10 Underrated Movies by Matt Smith You Must See

Matt Smith is famous for big roles on the small screen, but his film work is full of surprising turns that do not always get the spotlight they deserve. Across indie dramas, intense thrillers, and eerie horror stories, he keeps finding new shades to play. If you only know him from one role, these films show how far his range really goes.

This list focuses on performances that slipped past a lot of people or were overshadowed by louder releases. Each pick highlights a different side of what he can do, from quiet heartbreak to magnetic menace. Settle in and find your next favorite.

‘Womb’ (2010)

In ‘Womb’ he leans into a delicate kind of sci fi romance that feels more like a moral fable than a genre piece. The story’s intimacy lets him play longing and uncertainty with patient detail, and his chemistry with the lead gives the film a tender pulse.

What makes this one underrated is how gentle it is. It asks hard questions through small choices and stolen looks, and his performance keeps those questions human and fragile rather than cold or clinical.

‘Lost River’ (2014)

‘Lost River’ is a dreamlike urban fable with a pulsing sense of danger, and Smith dives in as a swaggering local tyrant. He turns menace into performance art with sharp physical beats and a voice that cuts through the neon haze.

The movie is strange and moody, which means many people missed it. His work is a standout because he commits without winking, giving the story a fierce energy that makes the whole world feel alive.

‘Mapplethorpe’ (2018)

In ‘Mapplethorpe’ he portrays the photographer with a mix of elegance and restless curiosity. The role asks for transformation on the surface and underneath, and he brings both with quiet control.

The film favors intimacy over spectacle, which lets him build a person rather than a statue. It is absorbing to watch him find the art in the man and the man in the art, one choice at a time.

‘Charlie Says’ (2018)

‘Charlie Says’ avoids cheap thrills and instead studies the pull of a dangerous figure. Smith plays Charles Manson with an unsettling calm that hints at how charisma can bend a room.

He does not overplay a single moment. The control in his choices makes the influence feel real, and that steady pressure is what lingers after the credits.

‘Patient Zero’ (2018)

‘Patient Zero’ pairs grim stakes with quick dialogue, and Smith anchors the pace with sharp timing. He balances urgency with a sly, weary wit that gives the film a spark whenever he is on screen.

The release flew under the radar, but there is fun genre craft here. His performance is the glue, carrying scenes that shift from tense to playful without losing momentum.

‘Official Secrets’ (2019)

In ‘Official Secrets’ he steps into the role of a dogged journalist, all focus and nerve. The movie lives in phone calls, meetings, and tight rooms, and he brings a steady charge to each one.

It is a film about choices made in the light of day, and his presence keeps that light sharp. Without noise or fuss, he makes persistence feel cinematic.

‘His House’ (2020)

‘His House’ is a haunted story about memory and belonging. Smith shows up with a clipped authority that fits the setting and adds another layer of unease to the couple’s ordeal.

His role is not large, yet it lands. By staying grounded and practical, he makes the supernatural horror feel closer and more personal.

‘The Forgiven’ (2022)

In ‘The Forgiven’ he glides through a world of privilege as a charming fixer who always seems to know the next move. The performance is smooth on the surface with flickers of calculation underneath.

He gives the story a social rhythm that keeps scenes bustling. It is the kind of part that can vanish in the mix, and he makes it memorable.

‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ (2016)

‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ is playful and offbeat, and Smith steals scenes with crisp comedic timing. His take on a familiar character is delightfully awkward in all the right ways.

Comedy needs commitment, and he goes all in. The result is light and lively, a perfect palate cleanser that shows how nimble he can be.

‘Starve Acre’ (2023)

‘Starve Acre’ leans into folk horror with a quiet chill. Smith plays a man wrestling with grief and old stories, and he gives that inner storm a careful, lived in shape.

The mood builds slowly, and he carries it with small shifts in posture and voice. By the end you feel the weight of what has been lost and what might be waiting in the soil.

Share your own underrated Matt Smith picks in the comments.