Let’s face it: Reese Witherspoon could have continued to be queen of the romantic comedy indefinitely. But rather than following the scripts Hollywood had given her, she chose to write her script—literally. Frustrated by the absence of multifaceted women’s roles, she initiated Hello Sunshine and began producing the type of stories she was passionate about. Flash-forward a few years, and her production company is a force behind some of the most water-cooler-heated shows and movies in recent history. If your Renaissance has been filled with complex female leads and bestseller adaptations, there’s a good chance Reese was involved. Below are 10 of the most notable projects she’s produced, ranging from modest passion projects to full-fledged cultural phenomena.
10. Master the Mess
Before ruling prestige TV, Reese ventured into the realm of unscripted entertainment. Master the Mess featured professional organizers organizing celebrity houses—brief but sweet. It revealed Reese’s initial fascination with lifestyle programming and passion for order, which preceded her future partnership with The Home Edit team.
9. Where the Crawdads Sing
Based on Delia Owens’ bestselling novel, this atmospheric murder mystery brought the marshes to the big screen. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kya, a woman accused of murdering her lover. It divided critics, but audiences flocked to see it, showing that Reese knows how to take a popular book and make it mainstream.
8. From Scratch
Need a good cry? This miniseries, based on Tembi Locke’s memoir and featuring Zoe Saldaña, offers romance, sorrow, and stunning Italian landscapes. It’s poignant and heartfelt, and it showcases Reese’s commitment to supporting stories that are representative of diverse voices and emotional complexity.
7. Truth Be Told
True-crime enthusiasts, this one is for you. Octavia Spencer stars as a podcaster revisiting an old murder case, walking the line between justice and obsession. With three seasons on Apple TV+, the show demonstrates that Reese’s producing abilities stretch far beyond book club fare and dramas.
6. Wild
Reese doesn’t only labor behind the scenes—she occasionally moves into the frame, as well. In Wild, which is based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, she portrays a woman who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail to recover from addiction and grief. The gritty, unflashy performance won her an Oscar nod and made the movie one of her most intimate and impactful endeavors.
5. Gone Girl
When Gone Girl opened in theaters, it was a cultural lightning rod. Based on Gillian Flynn’s bestseller, the thriller left everyone asking questions about marriage, trust, and themselves. Rosamund Pike’s icy turn became a cultural touchstone, and Reese’s producing acumen demonstrated she had a talent for tales that stimulate discussion.
4. Little Fires Everywhere
This Hulu drama teamed Reese with Kerry Washington for a sizzling story of motherhood, privilege, and race in Ohio in the 1990s. The miniseries sparked hundreds of think pieces and book club discussions, demonstrating that Reese’s team wasn’t merely pursuing hits—it was producing must-talk-about cultural events.
3. Big Little Lies
Few programs dominated the zeitgeist as did Big Little Lies. With its ensemble cast of Reese, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep, this coastal drama combined dark secrets with keen writing. It was initially conceived as a limited series, but its popularity required a second season, making it one of HBO’s defining shows of the decade.
2. The Morning Show
Apple TV+ launched with a bang on The Morning Show, a shiny drama about the cutthroat environment of morning news. Reese joined forces with Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell in a show that delves into ambition, power, and responsibility. Addictive and timely in equal measure, it helped cement Reese’s status as a player in streaming.
1. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2024 Reboot)
The feel-good classic got a modern refresh, this time produced by Hello Sunshine. With Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin from The Home Edit as hosts, the reboot blends heartwarming home transformations with smart organizational magic. It’s the perfect mix of nostalgia and fresh energy—proof that Reese can balance entertainment with inspiration.
What holds these projects together? Reese’s relentless passion for putting women’s stories front and center, her knack for book-to-screen success, and her talent for developing shows that people can’t stop talking about. Whether she’s making you cry, watch everything in one sitting, or restock your pantry, Reese Witherspoon has shown that she is not merely an actress—she is a tastemaker dictating what we all love to watch.