10 Overrated Vanessa Kirby Movies You Might Want to Skip

Vanessa Kirby has moved between blockbuster action, intimate drama, and historical epics, building a filmography that spans studio franchises and independent projects. This list gathers ten of her films and gives you quick, practical details on what each one is about, who made it, and what kinds of production choices shaped the final result.

You will find her roles here ranging from leads to memorable supporting turns. For each title you get a plain summary, key collaborators, and concrete background like shooting locations, format choices, festival premieres, and release context so you can decide what fits your watchlist.

‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)

Vanessa Kirby appears as Alanna Mitsopolis, also known as the White Widow, a London power broker who intersects with Ethan Hunt and his team during an operation that moves across Paris and London. The film features Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames, with Christopher McQuarrie writing and directing.

Production included a high altitude low opening jump filmed with specialized camera rigs and a helicopter chase executed in New Zealand, along with extended vehicle work in central Paris. The score is by Lorne Balfe, and large dialogue scenes were staged in practical locations such as the Grand Palais, which influenced lighting and sound design choices.

‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ (2023)

Kirby reprises Alanna Mitsopolis, whose black market connections become central to a conflict over a powerful key and a rogue artificial intelligence pursued by multiple factions. The ensemble adds Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, and Pom Klementieff to returning cast members, with Christopher McQuarrie again at the helm.

Filming took place in Rome, Venice, Norway, and Abu Dhabi, including an airport sequence built for complex crowd movement and camera coverage. A full scale train was constructed for a climactic set piece, and release timing was shaped by pandemic era schedule shifts, with premium formats rolled out worldwide.

‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ (2019)

Kirby plays Hattie Shaw, an MI6 operative and the sister of Deckard Shaw, who is drawn into a plot involving a programmable pathogen and a technologically enhanced adversary named Brixton. The film stars Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham and is directed by David Leitch, bringing in action choreography teams known for precision stunt design.

Principal photography covered London and Glasgow for urban chases, along with sequences staged in Hawaii that stand in for Samoa during the final act. The movie features brief appearances by Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart, mixes practical driving with digital augmentation, and used large gimbal rigs for rotorcraft interiors.

‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Kirby portrays Empress Joséphine, whose marriage to Napoleon and political position frame several court and domestic scenes that run parallel to large scale battlefield sequences. Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon, and Ridley Scott directs from a script by David Scarpa.

Battle scenes such as Austerlitz were staged with extensive extras, pyrotechnics, and water tank work for the ice set piece, while interiors were shot in historic British locations that provided period architecture. The film released in theaters through a partnership that paired Apple financing with a wide global rollout, followed by a longer cut on streaming.

‘Pieces of a Woman’ (2020)

Kirby leads as Martha, a Boston woman whose planned home birth is depicted in a single sustained take that runs for an extended duration and sets the tone for the rest of the story. The cast includes Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Molly Parker, and Benny Safdie, with direction by Kornél Mundruczó and a screenplay by Kata Wéber.

The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Kirby received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress and later earned an Academy Award nomination for the role. Production relied on handheld camera movement and naturalistic lighting, and the birth sequence required weeks of rehearsal with choreography that integrated performance, practical effects, and sound design.

‘The Son’ (2022)

Kirby plays Beth, partner to Peter, a New York attorney navigating family strain when his teenage son struggles at home and school. The drama is adapted from Florian Zeller’s stage play, reuniting the director with collaborators from his earlier film, and features Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Zen McGrath, and Anthony Hopkins.

The production emphasizes interior spaces and dialogue driven scenes, with locations in New York and studio builds designed for long takes and overlapping performances. The film premiered on the festival circuit, where conversations focused on continuity with Zeller’s previous work and the approach to portraying mental health within a family setting.

‘Italian Studies’ (2021)

Kirby stars as Alina Reynolds, a writer who becomes disoriented on the streets of Manhattan and reconnects with fragments of her life through conversations with a group of teenagers. The film is written and directed by Adam Leon, and much of the dialogue unfolds in public spaces with a loosened rehearsal process.

Shooting used a small crew and a documentary influenced approach that allowed scenes to unfold amid real city traffic and pedestrians. The movie premiered at Tribeca and later received a limited release, with post production leaning on location sound and minimal scoring to preserve the sense of wandering and immediacy.

‘About Time’ (2013)

Kirby appears as Joanna, a friend within the social circle of Mary and Tim as Tim learns to manage an inherited ability that lets him revisit moments from his life. Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams lead the cast, with Bill Nighy and Lydia Wilson in key supporting roles and Richard Curtis as writer and director.

Filming took place in London neighborhoods and along the Cornish coast, including a family home that became a central visual anchor for the story. The film combined a contemporary soundtrack with warm color grading and practical seaside locations, and it performed solidly at the international box office.

‘Me Before You’ (2016)

Kirby plays Alicia, a former partner of investment banker Will Traynor, whose life changes after an accident and whose relationship with caregiver Lou Clark shapes the narrative. The adaptation is scripted by author Jojo Moyes, with Thea Sharrock directing and Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin in the lead roles.

Locations include English villages and historic properties that frame the central household setting, with additional sequences filmed in coastal resort areas. The production used a mix of interior sets and on location work, and it delivered a wide theatrical release that reached audiences across multiple territories.

‘Everest’ (2015)

Kirby portrays climber and socialite Sandy Hill during a dramatization of the events surrounding expeditions on Mount Everest. The ensemble includes Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and John Hawkes, with Baltasar Kormákur directing.

The film combines location photography in Nepal with sequences shot in the Italian Alps and soundstage environments built for blizzards and altitude effects. It released in premium large formats including 3D and IMAX, and the production relied on extensive weather simulation, harness work, and digital matte extensions to recreate the mountain.

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