The 10 Most Underrated Nicole Kidman Movies, Ranked (From Least to Most Underrated)

Nicole Kidman’s filmography stretches across decades, genres, and countries, with lead roles that range from intimate dramas to large scale adventures. Beyond the classics that get plenty of attention, there are many titles where the work is rich and distinctive but not always the first to come up in casual conversation. This list looks at ten of those films and presents them in a simple countdown.

You will find adaptations of novels and plays, international productions, and collaborations with major filmmakers. Each entry includes straightforward background details and story basics so you can decide what to watch next without any fuss.

‘Birth’ (2004)

Director Jonathan Glazer tells the story of Anna, a Manhattan widow who meets a young boy who insists he is the reincarnation of her late husband. The film was shot in New York City and co stars Cameron Bright, Lauren Bacall, and Danny Huston, with cinematography by Harris Savides and an original score by Alexandre Desplat.

It premiered at the Venice Film Festival and later screened at Toronto. The production is known for its controlled visual style and for staging several key scenes in iconic New York interiors and parks.

‘Destroyer’ (2018)

Directed by Karyn Kusama, this Los Angeles crime drama follows detective Erin Bell as she confronts a past undercover case that went violently wrong. The cast includes Sebastian Stan, Tatiana Maslany, Toby Kebbell, and Bradley Whitford, with cinematography by Julie Kirkwood.

The film premiered at Telluride before moving to Toronto. Kidman’s physical transformation involved extensive makeup and hairstyling work created to track the character across different time periods in the investigation.

‘Practical Magic’ (1998)

Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, the story centers on the Owens sisters who must navigate a family legacy of witchcraft and an old curse that haunts their relationships. The film co stars Sandra Bullock, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing, with Goran Visnjic and Aidan Quinn in key roles.

Production built the famous Owens house as a temporary structure for exterior photography in Washington state while interior sets were constructed on soundstages. Alan Silvestri composed the score and the film incorporates needle drops that became closely associated with its autumn setting.

‘The Portrait of a Lady’ (1996)

Jane Campion adapts the Henry James novel about Isabel Archer, an American who inherits money and faces a web of European relationships and pressures. John Malkovich, Barbara Hershey, and Martin Donovan co star, and the screenplay was written by Laura Jones.

The film was shot across England and Italy with production design and costume work focused on late nineteenth century details. Stuart Dryburgh served as cinematographer and the film’s period aesthetic was supported by music selections curated to fit Campion’s interpretation of the source material.

‘The Interpreter’ (2005)

Sydney Pollack’s thriller follows Silvia Broome, a United Nations interpreter who overhears what sounds like a plot against a visiting head of state. Sean Penn co stars as a Secret Service agent assigned to evaluate the threat and her credibility.

The production received rare permission to film inside the United Nations Headquarters in New York, including sequences in the General Assembly Hall. James Newton Howard composed the score and exterior scenes were staged across Manhattan and Brooklyn for motorcades and surveillance beats.

‘Australia’ (2008)

Set before and during the Second World War in the Northern Territory, Baz Luhrmann’s epic traces English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley and a cattle drover as they move a herd across the outback and later endure the bombing of Darwin. Hugh Jackman co stars, with Brandon Walters as Nullah and David Wenham and Bryan Brown in supporting roles.

Mandy Walker handled cinematography with extensive location work in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. The film integrates historical references to the Stolen Generations within its narrative and combines large location shoots with soundstage work for town sets and interiors.

‘Stoker’ (2013)

Directed by Park Chan wook from a screenplay by Wentworth Miller, this gothic thriller follows India Stoker after the death of her father and the arrival of a mysterious uncle. Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode co star, and the film features production design that emphasizes architectural lines and mirrored compositions.

Principal photography took place in Tennessee with Chung Chung hoon as cinematographer. The score includes work by Clint Mansell along with a featured piano duet composed by Philip Glass, and the film premiered at Sundance before a wider international rollout.

‘Dead Calm’ (1989)

Phillip Noyce adapts the Charles Williams novel about a couple on a solitary yacht who rescue a lone survivor from a sinking vessel. Sam Neill and Billy Zane co star in a tight three character setup that unfolds far from land.

Filming took place off the coast of Australia using a combination of real ocean locations and controlled tank work for storms and night scenes. Dean Semler served as cinematographer and the production employed practical effects for the yacht’s damage and flooding sequences.

‘To Die For’ (1995)

Gus Van Sant directs this satirical crime drama written by Buck Henry from the novel by Joyce Maynard. The story follows a small town striver who pursues local fame and becomes entangled with a group of teenagers. The ensemble includes Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, and Illeana Douglas.

The film shot largely in Ontario while standing in for New England settings. Danny Elfman composed the music and the production uses a blend of to camera interviews and traditional scenes to present different perspectives on the events.

‘Rabbit Hole’ (2010)

Adapted by David Lindsay Abaire from his Pulitzer Prize winning play, this drama focuses on a married couple working through grief after the loss of their child. Aaron Eckhart co stars, with Dianne Wiest, Sandra Oh, and Miles Teller in supporting roles, and John Cameron Mitchell directs.

The film premiered at Toronto, and Kidman received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Production took place in and around New York, and the adaptation preserves the play’s intimate scale by centering on homes, neighborhood streets, and small community spaces.

Share your own picks for overlooked Nicole Kidman films in the comments.