Warning: This article discusses topics of abusive relationships and violence.
Actress Anna Kendrick starred in several great movies, but some of her best titles were completely underrated. The actress was famously well-known for her performances as Jessica in the Twilight movies and as Beca in the Pitch Perfect franchise. While she made a name for herself as a comedic and musical performer, she also proved over the years that she was a talented dramatist.
Anna Kendrick’s best movies were from all manner of genres, ranging from children’s animation to science fiction. However, some of her greatest roles were in films that didn’t receive the love and appreciation they deserved, whether that was at the time of release or a later point. Kendrick appeared in some of the best movies of all time, but her lesser-known pieces were still remarkable and allowed her to show just why she was a threat in Hollywood throughout the early days of her career and beyond.
10 Alice, Darling (2023)
Role: Alice
Reviews for Alice, Darling were solid upon its initial release, and it received praise for its portrayal of psychological abuse. Kendrick’s role as the titular character was extremely powerful, and the way she demonstrated her acting skills in the film was both nuanced and authentic throughout. The way the actress affected the tone of certain scenes was particularly notable, too. For example, the dinner party scene was especially tense. What made Kendrick’s performance in Alice, Darling so incredible, however, was her personal connection to the narrative.
Kendrick spoke about her own past toxic relationship in an interview with The Standard (via The Standard), which made her involvement in the movie even more interesting. Alice’s journey with her two best friends, who helped her understand that her relationship with her boyfriend Charlie wasn’t as wholesome as she originally realized, was a fantastic one. The Alice, Darling director Mary Nighy translated such a compelling story to the screen amazingly, and Kendrick was nothing short of brilliant in Nighy’s directorial debut.
9 Stowaway (2021)
Role: Zoe Levenson
Kendrick’s purpose in the Stowaway cast was massively important to the outcome of the film, but her performance as Zoe Levenson also played a part in the film’s success. Zoe’s role as the doctor of the MTS-42 spaceship was crucial to Stowaway‘s ending and the moral dilemma of the film overall. Kendrick provided a fascinating portrayal of Zoe, especially in moments when the character struggled with her conscience over the fate of Michael Adams, an engineer who was found hidden away.
Zoe was optimistic and caring, which made her wildly different from her other crew members, who were cold, calculated, and unbothered by the decisions forced upon them. Kendrick was applauded for her performance, and the role was rather different from her previous characters, which allowed her to showcase just how well she was able to take on complex personalities. The actress truly understood Zoe’s psyche and conflicts, most importantly during her sacrifice, which added to her overall portrayal.
8 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Role: Stacey Pilgrim
Despite being a supporting character in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Kendrick’s performance as the titular character’s sister was still brilliant. Stacey Pilgrim was a hilarious addition to Scott’s life, and she often produced sarcastic yet accurate advice to her brother that resulted in many of the film’s funniest moments. Kendrick played the character effortlessly and slipped into Stacey’s shoes with ease, and although she was working opposite some of the best comedy actors of all time, the actress still stood out.
She also returned for the recent Netflix adaptation, and while there were some differences between the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie and anime, Kendrick still flawlessly reprised Stacey as if no time had passed. The actress met director Edgar Wright on the set of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which resulted in their long-term relationship, but this didn’t dampen her performance whatsoever. Stacey was a very funny and dry character who helped push the narrative forward, and her back and forth with Michael Cera’s Scott was beautifully representative of a sibling relationship.
7 The Voices (2014)
Role: Lisa
Kendrick starred in the Ryan Reynolds horror movieThe Voices in 2014 as Lisa, one of the several female victims of the piece. Lisa’s rapport with Reynolds’ Jerry was both unsettling and comical, which was a good combination for such a dark comedy film. Even though Kendrick wasn’t the lead of The Voices, she was still a stand-out in general. Lisa’s doe-eyed crush on Jerry was touching, and it was hard not to feel sorry for the recently divorced woman searching for companionship.
While the plot of The Voices wasn’t the most considerate toward those with mental health conditions, Kendrick’s character was a breath of fresh air on the topic. Kendrick was amazing as Lisa when she comforted Jerry after he became overwhelmed with the memories of his mother’s death, and she even checked in on him the next day. However, this act of kindness caused her death. Kendrick was generally strong in The Voices, especially the film’s odd musical number at the end, and the actress proved that she could blend humor and drama well.
6 Life After Beth (2014)
Role: Erica Wexler
Life After Beth changed classic zombie lore in horror movies, and Kendrick’s involvement was of significance in this. Although Kendrick’s Erica Wexler wasn’t a main character in the film, she was a warm and relatable figure in a hectic world partially consumed by the undead. Erica wasn’t a true threat to Beth and Zach’s relationship, but their fate in the end was very much deserved. One common criticism of Life After Beth, however, was that Kendrick wasn’t featured on-screen nearly enough.
Life After Beth used comedy to offset the dark undertones of its narrative. Kendrick’s Erica wasn’t supposed to be a funny character, but she still provided some comical moments. For example, when Beth confronted Erica about going to dinner with Zach, even though the pair were only childhood friends and nothing more. Erica was an essential factor in Zach being able to move on from Beth after her death, and Kendrick’s ability to convey her sympathetic qualities so well was what made the character even more likable.
5 Into The Woods (2014)
Role: Cinderella
Kendrick starred as Cinderella, one of the main characters in Into the Woods, but there were some differences between her character and the famous fairy tale figure. Kendrick did an amazing job playing the reimagined Cinderella, mostly in moments that subverted the Disney princess tropes, such as when she decided to leave her cheating Prince at the climax. She was truly a perfect candidate for the role of Cinderella, so much so that Kendrick won the Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture in 2015 for Into the Woods .
The actress fantastically balanced Cinderella’s charm and internal strength well, and her performance was a breath of fresh air overall. All of Into the Woods’ cast were applauded for their rapport with one another, but the actress’ chemistry with Chris Pine as Cinderella’s Prince was particularly impressive. Kendrick added depth to Cinderella, which was incredibly appealing, considering the character was famously known for being rather one-dimensional. Plus, naturally, she was a superstar in the musical numbers throughout Into the Woods, but her acting prowess trumped her musical talents.
4 What To Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)
Role: Rosie Brennan
Among What to Expect When You’re Expecting’s star-studded ensemble cast, Kendrick as Rosie Brennan was superb, even though she was one of the smaller names in the group. The film’s multiple narratives interwove the stories of several people and their approaches to pregnancy and parenthood. Rosie’s story differed from the others, as she experienced a miscarriage early on. However, this resulted in one of Kendrick’s most profound performances of her career. Her portrayal of Rosie, who became unexpectedly pregnant by an old classmate from high school and was apprehensive about being a mother, was nothing short of perfection.
Kendrick translated a relatable and painful story for many to the screen in an unforgettable way. Rosie was flawed and struggled with accepting her pregnancy, only for the experience to be ripped away from her just as she started to come to terms with her future. Kendrick’s chemistry with Chace Crawford as Marco was spectacular, and throughout their scenes together, the pair ensured to enact their character’s narrative in a respectful tone. Kendrick made Rosie a character who was complex yet vulnerable, which was a great reassurance for many viewers.
3 Happy Christmas (2014)
Role: Jenny
Happy Christmas saw Kendrick and Joe Swanberg reunite for another film, after the two previously starred opposite one another in the 2012 title Drinking Buddies. Kendrick played Jenny, the sister of Swanberg’s Jeff, an irresponsible young woman whose arrival caused all manner of chaos in her sibling’s home. Jenny’s choice to make over her sister-in-law, Kelly, created an interesting premise, and while the film wasn’t one of the best Christmas-themed movies of all time, it was still innovative and original.
Kendrick was praised for her hilarious performance as Kelly. Kelly’s wild and unpredictable behavior allowed Kendrick to steal the show, and her hilarious performance was the best thing about Happy Christmas. What made her appearance even better, however, was that Kendrick improvised a majority of her lines of dialogue in Happy Christmas . Like many of Swanberg’s previous projects, Happy Christmas was another great movie that didn’t need a script.
2 A Simple Favor (2018)
Role: Stephanie Smothers
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively’s hit thriller A Simple Favor, highlighted the talents of both actresses, but Kendrick absolutely stood out from the pair. A Simple Favor was based on the 2017 book of the same name, which used dark comedy and suspense to produce a story about Kendrick’s Stephanie and her strange friendship with Lively’s Emily. Stephanie was an unusual character choice for Kendrick, but she was ultimately a strong choice to portray the mother turned detective. Stephanie’s hunt for the truth about Emily’s disappearance and death was an intriguing premise alone, but Kendrick’s surprising casting made it even better.
Lively and Kendrick’s performances were both great, and their chemistry was especially impressive throughout. Even after Emily died, Stephanie dominated viewers’ attention. Kendrick’s portrayal of the unnerved woman during her investigation was gripping, and while there was a focus on Emily’s secrets being revealed, it was how Stephanie discovered them that was more interesting. In fact, Stephanie’s past often took over the main story at hand. A Simple Favor amazingly showed that Kendrick’s ability to flesh out a character was nothing short of incredible.
1 50/50 (2011)
Role: Katherine McKay
50/50 gave Anna Kendrick her highest Rotten Tomatoes score, which was greatly deserved, especially because her characterization of rookie therapist Katherine McKay was so powerful. Unlike her other parts, Kendrick’s Katherine was a role that was significantly more serious and profound. Her relationship with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Adam, a cancer patient who she helped come to terms with his illness, was very powerful throughout. While there were comedic undertones in 50/50, which made sense for a film that also starred the likes of Seth Rogen, it never dampened Kendrick’s dramatic performance.
Gordon-Levitt and Kendrick’s chemistry was notably strong in 50/50, but it also contributed hugely to their characters’ bond. Katherine didn’t deny that she was inexperienced, but she used the few skills she did have to offer comfort to Adam in his darkest moments. Kendrick’s character was the true voice of reason in an already gritty and morbid story, but she approached everything with such grace and realism that provided a refreshing change of pace. 50/50 was not only one of Anna Kendrick’s deeper movies, but it was also one of her most underrated titles.
