10 Underrated Natalie Portman Movies That Deserve Another Look

Summary Portman's film career began at 13 with Léon: The Professional, leading to critical acclaim and popular franchise roles.

Your Highness may have flopped, but it's a fun, campy fantasy watch with Portman as a warrior among a comedic ensemble.

Vox Lux showcases Portman's range in a high-concept musical drama, delivering a powerful performance worth watching.

Natalie Portman has been in a great number of films over the years, but not all are widely popular. Portman's film debut was in 1994's Léon: The Professional at just 13 years old. It began her successful career in Hollywood, where she is now a household name.

Over the last three decades, Portman has earned acclaim for her work in critically beloved films like Black Swan and Jackie. Portman's also played characters in popular franchises, such as Padmé in Star Wars and Jane Foster/Mighty Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite appearing in plenty of iconic movies, Portman has also been a part of many underrated gems you may have never heard of but are well worth adding to your watch list.

Related Natalie Portman's 10 Best Movies, Ranked Natalie Portman has starred in dozens of celebrated films throughout her 30+ year acting career which began when she was only 13 years old.

10 Your Highness (2011)

Isabel

Your Highness is a fantasy and comedy film starring Portman, Danny McBride, James Franco, and Zooey Deschanel. The movie was not received well by critics and also flopped at the box office. Additionally, Your Highness was released just a year after Portman's Oscar-winning turn in Black Swan, which is perhaps part of the reason it isn't talked about very often now.

However, the film is not without merits. For one, it's a truly silly movie that doesn't pretend to be more than that and is tailor-made for those who appreciate campy fantasy. It's tremendous fun to see Portman playing a warrior and contributing to Your Highness' humor alongside the rest of the comedic ensemble. Director David Gordon Green went on to helm the new Halloween movies, along with 2023's The Exorcist: Believer, and his prolific horror work in the years since makes it even more interesting to revisit Your Highness, considering how different it is in tone.

Your Highness Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Your Highness is a fantasy comedy movie that follows slacker prince extraordinaire Thadeous, who lives in pure indulgence while his brother, Prince Fabious, casts an ever-growing shadow over him. However, when an evil sorcerer kidnaps Fabious' fiancee, Thadeous is given the opportunity to redeem himself by joining the quest to save his brother's betrothed. Joined by Thadeous' best friend and servant, Courtney, the three embark on a quest that will inevitably go awry unless Thadeous can keep his slacker nature in check. Director David Gordon Green Release Date April 8, 2011 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures , Entertainment One Writers David Gordon Green Cast Natalie Portman James Franco , Danny McBride Runtime 102minutes Budget $50 million Expand

9 Paris, I Love You (2006)

Francine

Paris, I Love You, or Paris, je t'aime, is unique in that it was helmed by 21 directors, all contributing to the movie with 18 different stories or short films. While a unique concept, the anthology format may have intimidated some viewers, as Paris, I Love You remains one of Portman's lesser-known films.

However, Paris, I Love You's premise affords viewers the opportunity to check out several directors' work all within a relatively short period of time. Portman's part of the story is directed by Tom Tykwer, and he's joined by a whole host of other noteworthy creatives, including the Coen Brothers, Alfonso Cuarón, and Alexander Payne. There's plenty to celebrate on the acting side as well; not only is Portman great in her scenes, but other stories include heavyweights like Margo Martindale, Emily Mortimer, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

8 Garden State (2004)

Sam

Garden State is a romantic comedy that follows Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), a mediocre television actor who returns home for his mother's funeral and meets Portman's Sam. While Garden State was well-received when it was released in 2004, it's become too easy to forget 20 years later. Still, the movie is worth checking out now.

For one, there's a slightly meta nature to it as Braff, most famously known for his work on Scrubs, plays a TV actor and also directs the film, which is partly based on his real-life experiences. Braff has gone on to direct other movies, but Garden State marks his feature debut, which adds a level of interest to the film. Additionally, Portman makes the most of her role as Sam, turning her into a charming and flawed character who became one of the earliest examples of a "manic pixie dream girl." Lovers of quirky and charming indie films will appreciate this one.

Garden State Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Garden State is a TV drama series that explores the intertwining lives of multiple characters in a small New Jersey town. The show delves into their personal struggles, relationships, and ambitions within the backdrop of suburban life. With a strong emphasis on character development, the series offers an intimate look into the complexities and emotional journeys of its diverse ensemble cast. Director Zach Braff Release Date August 20, 2004 Writers Zach Braff Cast Zach Braff , Kenneth Graymez , George C. Wolfe , Austin Lysy , Gary Gilbert , Jill Flint Runtime 102 minutes Main Genre Drama Expand

7 V For Vendetta (2005)

Evey Hammond

Though V for Vendetta was popular and critically acclaimed when it was released in 2005, members of the current generation may not be aware of it. It's a shame, as the movie's political themes are absolutely still relevant today.

V for Vendetta offers a potent mix of genres, blending action, thriller, and sci-fi elements against the backdrop of a dystopian setting. While Portman has starred in films in all of those genres, Evey gives her one of the meatiest roles of her career. It lets her show off her range alongside actors like Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry, and John Hurt. V for Vendetta is also worth checking out for its behind-the-camera team - it was written by The Wachowskis and directed by James McTeigue. All three are known for their work in The Matrix franchise.

V For Vendetta Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Based on the comic series by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta is directed by James McTeigue with a screenplay by the Wachowskis. The film stars Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond, a young woman living in a dystopian future who becomes involved with the vigilante V, an anarchist working against the Fascist government and attempting to rally support from the general population. Hugo Weaving portrays V, with a further cast that includes Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, and John Hurt. Director James McTeigue Release Date March 17, 2006 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski Cast John Hurt , Hugo Weaving , Stephen Fry , Stephen Rea , Natalie Portman Runtime 132 minutes Budget $54 million Expand

6 Vox Lux (2018)

Celeste Montgomery

Vox Lux is a unique musical/drama film released fairly recently compared to some of Portman's other movies. However, it has largely faded from public consciousness already, perhaps because it's quite a high-concept project. Portman plays the lead character Celeste Montgomery, as the film follows her from surviving a school shooting at the age of 13 to becoming a pop star.

Vox Lux asks a lot of Portman with its musical and dramatic elements. Her character is truly the heart of the movie and goes through a lot of highly emotional experiences. The film hinges on Portman's ability to sell the story, which she does admirably. It adds up to be one of her more interesting roles and highlights the way she's unafraid to tackle a variety of genres. It's worth paying attention to Portman's co-star Raffey Cassidy as well, who has a unique challenge of her own in playing both young Celeste and her daughter, Albertine.

Vox Lux Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Director Brady Corbet Release Date December 7, 2018 Writers Brady Corbet Cast Jennifer Ehle , Stacy Martin , Allison Winn , Maria Dizzia , Matt Servitto , Micheál Richardson , Willem Dafoe , Raffey Cassidy , Sophie Lane Curtis , Jude Law , Natasha Romanova , Natalie Portman , Christopher Abbott , Daniel London Runtime 110 minutes Main Genre Musical Expand

5 The Death & Life of John F. Donovan (2018)

Sam Turner

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan is another fairly recent Portman film that sees her playing the key role of Sam Turner. The story is quite inventive as it focuses on a performer who reminisces about a television actor and the letters they shared when he was a child. The story is told through three different sequences and crosses multiple time periods. This may be part of the reason many critics found the movie fairly muddled when it released in 2018.

Still, though, The Death & Life of John F. Donovan has an impressive cast, with Kit Harrington and Jacob Tremblay starring alongside Portman. While definitely not one of her most noteworthy movies, it's heartfelt and ambitious enough in its storytelling to warrant a watch. Like Garden State, The Death & Life of John F. Donovan has a meta quality to it as well, with actors playing actors.

4 Anywhere but Here (1999)

Ann August

Anywhere but Here is one of Portman's earlier films, which may be why many have forgotten about its existence today. Still, the film was fairly successful upon release in the '90s and even earned Portman a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Ann August. It's worth checking out just to marvel at how solid Portman was even as a relatively new actress, only five years off her film debut.

For fans of heartfelt family stories, Anywhere but Here delivers in spades. Portman and co-star Susan Sarandon work together to build a believable mother-daughter dynamic that perfectly captures both the closeness and frustration that can come with that type of relationship. Anywhere but Here winds up being a real showcase for both actresses, and the movie's themes make it relatable to audiences of all ages, even today.

3 A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015)

Fania Oz

It's a shame that A Tale of Love and Darkness didn't make more of a splash when it released in 2015, as it's a deeply personal movie for Portman. Not only does she play the main character, Fania Oz, Portman is also impressively both the writer and director of the film. What's more, it serves as her directorial feature debut and is set in her birthplace of Jerusalem.

A Tale of Love and Darkness is an incredibly ambitious film from Portman, and the care she took with the story is evident on all levels, from her performance to the script to the movie's direction. While Portman hasn't directed a feature film since A Tale of Love and Darkness offers a taste of the sort of story she would likely tackle in the future and is worth checking out for that reason alone.

2 Planetarium (2016)

Laura Barlow

Planetarium is one of several period pieces for Portman and takes place in 1930s France. The film did not receive great reviews from critics and audiences upon its release in 2016, drawing ire for its sprawling nature and lack of focus, among other concerns. It's perhaps not a surprise that Planetarium has largely been forgotten in the years since.

However, Planetarium does feature a unique story with Portman and co-star Lily-Rose Depp playing sisters who claim to be fortune-tellers. The movie's setting is also quite dynamic and helps set it apart from some of Portman's other work. Despite the less-than-enthusiastic response to the film, Planetarium is a great example of Portman's ability to carry any film and make it worth watching. She elevates the story through her performance alone, and that mastery of the craft is worth celebrating.

1 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

Molly Mahoney

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, depending on your age, is one you may remember watching on television growing up. Its flashy colors and magical toys are truly nostalgic for many people, but it's often forgotten about thanks to the years that have passed since it was released, as well as the tendency many people have to overlook family films.

Yet, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is incredibly heartfelt and still a fun watch, regardless of how old you are now. Part of its charm is the total commitment from the film's adult cast, which includes Portman, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Bateman. Like with any fantasy story geared toward children, the moment the actors "wink" at all, the movie loses its magic. Luckily, this doesn't happen in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and the film still holds up today.