10 Underrated Films by Zoe Saldaña You Must See

Zoe Saldaña has anchored some of the biggest franchises on the planet, from ‘Avatar’ to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ to ‘Star Trek’. Alongside those blockbusters she has built a varied body of work that stretches across crime sagas, intimate family stories, animation, and independent dramas. Her filmography includes leading roles and precise supporting turns that connect character, setting, and story with steady craft.

This roundup spotlights features that did not dominate headlines yet add important chapters to her career. You will find the essentials for each film, including the premise, her role, key collaborators, and production context so you can decide what to queue up next without hunting for extra details.

‘Premium’ (2006)

This independent romance follows a working actor who crosses paths with an old flame on the verge of a new marriage. Zoe Saldaña plays Charli, an advertising professional whose reunion with a former partner forces practical choices about love and career.

Writer and director Pete Chatmon steers a New York backdrop with a small ensemble led by Dorian Missick and Zoe Saldaña. The film was made outside the studio system and played the festival circuit before a limited release that emphasized word of mouth.

‘Haven’ (2004)

Set in the Cayman Islands, this ensemble crime drama weaves together intersecting stories involving a businessman on the run, local residents, and a chain of events sparked by hidden money. Zoe Saldaña appears as Andrea, whose relationship becomes a pressure point as criminal fallout spreads across the island.

Frank E Flowers wrote and directed the film on location with a cast that includes Orlando Bloom, Anthony Mackie, and Bill Paxton. The production leans on the islands for setting and atmosphere, using real streets and harbors to ground a tale of consequence and connection.

‘The Losers’ (2010)

A special forces team is betrayed during an overseas mission and must reassemble to expose the handler who set them up. Zoe Saldaña plays Aisha, a mysterious operative who recruits the squad and brings her own agenda to the plan.

Director Sylvain White adapts the Vertigo comic series created by Andy Diggle and Jock with a cast that includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Óscar Jaenada, and Jason Patric. The production blends practical stunts with comic book framing and shot across multiple locations to stage the team’s covert operations.

‘Takers’ (2010)

A professional crew plots a high risk armored car robbery while a persistent detective closes in. Zoe Saldaña plays Lilly, a photographer connected to one of the heist planners, and her character’s ties complicate loyalties inside the group.

John Luessenhop directs an ensemble that features Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, Tip T I Harris, Chris Brown, and Matt Dillon. The film was produced under the Screen Gems banner and mixes downtown exteriors with controlled interior sets to stage chases, stakeouts, and the final showdown.

‘Colombiana’ (2011)

After witnessing a family tragedy, a young woman trains as an assassin and builds a network of identities to reach the man responsible. Zoe Saldaña stars as Cataleya Restrepo, carrying the story through hits, aliases, and a path that runs from Latin America to major U S cities.

Olivier Megaton directs from a script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, with production mounted by EuropaCorp and partners in the United States and Europe. The film uses a blend of on location photography and soundstage work for action sequences that rely on practical effects alongside controlled pyrotechnics.

‘The Words’ (2012)

A novelist discovers a lost manuscript, publishes it as his own, and faces the personal cost of that decision. Zoe Saldaña plays Dora, the partner who witnesses the consequences as the author navigates success and scrutiny.

Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal co wrote and directed the film, which features Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Ben Barnes, and Nora Arnezeder. The production employs a nested storytelling structure, shifting between timelines and narrators to unfold the authorship mystery.

‘Out of the Furnace’ (2013)

A steelworker searches for his missing brother after a bare knuckle fight goes wrong in a rural crime ring. Zoe Saldaña appears as Lena Taylor, whose history with the protagonist adds personal stakes to a story shaped by work, family, and local law enforcement.

Scott Cooper directs a cast led by Christian Bale and Casey Affleck, with Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, and Sam Shepard in key roles. The film was shot in Rust Belt communities and uses practical locations to capture mills, bars, and back roads central to the plot.

‘Infinitely Polar Bear’ (2014)

A father with bipolar disorder takes primary care of his two daughters while their mother pursues graduate school, and the family adjusts to new routines in a small apartment. Zoe Saldaña plays Maggie, whose decision to continue her education shapes how the household shares responsibilities.

Writer and director Maya Forbes draws on personal experience and sets the story in Boston with an intimate scope. Mark Ruffalo costars as the father, and the production partners include studios known for specialty releases, with distribution handled to reach art house theaters and community screenings.

‘The Book of Life’ (2014)

This animated adventure follows Manolo and Joaquin as they journey through fantastical realms inspired by Día de Muertos while a wager between spirits influences their choices. Zoe Saldaña voices María Posada, a central figure whose courage and compassion drive the story forward.

Jorge R Gutierrez directs with production by Reel FX and oversight from producer Guillermo del Toro. The voice cast includes Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Kate del Castillo, and Ice Cube, and the film uses a distinctive wooden puppet design with vibrant color palettes drawn from Mexican folk art.

‘I Kill Giants’ (2017)

A middle schooler copes with grief by battling giants only she can see, blending fantasy with the challenges of home and school. Zoe Saldaña plays Ms Mollé, a counselor who investigates the student’s behavior and works to separate imagination from risk.

Anders Walter directs an adaptation of the graphic novel by Joe Kelly and Ken Niimura. Production took place in coastal towns to match the source material’s look, with Madison Wolfe in the lead and a mix of practical creature effects and digital work to visualize the giants on screen.

Share your favorite underappreciated Zoe Saldaña performance in the comments so other readers can discover it too.