The 10 Most Underrated Rachel McAdams Movies, Ranked (From Least to Most Underrated)

Some Rachel McAdams performances sit quietly beside the big crowd pleasers in her filmography. These are the films where she shapes a story in smart ways and leaves details you notice on a second watch. The focus here is on projects that did not dominate the conversation at the time yet give a clear look at how versatile she can be.

Below are ten films arranged as a countdown. Each entry notes who she plays, what the film is about, and a few concrete production or release details. This way you can jump to the ones you missed and know exactly what you are getting into.

‘The Family Stone’ (2005)

Rachel McAdams plays Amy Stone, the sharp younger sister in a New England family that gathers for the holidays when the eldest brother brings his girlfriend home. The film mixes family ritual with romantic complications and sets much of the action inside the Stone house, using a warm, lived in layout to track shifting loyalties across rooms and mealtimes.

Thomas Bezucha directs an ensemble that includes Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, and Claire Danes. It was shot in Connecticut, used a real residence for the exterior of the family home, and earned a solid worldwide gross while finding a long afterlife on seasonal TV rotations.

‘Morning Glory’ (2010)

McAdams leads as Becky Fuller, a young producer hired to revive a struggling New York morning show. The story follows her push to pair a serious news veteran with an upbeat co host and how that clash of styles changes the show’s format segment by segment.

Roger Michell directs from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna, with Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton costarring. Location work took place around Midtown studios and real city streets, the production recreated control room workflows with working switchers, and the film drew steady box office returns for a workplace comedy.

‘Red Eye’ (2005)

She stars as Lisa Reisert, a hotel manager who boards a late night flight and is forced into a plot that targets a high profile government guest. Much of the tension plays out inside a narrow airplane cabin where seat maps, aisle traffic, and lavatory doors become part of the suspense.

Wes Craven directs with Cillian Murphy as the antagonist. The crew built detailed plane interiors on gimbals to simulate turbulence and takeoffs, the script times key beats to actual flight procedures, and the movie delivered a strong worldwide gross relative to its compact budget.

‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’ (2020)

McAdams plays Sigrit Ericksdóttir, one half of an Icelandic duo that makes a surprising run at the Eurovision stage. The plot tracks rehearsals, national selection, and the grand final, weaving real contest elements into the fictional journey.

David Dobkin directs with Will Ferrell as her bandmate, and production filmed in Iceland and Scotland with cameos from former Eurovision entrants. The soundtrack features original songs recorded with the Swedish vocalist Molly Sandén as the primary singing voice blended with McAdams on select cues, and the breakout ballad earned high profile awards recognition.

‘Disobedience’ (2017)

She appears as Esti Kuperman, a schoolteacher in a North London Orthodox Jewish community who reconnects with a childhood friend after a family loss. The film explores religious custom, community boundaries, and marriage vows through patient, intimate scenes rather than large set pieces.

Sebastián Lelio directs, adapting Naomi Alderman’s novel with Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola costarring. The production worked with consultants on ritual accuracy, premiered at a major Canadian festival, and expanded in stages across art house venues with strong platform legs.

‘A Most Wanted Man’ (2014)

McAdams plays Annabel Richter, an idealistic civil rights lawyer in Hamburg who becomes involved with a stateless man seeking asylum. The story maps banks, ports, and safe houses as competing services try to manage a potential source inside the city.

Anton Corbijn directs from John le Carré’s novel with Philip Seymour Hoffman leading a cast that includes Willem Dafoe, Daniel Brühl, and Nina Hoss. Location shooting in Germany uses real harbor infrastructure and transit nodes, and the film became one of Hoffman’s final released performances, drawing close attention at specialty theaters.

‘Game Night’ (2018)

She plays Annie, whose weekly game group is pulled into what looks like an elaborate murder mystery party and then slides into real criminal trouble. The plot uses suburban settings, escape routes, and a one take staircase sequence to stage escalating set pieces.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein direct with Jason Bateman, Kyle Chandler, and Jesse Plemons in key roles. Filming took place in Georgia with practical effects for many gags, test screenings fine tuned the timing of running bits, and the film delivered a healthy worldwide gross for an original studio comedy.

‘State of Play’ (2009)

McAdams portrays Della Frye, a Capitol beat blogger assigned to work with a veteran reporter on a murder investigation that hits close to political power. The narrative tracks source meetings, editorial calls, and newsroom deadlines alongside congressional hearings and private security ties.

Kevin Macdonald directs an American remake of the British miniseries with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Helen Mirren rounding out the leads. Production shot around Washington and in newsroom builds that matched real paper layouts, and the release earned solid reviews for procedural detail and cast chemistry.

‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ (2023)

She plays Barbara Simon, an artist and mother who moves her family to the suburbs while her daughter navigates new friends, school, and questions about faith. The film keeps its focus on daily life at home and in the classroom, with careful attention to family routines and small choices that shape a child’s year.

Kelly Fremon Craig adapts the Judy Blume novel with Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret and Kathy Bates as the grandmother. James L. Brooks produces, the shoot used neighborhood locations that match the period setting, and the film drew widespread critical praise along with strong audience scores during its theatrical run and later digital release.

‘About Time’ (2013)

McAdams plays Mary opposite Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, whose family secret allows him to relive moments and make different choices. The story follows dating, career steps, and family milestones, using the time conceit to revisit ordinary days rather than large scale events.

Richard Curtis writes and directs with Bill Nighy as Tim’s father. Key locations include London streets and seaside spots in Cornwall, the soundtrack blends contemporary tracks with a warm score, and the film built steady worldwide earnings that grew further through streaming and word of mouth.

Share your picks for overlooked Rachel McAdams films in the comments so we can compare notes.