The 10 Most Underrated Tilda Swinton Movies, Ranked (From Least to Most Underrated)

Tilda Swinton has a filmography that stretches across genres, languages, and eras. She has worked with visionary directors, taken on daring roles, and built a body of work that rewards a closer look. Many of her finest turns sit slightly off the beaten path, tucked inside films that cinephiles love and casual viewers sometimes miss.

This list gathers ten titles that showcase range and craft while staying a bit under the radar. It counts down to the most underrated pick using a simple approach that puts the strongest consensus favorites at the top. Each entry includes clear details to help you decide what to watch next and where each film fits in her career.

‘Young Adam’ (2003)

David Mackenzie directs this adaptation of Alexander Trocchi’s novel, set on the canals between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Tilda Swinton plays Ella opposite Ewan McGregor and Emily Mortimer in a stark story of labor, desire, and guilt along a barge crew’s daily grind. The film explores the fallout of a mysterious death and how shifting loyalties complicate the investigation.

Production took place around the Scottish canal system with a spare visual style that leans on natural light and muted tones. The film features a measured score and deliberate pacing that reflect the waterway setting. Swinton’s role anchors the domestic side of the story while the script follows the discovery of a body, a police inquiry, and the slow reveal of past choices.

‘A Bigger Splash’ (2015)

Luca Guadagnino’s island-set drama places Tilda Swinton as Marianne Lane, a rock star recovering her voice while vacationing on Pantelleria. The quiet retreat is interrupted by the arrival of a former flame played by Ralph Fiennes, with Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson rounding out the quartet. The film examines tangled relationships and the tension that grows inside a secluded house.

The production makes vivid use of volcanic landscapes and sunbaked locations, with cinematography by Yorick Le Saux. The story is loosely inspired by the French film ‘La Piscine’ and shifts between English and Italian. Swinton’s character communicates with minimal dialogue for long stretches, and the narrative leans on body language, music cues, and shifting dynamics at close range.

‘The Souvenir’ (2019)

Joanna Hogg’s autobiographical drama casts Honor Swinton Byrne as Julie, a film student who falls into a complex relationship with a man named Anthony. Tilda Swinton plays Rosalind, Julie’s mother, offering a grounded presence as the story tracks creative ambition and personal cost. The film uses letters, phone calls, and scraps of student work to trace how an artist begins.

The film premiered to strong festival attention and later reached wider audiences through specialty distribution. It was shot in a style that favors long takes and carefully composed interiors, with production design that recreates a student flat and film school spaces. The project became the first chapter of a two-part story that continues in ‘The Souvenir Part II’.

‘The Eternal Daughter’ (2022)

Joanna Hogg returns with a ghostly chamber piece led by Tilda Swinton in dual roles as both mother and daughter. The story follows a trip to a nearly empty country hotel where memories surface through quiet conversations, sleepless nights, and small disturbances. The setting functions as a character, with fog, corridors, and creaking floors shaping the mood.

Filming took place in Wales with a minimal crew and a contained location that supports the film’s intimate scale. The release rolled out through festivals before a limited theatrical run. Swinton’s double casting was achieved through careful blocking, stand-in work, and visual effects that allow the two characters to share scenes without distracting flourishes.

‘The Deep End’ (2001)

Scott McGehee and David Siegel adapt ‘The Blank Wall’ by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding and shift the action to Lake Tahoe. Tilda Swinton plays Margaret Hall, a mother who discovers a body near her home and moves to protect her family as dangerous visitors close in. The film weaves domestic routine with a tightening thriller plot that avoids sensational beats.

The production builds tension through naturalistic lighting and a restrained score by Peter Nashel. Swinton received major awards attention for the role, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. The film’s title refers to both the lake setting and the sudden plunge into circumstances that demand quick decisions, quiet coverups, and uneasy alliances.

‘I Am Love’ (2009)

Luca Guadagnino crafts a Milan-set family saga with Tilda Swinton as Emma Recchi, a woman who married into an industrial dynasty and begins to pursue a new life. The script moves through kitchens, boardrooms, and country gardens as shifting control of a family business runs alongside a private awakening. The camera follows meals, parties, and seasons with a close eye on ritual.

The film features an original score drawing on the work of John Adams, used with the composer’s cooperation after early temp tracks guided the edit. Swinton speaks Italian throughout and collaborated on the development of the character’s background and accent. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design and helped launch a long creative partnership between the director and star.

‘Julia’ (2008)

Erick Zonca directs this gritty character study with Tilda Swinton as Julia Harris, a woman whose impulsive scheme spirals into criminal territory. The story begins in Southern California and crosses the border as plans go wrong and new dangers appear. The film tracks a chain of choices with a handheld camera style that places viewers close to the action.

The production shot on location across multiple cities, blending English and Spanish dialogue. The film premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival and later toured the festival circuit. Swinton’s performance involves extended sequences behind the wheel, scenes in motels and warehouses, and confrontations that unfold without neat resolutions.

‘Orlando’ (1992)

Sally Potter adapts Virginia Woolf’s novel and casts Tilda Swinton as a noble who lives for centuries and changes sex midway through life. The film moves from the Elizabethan court to later eras while keeping the protagonist ageless and observant. The narrative uses direct address to the camera and playful staging to carry the audience across time.

The production shot at locations including Hatfield House and St Petersburg, with elaborate costumes and sets that earned two Academy Award nominations. The score by David Motion and Sally Potter supports the period transitions without locking the film into a single style. The adaptation keeps key passages from the novel while streamlining episodes to fit a feature structure.

‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ (2013)

Jim Jarmusch writes and directs this nocturnal romance with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as centuries-old partners who reunite in Detroit and Tangier. The film follows late night drives, vinyl sessions, and quiet conversations as the pair manage dwindling supplies and avoid drawing attention. The supporting cast includes Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, and Jeffrey Wright.

The music plays a core role, with Jozef van Wissem’s compositions shaping the film’s pulse. Production used real Detroit locations and rooftops in Tangier to emphasize empty streets and layered history. The film premiered at Cannes and received a soundtrack award, and its release expanded through art house venues after a strong festival run.

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ (2011)

Lynne Ramsay adapts Lionel Shriver’s novel with Tilda Swinton as Eva, the mother of a boy whose actions scar a community. The film uses a non linear structure that moves between present and past as Eva confronts isolation, memory, and the aftermath of violence. Ezra Miller and Jasper Newell portray Kevin at different ages, with John C Reilly as the father.

The shoot employed bold color motifs and meticulous sound design to link scenes across timelines. The film premiered at Cannes and later earned Swinton nominations from major awards bodies, including the Golden Globes and BAFTA. The release maintained an international footprint and found its audience through critical attention and specialty screenings.

Share your favorites from this list in the comments and tell us which other Tilda Swinton films deserve more love.