Naomi Watts – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · November 17, 2025

Mulholland Drive is the performance that first showed the full range of what she could do, dual roles built on dread and ambition, and The Impossible, a decade later, gave her an entirely physical, devastating showcase. Eastern Promises grounds her in London’s criminal underworld, Diana takes a difficult, scrutinised role, St. Vincent shows a warmer, comic side, and Feud: Capote vs. The Swans proves her TV work is sharp too. The Ring, 21 Grams, King Kong and Birdman round out the list.

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Naomi Watts's television work proved just as sharp as her film career.

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Diana (2013)

TMDB ★ 4.7

Naomi Watts takes on a difficult, closely scrutinised biographical lead.

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel · 1h 53m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Britbox Apple TV channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Eastern Promises (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 89% Metacritic 83

A midwife's discovery pulls her into the London branch of the Russian mafia.

Directed by David Cronenberg · 1h 40m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar28 wins & 74 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

St. Vincent (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Bill Murray plays a cranky, broke neighbour who becomes an unlikely babysitter and mentor to the kid next door.

Directed by Theodore Melfi · 1h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Birdman (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A washed-up superhero actor risks everything to reinvent himself with a serious Broadway production.

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu · 2h 00m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

King Kong (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 84% Metacritic 81

A film crew's expedition to a mysterious island brings a giant ape back to a fatal New York premiere.

Directed by Peter Jackson · 3h 08m · Rated PG-13

Won 3 Oscars47 wins & 104 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ring (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 72% Metacritic 57

A journalist investigates a videotape rumoured to kill its viewers within a week.

Directed by Gore Verbinski · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

14 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

21 Grams (2003)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A fatal accident and a heart transplant tie together the lives of three strangers.

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu · 2h 04m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Impossible (2012)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 81% Metacritic 73

A family is separated and searches for each other after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Directed by J. A. Bayona · 1h 53m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar28 wins & 70 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Angel Studios, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mulholland Drive (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.9

An amnesiac and an aspiring actress unravel a Los Angeles mystery that refuses to resolve cleanly.

Directed by David Lynch · 2h 27m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Naomi Watts – 10 Best Movies

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024)

Diana (2013)

Eastern Promises (2007)

St. Vincent (2014)

Birdman (2014)

King Kong (2005)

The Ring (2002)

21 Grams (2003)

The Impossible (2012)

Mulholland Drive (2001)

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