The 10 Most Underrated Brie Larson Movies, Ranked (from Least to Most Underrated)

Brie Larson’s filmography stretches from indie dramas and festival discoveries to major studio releases. Beyond the biggest titles people tend to cite first, she has appeared in a wide range of projects—starring, supporting, and sometimes directing—that showcase how often she gravitates toward character-driven stories, ambitious ideas, or distinctive filmmakers.

This countdown highlights ten films featuring Larson that many viewers miss when they look back at her career. Arranged from the lower-ranked entries up to the highest, it focuses on concrete details—who made them, what they’re about, where they premiered, how they were released, and the roles she played—so you can decide which ones to add next to your watchlist.

‘Basmati Blues’ (2017)

Co-written and directed by Dan Baron, ‘Basmati Blues’ is a musical romantic comedy in which Brie Larson plays Linda, a scientist sent to India to promote a genetically engineered rice developed by her company. The film was shot several years before its release and features original musical numbers performed by the cast, with location work incorporating markets, trains, and rural villages to frame the story’s fish-out-of-water premise.

The production pairs Larson with co-stars including Utkarsh Ambudkar, Donald Sutherland, and Scott Bakula, and mixes English- and Hindi-language lyrics in the soundtrack. Released in select territories before arriving on digital platforms, it drew attention for its long path to distribution and for blending a lab-setting setup with a classic song-and-dance structure.

‘Hoot’ (2006)

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s young adult novel and directed by Wil Shriner, ‘Hoot’ follows three Florida teens trying to protect a colony of burrowing owls from a construction project. Brie Larson plays Beatrice “The Bear” Leep, a soccer-playing classmate who becomes a key ally in the trio’s efforts to document environmental violations and outmaneuver local officials.

The film was produced by Walden Media and New Line Cinema and shot largely on location in Florida to capture coastal communities and wetlands central to the plot. With a cast that includes Logan Lerman and Cody Linley, the movie integrates conservation themes into a family-adventure framework, using school settings, news coverage, and municipal hearings as story engines.

‘Unicorn Store’ (2019)

‘Unicorn Store’ marks Brie Larson’s feature directorial debut and stars her as Kit, an art-school dropout invited to a mysterious “store” that promises to fulfill a childhood wish. The script by Samantha McIntyre structures the story around a series of tasks and purchases, while the production design builds a bright, craft-heavy visual motif that contrasts with Kit’s temp-office reality.

The film was produced by Rhea Films and 51 Entertainment with cinematography by Brett Pawlak, and it reunites Larson with Samuel L. Jackson, who plays the store’s enigmatic proprietor. After premiering at a major fall festival, it reached worldwide audiences via a streaming release, bringing wider attention to Larson’s behind-the-camera work and to the movie’s emphasis on mentorship, work, and creativity.

‘Rampart’ (2011)

Directed by Oren Moverman from a story by James Ellroy and Moverman, ‘Rampart’ centers on an embattled Los Angeles police officer during a period of departmental scandal. Brie Larson appears as Helen, the elder daughter of the protagonist, in scenes that map family breakdown onto the film’s broader portrait of legal jeopardy, media scrutiny, and internal affairs investigations.

Shot on Los Angeles locations with a handheld, observational style, the film features an ensemble that includes Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Robin Wright, and Sigourney Weaver. The production uses legal consultations, ride-along sequences, and disciplinary hearings to stage its narrative, and it toured the festival circuit before a limited theatrical rollout.

‘Tanner Hall’ (2009)

Co-written and co-directed by Tatiana von Fürstenberg and Francesca Gregorini, ‘Tanner Hall’ is a boarding-school drama about four friends navigating family pressures and shifting loyalties. Brie Larson plays Kate, one corner of the ensemble alongside Rooney Mara, Georgia King, and Amy Ferguson, with the movie structuring its story through dorm life, classes, and off-campus visits that escalate the characters’ conflicts.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and later opened in select theaters, with production taking place primarily in New England to stand in for the fictional school. Its soundtrack, costuming, and diary-style interludes emphasize the characters’ coming-of-age timeline, while faculty interactions and parent meetings frame the decisions the students face.

‘Free Fire’ (2016)

Directed by Ben Wheatley and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, ‘Free Fire’ is a single-location action comedy about an arms deal in a Boston warehouse that explodes into a prolonged shootout. Brie Larson plays Justine, the intermediary who brings the parties together, and the movie’s choreography emphasizes geography and timing as characters barter, betray, and scramble for cover.

The production, mounted by Rook Films and filmed largely in Brighton, UK, employs period styling, extensive stunt coordination, and practical effects to orchestrate its extended gunfight. Co-stars include Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley, and Jack Reynor, with the narrative unfolding in near-real time as shifting alliances and radio communications complicate the exchange.

‘The Glass Castle’ (2017)

Adapted from Jeannette Walls’s bestselling memoir and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, ‘The Glass Castle’ follows Walls’s upbringing in a nomadic family led by unconventional parents. Brie Larson portrays Jeannette across her young-adult years, while child actors fill earlier chapters; the film intercuts New York City scenes with flashbacks that track moves through the American Southwest and Appalachia.

The movie was produced by Lionsgate and features Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts as Jeannette’s parents. Production took place in Montreal and rural locations replicating mining towns and desert landscapes, with period-accurate costuming and vehicles. The release included theatrical exhibition in North America and other markets, accompanied by interviews with Walls discussing the adaptation process.

‘The Spectacular Now’ (2013)

Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on Tim Tharp’s novel, ‘The Spectacular Now’ follows a hard-partying high-school senior whose relationships force him to reconsider his trajectory. Brie Larson appears as Cassidy, the ex-girlfriend whose breakup sets off the protagonist’s subsequent choices, and the film builds its character arcs through school events, part-time jobs, and college-application milestones.

Shot in Georgia with naturalistic lighting and a compact shooting schedule, the production pairs Larson with Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, and Kaitlyn Dever. The film premiered at Sundance, secured distribution shortly thereafter, and received a platform release that expanded to additional cities, with key creative roles—editing, music, and cinematography—geared toward a grounded teen-drama aesthetic.

‘Just Mercy’ (2019)

‘Just Mercy’ is a legal drama directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and adapted from Bryan Stevenson’s nonfiction account of founding the Equal Justice Initiative. Brie Larson plays Eva Ansley, who organizes the Montgomery office that supports Stevenson’s early cases, and the film dramatizes casework through client interviews, court filings, prison visits, and appeals before Alabama judges.

Backed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the production shot in Georgia and Alabama to depict courtroom interiors and period-specific neighborhoods. The cast includes Michael B. Jordan as Stevenson and Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian, and the film’s release included a limited opening followed by a wider expansion, with screenings arranged in partnership with advocacy groups to accompany public conversations.

‘Short Term 12’ (2013)

Written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and expanded from his earlier short, ‘Short Term 12’ is set in a group home for teens, where a young supervisor navigates staff duties and the needs of residents. Brie Larson stars as Grace, whose daily routines—intake interviews, shift handoffs, home visits, and incident reports—structure the story’s look at the facility’s procedures and challenges.

The film was produced by Animal Kingdom and shot in and around Los Angeles on a modest budget, with handheld camerawork and close-quarters staging to reflect the center’s environment. Its ensemble includes John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Lakeith Stanfield, Rami Malek, and Stephanie Beatriz, and it won top prizes at SXSW before rolling out theatrically through an indie distributor.

Share your picks and where you’d place them in the countdown in the comments!