Nicole Kidmanis one of the finest actresses of our generation, constantly producing excellent comedic, dramatic, and thrilling performances. With over 40 years in the movie business, she has had the opportunity to work with every type of talent, including the likes of Stanley Kubrick, Baz Luhrmann, Colin Farrell, and Aaron Sorkin. With an Academy Award, multiple Golden Globes, an Emmy, and a BAFTA, she has undoubtedly cemented her legacy in the industry.
Although she has starred in critically acclaimedhits such asEyes Wide Shut,The Others,Lion, andThe Hours, Kidman has performed some of her best work in lesser-known films that deserve a similar level of praise. With an unrivaled ability to pick a script,Kidman rarely has a movie worth skipping. Without further ado, here are 10 of Nicole Kidman’s most underrated movies that fans of the actress may not have heard about.
10The Railway Man (2013)
The Railway Man
Nicole Kidman stars alongside Colin Firth in this revenge-based World War II flick based on the Eric Lomax autobiography of the same name. Kidman plays the wife of a British officer who decides to confront the man who tortured him as a Prisoner of War after finding out he is still alive. What ensues is a beautiful tale of catharsis and self-realization.
Kidman’s Grounded Depiction
Portraying Patti Lomax, Kidman formed a relationship with the real-life Patti, learning her characteristics and values. This dedication to the character received positive responses from critics, as they praised the performances that broughtThe Railway Manstory to life.
The mere true nature of the story creates a compelling watch, but the added performances from Kidman and Firth, documenting the growth that these real people had, bring another level to the viewing that leaves the audience contemplating their own internal processes.
9BMX Bandits (1983)
BMX Bandits
BMX Banditsis a 1983 comedy action film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith that follows a group of motocross-enthused teens on the run from a gang of bank robbers after stealing their walkie-talkies. Kidman plays Judy, a teen working to pay for her own BMX bike who proceeds to get fired when a couple of young BMX bikers mess up her work.
Kidman’s First Movie Role
This raunchy Australian flick received mixed reviews upon release, but has become a cult classic as time goes on. With Kidman not breaking into Hollywood untilDead Calmin 1989, viewers get to see her acting career at its youngest, honing in on her comedic skills at an early age.
Coming-of-age films rarely take such an abrasive approach, but whatBMX Banditsexcels in is its ability to make the audience care about such an amusing and rowdy story.
8Practical Magic (1998)
Practical Magic
Practical Magicstars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as sisters born into a magical family, who do their best to avoid said magic. After Gillian’s (Kidman) boyfriend dies, her and her sister learn the magic they have avoided for so long to attempt to resurrect him, and in the process accidentally make his body a host for an evil spirit that threatens their entire family.
A Halloween Classic
This film gets return viewers every fall from fans looking to get into the Halloween mood. With asecondPractical Magicon the way, this movie has established itself as a cult classic. Kidman dives into her magical side, bringing an infectious liveliness to every scene.
With Halloween fast approaching, this seasonal hit is the perfect way to get into spirit. With great chemistry between costars Kidman and Bullock, it is bound to be an entertaining watch.
Practical Magic: Looking Back at 1998’s Witchy Romance Movie
Practical Magic is a romance with dark comedy and magic. Let’s take a look back at the movie.
Dead Calmis a psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman as Rae, and Sam Neill as John, a married couple that has recently lost their son. While on a vacation aimed at helping them move past the recent loss, they save the sole survivor of a sinking ship, who is not quite what he seems.
Nicole Kidman Breaks Onto the Scene
1989 introduced the world to the talent of Nicole Kidman after the critical acclaim and box office success ofDead Calm. Hitting on every range of emotion over the 96-minute runtime, Kidman makes the constant tension and unease feel real for every audience member.
Considered one of her best performances, Kidman was only 20 years old at the time of filming this intense thriller. The setting of a boat deprives the characters of any form of safety, as they have nowhere to go. This movie will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, unsure of what will happen at any given point.
6Birth (2004)
Birthis a 2004 film fromAcademy Award-nominated Director Jonathan Glazerfeaturing Nicole Kidman as a recently widowed woman. After finally starting to move on from her husband’s death, Anna (Kidman) meets a young boy who claims that he is her reincarnated husband. As everyone around her becomes involved in the insanity, she remains the only one who believes the boy’s tale.
An Eerie Tale of Love
Delving into a complicated tale about the concept of love, Glazer’s film explores the idea that love transcends the human body, going so far as to ask whether someone could fall in love with a child that appears to have all of the traits and memories of their deceased spouse.
Met with initially mixed critic responses, Kidman’s performance stood above the rest of the film, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for her role. However, as time has passed, reviews have improved, as it is considered a monumental film that boasts one of Kidman’s greatest performances.
5Malice (1989)
Maliceis a neo-noir thriller written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. It stars Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman as a recently married couple that have their lives turned upside down when they rent part of their house to a surgeon, Jed, played by Alec Baldwin. After he performs emergency surgery to remove her ovaries and save her life, one of the ovaries is found healthy, leading to disorder between the three lead characters.
Twists and Turns Around Every Corner
Receiving an audience score of a B+ on CinemaScore,Malicereceived generally positive reviews. Kidman and Baldwin were noted for their menacing and flashy performances, playing up to the absurdity of the subject matter.Maliceprovides viewers with a nonstop thrill ride where every character’s intentions are unknown and nothing is as it seems.
Filled with red herrings and wild subplots,Sorkin’s writingis doing the most with the screen time given. Even when it seems that every question has been answered, this film keeps going, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat until the credits roll.
4Boy Erased (2018)
Based on the memoir of the same name,Boy Erasedis the story of a closeted gay son (Lucas Hedges) who is put into a conversion therapy program by his Baptist parents (Nicole Kidman & Russell Crowe). Through horrific experiences in the program, he grows further apart from his father and seeks love from his mother.
Recognizing Emotional Trauma
This film centers around the idea of emotional trauma, focused on a son who is not accepted by his parents. While often disheartening, it is a cathartic story that is a necessary watch. It shows a perspective that many people have not seen, offering a chance to increase visibility.
Nicole Kidman grounds the film as a character fighting for both teams, wanting her husband and son to both be happy. Without her presence, the film would simply be about a son and father who never get along. With her compelling performance, she is the glue that this film needs to tell such an impactful story.
3The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Yorgos Lanthimos, known for his recent Academy Award-winning filmPoor Things, directed this unsettling story in 2018. Starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman,The Killing of a Sacred Deeris a film about a kid, Martin (Barry Keoghan), who slowly works his way into a family’s lives with an underlying motive.
An Artificial World
Lanthimos creates an extremely unnerving atmosphere, as characters do not act like humans, almost appearing to be devoid of regular emotions. The work by the actors may at first seem strange, but as this world develops the context becomes more clear. Within this atmosphere, Nicole Kidman plays a mother unable to decide between her husband and her children.
The Killing of a Sacred Deerisvery representative of Lanthimos' work, creating unusual worlds with unusual people, situations, and emotions. This film puts the audience on edge for the entire time, but manages to lace this tension with uncanny humor that provides for a unique viewing experience.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer: Explaining the Weird Movie With Big Names
A look back at the 2017 movie and how it utilizes elements of Greek tragedies to tell a compelling modern story about retribution and familial bond.
2To Die For (1995)
To Die For
To Die Foris a 1995 dark comedic thriller about a small-town weather reporter, played by Nicole Kidman, whose dreams of a big-time career are diminished by her husband. As her dreams become bigger, she decides that he needs to be out of the picture, and she recruits a high school boy who is in love with her, played by Joaquin Phoenix. However, when the murder doesn’t go quite as planned, her husband’s family begins to suspect foul play.
A Display of Brilliance
To Die Forwas met with very positive reviews, with critics raving about Kidman’s performance. Although fans argued that the Academy should have nominated her for Best Actress, she was nominated for and won a Golden Globe for her performance. Kidman puts on arguably her most underrated performance in this film, mixing drama with comedy, eeriness with subtlety, and allure with craziness. For fans of the actress that want to see the full range of her acting chops,To Die Foris the perfect representation.
1The Northman (2022)
The Northman
From director Robert Eggers comes The Northman, an action-filled epic that follows a Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s murder.
Robert Eggers’The Northmanis an adventure drama centered around a young prince who goes into hiding and becomes a Viking after his father is killed and his mother is kidnapped by his uncle. When he encounters an oracle who reminds him of his youthful commitment to revenge, he sets out on a journey to avenge his father and save his mother.
A Period Piece for the Ages
The Northmanachieves what many Viking films have not, as it creates such a captivating and believable world. Within this world, Nicole Kidman plays Queen Gudrún, the mother of the lead character, Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgård. The Queen is a menacing motherly figure, fully committed to this ancient world of myths and legends.
This movie is Robert Eggers' style at its best,combining brutal reality with dreamlike environments. For those seeking an epic tale of revenge filled with love and chaos,The Northmanshould be next up on the watchlist.
