gorgeous Pfeiffer}}</ref> and took on the part of the Soviet book editor Katya Orlova in the [[The Russia House (film)|film adaptation]] of [[John le Carré]]'s ''[[The Russia House]]'', with [[Sean Connery]], a role that required her to adopt a Russian accent. For her efforts, she was rewarded with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88799/the-russia-house#articles-reviews |first=Richard |last=Smith |title=The Russia House |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=Time Warner Company |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> Pfeiffer then landed the role of damaged waitress Frankie in [[Garry Marshall]]'s ''[[Frankie and Johnny (1991 film)|Frankie and Johnny]]'' (1991), a film adaptation of [[Terrence McNally]]'s [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] play ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'', which reunited her with her ''Scarface'' co-star, [[Al Pacino]]. The casting was seen as controversial by many, as Pfeiffer was considered far too beautiful to play an "ordinary" waitress;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/people/bc/1999/05/25/pfeiffer/index1.html |title=Salon Brilliant Careers #124; The dazzling versatility of Michelle Pfeiffer |website=Salon.com |access-date=October 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208202439/http://www.salon.com/people/bc/1999/05/25/pfeiffer/index1.html |archive-date=February 8, 2007 }}</ref> [[Kathy Bates]], the original Frankie on Broadway, also expressed disappointment over the producers' choice.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IOkCAAAAMBAJ&q=Kathy%20Bates%20michelle%20pfeiffer%20frankie%20and%20johnny&pg=PA40 |title=Frankie and Johnny brings outrageous romance to a wounded city |first=David |last=Denby |magazine=New York magazine |date=September 23, 1991 |publisher=New York Media, LLC |access-date=May 1, 2011 |issn=0028-7369|volume=24|number=37}}</ref> Pfeiffer herself stated that she took the role because it "wasn't what people would expect of [her]".<ref>{{cite episode |title=Michelle Pfeiffer |series=Inside the Actors Studio |series-link=Inside the Actors Studio |airdate=August 5, 2007 |season=13 |number=16}}</ref> Pfeiffer was once again nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama]] for her performance.

Pfeiffer took on the role of [[Selina Kyle (Batman Returns)|Selina Kyle–Catwoman]] in [[Tim Burton]]'s superhero film ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (1992), opposite [[Michael Keaton]] and [[Danny DeVito]], after [[Annette Bening]] dropped out because of her pregnancy. For the role, she trained in martial arts and [[kickboxing]]. Pfeiffer received unanimous critical acclaim for her portrayal, which is often referred to as the greatest performance of Catwoman of all time by critics and fans.<ref name="Erbland-2021" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-best-batman-returns-movie/|title=Batman: Why Michelle Pfeiffer Is The Best Catwoman|last=Cotter|first=Padraig|date=March 29, 2019|website=ScreenRant|access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/best-batman-movie-villains-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer/|title=Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman Is Still Batman's Best Movie Villain|last=Melrose|first=Kevin|date=June 19, 2017|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=June 18, 2019|quote=it's Selina's story that imbues Batman Returns with a depth that lifts it above its predecessor, and establishes Pfeiffer's Catwoman as the Caped Crusader's most compelling movie villain of all time.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-whip/|title=Michelle Pfeiffer Shows Why She's Still The Best Catwoman|last=Diaz|first=Eric|date=April 2, 2019|website=Nerdist|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bastién |first=Angelica Jade |author-link=Angelica Jade Bastién |date=June 26, 2017 |title=25 Years Later, Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman Is Still the Best Superhero Movie Villain |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns-is-still-the-best-villain.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519203644/https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns-is-still-the-best-villain.html |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |quote=Pfeiffer's Catwoman is widely seen as the best cinematic take on the character}}</ref> ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]'' retrospectively stated: "Arguably the outstanding villain of the Tim Burton era, Michelle Pfeiffer's deadly kitten with a whip brought sex to the normally neutered franchise. Her stitched-together, black patent leather costume, based on a sketch of Burton's, remains the character's most iconic look. And Michelle Pfeiffer overcomes ''Batman Returns''{{'}} heavy-handed feminist dialogue to deliver a growling, fierce performance."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.premiere.com/List/The-Best-and-Worst-Batman-Villains/The-Best-Bat-Villains-Catwoman |title=The Best and Worst Batman Villains |magazine=[[Première (magazine)|Première]] |publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. |access-date=May 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203105145/http://www.premiere.com/List/The-Best-and-Worst-Batman-Villains/The-Best-Bat-Villains-Catwoman |archive-date=December 3, 2010 }}</ref> ''Batman Returns'' was a big box office success, grossing over US$267&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Batman Returns at Box Office Mojo |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0103776/ |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Company |access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref>

The first film her company produced was the independent drama ''[[Love Field (film)|Love Field]]'', which was released in 1992. Reviewers embraced the film and ''The New York Times'' felt that Pfeiffer was "again demonstrating that she is as subtle and surprising as she is beautiful".<ref>{{cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|author-link=Janet Maslin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/11/movies/review-film-michelle-pfeiffer-in-a-tale-of-a-1960-s-interracial-friendship.html|access-date=February 15, 2024|title=Review/Film; Michelle Pfeiffer in a Tale of a 1960's Interracial Friendship|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 10, 1989}}</ref> For her portrayal of an eccentric [[Dallas, Texas]] housewife, she earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Drama and won the [[Silver Bear for Best Actress]] at the [[43rd Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name=lovef>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/work/love-field-30289/awards |title=Love Field – Awards |website=AllMovie |publisher=Rovi Company |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Berlinale 1993">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1993/03_preistr_ger_1993/03_Preistraeger_1993.html |title=Berlinale: 1993 Prize Winners |access-date=June 1, 2011 |website=Berlinale.de |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015120403/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1993/03_preistr_ger_1993/03_Preistraeger_1993.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In [[Martin Scorsese]]'s period drama ''[[The Age of Innocence (1993 film)|The Age of Innocence]]'' (1993), a [[film adaptation]] of [[Edith Wharton]]'s 1920 [[The Age of Innocence|novel]], Pfeiffer starred with [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] and [[Winona Ryder]], portraying a Countess in upper-class [[New York City]] in the 1870s. For her role, she received the [[Elvira Notari]] Prize at the [[Venice Film Festival]], and a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-14-ca-3168-story.html |title=Pfeiffer spices up award show |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 28, 2011 |first=Jane |last=Galbraith |date=June 14, 1993}}</ref> That year, she was awarded the Women in Film Los Angeles' [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards#THE CRYSTAL AWARD|Crystal Award]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-14-ca-3168-story.html |first=Jane |last=Galbraith |title=Pfeiffer spices up award show |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 1993 |access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref>

Following the formation of her producing company, Via Rosa Productions, Pfeiffer saw a professional expansion as a producer. While she continued to act steadily throughout the decade, she and her producing partner Guinzburg experienced a winning streak of producing back to back films next under their header. She starred with [[Jack Nicholson]] in the 1994 horror film ''[[Wolf (1994 film)|Wolf]]'', portraying the sardonic and willful interest of a writer who becomes a wolf-man at night after being bitten by a creature. The film was released to a mixed critical reception;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/1053942-wolf/ |title=Wolf Movie Reviews, Pictures |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=May 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522064754/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/1053942-wolf/ |archive-date=May 22, 2010 }}</ref> ''The New York Times'' wrote: "Ms. Pfeiffer's role is underwritten, but her performance is expert enough to make even diffidence compelling."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D02EFDE143DF934A25755C0A962958260 |title=''Wolf'' (1994) Review/Film; Wolf Bites Man; Man Sheds His Civilized Coat |first=Janet |last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 17, 1994 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> ''Wolf'' was a commercial success, grossing US$65&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|65|1994|r=0}}}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) at the domestic box office and US$131&nbsp;million worldwide (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|131|1994|r=0}}}}&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite web |title=Wolf at Box Office Mojo |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wolf.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb Company |date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=July 3, 2011}}</ref>

Pfeiffer's next role was that of high school teacher and former [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marine]] [[LouAnne Johnson]] in the drama ''[[Dangerous Minds]]'' (1995),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTgDAAAAMBAJ&q=Dangerous%20Minds%20Michelle%20Pfeiffer&pg=PA64 |title=Movies to See |magazine=Jet |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0021-5996 |volume=88 |number=15 |date=August 21, 1995 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> co-produced by her company. She appeared as her character in the music video for the soundtrack's lead single, "[[Gangsta's Paradise (song)|Gangsta's Paradise]]" by [[Coolio]], featuring [[L.V. (singer)|L.V.]]; the song won the 1996 [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]],<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GDgDAAAAMBAJ&q=Gangsta's%20Paradise%20grammy%20award&pg=PA34 |title=Big Winners at 38th Grammy Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles |journal=Jet |issn=0021-5996|volume=89|number=18 |date=March 18, 1996 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> and the video won the [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzkDAAAAMBAJ&q=Gangsta's%20Paradise%20mtv%20award&pg=PA62 |title=Rap star Coolio, Fugees with win at MTV Awards |magazine=Jet |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0021-5996|volume=90|number=19 |date=September 23, 1996 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> While ''Dangerous Minds'' received negative reviews, it was a box office success, grossing US$179.5 million around the globe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dangerousminds.htm|title=Dangerous Minds (1995) - Box Office Mojo|website=www.boxofficemojo.com}}</ref> In 1996, Pfeiffer portrayed Sally Atwater in the romantic drama ''[[Up Close and Personal (film)|Up Close & Personal]]'', with [[Robert Redford]],<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,286973,00.html | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=Book Review: Monster, by Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne | date=March 7, 1997 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=October 21, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021172639/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,286973,00.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> took on the titular role in the drama ''[[To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday]]'', which was adapted by her husband David Kelley from Michael Brady's play of the same name,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/18/movies/gone-but-not-forgotten.html|title=Gone but Not Forgotten|first=Janet |last=Maslin |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 15, 2024|date=October 18, 1996}}</ref> and served as an executive producer and starred as the divorced single mother architect Melanie Parker in the romantic comedy ''[[One Fine Day (1996 film)|One Fine Day]]'', with [[George Clooney]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/one-fine-day-136612 |title=One Fine Day |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref>

Subsequent performances included Rose Cook Lewis in the film adaptation of [[Jane Smiley]]'s [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning novel ''[[A Thousand Acres (film)|A Thousand Acres]]'' (1997) with [[Jessica Lange]] and [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/thousand_acres/ |title=A Thousand Acres Movie Reviews, Pictures |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=May 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228194318/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/thousand_acres/ |archive-date=February 28, 2007 }}</ref> Beth Cappadora in ''[[The Deep End of the Ocean (film)|The Deep End of the Ocean]]'' (1998) about a married couple who found their son who was kidnapped nine years ago;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/deependoftheoceanhowe.htm |first=Desson |last=Howe |title='The Deep End of the Ocean' (PG-13) |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 12, 1999 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> [[Titania (A Midsummer Night's Dream)|Titania]] the Queen of the Fairies in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999 film)|A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (1999) with [[Kevin Kline]], [[Rupert Everett]] and [[Stanley Tucci]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/film/051499dream-film-review.html |first=Janet |last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|title=''A Midsummer Night's Dream'': A 'Dream' of Foolish Mortals |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 14, 1999 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> and Katie Jordan in [[Rob Reiner]]'s comedy drama ''[[The Story of Us (1999 film)|The Story of Us]]'' (1999) with [[Bruce Willis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/the-story-of-us-180987 |title=The Story of Us (film) |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> ''A Thousand Acres'' and ''The Deep End of the Ocean'' were also produced by Via Rosa Productions. Pfeiffer voiced [[Tzipporah]], a shepherdess who becomes the wife of Moses (voiced by [[Val Kilmer]]), in [[DreamWorks Animation]]'s ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998), a musical adaptation based on the [[Book of Exodus]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Michael|date=December 18, 1998|title=High Fidelity From 'Prince'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/reviews/princeofegyptosullivan.htm?movieslede=y|access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lovell|first=Glenn|date=December 10, 1998|title=Film Review: 'The Prince of Egypt'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-prince-of-egypt-1117487966/|access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref> She also recorded the film's theme song "[[When You Believe]]",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Welkos |first=Robert W. |date=February 24, 1999 |title=Oscar's Big Song Squabble |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-24-ca-11051-story.html |access-date=December 20, 2023}}</ref> for which songwriter [[Stephen Schwartz]] won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yeend |first=Adam J. |author-link=Adam J. Yeend |date=Aug 1, 2023 |title='The Prince of Egypt' Directors Look Back on Their Animated Landmark 25 Years Later (Exclusive) |url=https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/the-prince-of-egypt-25-year-anniversary-interview |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=[[Oscars.org]]}}</ref> ''The Prince of Egypt'' was released to critical and commercial success,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Rick |date=December 15, 1999 |title=Prince of Egypt, The |work=[[IGN]] |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/15/prince-of-egypt-the |access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref> but [[Kenneth Turan]] found the film's modernization of Pfeiffer's character into a "feisty [[Protofeminism|protofeminist]]" to be problematic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Turan |date=December 18, 1992 |title='Egypt': The Newest Testament |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-18-ca-55112-story.html |access-date=December 20, 2023}}</ref>

===2000s===
Pfeiffer began to dissolve her film production company, Via Rosa Productions, in 1999, and moved into semi-retirement to spend more quality time with her children and family. Pfeiffer handed her producing partner Guinzburg one final film to produce under the Via Rosa Productions header. The film was called ''[[Original Sin (2001 film)|Original Sin]]'' (2001). It was originally intended to star Pfeiffer, who later changed her mind as she was looking to work less for a while. The film was produced by her company, but instead starred [[Angelina Jolie]] and [[Antonio Banderas]].

In ''[[What Lies Beneath]]'' (2000), a [[Hitchcockian]] thriller directed by [[Robert Zemeckis]], Pfeiffer and [[Harrison Ford]] starred as a well-to-do couple who experience a strange haunting that uncovers secrets about their past. While critical response towards the film was mixed, it opened atop at the box office,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2000/WLIES.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911172310/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2000/WLIES.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=What Lies Beneath |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC |website=The Numbers.com |access-date=October 24, 2008 }}</ref> and went on to gross US$291 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=whatliesbeneath.htm |title=What Lies Beneath (2000) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> She then accepted the role of Rita Harrison, a highly strung lawyer helping a father with a [[developmental disability]], in the drama ''[[I Am Sam]]'' (2001), with [[Sean Penn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/i-am-sam-257356 |title=I Am Sam |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> Despite grossing $97.8 million worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=iamsam.htm |title=I Am Sam (2001) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> the film was unfavourably reviewed by critics;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/i-am-sam/critic-reviews |title=I Am Sam |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' wrote: "Pfeiffer, apparently stymied by the bland clichés that prop up her screechy role, delivers her flattest, phoniest performance ever."<ref>{{cite news |last=Axmaker |first=Sean |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/I-am-Sam-wallows-in-melodramatic-mush-1078320.php |title='I am Sam' wallows in melodramatic mush |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |publisher=Hearst Communications Inc. |date=January 24, 2002 |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''[[SF Gate]]'' observed: "In one scene, she breaks down in tears as she unburdens herself to him about her miserable life. It's hard not to cringe, watching this emotionally ready actress fling herself headlong into false material."<ref>{{cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Penn-plays-sad-Sam-He-s-full-of-integrity-as-2880088.php |title=Penn plays sad 'Sam' / He's full of integrity as retarded father |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=January 25, 2002}}</ref>

Pfeiffer took on the role of a murderous artist, named Ingrid Magnussen, in the drama ''[[White Oleander (film)|White Oleander]]'' (2002), with [[Alison Lohman]] (in her film debut), [[Renée Zellweger]] and [[Robin Wright]]. The film was a critical and commercial success in its arthouse release. [[Stephen Holden]] of ''The New York Times'' wrote that "Ms. Pfeiffer, giving the most complex screen performance of her career, makes her Olympian seductress at once irresistible and diabolical."<ref>{{cite news | first=Stephen | last=Holden | title=Slowly, A Princess Turns Into An Urchin | date=October 11, 2002 |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C03EFDD173AF932A25753C1A9649C8B63 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date =October 23, 2008}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described her as "incandescent", bringing "power and unshakable will to her role as mother-master manipulator" in a "riveting, impeccable performance".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-11-et-white11-story.html |date=October 11, 2002 |title=Artful 'Oleander' needs more compelling voice |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |access-date=June 29, 2008}}</ref> She earned Best Supporting Actress Awards from the [[San Diego Film Critics Society]] and the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, as well as a [[Screen Actors Guild]] Award nomination.

In 2003, Pfeiffer lent her voice for the character of goddess of chaos [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]] in ''[[Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas]]'', an animated film featuring [[Brad Pitt]] as the voice of [[Sinbad the Sailor]]. She had struggles with finding the character's villainies. Initially the character was "too sexual", then she lacked fun. After the third rewrite, Pfeiffer called producer [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] and told him "You know, you really can fire me," but he assured her that this was just part of the process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Preview |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/25/sinbad-legend-seven-seas/ |access-date=January 18, 2014 |newspaper=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 25, 2003 |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927152532/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444346,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the release of the film, she took a four-year hiatus from acting, during which she remained largely out of the public eye to devote time to her husband and children.<ref name="CBS News-2007" /> During this time, she turned down the role of the White Witch in the fantasy film ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe]]'' (2005), which went to [[Tilda Swinton]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/white-witch-shares-her-love-potion-with-two-men-bdnf0wcn0rr |title=White Witch shares her love potion with two men |publisher=Times Newspapers Ltd |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=February 17, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|Pfeiffer at the premiere of ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'' in 2007]]

Pfeiffer returned to cinemas in 2007 with villainous roles in two summer blockbusters, ''[[Hairspray (2007 film)|Hairspray]]'' and ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'',  which was hailed as a successful comeback by the media.<ref name="Irish Independent-2007">{{Cite web|date=July 16, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer: The former beauty queen is back after a five-year break|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/michelle-pfeiffer-the-former-beauty-queen-is-back-after-a-five-year-break-26438605.html|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 15, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer Returns to Big Screen after 3-Year Hiatus|url=https://extratv.com/2007/03/15/michelle-pfeiffer-returns-to-big-screen-after-3-year-hiatus/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Extra (American TV program)|Extra]]}}</ref><ref name="Netburn-2008">{{Cite web|last1=Netburn|first1=Deborah|last2=Victorio|first2=Lora|date=January 1, 2008|title=Hits and misses along the comeback trail|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-01-et-comebacks1-story.html|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="CBS News-2007">{{Cite web|date=October 4, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer's Eternal Beauty|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michelle-pfeiffers-eternal-beauty/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=[[CBS News]]|quote="Stardust" and her role this summer in the movie "Hairspray" mark a comeback for Pfeiffer after five years away from the big screen. She has proved she is still striking on camera and popular with audiences, putting her in a stronger position than ever as an actress.}}</ref> In the former, a film adaptation of the [[Hairspray (musical)|Broadway musical of the same name]], she starred alongside [[John Travolta]], [[Christopher Walken]] and [[Queen Latifah]] as Velma Von Tussle,<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 19, 2007|title=Hairspray|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hairspray-159308|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> the [[Racism|racist]] manager of a television station.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=A. O.|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=July 19, 2007|title=Review: In 'Hairspray,' a celebration of youth and a guileless era|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/arts/19iht-fmreview27.1.6728332.html|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although a fan of Pfeiffer's work in the musicals ''Grease 2'' and ''The Fabulous Baker Boys'', director [[Adam Shankman]] cast Pfeiffer largely based on her performance in ''Batman Returns'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sims|first=James|date=June 28, 2007|title=Dishing with 'Hairspray' Film Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dishing-with-Hairspray-Film-Cast-Michelle-Pfeiffer-20070628|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[BroadwayWorld]]}}</ref> claiming she was his first and only choice for Velma.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Roger|date=August 19, 2007|title=Pfeiffer back on screen with vengeance|url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/8/19/20035921/pfeiffer-back-on-screen-with-vengeance|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[Deseret News]]}}</ref> Although she had fun with the part, Pfeiffer described Velma as the most difficult role she had played at the time, because of her character's racism; but she was drawn to the film's important message of anti-bigotry, accepting that "in order to do a movie about racism, somebody has got to be the racist".<ref name="Irish Independent-2007" /> Released to widely positive reviews, ''Hairspray'' grossed $202.5 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hairspray07.htm |title=Hairspray (2007) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Pfeiffer's performance was also critically acclaimed,<ref name="Moore-2007">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=August 9, 2007 |title=Pfeiffer wins acclaim in return to films |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/features/pfeiffer-wins-acclaim-in-return-to-films/article_b0586bd8-fa77-5e2b-998b-dd69e50c9b32.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=[[The Post and Courier]] |quote=one of the most beautiful women in the movies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Liz|date=June 5, 2007|title=Michelle Pfeiffer — What She Did for Love|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/inspirational-stories/interviews/a17389/michelle-pfeiffer-0707/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=[[Good Housekeeping]]}}</ref> with film critic [[David Edelstein]] of [[NPR]] calling her "sublime".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edelstein|first=David|author-link=David Edelstein|date=July 20, 2007|title=Hollywood's Musical 'Hairspray,' a Little Too Bouffant|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12122633|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> The cast of ''Hairspray'' was nominated for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture]], and won the [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast]], the [[Hollywood Film Festival]] Award for Ensemble of the Year, and the [[Palm Springs International Film Festival]] Award for Ensemble Cast. In the fantasy adventure ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'', Pfeiffer plays [[Lamia (Stardust)|Lamia]], an ancient witch who hunts a fallen star ([[Claire Danes]]) in search of eternal youth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmovie.com/work/stardust-345070/cast |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707074412/http://allmovie.com/work/stardust-345070/cast |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |title=Stardust |website=AllMovie |access-date=May 1, 2011 }}</ref> The film received mostly positive reviews but performed moderately at the box office,<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 13, 2007|title="Rush Hour 3" Wins At Box Office|work=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rush-hour-3-wins-at-box-office/|access-date=November 11, 2021|quote=The other movie premiering this weekend was "Stardust," a well-reviewed adult fairy tale with Michelle Pfeiffer.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2007|title='Rush Hour 3' roars to top of film box office|work=[[CTV News]]|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/rush-hour-3-roars-to-top-of-film-box-office-1.251648|access-date=November 11, 2021}}</ref> earning $135.5 million globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=stardust.htm |title=Stardust Box Office Mojo |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | quote=Production Budget: $70 million |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic [[Stephen Holden]] described Pfeiffer as "as deliciously evil a witch as the movies have ever invented", writing that she "goes for broke with the relish of a star who figures she has nothing to lose."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Holden|date=August 10, 2007|title=When Stars (Celestial) Fall, and Stars (Hollywood) Fly|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/movies/10star.html|access-date=August 24, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Pfeiffer starred in [[Amy Heckerling]]'s romantic comedy ''[[I Could Never Be Your Woman]]'' (2007), with [[Paul Rudd]] and [[Saoirse Ronan]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schwartz |first=Missy |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/01/amy-heckerlings-production-conflicts/ |title=Would You Dump This Woman? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=#977 |date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923101639/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20175469,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> portraying Rosie, a 40-year-old divorced mother working as a scriptwriter and producer for a television show who falls in love with a much younger man (Rudd). Her reported salary was US$1 million, with an advance on 15 percent of the gross. However, the film was only distributed on [[home video]] markets domestically.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/01/amy-heckerlings-production-conflicts/ |title=Would You Dump This Woman? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Reviews for ''I Could Never Be Your Woman'' were moderately positive,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_could_never_be_your_woman/ |title=I Could Never Be Your Woman |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> with critic [[James Berardinelli]] finding Pfeiffer and Rudd to "have adequate chemistry to pull off the romance," in what he described as an "enjoyable romantic comedy that has enough going for it to make it worth a recommendation."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/i/i_could.html |title=Review: I Could Never Be Your Woman |website=Reel Views.net |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Pfeiffer starred in ''[[Personal Effects (2008 film)|Personal Effects]]'', with [[Ashton Kutcher]], playing two grieving people coping with the pain and frustration of their loss whose bond spawns an unlikely romance. The drama premiered at [[Iowa City]]'s Englert Theatre in December 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/iowa/2008-12-12-1781140457_x.htm |title=2011 Movie preview: 'No strings attached' |first=Luke |last=Meredith |publisher=Gannett Company, Inc. |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

Her next film, an adaptation of [[Colette]]'s ''[[Chéri (2009 film)|Chéri]]'', reunited her with the director ([[Stephen Frears]]) and screenwriter ([[Christopher Hampton]]) of ''Dangerous Liaisons'' (1988). Pfeiffer played the role of aging retired [[courtesan]] Léa de Lonval, with [[Rupert Friend]] in the title role, with Kathy Bates as his mother. ''Chéri'' premiered at the 2009 [[Berlin International Film Festival]], where it received a nomination for the [[Golden Bear]] award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michelle Pfeiffer beweist in Chéri Mut zur Falte |url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/article3181917/Michelle-Pfeiffer-beweist-in-Cheri-Mut-zur-Falte.html |newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=July 3, 2011|language=de}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' of London reviewed the film favorably, describing Hampton's screenplay as a "steady flow of dry quips and acerbic one-liners" and Pfeiffer's performance as "magnetic and subtle, her worldly nonchalance a mask for vulnerability and heartache".<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Dalton |title=''Chéri'' review |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5703857.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616194823/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5703857.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=March 1, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] in the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote that it was "fascinating to observe how Pfeiffer controls her face and voice during times of painful hurt".<ref>{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=''Chéri'' review |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090624/REVIEWS/906249987/1023 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135408/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cheri-2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] in the ''Los Angeles Times'' praised the "wordless scenes that catch Léa unawares, with the camera alone seeing the despair and regret that she hides from the world. It's the kind of refined, delicate acting Pfeiffer does so well, and it's a further reminder of how much we've missed her since she's been away."<ref>{{cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |title=Chéri review |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-cheri26-2009jun26,0,4760003.story |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628184010/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-cheri26-2009jun26%2C0%2C4760003.story |archive-date=June 28, 2009 }}</ref>

===2010s===
Following a two-year sabbatical from acting, Pfeiffer made part of a large ensemble cast in [[Garry Marshall]]'s [[Ensemble cast|ensemble]] romantic comedy ''[[New Year's Eve (2011 film)|New Year's Eve]]'' (2011), her second collaboration with Marshall after ''Frankie and Johnny''. The film, also starring [[Halle Berry]], [[Jessica Biel]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Josh Duhamel]], [[Zac Efron]], [[Sarah Jessica Parker]], and [[Sofía Vergara]], among many others, saw her take on the supporting role of Ingrid Withers, an overwhelmed secretary befriending a deliveryman (Efron). While the film was panned by critics, it made US$142 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=newyearseve.htm |title=New Year's Eve (2011) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> In 2012, she appeared with [[Chris Pine]] and [[Elizabeth Banks]] in the drama ''[[People Like Us (2012 film)|People Like Us]]'', as the mother of a struggling New York City corporate trader (Pine). ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' found her to be "luminous" in the film,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/people-like-us-20120628 |title=People Like Us |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 13, 2017 |date=June 28, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113815/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/people-like-us-20120628 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''The New York Times'', positively pointing out Pfeiffer and Banks, noted that their performances "partly compensate for the holes in a story whose timing is hard to swallow".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/people-like-us-with-chris-pine.html |title='People Like Us,' With Chris Pine |first=Stephen |last=Holden |date=June 28, 2012 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> ''People Like Us'' debuted to US$4.26 million, described as "meager" by [[Box Office Mojo]], and only made US$12 million in North America.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3476&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: 'Ted' Gets High, 'Mike' Scores |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

Pfieffer reunited with Tim Burton, her ''Batman Returns'' director, in ''[[Dark Shadows (film)|Dark Shadows]]'' (2012), based on the [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] television soap opera [[Dark Shadows|of the same name]]. In the film, co-starring [[Johnny Depp]], [[Eva Green]], [[Helena Bonham Carter]] and [[Chloë Grace Moretz]], she played [[Elizabeth Collins Stoddard]], the matriarch of the Collins family. Critical response towards the film was mixed, but writers acclaimed the actors' performances—most notably Depp and Pfeiffer's. ''IGN'' found her to be "commanding" in her role and felt that the main characters were "played by one of Burton's best ensemble casts yet".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2012/05/09/dark-shadows-review-2 |title=Dark Shadows Review |last=Vejvoda |first=Jim |date=May 9, 2012 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=May 26, 2012}}</ref> While ''Dark Shadows'' grossed a modest US$79.7 million in North America, it ultimately made US$245.5 million globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkshadows.htm |title=Dark Shadows (2012) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> In [[Luc Besson]]'s mob-comedy ''[[The Family (2013 film)|The Family]]'' (2013), co-starring Robert De Niro, [[Tommy Lee Jones]], [[Dianna Agron]] and [[John D'Leo]], she played the "tough mother" in a Mafia family wanting to change their lives under the [[witness protection program]].<ref>[http://www.overallsite.com/2012/05/michelle-pfeiffer-talks-join-robert-de-niro-malavita/ "Michelle Pfeiffer in Talks to Join Robert De Niro in 'Malavita'"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106205902/http://www.overallsite.com/2012/05/michelle-pfeiffer-talks-join-robert-de-niro-malavita/ |date=November 6, 2013 }} Overallsite</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404311/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ql_6 |title=The Family |date=September 13, 2013 |website=IMDb |access-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref> Although reviews for the film were mixed, ''[[KTHV|THV11]]'' said on the cast's portrayals: "The core actors of ''The Family'' were really solid, and the whole film comes together to make a solid movie."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thv11.com/news/article/279524/143/Todays-Box-Office-The-Family |title=Today's Box Office: The Family |website=thv11.com |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018050259/http://www.thv11.com/news/article/279524/143/Todays-Box-Office-The-Family |archive-date=October 18, 2013  }}</ref> Meanwhile, ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' felt that "De Niro, Pfieffer and Jones all brought 100% to their roles."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/zorianna-kit/ijust-seen-iti-ithe-famil_b_3926281.html |title=Just Seen It: The Family Movie Review |first=Zorianna |last=Kit |website=Huffington Post |date=September 14, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2013}}</ref> The film grossed US$78.4 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=malavita.htm |title=The Family (2013) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

{{quote box|bgcolor=#E0E6F8|width=25em|align=left|quote=The only trepidation was I think I took for granted how nice it was to not be under the spotlight and just having a life. I remember thinking, "Do I really want to step back into this?" And I just realized that I'm not done. I have a lot more to do, and a lot more to say. I'm never going to be one that retires.|source= — Pfeiffer on her comeback, 2017<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=Michelle Pfeiffer: 'I'm Always Afraid of Failing' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/movies/michelle-pfeiffer-murder-on-the-orient-express-mother.html |access-date=November 5, 2017|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>}}

Pfeiffer stated that her lack of acting throughout the 2000s was due to several reasons, including family matters and her approach to choosing roles.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Miller | first=Julie | title=Michelle Pfeiffer Reveals Why She "Disappeared" from Hollywood | magazine=Vanity Fair | date=March 28, 2017 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/03/michelle-pfeiffer-hollywood | access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=[[Live! with Kelly and Michael]] |series=Live with Kelly and Michael |network=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |airdate=September 11, 2013}}</ref> She stated she was intending to "work a lot" once her children left for college,<ref name="thefamilynyc">{{cite web |url=http://watch.accesshollywood.com/video/michelle-pfeiffer-dreading-her-soon-to-be-empty-nest/2665260099001 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer 'Dreading' Her Soon-To-Be-Empty Nest |website=[[Access Hollywood]] |access-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926061210/http://watch.accesshollywood.com/video/michelle-pfeiffer-dreading-her-soon-to-be-empty-nest/2665260099001 |archive-date=September 26, 2013 }}</ref> mentioning that she felt her best performance was "still in her", saying how that's what she felt kept her going.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/06/people-like-us-michelle-pfeiffer-my-best-performance-is-still-in-me.html |title=Michelle Pfeiffer: 'My best performance is still in me' |date=June 20, 2012 |website=Zap2it |access-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720021834/http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/06/people-like-us-michelle-pfeiffer-my-best-performance-is-still-in-me.html |archive-date=July 20, 2013 }}</ref>

In the independent drama ''[[Where Is Kyra?]]'', Pfeiffer starred as a sensitive and fragile woman who loses her mother and "faces a crisis in which she must find a means for survival, all the while hiding her struggles from her new lover". The film premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on January 23, 2017, and received a limited release on April 6, 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/sundance-2017-premieres-midnight-special-events-robert-redford-rashida-jones-1201864406/ |title=Sundance 2017: Robert Redford, New Rashida Jones Netflix Series, 'Rebel In The Rye' & More On Premiere, Docu, Midnight & Kids Slates |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> to critical acclaim;<ref>{{cite web |last=Edelstein |first=David |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/04/where-is-kyra-review.html |title=Michelle Pfeiffer Is Stunning in Where Is Kyra? |website=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Weitzman |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.thewrap.com/where-is-kyra-film-review-michelle-pfeiffer-keifer-sutherland |title='Where Is Kyra?' Film Review: Michelle Pfeiffer Shines in Dark Indie Drama |website=[[The Wrap]] |date=April 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kinane |first=Ruth |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/04/03/where-is-kyra-review |title=Michelle Pfeiffer is brilliant in bleak drama Where Is Kyra?: EW review |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> Her role as ''Kyra'' was called the "performance of her life" by ''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'''s Bilge Ebiri,<ref>{{cite web |last=Patten |first=Bilge |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/04/02/michelle-pfeiffer-gives-the-performance-of-her-life-in-where-is-kyra/ |title=Michelle Pfeiffer Gives the Performance of Her Life in "Where Is Kyra?" |website=[[The Village Voice]] |date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> and "the performance of her career", by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fear |first=David |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/where-is-kyra-movie-review-michelle-pfeiffer-w518646 |title='Where Is Kyra?' Review: Michelle Pfeiffer Gives the Performance of Her Career |website=[[The Village Voice]] |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-date=April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025945/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/where-is-kyra-movie-review-michelle-pfeiffer-w518646 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Pfeiffer landed the role of [[Ruth Madoff]] for the [[HBO Films]] drama ''[[The Wizard of Lies]]'', based on the book of the same name. The film, directed by [[Barry Levinson]], reunites her with actor Robert De Niro, who played her husband, disgraced financier [[Bernard Madoff]].<ref>[https://deadline.com/2015/08/wizard-of-lies-madoff-movie-michelle-pfeiffer-alessandro-nivola-cast-robert-de-niro-barry-levinson-1201508246/ "HBO's 'Wizard Of Lies' Madoff Movie A Go With Michelle Pfeiffer, Alessandro Nivola Joining Robert De Niro; Barry Levinson To Direct"] Deadline</ref> ''The Wizard of Lies'' premiered on [[HBO]] on May 20, 2017, garnering favorable reviews from critics and an audience of 1.5 million viewers, HBO's largest premiere viewership for a film in four years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Madoff Movie 'Wizard Of Lies' Draws Largest Premiere Viewership For HBO Film In 4 Years |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/wizard-of-lies-hbo-premiere-ratings-madoff-movie-1202100882/ |access-date=May 24, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=May 23, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525032654/http://deadline.com/2017/05/wizard-of-lies-hbo-premiere-ratings-madoff-movie-1202100882/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Tolucan Times'' remarked that Pfeiffer "steals the show as Madoff's wife, Ruth, and is a remarkable lookalike",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tonymedley.com/2017/The_Wizard_of_Lies.htm |title=The Wizard of Lies |website=tonymedley.com |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> while ''Los Angeles Times'' asserted: "As Ruth, Pfeiffer convincingly portrays a pampered woman left with utterly nothing —she's lost her homes, status and, most important, her relationship with her sons."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-wizard-of-lies-review-20170520-story.html |title=Robert De Niro plays an oddly convincing Madoff in HBO's 'Wizard of Lies' |first=Lorraine |last=Ali |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> She received a nomination for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie]], in addition to a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Golden Globe Award]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moviepilot.com/p/michelle-pfeiffer-emmy-nomination-wizard-of-lies/4319693 |title=She's Back, People: Michelle Pfeiffer Scores First Emmy Nomination For HBO's 'Wizard Of Lies' |website=Moviepilot.com |date=July 14, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904152820/https://moviepilot.com/p/michelle-pfeiffer-emmy-nomination-wizard-of-lies/4319693 |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Here are the nominees for the 75th Golden Globe Awards |url=http://envelope.latimes.com/awards/golden-globes/2018/ |access-date=December 12, 2017 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=December 11, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer Mother Press Conference.jpg|thumb|upright|Pfeiffer speaking at an event for ''[[Mother!]]'' at the [[2017 Venice Film Festival]]]]

In [[Darren Aronofsky]]'s psychological horror film ''[[Mother!]]'' (2017), Pfeiffer portrayed one of the mysterious guests who interrupt the tranquil life of a couple, played by [[Jennifer Lawrence]] and [[Javier Bardem]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michelle-pfeiffer-domhnall-gleeson-joining-884348 |title=Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson Joining Jennifer Lawrence in Darren Aronofsky Drama |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> Although ''Mother!'' divided critics and audiences,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/mother-buzz-is-darren-aronofskys-latest-the-years-most-controversial-movie/|title=mother! Buzz: Is Darren Aronofsky's Latest the Year's Most Controversial Movie?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_2017/|title=mother!|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> reviewers praised Pfeiffer unanimously,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/laura-dern-michelle-pfeiffer-best-actresses-2017|title=From Laura Dern to Michelle Pfeiffer, 2017 Was the Year of the Comeback|last=Munzenrieder|first=Kyle|date=December 27, 2017|website=W|access-date=May 16, 2018|quote=September's mother! may have been the most divisive movie of the year, but it seems the one thing we all could agree on was, 'You know, it's really nice to have Michelle Pfeiffer back.'}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/movies-for-grownups/info-2018/michelle-pfeiffer-interview.html|title=Michelle Pfeiffer: 'I Don't Need to Look Younger'|last=Appelo|first=Tim|date=April 9, 2018|website=AARP|access-date=May 17, 2018|quote=[Pfeiffer] earned A-plus reviews in a baffling flick that got an F on Cinemascore.}}</ref> some of whom found her performance worthy of an Oscar nomination.<ref name="release">{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |title=Paramount Pulls Brad Pitt's 'World War Z 2,' 'Friday the 13th' Reboot From Schedule |url=https://www.thewrap.com/world-war-z-2-friday-13th-pulled-from-paramount-schedule/ |date=February 6, 2017 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref><ref name="Krizanovich-2017">{{Cite web |last=Krizanovich |first=Karen |date=September 11, 2017 |title=Hollywood's most underrated actress makes a sensational return |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/mother/most-underrated-actress/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/mother/most-underrated-actress/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |quote=Talk on the film circuit is that Pfeiffer's star-blasting turn in mother! is a stand-out – and could even get the 59 year-old an Oscar win.}}</ref> ''[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]'' remarked: "Out of the main actors, it's Pfeiffer who is able to root the character in meaning — she bracingly marries the exploration of Biblical creation, mythological overtones, and hellish domestic commentary. There's a gravity to Pfeiffer's performance that allows her to succeed where the other main actors fail, save for brief spurts — she straddles the boundaries between embodying a symbol and granting the character enough interiority to feel like a flesh and blood woman, too."<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/michelle-pfeiffer-is-the-mvp-of-mother.html | title=Michelle Pfeiffer is the MVP of Mother!| date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>

Pfeiffer played a widowed socialite in [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s ''[[Murder on the Orient Express (2017 film)|Murder on the Orient Express]]'' (2017), the fourth screen adaptation of [[Agatha Christie]]'s 1934 [[Murder on the Orient Express|novel of the same name]]. Featuring an [[ensemble cast]], the [[mystery film]] follows world-renowned detective [[Hercule Poirot]] (Branagh) attempting to solve a murder, while stranded with several suspects on the [[Orient Express]] during the 1930s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Emery |first1=Dawn |date=November 2, 2017 |title='Murder on the Orient Express': Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeiffer Dish on All-Star Remake at London Premiere |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/scene/vpage/murder-on-the-orient-express-kenneth-branagh-michelle-pfeiffer-london-premiere-judi-dench-1202605798/ |access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> She also recorded the original song "Never Forget" for the film's soundtrack. The film grossed US$351.7 million worldwide and received decent reviews from critics, with praise for the performances, but criticism for not adding anything new to previous adaptations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/murder-on-the-orient-express-mostly-stays-on-track/|title=Murder on the Orient Express Mostly Stays on Track |first=Jeff |last=Giles |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> Although some critics found its large cast underused, Pfeiffer's performance was praised, with [[Richard Roeper]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' saying she delivered the film's best performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roeper |first=Richard |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Others sent to back of train in Branagh's 'Murder on Orient Express' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/others-sent-to-back-of-train-in-branaghs-murder-on-orient-express/ |access-date=August 6, 2018 |website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> ''[[The New Yorker]]''{{'}}s [[Anthony Lane]] found that only Pfeiffer appears to be enjoying their material,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lane |first=Anthony |date=November 20, 2017 |title="Murder on the Orient Express" and "Thelma" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/20/murder-on-the-orient-express-and-thelma |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> while Mick LaSalle of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' credited the film with reminding audiences that she is one of the industry's best actresses.<ref name="LaSalle-2017">{{Cite web |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |author-link=Mick LaSalle |date=November 9, 2017 |title=A successful new stab at 'Murder on the Orient Express' |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/movies/article/A-successful-new-stab-at-Murder-on-the-Orient-12343368.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805052057/https://www.sfchronicle.com/movies/article/A-successful-new-stab-at-Murder-on-the-Orient-12343368.php |archive-date=August 5, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> David Edelstein of ''Vulture'' described the actress as "a hoot and a half ... stealing every scene".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/murder-on-the-orient-express-review.html|title=Murder on the Orient Express Is a Mild Ride|last=Edelstein|first=David|date=November 10, 2017|website=Vulture|access-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref>

Pfeiffer debuted in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] as [[Janet van Dyne (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Janet van Dyne]], the original [[Wasp (comics)|Wasp]], in the ''Ant-Man'' (2015) sequel ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web|title=Ant-Man and the Wasp|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ant-manandthewasp.htm|access-date=July 12, 2018|website=Box Office Mojo|date=July 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=July 2, 2018|title='Ant-Man and the Wasp' Director on Wooing Michelle Pfeiffer and His Marvel Future|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ant-man-wasp-michelle-pfeiffer-had-be-convinced-join-1124434|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''<nowiki/>'''s [[Owen Gleiberman]] described her performance as "lovely" and "wistful",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/ant-man-and-the-wasp-review-paul-rudd-evangeline-lilly-1202858263/|title=Film Review: 'Ant-Man and the Wasp'|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|date=June 27, 2018|website=Variety|access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> while Josh Spiegel of [[/Film]] believed the film suffers from a lack of the actress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/ant-man-and-the-wasp-review/|title='Ant-Man and the Wasp' Review: Marvel Delivers a Fun and Funny Palate Cleanser|last=Spiegel|first=Josh|date=June 27, 2018|website=/Film|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, Pfeiffer briefly reprised the role in ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Ben|date=May 4, 2019|title=All of the cameos in Avengers: Endgame|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/avengers-endgame-cameos-marvel-character-callbacks/|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref> and starred alongside [[Angelina Jolie]] and [[Elle Fanning]] in the dark fantasy sequel ''[[Maleficent: Mistress of Evil]]'', playing the villainous Queen Ingrith.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Pfeiffer in Talks to Join Angelina Jolie in 'Maleficent 2' (Exclusive)|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/michelle-pfieffer-angelina-jolie-maleficent-2-1202786677|access-date=April 27, 2018|website=Variety|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Levack|first=Chandler|date=October 17, 2019|title=Disney's Meet the Fockers-esque Maleficent: Mistress of Evil casts the laziest kind of spell|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-disneys-meet-the-fockers-esque-maleficent-mistress-of-evil-casts-the/|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zoller Seitz|first=Matt|date=October 18, 2019|title=Maleficent: Mistress of Evil|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-movie-review-2019|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref> Despite the film earning mixed reviews,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mendelson|first=Scott|date=October 15, 2019|title=Review: 'Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil' Resembles The Offspring Of An Unholy Union Between 'Gargoyles,' 'Aquaman' And 'Avatar'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/10/15/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-angelina-jolie-ella-fanning-michelle-pfeiffer-review-walt-disney-aquaman-avatar-gargoyles-avengers-endgame-lion-king-aladdin-jungle-book/?sh=355e91442891|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[Forbes.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Travers|first=Peter|date=October 17, 2019|title='Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' Is a Melted, Wannabe 'Frozen'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-wannabe-frozen-900336/|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> ''[[The Plain Dealer]]''<nowiki/>'s Laura DeMarco felt that both Jolie and Pfeiffer "clearly relish their roles."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Laura|first=DeMarco|date=October 16, 2019|title=Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer magnificent in 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' (review)|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/10/angelina-jolie-and-michelle-pfeiffer-magnificent-in-maleficent-mistress-of-evil-review.html|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[The Plain Dealer]]}}</ref>

===2020s===
Pfeiffer headlined the dark comedy ''[[French Exit (2020 film)|French Exit]]'' (2020), based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by [[Patrick deWitt]], directed by [[Azazel Jacobs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Pfeiffer to Star in Azazel Jacobs' Dark Comedy 'French Exit'|url=https://collider.com/michelle-pfeiffer-french-exit-movie|access-date=April 9, 2019|website=Variety|date=April 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="frenchexit">{{cite web|title=Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Azazel Jacobs' 'French Exit' Starring Michelle Pfeiffer & Lucas Hedges|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/sony-pictures-classics-acquires-azazel-jacobs-french-exit-starring-michelle-pfeiffer-lucas-hedges-1202728772/|access-date=September 7, 2019|website=Deadline|date=September 7, 2019}}</ref> In the film, which co-stars [[Lucas Hedges]] and [[Tracy Letts]], Pfeiffer played a widow who moves to [[Paris, France]], with her son (Hedges) and cat, who happens to be her reincarnated husband (Letts).<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Tracy Letts Join 'French Exit' Comedy|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/michelle-pfeiffer-lucas-hedges-tracy-letts-french-exit-1203204689/|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=Deadline|date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[New York Film Festival]], to a positive reception.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 21, 2020|title=Interview: Michelle Pfeiffer on 'French Exit,' her new business and what she hated about the Catwoman costume|url=https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-ent-michelle-pfeiffer-interview-20201221-7flowdmumzg6vghwbotrzphuiq-story.html|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=[[The Morning Call]]}}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''Variety'' remarked that she gave a performance "for which she'll be remembered."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/french-exit-michelle-pfeiffer-lucas-hedges-new-york-film-festival-1234731557/|title='French Exit' With Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges to Close New York Film Festival|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Debruge |first=Peter |title='French Exit' Review: Michelle Pfeiffer Makes a Clean Break, Delivering a Role for Which She'll Be Remembered |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/french-exit-review-michelle-pfeiffer-1234800071/|date=October 10, 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref> Pfeiffer received a [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical]] for her performance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nominations for the 78th Golden Globe Awards (2021) Announced|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/2021-nominations-78th-golden-globe-awards-have-been-announced|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=Golden Globe Awards|date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>

Pfeiffer portrayed former First Lady [[Betty Ford]] in the anthology drama television series ''[[The First Lady (American TV series)|The First Lady]]'', which premiered on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] in April 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Pfeiffer To Star As Betty Ford In 'The First Lady', Susanne Bier To Direct Showtime Anthology Series|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/michelle-pfeiffer-betty-ford-the-first-lady-showtime-anthology-series-susanne-bier-direct-1234677863/|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=Deadline|date=January 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/the-first-lady-release-date-showtime/|title=Showtime's Anthology Series 'The First Lady,' About Three Iconic White House Women, Will Premiere in 2022|website=Collider|first=Drew|last=Baumgartner|date=August 24, 2021|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> The following year, she reprised the role of Janet van Dyne in ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-spoilers-michelle-pfeiffer-training/ |title=Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Star Michelle Pfeiffer Posts Intense Training Video |work=Comicbook.com |date=May 30, 2021 |access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref> [[Manohla Dargis]] declared her the film's M.V.P.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=February 17, 2023 |title='Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Review: Splat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/movies/ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-review.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213071939/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/movies/ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-review.html |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Pfeiffer is attached to star alongside [[Annette Bening]] in the psychological thriller, ''Turn of Mind'', set to be directed by [[Gideon Raff]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Annette Bening & Michelle Pfeiffer Team For Feature Adaptation Of Alice LaPlante's 'Turn Of Mind' – Cannes|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/annette-bening-michelle-pfeiffer-team-for-feature-adaptation-of-alice-laplantes-turn-of-mind-cannes-1202612446|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511013652/https://deadline.com/2019/05/annette-bening-michelle-pfeiffer-team-for-feature-adaptation-of-alice-laplantes-turn-of-mind-cannes-1202612446/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=Deadline|date=May 11, 2019}}</ref> In 2022, she was cast in ''Wild Four O'Clocks'', penned and directed by [[Peter Craig]], and produced by [[Marc Platt (producer)|Marc Platt]] and [[Adam Siegel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michelle-pfeiffer-wild-four-o-clocks-peter-craig-cannes-1235141960/|title=Michelle Pfeiffer to Lead 'Wild Four O'Clocks' for 'The Batman' Writer Peter Craig and 'La La Land,' 'Drive' Producers|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Alex|last=Ritman|date=May 6, 2022|access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>

On March 18, 2024, it was announced that Pfeiffer had been cast in the [[Amazon MGM Studios|Amazon MGM]] holiday comedy, ''[[Oh. What. Fun.]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/oh-what-fun-michelle-pfeiffer-michael-showalter-amazon-mgm-1235861503/|title=Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Showalter To Team For Amazon MGM Holiday Comedy 'Oh. What. Fun'|website=Deadline|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=March 18, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> On August 8, 2024, it was announced that she would star in, as well as executive produce, the ''[[Yellowstone (American TV series)|Yellowstone]]'' spin-off ''[[The Madison (TV series)|The Madison]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/michelle-pfeiffer-confirmed-taylor-sheridans-yellowstone-spinoff-madison-1236034518/|title=Michelle Pfeiffer Confirmed To Headline Taylor Sheridan's 'Yellowstone' Spinoff 'Madison'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=August 8, 2024|access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref> On September 23, 2024, it was announced that Pfeiffer would star alongside [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Elle Fanning]] in the [[Apple TV+]] television series, ''[[Margo's Got Money Troubles]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/michelle-pfeiffer-elle-fanning-nicole-kidman-apple-tv-series-margos-got-money-troubles-1236153542|title= Michelle Pfeiffer Joins Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman in Apple TV+ Series 'Margo's Got Money Troubles'|website=Variety|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=September 23, 2024}}</ref>