The 10 Most Underrated Kevin Spacey Movies, Ranked (From Least to Most Underrated)

Kevin Spacey’s filmography spans crime dramas, legal thrillers, character studies, political stories, and ensemble pieces. Across these projects he worked with filmmakers like James Foley, Lasse Hallström, J. C. Chandor, and F. Gary Gray, and shared the screen with actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, and Al Pacino. He also took on real figures including a United States president and a Washington lobbyist.

This list focuses on features and television movies where his work or the film itself often sits outside the usual highlights. You will find adaptations of award winning novels, stage to screen transfers, an HBO political drama, and studio thrillers that showcase how he navigated very different tones and settings.

‘Elvis & Nixon’ (2016)

Spacey portrays Richard Nixon in a dramatization of the famous White House meeting with Elvis Presley. The film recreates the circumstances that led to the Oval Office photo and follows Presley’s request for a federal agent at large credential. Michael Shannon plays Presley and the story tracks parallel preparations that culminate in the encounter.

The production presents the era’s look through detailed costume and set design and centers on the logistics of arranging access to the president. It was directed by Liza Johnson and features supporting roles that capture aides and intermediaries who managed schedules, security, and messaging around the visit.

‘The Big Kahuna’ (1999)

Adapted from the stage play ‘Hospitality Suite’, this chamber piece places Spacey in a hotel hospitality room alongside Danny DeVito and Peter Facinelli. The plot follows three salesmen at an industrial convention as they wait for a key potential client and talk through business approaches and personal beliefs.

The movie keeps the single location structure and lengthy conversations from its source material. It was directed by John Swanbeck and uses minimal camera moves and editing to preserve the rhythm of the dialogue as the characters debate work, ethics, and the pressure of closing a major account.

‘The Shipping News’ (2001)

Based on the novel by Annie Proulx, this drama follows a widower who relocates with family to a coastal Newfoundland town and takes a job at a small newspaper. Spacey plays the lead character as he learns reporting tasks, covers local happenings, and rebuilds connections with relatives.

The film was directed by Lasse Hallström and shot on location to capture rugged harbors, icy weather, and traditional houses. The ensemble includes Julianne Moore, Judi Dench, and Cate Blanchett, and the production uses practical settings and fishing community details to ground the adaptation.

‘Outbreak’ (1995)

This medical thriller centers on a deadly virus and the race to contain it. Spacey appears as part of a scientific response team alongside Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, and Cuba Gooding Jr. The story follows contact tracing, quarantine decisions, and conflicts between research protocols and military priorities.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the film uses laboratory spaces, biohazard procedures, and helicopter set pieces to stage the containment effort. It introduces chain of infection concepts, sample analysis, and field operations while intercutting leadership decisions at various agencies.

‘Margin Call’ (2011)

Set inside an investment firm during the early hours of a financial crisis, this ensemble drama tracks the discovery of a catastrophic risk exposure and the internal meetings that follow. Spacey plays a sales executive managing communication with clients and staff while upper management plans emergency actions.

J. C. Chandor wrote and directed the film and filmed in offices that emphasize fluorescent lighting, glass walls, and long conference sessions. The cast includes Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, and Demi Moore, and the script focuses on risk models, asset unloading strategies, and the mechanics of overnight decision making.

‘The Negotiator’ (1998)

This crime thriller pairs Spacey with Samuel L. Jackson in a story about a decorated hostage negotiator accused of corruption who takes hostages to demand a fair investigation. Spacey plays a fellow negotiator brought in to talk through demands, evaluate tactics, and keep the situation from escalating.

Directed by F. Gary Gray, the movie features extended negotiation sequences that turn on trust, chain of command, and procedural steps such as proof of life and phone tap management. It uses office interiors, police command posts, and specialized communication gear to show the technical side of resolving standoffs.

‘K-PAX’ (2001)

Adapted from the novel by Gene Brewer, this science fiction drama follows a psychiatric patient who claims to be from a distant planet. Spacey plays the enigmatic patient while Jeff Bridges portrays the doctor who tests the claim through interviews, observations, and consultations with colleagues.

The film was directed by Iain Softley and stages sessions inside a hospital setting with observational details like case notes, group therapy, and sleep studies. It blends speculative elements with clinical routines as the narrative compares patient testimony with astronomical knowledge and documented behavior.

‘A Time to Kill’ (1996)

From the John Grisham novel, this courtroom drama tracks a small town trial that draws national scrutiny. Spacey plays the district attorney leading the prosecution as the defense mounts its case. The plot follows jury selection, voir dire challenges, witness examinations, and motions that shape the path to verdict.

Joel Schumacher directed the film and assembled a cast including Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson. The production arranges courthouse scenes, media coverage, and community rallies while moving through legal procedures such as opening statements, evidentiary objections, and summations.

‘The Life of David Gale’ (2003)

Directed by Alan Parker, this drama follows a university professor and activist whose case is documented by a visiting journalist. Spacey plays the title character while Kate Winslet and Laura Linney play key roles connected to the events under review. The plot uses interviews, flashbacks, and case files to reconstruct timelines.

The film presents investigation steps such as reviewing recordings, locating witnesses, and reconciling conflicting accounts. It was shot across Texas locations and incorporates correctional system procedures, appeals milestones, and media logistics as the case moves toward its scheduled conclusion.

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ (1992)

Adapted from David Mamet’s Pulitzer winning play, this story follows real estate salesmen under pressure to hit targets as management tightens controls. Spacey plays the office manager who handles leads, supervises the floor, and enforces rules that shape the team’s daily routines.

James Foley directed the film and kept the play’s language centered structure while expanding to additional interiors and nighttime exteriors. The cast includes Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, and Alec Baldwin, and the production highlights sales call strategies, rotating lead lists, and the consequences of office break ins and policy violations.

Share your picks for the most overlooked entries in his filmography in the comments.