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Along with Emma Watson, Keira Knightley is probably the most famous English actress of the early 21st century. But, although there’s no denying that she is well known for her striking beauty, Knightley has proven time and time again that she’s a lot more than just a pretty face. In addition to two Academy Award nominations, she has been nominated for two BAFTAs and three Golden Globes, which is quite an achievement for such a relatively young actress.

Starting to act at a very young age, Knightley already has an impressive filmography behind her, so in this article, we will rank all of Knightley’s most essential movies from worst to best. Let’s get started!

39. Collateral Beauty (2016)

You’d think that a film with an ensemble cast of Edward Norton, Will Smith, Hellen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Naomie Harris, and Keira Knightley would turn out to be something spectacular, and, if the writing wasn’t so bad, it could have been.

Now, the movie has an interesting concept, and the performances are solid, but the story goes from illogical, to ridiculous, to absurd, and if that wasn’t enough, the twist at the end makes everything even more silly. Also, a lot of the lines that are supposed to be uplifting and give us wisdom end up being nonsensical and unintentionally funny.

Collateral Beauty tries way too hard to be inspiring, touching, and “deep,” but it crashes and burns pretty quickly, and doesn’t ever recover.

38. Berlin, I Love You (2019)

Actually, you won’t fall in love with Berlin after watching this movie. Berlin, I Love You is an anthology film consisting of several loosely-connected stories, all taking place in present-day Berlin, with Knightley playing a woman who tries to provide a home for an Arab boy left in one of Berlin’s homeless shelters.

A joint German and U.S. production with eleven directors and eight screenwriters, Berlin, I Love You is perhaps a fine example of why you shouldn’t have so many people in charge of a single project.

The movie is all over the place: it goes from a romantic comedy to drama, to romance, to somehow an anti-Trump propaganda film (what Trump has to do with Berlin is unknown), to romance again, to a refugee movie… and it ends up being a confusing mess with no clear message.

37. Last Night (2010)

At this point in her career, it seemed that Knightley couldn’t get herself involved in any project that does not include some sort of love triangle (or a love square, in this case).

Although Knightley’s performance was well-received, that cannot be said about the movie as a whole. It’s the only one of Knightley’s movies that can be labeled “pointless.” We follow two married people (played by Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington) who are trying to stay faithful to each other and resist the temptation of sleeping with other people.

It’s unclear what the movie’s message is supposed to be, and at the end, it leaves you with a “what-the-hell-was-that-all-about” kind of feeling.

36. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

The Nutcracker has impressive set designs, excellent costumes, and breathtaking visuals (it’s a Disney movie, after all), but it’s also very predictable, unoriginal, and boring. Chances are, everything you will see here, you’ve already seen in other, much better Disney movies.

There are no memorable characters, no quotable lines, and no epic finale, but if you are interested in seeing Knightley in a rare performance as a villain, you can give it a watch.

35. Silk (2007)

Usually, Knightley thrives in period dramas, but, unfortunately, that’s not the case here. An adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name, Silk is overlong, boring at times, and filled with unmemorable characters. Perhaps the movie’s only redeeming qualities are the locations, visuals, and costume designs, but that’s not enough to save the film. Knightley’s performance is decent, but this is not one of her best moments.

34. Silent Night (2021)

Silent Night is an apocalyptic Christmas black comedy, and if you are scratching your head, wondering how can someone balance all those genres in a single movie, you’re not alone.

Whatever this movie tries to achieve, it fails on all fronts: for the comedy part, the jokes are forgettable and not really funny; for the Christmas part, there are much better and more appropriate Christmas-themed movies you can watch for the occasion; and for the apocalypse part, you’ll probably be begging for one if you somehow made it to the end of the film.

33. Domino (2005)

Tonny Scott was a good director, but this is not one of his classics. Knightley plays Domino Harvey, a fashion model turned bounty hunter and the daughter of actor Laurence Harvey.

The problem here is everyone in the movie tries to impress you with how “tough” and “badass” they are, and this results in the film not having any likable characters. The Michel Bay-style editing doesn’t do the movie any favors either.

It was a critical and box office failure, but famed critic Roger Ebert gave it a positive review, and director Tony Scott also considered it one of his favorites. The real Domino Harvey sadly passed away just days before the movie’s release.

32. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

By this point in her career, Knightley hasn’t been in a proper comedy for a decade. But, sadly, despite good performances, Seeking a Friend is not nearly as good or as funny as Bend it Like Beckham (Knightley’s previous comedy movie in 2002).

Knightley stars alongside Steve Carell as their characters are stuck with each other while a giant asteroid is about to hit Earth and end life everywhere. Their performances were praised, but, some critics objected to the age difference, with the pair even being nominated for “Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest” at the EDA Special Mention Awards (Carell was 50, while Knightley was only 27).

Also, Seeking a Friend has perhaps the most depressing ending of all of Knightley’s movies, which is a bit unusual for a comedy.

31. Misbehaviour (2020)

There is nothing wrong with filmmakers injecting their own political views into their own projects. Films like In the Heat of the Night (1967), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), and Malcolm X (1992) have changed countless minds and are today considered classics.

But, the problem with Misbehavior is that it’s too preachy, too self-righteous, too self-congratulatory, and assumes that you already share the same views of the protagonists (or, more accurately, of the screenwriters) from the get-go.

All the main characters who have the “correct” politics are stunning, brave, and flawless, and those who do not share their beliefs are conveniently portrayed as cartoonish villains. It’s a movie that does not even try to engage with you and respectfully change your views. Instead, it shoves its ideology down your throat for two hours, and the audience gets the feeling that they are being lectured instead of entertained.

30. Princess of Thieves (2001)

Princess of Thieves is an important movie for Knightley, for this is the first time she has had the leading role. It’s a television movie made by Walt Disney Productions, and here, Knightley plays Gwyn – Robin Hood’s daughter.

It’s a decent movie on its own, and it was an excellent opportunity for Knightley to work for Disney and with legends like Malcolm McDowell, but, all in all, it could have been done much better. If you are a hard-core Knightley fan and you are interested in her early works, you can give it a watch; otherwise, feel free to skip it.

29. The Hole (2001)

The Hole is a loose adaptation of Guy Burt’s 1993 novel, After the Hole. Knightley teams up with American Beauty star, Thora Birch, for this psychological thriller, and delivers one of her more disturbing performances. The movie received only mixed reviews, but it got the “ball rolling” for Knightley, as it got her noticed by more directors and producers. Her star is only going to get bigger and bigger after this one!

28. The Aftermath (2019)

Another year, another period drama, and, of course, another love triangle. The film is based on a 2013 novel of the same name by author Rhidian Brook, and here Knightley plays a Colonel’s wife who has recently lost a son during the Blitz and accompanies her husband while he is stationed in the British-occupated zone in post-war Germany.

The Aftermath has great performances, great visuals, and great costumes, but, overall, it’s not one of Knightley’s best. She has done so much better in this particular genre.

27. Laggies (2014)

When it comes to Knightley’s comedies, Laggies sits somewhere in the middle in terms of quality. It’s slightly better than Seeking a Friend, but is also not as good as Bend it Like Beckham (2002) or Begin Again (2013). Knightley has excellent chemistry with actors Chloë Moretz and Sam Rockwell, but for a comedy, Laggies doesn’t provide many laugh-out-loud moments and doesn’t live up to its potential. It leaves you wishing for more.

26. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Shadow Recruit does not reach the quality of the first three movies in the “Ryanverse,” but it was a financial success at the box office, and it’s also the first film in the series that’s not an adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel. Knightley plays Dr. Catherine Muller, Jack Ryan’s fiancee, who unintentionally gets herself involved in some dangerous espionage games.

We get some decent action scenes, and some good acting from Knightley, Kevin Costner, and Kenneth Branagh (who also directed the movie), but, all in all, Shadow Recruit is not the action movie that you’d recommend to your friends, or talk about years after you’ve first seen it.

25. London Boulevard (2010)

Knightley’s first gangster movie, London Boulevard, can be best described as “nothing special” and “seen it all before,” although it has great visuals and great performances from practically all actors involved. But, in the end, everything is not held together by an original or exciting story, and if you are a fan of the genre, chances are you’ll find everything very predictable.

Colin Farrell tries to carry the entire movie on his shoulders, but it’s just not enough. Probably the best thing about the film, along with Farrell’s performance, is the soundtrack (Heart Full of Soul by The Yardbirds is an excellent song).

24. The Edge of Love (2008)

By this point in her career, historical dramas and love triangles were becoming Knightley’s specialty. After the release of Silk – one of Knightlry’s weakest movies in the genre – Knightley didn’t wait for long to take on another similar project.

Just like Silk, The Edge of Love: is a historical drama, it also involves a love triangle, it’s also based on a novel, and it also didn’t receive many good reviews upon release.

But that said, it’s also an improvement compared to Knightley’s previous movie, with Knightley’s and Miller’s performances being singled out for praise. Also, for the first time, Knightley shows her singing abilities on screen!

23. King Arthur (2004)

King Arthur is another film about the famous legendary figure, but it does take some liberties with the original story. In this version, Arthur is not a medieval King, but a Roman officer; Merlin is not a wizard, but a leader of the Woads (native Britons); and Guinevere (Knightley) is a Celtic warrior. So, yeah… It does take some liberties. It also tries way too hard to be the Braveheart of the 2000s, and it fails. But, if you like historical fiction and want to see Knightley kicking some Saxon butt, you can give it a chance.

22. A Dangerous Method (2011)

A Dangerous Method is a historical drama about the friendship and later rivalry between psychiatrists Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), and their relationship with a Russian woman named Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), who would go on to become one of the first female psychoanalysts.

The performance of the three main actors is by far the movie’s greatest asset and the film even appeared on numerous top 10 lists for 2011. This is also the first time we hear Knightley using a Russian accent.

But that said, it must also be noted that the film is not for everyone. If you’re interested in psychiatry and the workings of the mind you should definitely give it a watch, but sitting through Jung and Freud psychoanalyzing everything to death might be a bit too much for some people.

21. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

The Phantom Menace is the first movie in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and although it’s a good movie on its own, it’s also nowhere nearly as memorable as any of the movies of the original trilogy.

Knightley was cast for her resemblance to Natalie Portman and she has a small role as Sabé, one of Queen Amidala’s handmaidens who also sometimes serves as her decoy. Years later, in an interview, Knightley stated that she only watched the movie once and couldn’t even remember her character’s name.

When the topic was brought up, Knightley asked the interviewer: “Who did I play? Was I not Padmé?” and the interviewer had to remind her that she played Sabé. She responded: “Oh, I was Sabé? Ok. Do you know, I saw the film once. I think I was 12 when I did it, and I saw it the year after and I’ve never seen it again. So, I played Sabé and she didn’t die? Ok. (Laughing) I hope she lived a long and happy life somewhere on a planet far, far away.” 

20. The Jacket (2005)

The Jacket is a paranormal psychological thriller directed by John Maybury, and here Knightley stars alongside Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody and legendary country singer and actor Kris Kristofferson. It’s the closest thing to a Twilight Zone episode in Knightley’s filmography. Knightley and Broody’s performances were positively received, but the movie got somewhat of a mixed reception. It’s a good one, but not a classic.

19. Love Actually (2003)

Two box office hits in 2003 made Keira Knightley one of the most popular actresses in the world: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Love Actually.

Staring alongside some of the most well-known actors and actresses like Alan Rickman, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, and Billy Bob Thornton, in a single movie is what a young actress can only dream of, but that exactly what happened to Knightley in this Christmas-themed romantic comedy.

Love Actually received mixed reviews from professional critics, but was better received by audiences and It remains one of the most beloved Christmas movies of the 21st century.

18. Anna Karenina (2012)

After Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), and Never Let Me Go (2010), it was time for another film adaptation of a critically acclaimed novel, with this time Knightley playing perhaps the most famous female character in all of literature: Anna Arkadievna Karenina.

Tolstoy’s masterpiece has already been adapted sixteen times for the big screen over the decades, with legendary actresses such as Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, and Sophie Marceau all having potrayed the titular character.

It’s not the best adaptation of the novel (according to most critics, the 1935 version starring Greta Garbo still reigns supreme), but the costumes, the visuals, and the cinematography are reason enough why this movie deserves your attention.

17. Boston Strangler (2023)

Knightley portrays journalist Loretta McLaughlin (1928–2018) in this historical crime drama about the 13 killings of women that occurred in Boston in the early 60s, attributed to an unnamed serial killer known only as “the Boston Strangler.” Knightley’s portrayal of Loretta gained wide praise and her American accent is spot-on.

But, the problem with Boston Strangler is that it’s way too similar to Zodiac (2007), to the point of it being considered just an inferior version of that movie by some critics. There are better true crime films out there, but Knightley’s performance alone is reason enough to give it a watch.

16. The Duchess (2008)

Although a relatively young actress at this time in her career, Knightley was already a veteran in the historical drama genre, having classics like Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Atonement (2007) under her belt, but also leaving her footprint in not-so-classic films like Silk (2007) and The Edge of Love (2008).

But, while Knightley was playing fictional characters in all the aforementioned movies, here she gets to play an actual historical figure – Duchess Georgiana Cavendish (who also happens to be Princess Diana’s great-great-great-great aunt).

The Dutches doesn’t quite reach the heights of Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, but it’s also a great deal better than Silk and Edge of Love, with Knightley’s and Fiennes’ performances being singled out for praise.

15. At World’s End (2007)

At World’s End completes the story arc that began with Dead Man’s Chest, and, for the last time, we see Knightley playing Mrs.Elizabeth Swann (she had a small cameo appearance in Dead Man Tell No Tales in 2017, but that doesn’t count).

With a budget of $300 million, At World’s End was the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release, and just like its predecessor, it was the highest-grossing movie of the year (although it made $100 million less than Dead Mans’s Chest).

At World’s End got mixed reviews, with praise for the special effects, but also criticism for the acting, plot, and running time. It’s perhaps the last decent movie in the series. Knightley certainly knows when to “jump ship.”

14. Pure (2002)

One of Knightley’s early, little-known gems before she became famous, Pure is an independent British drama about a boy in a poor neighborhood who tries to get his heroin-addicted mother to quit drugs. Knightley plays Louise, a waitress who befriends the boy, but has a drug problem herself.

Although the movie won some awards at the Berlin International Film Festival and British Independent Film Awards, it failed to gain a larger audience and remains mostly “under the radar” with even loyal Knightley fans unaware of the film’s existence. But, if you love independent dramas, and want to get yourself familiar with some of Knighley’s early works, do yourself a favor and give it a watch. Here’s a link.

13. Coming Home (1998)

Coming Home is a two-part television film based on the 1995 novel of the same name by British writer Rosamunde Pilcher. It’s the first time Knightley has a significant presence in a movie, as she portrays protagonist Judith Dunbar for the first 40 minutes of the film, at which point actress Emily Mortimer steps in and plays an older version of the same character for the rest two-and-half hours. Knightley also got to act alongside legendary British actor Peter O’Toole. Not bad for such a young actress.

12. Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Dead Man’s Chest is the second installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, with Knightley reprising the role that made her a world-famous actress. It was an instant box-office success, grossing over one billion dollars (the third movie in history to achieve this), becoming the highest-grossing movie of 2006, the highest-grossing movie in the series, and Knightley’s highest-grossing movie to this day.

It was conceived as the first of two sequels and was filmed back-to-back with the third film, At World’s End. Many critics praised the special effects but also criticized the plot and length of the movie. Overall, Dead Man’s Chest is a decent sequel, and although financially more successful than The Black Pearl, it fails to reach its quality.

11. Charlotte (2021)

Knightley’s first animated movie, Charlotte is a true story about the Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon (1917 – 1943) and her struggles for artistic freedom and survival under the repressive regime of the Third Reich in the 30s and early 40s. It’s an international co-production between Canada, France, and Belgium, and it had its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film festival.

Charlotte got mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences, with many saying that this was the first time they were introduced to the works of the titular artist. It was also named one of the best Canadian films of 2021 by Canada’s Top Ten.

10. Official Secrets (2019)

Based on a real event, Official Secrets is a film about Katharine Gun (Knightley), a translator working for the Government Communications Headquarters, who, in 2003, leaked a top-secret document to a national newspaper (The Observer) in an attempt to prevent the invasion of Iraq.

Knightley’s portrayal of Gun was met with excellent reviews and is considered one of the best in her career. It also earned her nominations at the National UK Film Awards and the Women Film Critics Circle Awards.

9. Begin Again (2013)

Who knew, Keira Knightley and Mike Ruffalo would have such chemistry on the screen? If you like films about struggling artists, Begin Again is the movie for you. Knightley’s and Ruffalo’s charming performances and Gregg Alexander’s musical score are the highlights of the movie.

But, despite the positive reviews, Begin Again has also been compared unfavorably to Once (2007), director John Carney’s previous musical drama. Knightley and Carney did not have the best relationship during filming, and three years later, while promoting his next movie, Sing Street, director Carney even called Knightley a “model” (insulting her that she’s not a real actress), a remark that earned him tons of negative backlash and for which he had to apologize.

8. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Knightley’s first comedy film and arguably her best pre-Pirates movie! Bend it Like Beckham is a lighthearted comedy about two women (Nagra and Knightley) who decide to pursue football careers despite strong disapproval from their families.

The film was a major success, grossing over $75 million at the box office, which makes it the most successful soccer movie of all time. It also was a massive hit in India, as the main character (Jesminder Kaur Bhamra) is of Indian origin. Playing female football player Juliette Paxton was Knightley’s breakthrough role, making her the star she is today. A must-watch for all Knightley fans!

7. Never Let Me Go (2010)

In 2010, Knightley decided to try something new, and she entered two genres she had never worked in before: gangster movies (London Boulevard) and tragedies (Never Let Me Go). Needless to say, this is probably her saddest and most depressing movie, so if you want happy endings, stay away from this one!

Never Let Me Go is an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s critically acclaimed 2005 novel of the same name and it received positive reviews with particular praise being given to the performances of the main cast. It also got Knightley another nomination for “Best Actress” at the British Independent Film Awards.

6. Everest (2015)

If you’ve ever wanted to climb Mount Everest, this is the movie that will dissuade you from doing so. So far, Earth’s highest mountain has claimed over 300 casualties, with 3 – 5 people on average dying every year trying to reach its peak. Most of the dead bodies still remain frozen on the mountain.

Everest dramatizes the 1996 disaster, where eight climbers got caught in a blizzard and lost their lives. This is not the first time the event has been turned into a film; Into Thin Air: Death on Everest is a television movie that got released in 1997 and covers the same disaster, however, this 2015 version is generally considered the better one.

Knightley has a supporting role playing Jan Arnold, the pregnant wife of one of the climbers, but she doesn’t participate in the climbing herself.

5. Atonement (2007)

Two years after the successful adaptation of the classic 19th-century novel (Pride and Prejudice), it was time for Knightley to return to period dramas, this time for an adaptation of a much more recent novel – Atonement (2001).

Just like Pride and Prejudice, Atonement was massively successful (making $130 million against a $23 million budget) and received excellent reviews, with particular praise for the acting, cinematography, and visuals. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards (including Best Picture), winning one for Best Original Score. Knightley was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actress.

4. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Jane Austen’s classic novel has already been adapted for the big screen once in 1940 (an Academy Award-winning film starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson), but this 2005 version is widely considered to be superior.

Knightley’s performance as Elizabeth Bennet earned her widespread critical acclaim and her first Academy Award nomination, making Knightley one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for the award (Knightley was only 20 during filming).

Out of all Pride and Prejudice adaptations throughout the years, this 2005 film version and the acclaimed 1995 TV series are considered by far the best adaptations the novel has received.

3. The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Ever since Cutthroat Island (1995) bombed at the box office and bankrupted Carolco Pictures, Hollywood has been reluctant to make another pirate movie. Eight years later, Walt Disney Pictures finally decided to make a bold move to revive the dead genre, and the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was released.

The Curse of the Black Pearl exceeded everyone’s expectations, made over $650.000.000 at the box office, and received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. If Bend it Like Beckham made Knightley popular in the UK, The Black Pearl made her a worldwide superstar!

Now, the movie is not without flaws—tons of plot armor—but even with all the imperfections, The Black Pearl is one hell of a ride, and currently, it is for the pirate genre what The Godfather is for the gangster genre, and what The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is for the western genre.

2. Colette (2018)

Over the years, Knightley has shown, time and time again, that she can be a very versatile actress, successfully doing comedy, tragedy, sci-fi, fantasy, and pirate movies, but it seems historical dramas remain her specialty.

Knightley portrays Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873 – 1954), possibly the most influential female French novelist of all time, and her struggles to publish her stories under her own name. Knightley’s performance, although not an Academy Award-nominated, is widely considered one of her best, and while Knightley is certainly no stranger to love scenes, this is the first time she has one with a woman (Colette was bisexual).

1. The Imitation Game (2014)

They say that there are no perfect movies. Well, actually, there are, but they are very rare. And when it comes to Knightley’s filmography, that movie is The Imitation Game. While films like Saving Private Ryan took us to the frontlines and showed us the horrors the soldiers had to deal with while getting showered by german bullets, The Imitation Game takes us behind the scenes and teaches us about the other kind of battle: the information war.

Knightley plays Joan Clarke, the only female in a code-breaker team tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: to break the German Enigma machine. This is probably Knightley’s greatest performance of her career, as it got her her second Academy Award nomination, as well as her second BAFTA Award nomination.

The film was nominated for “Best Picture” at the Oscars and it won an Academy Award for “Best Adapted Screenplay.” The Imitation Game drew some criticism for several historical inaccuracies, but as far as filmmaking is concerned, it does not get any better than this!

So, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the article.

Keira Knightley has been acting ever since she was a child, she has been in the business for over 30 years, and she shows no signs of stopping. We will get more Knightley movies in the future, and this article will be updated accordingly. Until then, stay awesome!