Emily Blunt is one of cinema’s ultimate genre hoppers. Ever since she came onto the scene, she has relentlessly pivoted with every passing year, redefining her range and sharpening her skillset with every single role. This has firmly solidified her status as one of the industry’s most respected actresses – culminating in an Oscar nomination in 2019 for Oppenheimer.
Yet, look beyond her blockbusters, and you will find a filmography filled with hidden treasures. While some of these smaller indie gems quietly slipped through the cracks, other larger productions simply deserved a much better fate at the box office. Here are five of Emily Blunt’s most underrated roles that prove her genius isn’t just found in her biggest hits.
5. Wild Target (2010)
Although it fell under the radar somewhat, Wild Target stands as one of Emily Blunt’s quirkier offerings. Telling the story of a hitman with high hopes of retiring, Blunt stars as the thief who thwarts his efforts and thrusts him even deeper into the underworld. Released in 2010, Blunt was only just becoming known to the masses but stood her ground next to British thespian legend Bill Nighy, complimenting his straight-laced performance with the film’s much-needed playful, eccentricities. Now known as more of a dramatic talent, those tracing back through her filmography would be surprised to find out she executes screwball comedic timing like a pro.
4. The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
While it didn’t lose staggering amounts of money at the box office, The Adjustment Bureau failed to achieve the massive, runaway financial success typical of major studio sci-fi thrillers. The plot centres on an ambitious politician named David Norris (Matt Damon) who meets a beautiful contemporary ballet dancer called Elise Sellas (Blunt). However, their intense romance is threatened by bizarre and unexplainable forces keeping them apart.
While Blunt could have easily become a romantic sidekick to, at the time, the bigger star, she actually shines as a romantic anchor that in turn formulates a powerful on-screen duo. With it’s creative, mind-bending plot, The Adjustment Bureau slipped by the wayside to films in similar elks of the time like Inception. However, it is worth a watch for its unique blend of romance, action, thriller, and sci-fi elements and its strong chemistry between its two leads.
3. Wind Chill (2007)
If it wasn’t for her part in the universe of A Quiet Place, Emily Blunt wouldn’t typically be associated with the horror genre. Yet, her powerful, acclaimed performance in A Quiet Place and its sequel may have been made easier to pull off thanks to her rendition in a little-known claustrophobic gem called Wind Chill. Released in 2007, the plot centres on two college students who share a ride home for the holidays, but when they break down on a deserted stretch of road, they find themselves up against sinister entities of people who have died there.
While a slow burn, the tension builds subtly until we are graced with a shocking, explosive ending. Still relatively unknown at the time, this film serves as an early reminder that Emily Blunt has the faculties to command the screen pretty much on her own. Wind Chill truly didn’t get the amount of eyes it deserved, and Blunt’s performance is a masterclass in survival horror that came over a decade before A Quiet Place.
2. The Smashing Machine (2025)
The Smashing Machine is another example of Emily Blunt wowing at the forefront in a role that could have easily fell into romantic partner, supporting actor territory. Directed by Benny Safdie, this powerful biopic tells the story of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson. Instead of focusing on the monumental highs of a sporting career, this heartbreaking dramatic study explores the plights that often happen behind the scenes for many athletes as Mark struggles with an addiction to painkillers and opioids.
Initially, The Smashing Machine was a heavy favorite in Oscar gossip, but both Johnson and Blunt were snubbed. However, they did both receive Golden Globes. With her performance, Blunt really showcased her ability to bring grounded grit to intense, transformative biographical dramas. Playing Mark’s girlfriend Dawn, she shone a light on the often forgotten people behind the scenes who live through the highs and lows of someone pushing their mind and body to the absolute limit.
1. My Summer of Love (2004)
Before the bright lights of Hollywood came knocking, a sun-drenched summer in the Yorkshire countryside quietly ignited Emily Blunt’s cinematic career. While My Summer of Love marks her big-screen debut, it remains an overlooked, powerful slice of cinema. Embodying the privileged Tamsin, Blunt captures lightning in a bottle, infusing the role with a dangerous, electric magnetism.
Directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, My Summer of Love explores the intense and volatile relationship between two young women from vastly different social backgrounds. Although British cinema frequently handles the rigid class system with predictable tropes, it is Blunt who subverts this entirely and therefore elevates the picture. She portrays upper-class sophistication not as a caricature, but as a bored, volatile psychological weapon used to manipulate her working-class counterpart, Mona. This lifts the film from a mere coming-of-age affair to a psychological minefield. While largely forgotten due to her rise in Hollywood, this film serves as a striking reminder of Blunt’s foundational range, proving her immense talent was fully formed from the very start.
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