What's the best Naomi Watts movie?

I’m honestly kind of surprised nobody has started a thread about Naomi Watts yet... I mean, in my book, she’s easily one of the absolute best actresses working in Hollywood right now.

Naomi actually kicked things off way back in the nineties, but man, those were definitely some of her rougher years... she was mostly just picking up roles in those low-budget indie flicks that didn't really go anywhere...

Her career really starts taking off once she lands that lead in Mulholland Drive. Most people—and honestly, me too—think it was her absolute breakout performance, the one that finally shot her straight into the Hollywood stratosphere...

She’s landing the lead in that cult classic horror flick, The Ring, next year... honestly, it just pretty much cements her status as a total superstar.

Then she crushed it in that heavy drama Grams alongside Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro. That performance actually landed her an Oscar nod, which was honestly such a bummer because she didn't take home the trophy... even though she totally deserved it for that role.

So, back in 2005, she was everywhere... landed roles in The Ring 2, that psychological thriller Stay, and even that massive blockbuster King Kong... what a year...

Back in 2010, Nicole Kidman was everywhere... she had such a run going with movies like Funny Games, The International, Mother and Child, and Fair Game... just one hit after another...

So, back in 2013, she snagged an Oscar nomination for her role in The Impossible, but once again, the trophy slipped right through her fingers... such a bummer.

It feels like her career has been on a bit of a downward slide over the last few years... she's mostly just picking up these mediocre projects lately. Honestly, the last movie of hers that actually felt worth watching was Birdman...

I don't know, man... I can't help but feel like Hollywood is low-key blackballing her on purpose. It honestly feels like they’re just straight-up underselling her talent and gatekeeping the good roles... it's weird...

So, I've been thinking about this all morning... what would you say is her absolute best movie? There are so many good ones to pick from, honestly... it's tough to narrow it down...

Mulholland, obviously.

I’ve never been huge on her acting style—it always feels a bit over-the-top to me, like she’s leaning way too hard into specific techniques without actually making the character feel real.

She’s honestly such a lovely, charming person though, so I don't mind seeing her pop up in a movie now and then.
I actually really loved her voice work in BoJack Horseman—that specific accent of hers was just perfect. Especially how she says her own name 😍

Anyway, I'm a big fan of MD, and I've always had a soft spot for Jackson's King Kong. 🙂

Edward Price6 said:Mulholland, obviously.

I'm with you there. Mulholland Drive was definitely the one that put her on the map and turned her into a total superstar, but honestly? I think her best work was in Grams. You just get this feeling that she isn't even acting... she’s just rawly living through all that pain. She deserved like ten Oscars for that performance...

Ashley Grant66 said:I’ve never been huge on her acting style—it always feels a bit over-the-top to me, like she’s leaning way too hard into specific techniques without actually making the character feel real.

She’s honestly such a lovely, charming person though, so I don't mind seeing her pop up in a movie now and then.
I actually really loved her voice work in BoJack Horseman—that specific accent of hers was just perfect. Especially how she says her own name 😍

Anyway, I'm a big fan of MD, and I've always had a soft spot for Jackson's King Kong. 🙂

It’s funny because it feels like we’re talking about two completely different actresses. That "overacting" thing? Not me. To me, she isn't even "acting"—she just lives those roles. Honestly, she blows me away every single time, no matter what kind of movie it is...

Honestly, she’s just such a forgettable presence on screen.

Every single time I see her in a movie, I get that weird feeling of "Wait, haven't I seen her somewhere before?"—so then I end up Googling her... and I swear I’ve done this at least ten times now, only to realize, "Oh, damn, it's just Naomi Watts again."

Maybe it’s just me, but she really is rarely anything more than just... blank and uninspiring.

I think she’s an underrated actress; her best work was definitely in 21 Grams and Funny Games.

This one and Nicole Kidman. Two absolute ice queens.

Of course she’s filming garbage—I guess when you're busy bowing down to the Hollywood elite, you just pick up whatever trash is lying around. Honestly, if it weren't for Lynch, I don't think she'd have anything worth watching at all.

Man, there are so many haters on this forum. 😁
You, Naomi, can just let them talk... they're just beneath you.

dustycanyon5 said:Man, there are so many haters on this forum. 😁
You, Naomi, can just let them talk... they're just beneath you.

And why exactly would I do that? To show respect to her tiny little ego?

Eastern Promises.

Honestly, it’s just... meh? Like, I don't really feel anything from it—nothing sticks,

Alright, here are my top three picks for you.

1. Mulholland Drive
2. 21 Grams
3. King Kong (she is a total goddess in this one 😍 )

I mean, obviously I love her in everything else she does, but for me, these three are just on another level...

If I had to listen to that ridiculous Russian accent one more time, I might actually lose it.

To me... she’s just totally bland. She has these forgettable features, like those cookie-cutter actresses you see everywhere—think Diane Kruger, Jessica Biel, or Jessica Alba. Just those sweet, pretty faces I can barely remember, perfectly suited for Disney productions: gorgeous blondes with baby faces or just plain, overly perfect features. They always end up looking like washed-out versions of real, soulful actresses.
Since you brought it up, guys like Benicio del Toro have such distinct looks and facial expressions. It’s way easier to get lost in their performances because they actually feel alive, you know?

Besides, it's been proven forever that that ancient ideal of beauty—with all those symmetrical, perfect lines—is actually just boring. People crave what we call "charm," right? Something authentic and unique, even if it's super imperfect, rather than some generic beauty standard. Julia Roberts is the ultimate example of how a random mix of features that might seem "off" individually—like huge lips or a big, masculine nose—can come together to create something totally captivating.

To me, Naomi is like our version of Barbara Walters: basically built for the cosmetics industry. She has that model face that can be molded however they want. And that's exactly what the industry does—they shape them to fit a mold while the women themselves just act as "passive beauty."
On the flip side, look at Charlize Theron. She’s the total opposite: a model-type who realized she could take control of her "neutral" features instead of just being a doll, and she used that to pull off some really diverse roles.

The whole reason I’m going on this rant about reducing her to just her looks is because I think that’s exactly what you’re into. You're trying to force her into the "greatest actress" category when it would be more accurate to just call her "the most beautiful." Personally, I'd much rather watch types like Claire Forlani, Cate Blanchett, or Charlize...

As for the acting: Mulholland Drive was okay, though to me, Laura Harring was the real standout (man, I felt like she was doing all the heavy lifting while the other girl just stood there). 21 Grams was also just alright... maybe she just has bad luck and keeps running into characters with way more presence, leaving her as just eye candy to fill a role. Or maybe she's just not lead material—as they say, she's more of a supporting player than a star.

Michael Jackson10 said:To me... she’s just totally bland. She has these forgettable features, like those cookie-cutter actresses you see everywhere—think Diane Kruger, Jessica Biel, or Jessica Alba. Just those sweet, pretty faces I can barely remember, perfectly suited for Disney productions: gorgeous blondes with baby faces or just plain, overly perfect features. They always end up looking like washed-out versions of real, soulful actresses.
Since you brought it up, guys like Benicio del Toro have such distinct looks and facial expressions. It’s way easier to get lost in their performances because they actually feel alive, you know?

Besides, it's been proven forever that that ancient ideal of beauty—with all those symmetrical, perfect lines—is actually just boring. People crave what we call "charm," right? Something authentic and unique, even if it's super imperfect, rather than some generic beauty standard. Julia Roberts is the ultimate example of how a random mix of features that might seem "off" individually—like huge lips or a big, masculine nose—can come together to create something totally captivating.

To me, Naomi is like our version of Barbara Walters: basically built for the cosmetics industry. She has that model face that can be molded however they want. And that's exactly what the industry does—they shape them to fit a mold while the women themselves just act as "passive beauty."
On the flip side, look at Charlize Theron. She’s the total opposite: a model-type who realized she could take control of her "neutral" features instead of just being a doll, and she used that to pull off some really diverse roles.

The whole reason I’m going on this rant about reducing her to just her looks is because I think that’s exactly what you’re into. You're trying to force her into the "greatest actress" category when it would be more accurate to just call her "the most beautiful." Personally, I'd much rather watch types like Claire Forlani, Cate Blanchett, or Charlize...

As for the acting: Mulholland Drive was okay, though to me, Laura Harring was the real standout (man, I felt like she was doing all the heavy lifting while the other girl just stood there). 21 Grams was also just alright... maybe she just has bad luck and keeps running into characters with way more presence, leaving her as just eye candy to fill a role. Or maybe she's just not lead material—as they say, she's more of a supporting player than a star.

Come on, don't even go there. Laura is honestly such a mediocre actress. She basically has the same bored expression throughout both halves of the movie. It feels more like they cast her because she looks like a model rather than someone who can actually act. On the flip side, Naomi was incredible... she pulled off this massive transformation from being this sweet girl in the first half to a totally broken, unstable person by the end. Like, she played two completely different characters in one film perfectly...

So, you're saying it's two different roles?
Or maybe just one big transformation because that’s what the script demanded?
Or are you just pushing the version you like better?
Make up your mind...
What, was Laura supposed to just spontaneously turn into an alien just so you wouldn't get bored with her performance?

Laura was basically the same person in both halves of the movie. Just kind of bland and totally expressionless... honestly, her acting felt super unconvincing in both roles. It’s really Naomi who carries the whole thing on her back.

She was absolutely incredible in The Impossible, she really carries the whole movie on her shoulders...
I totally get what you mean about how having such a perfect, delicate little face doesn't actually help her much; I mean, I didn't even truly "get" her until she completely won me over with that role. She was just as brilliant in Mulholland Drive, The Painted Veil, and Funny Games too...

Well, when you consider Mulholland Drive, the others aren't even in the same league.

Naomi is a solid actress, though I wouldn't say she’s anything out of the ordinary when it comes to her range. That said, she is undeniably striking and carries herself with a certain sex appeal that seems to hold up remarkably well over the years.😁
In my opinion, the absolute peak of her career was her performance in Mulholland Drive.