10 Underrated Keira Knightley Movies You Must See

Keira Knightley has taken on a wide range of roles across period dramas, contemporary stories, biographical films, thrillers, and comedies. Her work spans independent productions and studio features, with characters that move from historical figures to modern day leads and early breakout parts.

This list highlights lesser discussed titles that show the variety of her filmography. Each entry includes key details on the creative team, story focus, and Knightley’s role so you can quickly see what sets each project apart.

‘The Hole’ (2001)

Nick Hamm directed this British thriller adapted from the novel ‘After the Hole’ by Guy Burt. The story follows a group of private school students who hide out in an underground bunker and then struggle to get out. The cast features Thora Birch, Desmond Harrington, and Keira Knightley in an early screen role.

Knightley plays Frankie, a classmate whose choices complicate what begins as a secret getaway. The production filmed in the United Kingdom with Pathé handling distribution, and it presented Knightley to wider audiences before larger international releases followed.

‘The Jacket’ (2005)

John Maybury directed this psychological thriller, with a screenplay by Massy Tadjedin and production support from Section Eight. Adrien Brody stars as a Gulf War veteran subjected to experimental treatment, and the ensemble includes Keira Knightley, Daniel Craig, Kris Kristofferson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Knightley plays Jackie Price, whose connection to the protagonist drives the central timeline puzzle. Warner Independent Pictures released the film after a production that used United Kingdom locations to stand in for parts of the United States, and the story blends medical institutions with memory and identity threads.

‘Silk’ (2007)

François Girard directed this adaptation of Alessandro Baricco’s novel ‘Silk’. The narrative follows French silkworm merchant Hervé Joncour and his journeys to secure eggs during a disease crisis. Michael Pitt stars as Hervé with Keira Knightley as his wife Hélène, alongside Kōji Yakusho and Alfred Molina.

Knightley’s role centers on a marriage tested by distance and secrecy while the trade storyline moves between Europe and Japan. The production mounted location work in multiple countries to match the novel’s travel itinerary, and music and costume departments emphasize period detail consistent with the source material.

‘The Edge of Love’ (2008)

John Maybury directed this drama written by Sharman Macdonald. The film focuses on poet Dylan Thomas and the intertwined lives of Vera Phillips and Caitlin Macnamara against a wartime backdrop. The cast features Keira Knightley as Vera, Sienna Miller as Caitlin, Matthew Rhys as Thomas, and Cillian Murphy as William Killick.

Knightley recorded period songs for the film in addition to her acting role, which tracks Vera’s friendship with Thomas and her marriage to Killick. The production shot in Wales and London and premiered at a major UK festival, with the story shaped around documented relationships and letters.

‘A Dangerous Method’ (2011)

David Cronenberg directed this historical drama from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton, adapted from his play ‘The Talking Cure’ and research drawn from John Kerr’s work. The film follows the professional and personal dynamics among Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein. Michael Fassbender plays Jung, Viggo Mortensen plays Freud, and Keira Knightley plays Spielrein.

Knightley’s role portrays Spielrein’s path from patient to practicing analyst and contributor to early psychoanalytic thought. The production is a European and Canadian collaboration and includes period locations, multilingual dialogue, and archival references that inform the clinical cases depicted on screen.

‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ (2012)

Lorene Scafaria wrote and directed this road movie that takes place as a planet killing asteroid approaches Earth. Steve Carell and Keira Knightley lead the cast as neighbors who set out on a trip to resolve unfinished personal commitments while public services wind down and travel becomes difficult.

Knightley plays Penny, a music loving copy editor whose records and letters frame several plot beats. The production uses Southern California locations to track the changing environment along the route, and Focus Features released the film with a soundtrack that mixes period standards and contemporary selections.

‘Laggies’ (2014)

Lynn Shelton directed this coming of age comedy written by Andrea Seigel. Keira Knightley stars as Megan, a woman stalled after a milestone celebration who spends a week reassessing her choices. The cast includes Chloë Grace Moretz as Annika and Sam Rockwell as Craig, and the film also appears under the title ‘Say When’ in some regions.

Knightley’s character forms an unexpected friendship with Annika while navigating family expectations and work decisions. The film premiered at Sundance prior to an A24 release, with production based in the Seattle area and a runtime that keeps the story focused on a single pivotal week.

‘Colette’ (2018)

Wash Westmoreland directed this biographical drama about the French author known as Colette. Keira Knightley plays Sidonie Gabrielle Colette and Dominic West plays Willy, who published the ‘Claudine’ novels under his name. The story covers Colette’s move to Paris, her growing literary output, and her stage career.

The production recreated Belle Époque settings with shooting based largely in Budapest to stand in for Parisian streets and interiors. The script credits include Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer, and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, and the film screened at Sundance before theatrical distribution in multiple territories.

‘Official Secrets’ (2019)

Gavin Hood directed this espionage drama based on the real case of translator Katharine Gun. Keira Knightley plays Gun, who disclosed a classified email about a proposed operation targeting United Nations diplomats. The cast features Matt Smith and Matthew Goode as journalists from The Observer and Ralph Fiennes as lawyer Ben Emmerson.

The film draws on reporting and legal documents to follow Gun’s arrest and the subsequent court proceedings under the Official Secrets Act. Production took place in the United Kingdom with location work at media offices and government style interiors, and the release followed a premiere at Sundance.

‘Misbehaviour’ (2020)

Philippa Lowthorpe directed this historical drama about the Miss World contest in London and the protest organized by the Women’s Liberation Movement. Keira Knightley portrays activist and academic Sally Alexander, with Jessie Buckley as Jo Robinson and Gugu Mbatha Raw as Jennifer Hosten representing Grenada. Greg Kinnear appears as entertainer Bob Hope.

The production reconstructs event stages, backstage corridors, and television control rooms using studio builds and archival references. Pathé backed the release in the United Kingdom with additional partners for international territories, and the film focuses on planning, media coverage, and outcomes for contestants and organizers.

Share your own overlooked Keira Knightley picks in the comments so everyone can compare watchlists.