Emily Blunt, a versatile film actor, excels in various genres – dramas, comedies, musicals, romances, war films, and horror movies. Few can match her range. With each new project, she fearlessly ventures into uncharted territory, earning widespread critical acclaim. Despite the surprising absence of an Academy Award nomination, Blunt boasts an impressive record – five Golden Globe nominations, four BAFTA Award nods, and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. She clinched a SAG Award for her role in “A Quiet Place.”
The film, directed and co-written by her husband John Krasinski, stunned as a blockbuster and spawned a sequel, “A Quiet Place Part II,” set to premiere this spring. Until then, let’s toast to this remarkable actress by ranking her 15 best screen performances. Notable mentions include “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Oppenheimer,” “Wild Mountain Thyme,” “Sicario,” “Into the Woods,” and more.
1. Your Sister’s Sister (2012)
- Genre: Drama/Indie film
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass
- Director: Lynn Shelton
- Writer: Lynn Shelton
- Year of release: 2012
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Runtime: 1h 30m
In 2012, Emily Blunt, known for her work in big-budget movies, stepped into the indie film scene with “Your Sister’s Sister.” This romantic comedy, directed by Lynn Shelton, tells the story of Jack (played by Mark Duplass), who’s still mourning his brother’s death. He accepts an invitation from his late brother’s girlfriend, Iris (played by Blunt), to relax at her family’s cabin on an island.
However, when Jack arrives at the cabin, he’s in for a surprise. Iris’ sister, Hannah (played by Rosemarie DeWitt), is already there, and she’s in a same-sex relationship. To make things even more complicated, Iris unexpectedly shows up the next day. This unexpected gathering of people leads to all sorts of chaotic and humorous situations.
2. Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken, Dearbhla Molloy.
- Director: John Patrick Shanley
- Writer: John Patrick Shanley, based on his play “Outside Mullingar.”
- Year of release: 2020
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
- Runtime: 1h 42m
“Wild Mountain Thyme” is a movie based on a play by John Patrick Shanley, who won an Oscar for screenwriting. The story revolves around Blunt’s character, Rosemary, a spirited Irish woman who lives next door to the handsome but shy Anthony, played by Jamie Dornan. Rosemary has a crush on Anthony, but he doesn’t seem to notice her romantic feelings. Despite a sometimes shaky Irish accent, Blunt’s relatable portrayal of Rosemary makes the audience root for her as she tries to get Anthony to notice her romantically. However, there’s a twist – Anthony has a unique secret that explains why he’s so oblivious to Rosemary’s advances, and this secret becomes a crucial part of the story.
3. The Girl On The Train (2016)
- Genre: Mystery/Thriller
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux.
- Director: Tate Taylor
- Writer: Erin Cressida Wilson, from the novel by Paula Hawkins
- Year of release: 2016
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: SonyLiv
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
- Runtime: 1h 52m
In the movie “The Girl on the Train,” Emily Blunt takes on the role of Rachel Watson, a woman who’s been through a tough divorce and is battling alcoholism. She’s fixated on her ex-husband, Tom, and his new wife, Anna. To cope with her feelings, she regularly rides the train past their house. During one of these rides, she witnesses something suspicious that could be connected to a murder. This discovery sends her life into a tailspin.
For her portrayal of Rachel, Emily Blunt was recognized with a nomination for Best Actress at the Screen Actors Guild awards. This means that her performance as Rachel was considered top-notch by her fellow actors and the film industry. It’s a gripping thriller where Emily Blunt’s acting skills truly shine as she brings this troubled character to life.
4. The Five-Years Engagement (2012)
- Genre: Romance/Comedy
- Star Cast: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie
- Director: Nicholas Stoller
- Writer: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
- Year of release: 2012
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Jio Cinema, Apple Tv
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
- Runtime: 2h 4m
In the movie “The Five-Year Engagement” from 2012, Emily Blunt plays a character named Violet Barnes, who is a psychologist. She’s engaged to Tom Solomon, a sous chef, played by Jason Segel, who also co-wrote the movie. The story revolves around their plans to get married, but due to different circumstances, their wedding keeps getting delayed. It’s like they’re stuck in a never-ending engagement.
Emily Blunt’s performance in the film was well-received by critics. They liked how she and Jason Segel, her co-star, had great on-screen chemistry. This means that their interactions and acting together seemed very natural and convincing. So, in simpler terms, the movie is about a couple, played by Blunt and Segel, who keep pushing back their wedding date, and Blunt did a fantastic job in her role, especially when acting alongside Segel.
5. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2011)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas.
- Director: Lasse Hallström
- Writer: Simon Beaufoy
- Year of release: 2011
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Apple Tv
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
- Runtime: 1h 47m
In the movie “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” from 2011, Emily Blunt plays a character named Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, who is a financial advisor. She teams up with Ewan McGregor, who plays a fisheries expert named Alfred Jones. Together, they’re working on a special project funded by a wealthy sheik from Yemen. This project’s goal is quite unique – they want to introduce salmon fishing to Yemen.
While they’re busy with this ambitious project, a lot of international diplomacy and negotiations are going on in the background. The interesting part is that amidst all this seriousness, the movie is actually a heartwarming romantic comedy. Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor really shine in their roles, making the movie both touching and funny. So, it’s not just about fish and finance; it’s a delightful mix of romance and comedy set against the backdrop of an unusual project in Yemen.
6. Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Star Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin.
- Director: Christine Jeffs
- Writer: Megan Holley
- Year of release: 2008
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.8/10
- Runtime: 1h 31m
“Sunshine Cleaning” is a movie starring Emily Blunt and Amy Adams as sisters. What’s unique about this film is that it had women working in key roles – a female co-star, Amy Adams, a female director, Christine Jeffs, and a script written by Megan Holley, also a woman.
In the movie, Blunt and Adams play sisters who are struggling with money. To make ends meet, they start a business cleaning up crime scenes after all the police work is done. Surprisingly, their business does well. But there’s a twist – dealing with these gruesome crime scenes brings up deep emotions for both sisters, especially about their mother who took her own life. So, it’s not just a story about cleaning up messes; it’s also about cleaning up the emotional messes in their lives.
7. The Young Victoria (2009)
- Genre: Romance/Drama
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Mark Strong.
- Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
- Writer: Julian Fellowes
- Year of release: 2009
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
- Runtime: 1h 40m
“The Young Victoria” is a historical movie directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by Julian Fellowes, known for “Gosford Park.” It features Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, and Mark Strong. The film tells the story of Queen Victoria’s early reign, focusing on the power struggles that surrounded her. Many people wanted to control her because she was a young queen. However, Victoria proved she couldn’t be easily controlled. Emily Blunt’s role as Queen Victoria was significant and challenging, earning her a second Golden Globe film nomination. She portrayed Victoria’s character exceptionally well.
8. The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
- Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller
- Star Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery
- Director: George Nolfi
- Writer: George Nolfi, from the novel “Adjustment Team” by Philip K. Dick
- Year of release: 2011
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Jio Cinema, Apple Tv
- IMDb rating: 7/10
- Runtime: 1h 46m
“The Adjustment Bureau” is a movie directed by George Nolfi and based on a book by Philip K. Dick. The story is about a guy named David Norris (played by Matt Damon), who’s a politician. He loses a race for the Senate and meets a dancer named Elise Sellas (played by Emily Blunt). They fall in love and then realize that there’s this mysterious group called The Adjustment Bureau. These folks basically control what happens in people’s lives, making sure everything goes according to some master plan. So, David and Elise are faced with this big dilemma. They want to be together, but The Adjustment Bureau is trying to keep them apart. The movie is all about their struggle to be together despite this powerful group trying to control their fate. It’s a mix of romance and a bit of science fiction, as they try to defy the odds and be together.
9. Looper (2012)
- Genre: Sci-fi/Action
- Star Cast: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano.
- Director: Rian Johnson
- Writer: Rian Johnson
- Year of release: 2012
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
- Runtime: 1h 59m
In the movie “Looper,” directed by Rian Johnson, there’s a futuristic world where criminals hire hitmen called “loopers” to eliminate people marked for death. Emily Blunt plays a woman named Sara, and her son has the potential to become a powerful person known as The Rainmaker, who will wipe out all the loopers in the future. However, things get complicated when one of these hitmen, Young Joe (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is assigned to kill Sara and her son but ends up falling in love with her instead. So, you have this sci-fi thriller where a hitman is supposed to do his job but starts caring for the people he’s supposed to eliminate, especially because this kid could change the future in a big way. It’s a mix of action, love, and a glimpse into a strange future world.
10. Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
- Genre: Musical/Fantasy
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep
- Director: Rob Marshall
- Writer: David Magee
- Year of release: 2018
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Hotstar
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Runtime: 2h 10m
“Mary Poppins Returns” is a movie from 2018 directed by Rob Marshall. It’s a musical that brings back the beloved character Mary Poppins, originally played by Julie Andrews, but this time, Emily Blunt takes on the role. The story is set 25 years after the events of the 1964 film.
The plot revolves around two grown-up siblings, Michael and Jane Banks, who are still dealing with a family tragedy and are a bit of a mess in their lives. Mary Poppins, their magical nanny from their childhood, returns to help them out. She uses her unique and caring, yet firm, approach to guide them through their troubles. Emily Blunt’s performance as Mary Poppins earned her nominations for prestigious awards like the Golden Globe and the SAG Award. So, it’s a heartwarming and musical tale of how a special nanny helps a family find their way through difficult times.
11. Edge Of Tomorrow(a.k.a. LIVE. DIE. REPEAT.) (2014)
- Genre: Sci-fi/Action
- Star Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
- Director: Doug Liman
- Writer: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth
- Year of release: 2014
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
- IMDb rating: 7.9/10
- Runtime: 1h 53m
“Edge of Tomorrow” is a sci-fi action movie directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. In the film, Tom Cruise plays a guy who usually works behind a desk in the military. But suddenly, Earth is invaded by aliens, and he’s forced into combat. The catch is, every time he gets killed in battle, he wakes up and goes back in time to the start of the battle. It’s like a do-over.
The only person who knows about this time loop is Sergeant Rita Vrataski, played by Emily Blunt. She’s a tough action hero who helps Tom Cruise get better and better at fighting the aliens because she’s been through this loop thing before. So basically, it’s a movie about Tom Cruise repeating the same battle over and over, trying to figure out how to win with Emily Blunt as his coach. It’s a mix of action, sci-fi, and a bit of Groundhog Day.
12. Into The Woods (2014)
- Genre: Musical/Fantasy
- Star Cast: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Chris Pine.
- Director: Rob Marshall
- Writer: James Lapine, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine
- Year of release: 2014
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Hotstar
- IMDb rating: 5.9/10
- Runtime: 2h 5m
“Into the Woods” is a movie from 2014 directed by Rob Marshall. It’s based on a musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The story is like a mash-up of different fairy tales. The main character is the Baker’s Wife, played by Emily Blunt. She really wants to have a baby, but a witch, played by Meryl Streep, has put a curse on her husband’s family. To break the curse, the Baker’s Wife has to do some things for the witch, and this sends her and her husband, played by James Corden, into a mysterious forest.
The Baker’s Wife is super determined to have her own family, so she agrees to help the witch, even though it’s a tough journey. The movie is a mix of different fairy tales all woven together. Emily Blunt did a great job, and she got nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance.
13. A Quiet Place (2018)
- Genre: Horror/Sci-fi
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmond, Noah Jupe.
- Director: John Krasinski
- Writer: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski
- Year of release: 2018
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Runtime: 1h 30m
“A Quiet Place” is a movie from 2018 directed by John Krasinski. Emily Blunt plays Dr. Evelyn Abbott, who is married to Lee, an engineer played by John Krasinski. They have three kids and Evelyn is pregnant with their fourth child. The world has been taken over by creatures that can’t see but have super-sensitive hearing. If they hear any noise, they attack. The Abbott family has survived by being very quiet and using sign language, especially because their daughter Regan is deaf.
The most intense moment for Emily Blunt’s character is when she’s in a bathtub, trying to stay completely silent as she goes into labor. She doesn’t realize that one of these creatures is right behind her. It’s a real nail-biter of a scene. Emily Blunt’s performance in this role won her a Screen Actors Guild Award as well.
14. Sicario (2015)
- Genre: Thriller/Action
- Star Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, Daniel Kaluuya.
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Writer: Taylor Sheridan
- Year of release: 2015
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- Runtime: 2h 1m
“Sicario” is an intense thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve. Emily Blunt plays FBI agent Kate Macer, a character who’s very black-and-white when it comes to right and wrong. However, things take a drastic turn when she’s recruited by the Department of Justice to join a special team aimed at capturing a Mexican drug cartel leader named Manuel Díaz.
As Kate gets deeper into this dangerous mission, she starts to realize that the lines between good and bad aren’t so clear-cut in the world of the drug war. She’s shocked to discover that even those who are supposed to be on the side of justice can be corrupted. The movie explores how Kate’s worldview shatters as she confronts the harsh reality that sometimes, in the pursuit of justice, you might have to compromise your principles. Emily Blunt’s performance as Kate captures the emotional turmoil and confusion this realization brings.
15. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- Genre: Comedy/Drama
- Star Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci.
- Director: David Frankel
- Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the book by Lauren Weisberger
- Year of release: 2006
- Where to Watch/OTT Platform: Hotstar
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10
- Runtime: 1h 49m
“The Devil Wears Prada” is a famous movie from 2006, directed by David Frankel and based on a book by Lauren Weisberger. It features top-notch actors like Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.
While the film primarily got attention for Meryl Streep’s Oscar-nominated role and Anne Hathaway’s rise to stardom, it’s Emily Blunt’s character, Emily Charlton, that really stands out. She plays the overworked personal assistant who not only has to deal with a new colleague but also gets hit by a car at one point. Despite all that, she delivers one of the movie’s most memorable lines: “I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight.” It’s pure genius. Emily Blunt’s performance as Emily even earned her a Golden Globe nomination, showing just how well she brought this character to life.
Here is the list of upcoming movies of Emily Blunt
- The Fall Guy(2024)
- A Quiet Place: Day One(2024)
- Fantastic Four(2025)
Source: goldderby.com, google
