The 10 Most Underrated Angelina Jolie Movies, Ranked (From Least To Most underrated)

Angelina Jolie’s filmography stretches across thrillers, dramas, romances, and war stories. She has led global blockbusters and intimate passion projects, switching between starring turns and ensemble pieces with the same focus. Tucked between the headlines and the hits are titles that show how often she has taken sharp left turns and worked with distinctive directors in very different settings.

This list gathers ten films that highlight range through factual context. You will find who directed each project, where it was set or filmed, which co stars shared the screen, and how the films were released or recognized. The countdown flows to a clear number one based on objective information about how audiences scored these movies over time.

‘By the Sea’ (2015)

Written and directed by Angelina Jolie, ‘By the Sea’ follows a couple named Vanessa and Roland in a 1970s seaside town. Brad Pitt co stars, with Mélanie Laurent and Niels Arestrup in supporting roles. The production filmed largely on the island of Gozo in Malta, using coastal locations that doubled for France. The story is set during a retreat at a quiet hotel where the couple crosses paths with newlyweds and finds a literal window into other lives.

The film premiered at AFI Fest in November 2015 and then opened in limited release. Running approximately two hours, it features an original score by Gabriel Yared and period costuming that matches the mid seventies setting. It was produced by Plan B Entertainment and Jolie Pas Productions and released by Universal Pictures.

‘Pushing Tin’ (1999)

‘Pushing Tin’ is directed by Mike Newell and centers on air traffic controllers working the New York terminal radar approach control. John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton lead the cast, with Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett in key roles. Jolie plays Mary Bell and appears in a story inspired by a magazine feature about the pressure filled world of controllers.

The film opened in 1999 with location work in the Toronto area and New York. It runs a little over two hours and includes music by Anne Dudley. The screenplay by Glen Charles and Les Charles adapts material based on reporting about the TRACON environment and shows procedures and jargon used by controllers at the time.

‘Taking Lives’ (2004)

Directed by D. J. Caruso, ‘Taking Lives’ casts Angelina Jolie as FBI profiler Illeana Scott. Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Olivier Martinez, and Gena Rowlands round out the principal cast. The story follows an investigation in Montreal that connects a series of murders to a suspect who assumes the identities of victims.

The production filmed in Montreal and Quebec City with key scenes set in museums and along city streets to match the Canadian setting. The theatrical cut runs about 103 minutes, and an unrated extended version was later issued on home video with additional scenes. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Michael Pye.

‘Beyond Borders’ (2003)

‘Beyond Borders’ is directed by Martin Campbell and stars Angelina Jolie as Sarah Jordan, a London based socialite who becomes involved in humanitarian work. Clive Owen co stars as Dr Nick Callahan. The story tracks aid efforts over several years in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Chechnya and incorporates details drawn from field operations and refugee camp logistics.

The film was released in 2003 after shooting on location in Namibia and Thailand to stand in for multiple regions. James Horner composed the score. The production consulted with relief experts on transportation, security, and medical supply issues to stage convoy sequences and camp settings. The running time is just over two hours.

‘The Good Shepherd’ (2006)

Directed by Robert De Niro, ‘The Good Shepherd’ follows the early decades of American intelligence work. Matt Damon plays Edward Wilson and Angelina Jolie plays Margaret Clover Wilson. The cast also includes Robert De Niro, William Hurt, Alec Baldwin, and Michael Gambon. The plot spans pre war college societies through World War II and into the Cold War, tracking the formation of a security culture inside the Central Intelligence Agency.

Released in December 2006, the film runs about 167 minutes in its theatrical version. Cinematography is by Robert Richardson, and the score is by Bruce Fowler and Marcelo Zarvos. The production used New York and Connecticut locations to recreate mid twentieth century government offices and European backdrops and built period interiors for agency and embassy scenes.

‘A Mighty Heart’ (2007)

Michael Winterbottom directs ‘A Mighty Heart’, adapted from Mariane Pearl’s memoir about the 2002 kidnapping of journalist Daniel Pearl. Angelina Jolie portrays Mariane Pearl, with Dan Futterman as Daniel Pearl and Irrfan Khan as a senior Pakistani investigator. The film reconstructs reporting networks, embassy channels, and police work during the search documented in the source book.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007 and was released in theaters the following month. Jolie received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her performance. The production shot in Pakistan, India, and France and employed a handheld visual style. The running time is about 108 minutes and the film was released by Paramount Vantage in association with Plan B Entertainment.

‘The Bone Collector’ (1999)

‘The Bone Collector’ is directed by Phillip Noyce and is based on the novel by Jeffery Deaver. Denzel Washington stars as forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme, and Angelina Jolie plays patrol officer Amelia Donaghy. The investigation focuses on a serial killer who leaves forensic clues that reference historical crime methods and locations around New York City.

The film opened in November 1999 and runs close to two hours. It grossed more than 100 million dollars worldwide and helped establish a series of adaptations from Deaver’s novels in other media. Key sequences were shot on New York streets and in constructed sets for evidence labs and hospital rooms. The score is by Craig Armstrong.

‘Playing by Heart’ (1998)

Written and directed by Willard Carroll, ‘Playing by Heart’ is an ensemble drama that interweaves stories about love and family across Los Angeles. Angelina Jolie plays Joan and shares major scenes with Ryan Phillippe. The wider cast includes Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson, Dennis Quaid, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Stewart, and Anthony Edwards. The screenplay connects the separate threads through night life, rehearsals, and conversations that link the characters.

The film screened at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival in 1998 before its theatrical rollout. Jolie received the National Board of Review’s Breakthrough Performance award connected to this role. The running time is just over two hours. Distribution in North America was handled by Miramax Films.

‘Gia’ (1998)

‘Gia’ is an HBO film directed by Michael Cristofer about supermodel Gia Carangi. Angelina Jolie plays the title role, with Faye Dunaway as modeling executive Wilhelmina Cooper and Elizabeth Mitchell as Linda, a key figure in Gia’s life. The teleplay follows Carangi’s entry into the fashion world, her New York work, and events reported in profiles and biographies.

The film premiered on HBO in January 1998. Angelina Jolie won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for the performance. The production uses fashion shoots and agency offices to recreate the late 1970s and early 1980s modeling scene. The running time is roughly two hours depending on broadcast version and home release.

‘Changeling’ (2008)

Directed by Clint Eastwood, ‘Changeling’ follows Christine Collins in 1928 Los Angeles after the disappearance of her son. Angelina Jolie stars opposite John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, and Jason Butler Harner. The screenplay covers the Wineville Chicken Coop case, the LAPD records of the period, and the involvement of civic activists and clergy documented in archival accounts.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2008 and opened in the United States later that year. Angelina Jolie received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The production used Los Angeles and surrounding areas with extensive set design and costuming to recreate late 1920s neighborhoods and city offices. The running time is approximately 141 minutes and the film was released by Universal Pictures with Imagine Entertainment and Malpaso as producers.

Tell us which Angelina Jolie deep cuts you would add to this list in the comments.