10 Underrated Films by Diego Luna You Must See

Diego Luna is a Mexican actor and filmmaker whose work stretches across Latin American cinema and Hollywood. He has performed in Spanish and English and has moved between independent features and major studio productions with ease. He also directs and produces, which gives his filmography a wide range of genres and collaborators.

This list highlights ten films that many viewers overlook when they think about his career. You will find crime stories, cross border romances, animation, and thrillers. For each title you get clear details on roles, settings, and production notes so you can decide what to watch next.

‘Nicotina’ (2003)

Luna plays Lolo, a young hacker in Mexico City who gets pulled into a scheme involving a stolen data disc and a ring of petty criminals. The story unfolds over one night and ties together apartment neighbors, small time crooks, and a chain of mishaps that spiral out of control.

The film was directed by Hugo Rodríguez and features an ensemble that includes Marta Higareda and Daniel Giménez Cacho. It mixes Spanish and slang heavy dialogue, uses tight interior locations, and relies on real city streets to ground the heist plot in a familiar urban setting.

‘Criminal’ (2004)

Set in Los Angeles, Luna plays Rodrigo, a con artist who teams up with a seasoned swindler played by John C Reilly for a fast moving scam involving a rare bank note. The narrative follows their long day of cons, double crosses, and quick improvisation across hotel floors and casino counters.

The film is a remake of the Argentine hit ‘Nine Queens’ and was directed by Gregory Jacobs. It stays close to the original structure while relocating the action to Southern California and adds supporting turns by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Mullan to anchor the new setting.

‘Only God Knows’ (2006)

Luna stars as Salvador, a Mexican journalist who crosses paths with Dolores, a Brazilian student played by Alice Braga, after a chance encounter in Tijuana. Their relationship moves from the border to South America as both characters confront family ties and questions of faith.

Directed by Carlos Bolado, the production shot in Tijuana, Mexico City, and coastal and urban locations in Brazil. The film uses Spanish and Portuguese, reflects border culture and migration routes, and builds its road movie structure on real neighborhoods and transit corridors.

‘The Night Buffalo’ (2007)

Luna plays Manuel, a young man drawn into the aftermath of a friend’s suicide and the secrets that surface among their circle in Mexico City. The story looks at obsession, betrayal, and the uneven line between truth and memory as Manuel unravels what really happened.

Based on a novel by Guillermo Arriaga, the film was directed by Jorge Hernández Aldana and filmed in busy urban districts and private residences to heighten its intimate tone. The cast includes Camila Sodi and Liz Gallardo, and the screenplay keeps the source material’s shifting viewpoints.

‘Rudo & Cursi’ (2008)

Luna plays Tato, a banana plantation worker discovered by a soccer scout along with his brother, played by Gael García Bernal. The plot follows both men as they leap from a rural pitch to professional stadiums where contracts, fame, and family rivalry test their bond.

Directed by Carlos Cuarón, the film uses real stadiums, club facilities, and training grounds to stage matches and media scenes. It features the scout character Batuta, played by Guillermo Francella, and blends locker room detail with music and television spots that mirror the sports world.

‘Contraband’ (2012)

Luna appears as Gonzalo, a Panama based criminal who becomes a key figure in a smuggling run organized by a former contraband expert played by Mark Wahlberg. The plot moves between New Orleans docks and Panamanian ports as crews arrange counterfeit cash and evade law enforcement.

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, the film combines practical shipboard locations with city streets and industrial sites. The cast includes Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, and J K Simmons, and the production stages cargo operations and customs inspections with on site logistics.

‘The Book of Life’ (2014)

Luna voices Manolo Sánchez, a musician and reluctant bullfighter who journeys through fantastical realms inspired by Mexican folk art. The story follows a love triangle with characters voiced by Zoe Saldaña and Channing Tatum and draws on traditions associated with Day of the Dead.

Directed by Jorge R Gutiérrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro, the animated feature uses stylized wooden puppet designs and vibrant digital sets. The music includes work by Gustavo Santaolalla along with familiar songs reimagined for the film, and the cast features Kate del Castillo, Ron Perlman, and Christina Applegate.

‘Freeheld’ (2015)

Luna plays Jesús, an advocate who works alongside a couple seeking equal pension benefits after one partner receives a life changing diagnosis. The drama centers on legal strategy, public hearings, and union rules as a county office resists a change in policy.

Directed by Peter Sollett, the film adapts the earlier documentary also titled ‘Freeheld’ and was shot in New York and New Jersey locations that mirror the real case. The cast includes Julianne Moore, Elliot Page, Michael Shannon, and Steve Carell, and the production stages council meetings and press events with procedural detail.

‘Mr. Pig’ (2016)

Directed by Luna, the film follows Ambrose, an aging farmer played by Danny Glover, who drives to Mexico to sell a prized hog. His daughter, played by Maya Rudolph, joins the trip as father and child negotiate sales, veterinary checks, and border paperwork while on the road.

The production filmed on rural routes, small farms, and local markets in Mexico. It premiered at a major festival and uses Spanish and English dialogue, with regional music and roadside stops that highlight the agricultural economy that frames the characters’ journey.

‘Flatliners’ (2017)

Luna plays Ray, a medical student who joins a group experimenting with brief stops of cardiac activity to study near death experiences. The experiments lead to clinical procedures in a teaching hospital where the group records brain activity and monitors vital signs.

Directed by Niels Arden Oplev, the film was shot in Toronto using university buildings and hospital sets. The ensemble includes Elliot Page, Nina Dobrev, James Norton, Kiersey Clemons, and Kiefer Sutherland, and the production combines practical effects with digital work for resuscitation scenes.

Share your favorite underseen Diego Luna performances in the comments and tell everyone which titles you plan to watch next.