There are few modern actresses with a filmography as expansive and recognizable as Kirsten Dunst. Her career has spanned several decades, beginning in 1994 when she was only 11 years old in Neil Jordan’s classic film Interview with the Vampire. She continued to deliver performances in some of the most memorable movies of the past three decades, quickly becoming a household name after her performance as Mary Jane in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and making her one of the most in-demand actors of our generation. It’s no surprise that every so often, tweets referencing her stellar career go viral, proving her enduring appeal.
Dunst boasts a versatility in her catalog that most would envy, perfectly embodying relatable, humorous roles as well as bringing fragility and vulnerability to more multidimensional performances. She has been outspoken about her experiences of sexism in the industry and how her performances have received a lack of acclaim. Awards aside, Dunst has carved a lane for herself in Hollywood, consistently bringing her own flair and star power to any role she plays. Here are Kirsten Dunst’s best movies.
‘The Two Faces of January’ (2014)
Based on the Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley) novel of the same name, the engrossing thriller The Two Faces of January follows married 1960s New York couple Chester (Viggo Mortensen) and Colette MacFarland (Dunst) who, while vacationing in Greece, become swept up in a shocking murder and must seek help from a mysterious stranger (Oscar Isaac) to get them safely out of the country. Naturally, paranoia builds among the trio, and they begin to grow suspicious of one another and their true motives.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Dunst shone as the bewitching Colette, whose mounting attraction to the handsome stranger causes jealousy and hostility to fester within her husband and sets forth a series of violent events. She brought an intriguing complexity to the role, and her performance was singled out by critics, with many commending her range and overall mystique and winning chemistry with Isaac.
‘Roofman’ (2025)
Dunst’s latest cinematic triumph is the crime comedy Roofman, which serves as a biopic about the life of fugitive Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former United States Army Reserve non-commissioned officer who becomes a spree robber and steals from branches of McDonald’s by breaking into the premises via the roof, thus earning his titular nickname. After managing to evade capture, Manchester decides to hide in a vacant Circuit City located right next to a popular Toys “R” Us store, where he falls for single mother and employee Leigh Wainscott (Dunst).
Tatum & Dunst Elevate ‘Roofman’ with Wholesome Chemistry
Featuring the additional talents of stars like Peter Dinklage, Ben Mendelsohn, and LaKeith Stanfield, the entertaining caper includes a brilliant blend of humor, suspense, and heart, with the endearing chemistry between Tatum and Dunst being lauded by critics as the film’s strongest asset and helping it earn an impressive 83% Rotten Tomatoes score. The Guardian said that the duo were a “rare on-screen pairing of single parents in their 40s, both trying to navigate a stressful situation, hard enough even without the criminality. There’s real chemistry there.”
‘Jumanji’ (1995)
Hot off the heels of the blockbuster hits Interview with the Vampire and Little Women, Dunst decided to take on a more light-hearted project and starred alongside the late and great Robin Williams in the fantasy flick, Jumanji. The fan-favorite film centers on the magical board game that causes teenager Alan Parrish to get sucked into the mythical realm in 1969, and is subsequently freed three decades later when a brother and sister play the game. But first, they must beat Jumanji and its dangers before it’s too late.
Certified ’90s Classic
The beloved ’90s classic helped further catapult Dunst to fame and was a knockout hit with moviegoers, with audiences awarding Jumanji an A- CinemaScore. It’s a fun and wildly entertaining entry in the actress’ early career, and it’s a blast for fans to see her hold her own against the comedy heavyweight Williams and shine while doing so. 20 years later, the sequel Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was released and caused a resurgence in popularity for the undisputed hit.
‘Little Women’ (1994)
Touting a phenomenal ensemble cast including Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, and Christian Bale, the 1994 big-screen adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott literary masterpiece Little Women features Dunst as the quick-witted youngest March sister, Amy. Along with her distinct siblings, Amy experiences the ups and downs of growing up in 19th-century New England while also discovering the importance of passion, love, and family.
Dunst’s Scene-Stealing Portrayal
Dunst beat out fellow up-and-comers Natalie Portman and Thora Birch to star as Amy, with director Gillian Armstrong retrospectively telling The New York Times that the actress “really blew [other young Amy candidates] out of the water”. For her spirited performance as the precocious Amy, she took home the Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Youth Actress, and Little Women proved to be a major stepping stone in Dunst’s enduring and diverse Hollywood career.
‘Spider-Man’ (2002)
No list addressing Dunst’s career in film would be complete without the movie that propelled her into international superstardom, 2002’s Spider-Man. Sam Raimi’s version of the Marvel classic was a box office phenomenon and broke Hollywood records, paving the way for the superhero onslaught in cinema to come. Dunst played Mary Jane, the love interest of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire).
Bona Fide Leading Lady
The performance marked a movement into the mainstream for Dunst, and spawned several massively successful sequels that she returned for. Her endearing chemistry with Maguire was singled out by fans and helped make the couple one of the silver screen’s most cherished pairings at the time. Later in her career, Dunst reflected on the gender inequality she faced in this role, noting how her co-star was paid significantly more than her.
‘Interview with the Vampire’ (1994)
Dunst’s career in Hollywood had a strong start when she starred in Neil Jordan’s 1994 Interview with the Vampire, when she was only 11 years old. She played Claudia, a vampire who is trapped in the body of a young girl, but who has matured as time has passed and has become frustrated at her situation and her eternal companionship with Lestat (Tom Cruise) and Louis (Brad Pitt).
Dunst Dazzles the Masses
The Anne Rice adaptation received mixed reviews but was nonetheless a box office success, grossing over $223 million worldwide. Dunst’s performance caught the eye of critics and she was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. Dunst gave a strong and deeply memorable performance well beyond her years, and her career as an actor was off to a flying start.
‘The Beguiled’ (2017)
Dunst had a very strong relationship with director Sofia Coppola, someone for whom she would star in several career-defining roles throughout her career. Dunst collaborated with Coppola for a third time in the 2017 film The Beguiled, a sweeping adaptation of the Thomas P. Cullinan novel and remake of the ’70s film starring Clint Eastwood.
A Spellbinding Southern Gothic Remake
The captivating Southern Gothic follows a soldier seeking refuge in an all-female boarding school during the Civil War, exploring sexual tensions and rivalries within the group. Dunst plays the prim and proper Edwina, who must fight her growing attraction to the handsome soldier John McBurney (Colin Farrell); her performance gained widespread critical praise.
‘Bring It On’ (2000)
Bring It On was released in 2000 and went on to become a box office success and a cult classic, beginning the Bring It On franchise and firmly establishing itself as a staple in the teenage rom-com phenomenon of the ’90s and early 2000s, an era which continues its cultural significance today. Dunst played the main character and head cheerleader, Torrance, who goes head-to-head against school cheer rival the Clovers.
Bring It On Is a Trailblazing Teen Cult Classic
Her performance showcased her range as an actress and made her a pop culture figure, propelling her to the tabloid stardom of the early 2000s. The New York Times raved about Dunst’s admirable ability to master the comedy genre, calling her “a terrific comic actress, largely because of her great expressive range, and the nimbleness with which she can shift from anxiety to aggression to genuine hurt.”
‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ (1999)
Michael Patrick Jann’s 1999 satirical black comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous follows a small-town beauty pageant and its ruthless and cutthroat contestants who will stop at nothing to win, not even murder. The movie starred a great ensemble cast at the beginning of their careers, including Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Denise Richards, and Amy Adams, alongside established greats like Ellen Barkin and Allison Janney.
Before They Were Massive Stars
The film received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom found that the satirical comedy did not land, though Dunst’s role as Amber Atkins was favorably singled out by critics. Regardless, Drop Dead Gorgeous has gone on to achieve cult status and is an interesting time capsule, showcasing several iconic Hollywood stars at the beginning of their careers.
‘Civil War’ (2024)
Alex Garland’s eye-opening dystopian thriller Civil War focuses on a courageous group of reporters, including war photojournalist Lee Smith (Dunst) and Reuters journalist Joel (Wagner Moura), as they daringly venture from New York City to Washington D.C. to interview the president as a terrifying civil war breaks out in the United States between an authoritarian federal government and secessionist movements. The group must race against the clock to make it to the capital city before the rebel factions attack the White House and take down the president.
Seasoned Star Dunst Shows Off Her Skills
Described as a companion piece to Garland’s 2022 film Men, Civil War caused quite a stir upon its debut due to its polarizing depiction of contemporary political themes, yet despite its detractors, Dunst’s gripping portrayal of the determined journalist was lauded. Dunst’s experience and maturity as a performer is on full display in the thriller, as she infuses her character Lee with a profound restraint and haunting hardness amidst all the chaos around her. Slant Magazine called the thought-provoking Civil War, “Frightening, even-tempered, and disarmingly humane.”