10 Underrated Luke Wilson Movies You Must See

Luke Wilson has built a steady career across comedies and dramas, working with filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Mike Judge, Rob Reiner, and Ivan Reitman. His filmography includes lead roles, scene stealing supporting turns, and even a credit behind the camera. He started in independent features and moved easily into studio projects while keeping a foothold in smaller character driven stories.

This list gathers titles that show the range of his work across crime stories, romantic comedies, cult science fiction, and offbeat indies. You will find details on the roles he took on, the filmmakers involved, and production facts that help place each project in context within his career.

‘Bottle Rocket’ (1996)

Luke Wilson plays Anthony Adams, a recent psychiatric patient who joins his friend Dignan on a misguided plan for small time heists. The film marked the feature debut of director Wes Anderson and introduced the Wilson brothers to audiences, with Owen Wilson playing Dignan and Robert Musgrave playing their friend Bob.

The story expanded from a 1994 short with the same title and was produced by James L Brooks through Gracie Films. It was shot around Dallas and Fort Worth and released by Columbia Pictures, launching a long running collaboration between Anderson and the Wilson family.

‘Scream 2’ (1997)

Luke Wilson appears in the movie within the movie called ‘Stab’ where he portrays the film version of Billy Loomis. The main feature was directed by Wes Craven and folds this meta element into its college set slasher narrative, placing Wilson among a large ensemble that includes returning cast from ‘Scream’.

The production introduced the ‘Stab’ franchise as a recurring device for later entries, and Wilson’s scene is part of that self referential structure. The film was produced by Dimension Films and arrived one year after ‘Scream’, using fresh footage to mirror the events of the first story for the in world adaptation.

‘Blue Streak’ (1999)

Luke Wilson plays Detective Carlson, a rookie partner assigned to a veteran thief posing as a police officer, played by Martin Lawrence. The story follows a stolen diamond that has been hidden in a building that later becomes an active precinct, which sets up the undercover premise.

The film was directed by Les Mayfield and released by Columbia Pictures. Production took place in the Los Angeles area and the cast features Dave Chappelle, Peter Greene, and William Forsythe, giving Wilson a straight man role within an action comedy setup.

‘Alex & Emma’ (2003)

Luke Wilson stars as Alex Sheldon, a novelist who hires a stenographer named Emma played by Kate Hudson to help him finish a book under a tight deadline. The narrative alternates between real life scenes and the unfolding chapters of the novel, with both leads playing multiple characters inside that story.

Rob Reiner directed the film for Castle Rock Entertainment and the premise draws from Fyodor Dostoevsky dictating a novel under contract pressure. The production uses period costuming for the story within the story while keeping the framing sections contemporary, and it opened in cinemas in the summer of 2003.

‘The Wendell Baker Story’ (2005)

Luke Wilson costars as Wendell Baker and shares directing credit with Andrew Wilson on a script he wrote. The plot follows a small time schemer who takes a job at a retirement hotel and tries to help residents push back against abusive managers while attempting to rebuild his personal life.

The cast includes Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes, Seymour Cassel, Harry Dean Stanton, and Kris Kristofferson. The film was shot in and around Austin, premiered at South by Southwest in 2005, and received a theatrical release in 2007, giving Wilson a rare combination of star, writer, and director duties in one project.

‘My Super Ex-Girlfriend’ (2006)

Luke Wilson plays Matt Saunders, a New York architect who discovers that his girlfriend is the superhero G Girl, portrayed by Uma Thurman. The story blends romantic complications with superpowered set pieces as their breakup leads to escalating acts that spill into Matt’s work and friendships.

The film was directed by Ivan Reitman and released by 20th Century Fox. Production took place in New York City and the supporting cast features Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes, and Rainn Wilson, mixing comic performers with superhero action across familiar city landmarks.

‘Idiocracy’ (2006)

Luke Wilson portrays Joe Bauers, a US Army librarian selected for a hibernation experiment that accidentally propels him centuries into the future. The script by Mike Judge and Etan Cohen uses Joe’s average test scores as a setup for a society that now regards him as the smartest person alive.

Mike Judge directed the film and shot much of it in Texas, relying on practical set dressing and repurposed locations to create its future world. The release was limited in 2006 and promotion was minimal, and the film later found a large audience through home video and cable airings.

‘Henry Poole Is Here’ (2008)

Luke Wilson plays Henry Poole, a man who withdraws to a modest suburban house after receiving unsettling medical news. When a neighbor believes she sees a miraculous image on his stucco wall, the attention brings new people into Henry’s life and forces him to confront unwelcome change.

Mark Pellington directed the film and Overture Films handled distribution in 2008. It was shot in Southern California neighborhoods and features Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, and George Lopez, with a soundtrack that blends guitar driven rock and reflective ballads to match the intimate setting.

‘Tenure’ (2009)

Luke Wilson stars as Charlie Thurber, an English professor at a small college who navigates committee meetings, student issues, and departmental politics while pursuing a tenure decision. The story pairs him with a new hire played by Gretchen Mol and follows their teaching paths during an academic year.

The film was written and directed by Mike Million and was shot in the greater Philadelphia area. It played on the festival circuit before a wider home release and captures the rhythms of campus life through classroom scenes, office hours, and faculty gatherings.

‘Middle Men’ (2009)

Luke Wilson plays Jack Harris, a consultant who is drawn into early online payment processing for adult content during the late 1990s. The plot traces the formation of a billing company and the legal and criminal pressures that accompany rapid growth in a new internet business.

George Gallo directed the film and the screenplay is inspired by accounts from entrepreneur Christopher Mallick. Production design recreates the early web era with period computers and marketing materials, and the cast includes Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, and Kelsey Grammer in key roles.

Share your favorite under the radar Luke Wilson performances in the comments so everyone can compare notes on what to watch next.