Best Kate Beckinsale Movies, Ranked

Kate Beckinsale rose to fame throughout the 90s, and has remained a versatile and celebrated actress who has appeared in movies across every genre. She has pushed her boundaries, appearing in movies ranging from action horror, like the Underworld franchise, to drama, like in the Shakespeare movie adaptation Much Ado About Nothing.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Beckinsale worked steadily in film, appearing in multiple films per year. 2016, in fact, was her last busiest year, with three films being released. Since then, her career has somewhat slowed; Farming in 2018 and Jolt in 2021 were last films. While she has found success in TV series, like in 2019’s The Widow and 2021’s Guilty Party, film is where she shines the most. Per Deadline, Beckinsale will next appear in Charlie Day’s film Tonto, and her film Prisoner’s Daughter will premiere at TIFF 2022. Until then, we have selected her best movies and ranked them.

8 Contraband

Contraband was released in 2012. While it did not receive the best reception upon its release, Beckinsale’s performance is one of the stronger points of the film. The film revolved around a man (Mark Wahlberg) who discovers that his brother-in-law had run into trouble with a drug lord. Beckinsale stars as Kate, who is Whalberg’s character’s wife. It’s well worth a watch and is a very underrated performance in Beckinsale’s filmography.

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7 The Last Days of Disco

The Last Days of Disco was released in 1998 and is an extremely underrated film in Beckinsale’s filmography. She stars alongside Chloe Sevigny in the Whilt Stillman-directed film, which sees the two star as playbook editors in Manhattan, who discover love at a local disco. Beckinsale plays Charlotte, who is hoping to find love through clubbing late at night, and it’s totally unlike any role she has done since. She excels in the comedy sphere and has yet to portray a role like it since.

6 Everybody’s Fine

Everybody’s Fine was released in 2009 and deserves much more recognition than it originally received. In this story, Robert De Niro is a widower who embarks on a trip to reunite with his children who are now grown up. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, and Melissa Leo, as well as Beckinsale. Beckinsale plays Amy, one of De Niro’s children, and the emotional conflict she feels is portrayed excellently. She embodies the role completely.

5 Serendipity

Serendipity was released in 2001 and is a romantic comedy that remains a classic, featuring Beckinsale opposite John Cusack. The two play a couple who have separated and are now on a mission to reunite, ultimately letting fate decide if they should be together. Beckinsale plays Sara Thomas, and she fits perfectly in the rom-com genre, making the film a success with audiences. Critics were less kind to the film, but it nonetheless struck a chord with viewers and was a commercially successful film.

4 Underworld

Underworld was released in 2003 and remains the source of Beckinsale’s cult success, with the film drawing a large following that allowed her to return to the franchise for several sequels. She stars as Selene, a vampire-warrior who is involved in a war between Vampires and Werewolves. The film was a success at the box office and propelled her career to new heights, which ultimately guaranteed longevity.

Related: Will the Underworld Film Franchise Move Forward Without Kate Beckinsale?

3 Snow Angels

Snow Angels is another hidden gem within Beckinsale’s filmography. The crime drama was released in 2007, directed by David Gordon Green. The film sees Beckinsale as Annie, who descends into sadness after a series of upsetting events occur in her life. Her story is intertwined with others, and it’s a heart-breaking portrayal of the difficult sides to human existence.

2 Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing was released in 1993 and is the film that is essentially responsible for Beckinsale’s Hollywood breakthrough. She stars alongside Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, and Keanu Reeves, playing the role of Hero. The film follows two young lovers who are about to marry and are influencing the single people in their life to get married, too. Beckinsale brings a warmth to the screen, and it’s clear to see why her acting career flourished after this performance.

1 The Aviator

Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator was released in 2004 and is based on the life of Howard Hughes. It’s often regarded as one of his best films, and features Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett in leading roles. Beckinsale appears as Ava Gardner, a real-life actress, which is not an easy role to take on. She performs the role with class and flair, bringing the character to life on-screen perfectly. The film is well worth a watch, and shows Beckinsale’s talents at their best.