In the last few decades, actress Nicole Kidman has made her name in the industry in many genres and styles. From romance and thrillers to psychological films, she has been entertaining her audience in the best way possible. She always makes herself the highlight of the industry by enthralling her fans. There is a long list of her amazing movies, but we have curated a list of the 15 best Nicole Kidman movies of all time for you.
15. Rabbit Hole (2010)
The plot revolves around Becca and Howie, a happy couple whose lives are turned upside down when their son is killed in an accident. They seek group therapy, which Becca leaves, but Howie continues. Meanwhile, both get involved in affairs.
One day they come across a comic book, and after reading it, they start working to normalize themselves. They begin to accept the death of their son and try to take their mind off the grief by participating in various activities. The film is tough to watch and brutally honest, but it contains some amazing lessons about coping with the loss of life.
14. Stoker (2013)
Stoker follows the story in which India (Nicole Kidman) lives with her unstable mother and father, but after the death of her father, her uncle Charlie comes and starts living with India and her mother.
Nonetheless, she had no prior knowledge of any existing uncle. India and her mother try to seduce the uncle. Soon, India learns the truth about Charlie but supports him in hiding his murders. They both plan to leave the house at midnight, which is why Charlie tries to strangle her mother. To save her mother, she kills Charlie and leaves her home.
13. The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
Isabel Archer is a gorgeous girl. She receives a fortune and falls in love with an artist who seems to have a cultured personality but, in reality, is the opposite. He is bitter and arrogant, making Isabel’s life a miserable nightmare.
Kidman in this film is in exceptional form. The story has a Metascore of 60, has received discrepant reviews, and has been part of two nominations.
12. Secret in Their Eyes (2015)
The story of this movie surrounds the aspiring investigator’s team, Ray and Jess. Later on, Clarie, a new team member, joins them. The team shatters when they learn about the death of Jess’s teenage daughter, who was brutally murdered.
Going through old pictures, Ray detects a suspicious person; that person (Marzin) is linked with a terrorist and is involved with Jess’s daughter. Ray and Clarie apprehend the murderer after 13 years, but Jess refuses to believe him despite the evidence. Kidman’s powerful character increased her fans’ admiration for her even more.
11. The Railway Man (2013)
Eric Lomax is a former British army officer who was tortured at the Japanese camp in World War II as a prisoner of Swift. After many years of release, he still experiences traumas, with which his wife Patricia helps him. He sets out with his wife to meet the guy, Nagase, who was responsible for all the abuse he endured in prison.
Nagase confesses his mistakes and seeks an apology from him.
10. Genius (2016)
Max Perkins, a successful editor, one day finds in his office the novel draft of “O Lost” by author Thomas Wolfe and decides to conciliate with the author to publish the novel. In this period, Max and Wolfe become best pals. Wolfe’s second novel, Of Time and the River, was also published. Wolfe goes to Paris to follow a remote event, and on his return, he starts to work on his new book. However, due to his versatile personality, he ends up arguing with Max. This argument affects their relationship.
Eventually, Wolfe seeks the services of another editor. One day Max gets a call from Wolfe’s mother informing her about Wolfe’s critical condition, and after a few weeks, Wolfe dies but leaves behind an affectionate letter for Max. This role is considered one of Kidman’s notable works.
9. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Kidman and Stanley Kubrick produced this captivating and powerful movie. Kidman portrays Tom Cruise’s wife, a wealthy doctor with a history of sexual assault.
In contrast to him, she is open and honest about sexuality. She is the one who keeps this film from fading into obscurity for future generations.
8. Far and Away (1992)
Another Nicole Kidman romantic drama from the 1990s, Far and Away, centers on the romance of Joseph and Shannon, two Irish immigrants living in America. The film, set in the Deep South of the 1890s, combines elements of the romantic and Western genres. Lord Daniel Christie set fire to Joseph’s house. Lord Kidman’s daughter, Shannon (Kidman), escapes to America and takes Joseph with her as a servant. They find jobs and rooms to rent there. Joseph leaves Shannon behind and heads to the Ozarks to find work. Later, they both meet in Oklahoma, but the Christies chase them and threaten Joseph that he will be killed if he goes near Shannon.
A fight breaks out between Christies and Joseph, where Shannon confesses to Joseph, and Christies abandons them. They then begin living together. The story is based on the journey of these characters, which highlights the deep bonds and inner rifts between them.
7. To Die For (1995)
It was a breakout role for Kidman, in which she let the world know that she was not an ordinary actress.
In the movie To Die For, Kidman portrays an aspiring broadcast journalist, Suzanne Stone. She is willing to take whatever measure, including killing anyone who stands in her way, to achieve her goals.
6. Dead Calm (1989)
Dead Calm is a psychological thriller movie in which Rae (Kidman) goes through many tragedies. Mourning the loss of their only son, Rae and John decide to go on a vacation on their yacht to spend some quality time. A mystery man (Huggie Warrior) comes to the couple’s boat and asks for help.
John rows to Huggie’s sinking boat to provide aid, but behind him, Huggie kidnaps Rae. John desperately tries to pursue Huggie by repairing the sinking boat. Can he rescue Rae in time from the maniac? Watch this great thriller to find out.
5. Lion (2016)
Lion is a tragic biography-based movie in which Nicole Kidman (Sue) plays the role of Patel’s (Saroo’s) adoptive mother. Saroo, separated from her family at a young age, sets out on a journey to find them.
Sue stands by his side on this journey. He later reunites with his family and also introduces Sue to his mother.
4. The Hours (2002)
The movie The Hours follows the story of the novel Mrs. Dalloway, about how the women of three generations somehow have been dealing with suicide in their lives in their ways.
Kidman (Virginia Woolf) appeared as a first-generation woman who suffered from many nervous breakdowns and depression. The movie speaks volumes about gender and independence.
3. The Beguiled (2017)
The plot of this film revolves around an injured Civil War soldier, John McBurney, who gets rescued by a student of a girl’s boarding school. His coming into the girl’s boarding school arouses a wave of lust, temptation, and jealousy among the girls.
Martha Farnsworth (Kidman) is the head teacher of the school who now has to take control of the situation before things go out of control. Kidman’s strong and distinctive performance perfectly reflects the film’s dramatic and gothic tone.
2. Moulin Rouge (2001)
Christian, the English poet, falls in love with Satine, a cabaret actress. While Satine used to sleep with Duke, she could not seduce him later on due to her feelings for Christian.
Duke is jealous of Christian. Satine leaves Christian for the sake of his life. In the first episode, Christian claims to be leaving Satine for Duke, but Satine sings her secret song, to which Christian changes his mind and they both profess their love.
1. The Others (2001)
The Others is the story of Grace Stewart, who lives in her family’s ancient darkened house along with her two photosensitive offspring. Kidman gives a brilliant performance as the lead, brilliantly conveying the fear and dread of protecting her children from a spirit that appears to be an evil force. The film’s shocking third-act twist has made it famous. It doesn’t even give the audience a chance to catch their breath.
The film reigned supreme at the box office, received good critical reception, and won many accolades. It’s a must-watch for any horror-suspense genre fan.
Honorable Mentions
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
- Bombshell (2019)
- Cold Mountain (2003)
Comment down below on some of your favorite Nicole Kidman films.
