Every Nicole Kidman Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Nicole Kidman's monumental career first started from humble beginnings, when she was a teenage actress, who made her feature film debut in 1983's "Bush Christmas." Since then, she's gone on to star in over 60 films and has become one of Hollywood's biggest film stars. She's also been a force in prestige television, appearing in shows like "Big Little Lies," and "Nine Perfect Strangers."

What's incredible about Kidman's career is how different all of her characters have been. She's played everything from dastardly villains to grieving mothers to powerful scientists. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do, and she's embodied a number of historical figures as well from Diane Arbus to Lucille Ball. It'd be easy for someone as successful as Kidman to have a reputation for being a diva, but that's certainly not the case, as she seems to be loved by everyone she works with. To celebrate this incredible actress, we've ranked every single one of her feature films. This is every Nicole Kidman movie ranked from worst to best.

The Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston-led "Just Go With It" is the second worst movie out of over 60 films featuring Nicole Kidman because it's cinema at its blandest and most forgettable. In a scathing (and accurate) takedown, Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post says the film is "an egregiously unfunny enterprise that seems less crafted and extruded through the great product-mill that is Hollywood at its most homogenized and soulless."

Although Kidman has a supporting role in "Just Go With It," she manages to be a real highlight in a romantic comedy that manages to be rarely romantic or comedic. Kidman delights in playing the uptight and obnoxious Devlin, who has an intense rivalry with Katherine (Jennifer Aniston). The two face off in a hula contest, which is one of the few genuinely funny moments in the entire film. Watching Kidman commit wholeheartedly in a film where most people involved seem to be there purely for a paycheck is great, and it showcases how Kidman elevates just about any material. But despite Kidman's most valiant efforts, "Just Go With It" is a drag and feels incredibly long. How on earth a film this listless runs for nearly two hours is something that will haunt us for eternity.

What happens when you adapt one of the funniest TV shows ever into a film? The answer looks something like "Bewitched," an extremely rare misfire for the master of romantic comedies, Nora Ephron. The film stars Will Ferrell as Jack Wyatt, an actor who is a long way away from the success he used to enjoy. Wyatt agrees to play the lead role in a film version of the '60s sitcom "Bewitched" to help revitalize his career. He's the reason that the production decides to go with an unknown actress to star alongside him, which leads to Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) getting the role. As luck would have it, Bigelow is extremely well-suited for the role of the famed housewife/witch Samantha, as she happens to be a witch herself.

The film version of "Bewitched" actually offers a pretty unique take on the television series, but it's not long before the creative premise makes way for a very standard formula. The dynamite cast that also includes Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine, and Jason Schwartzman isn't enough to make the film any more interesting. It isn't nearly as dreadful as most of the films at the bottom of this list, but it is pretty darn forgettable.

The dark comedy satire "Wills and Burke" takes aim at historical epics, as it investigates the lives of real-life Australian adventurers Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills. The pair were the first ever to travel the entirety of Australia from south to north, before meeting their tragic deaths on their way back home. If you're reading this and thinking, "this doesn't seem particularly ripe for parody," you'd be right. It also doesn't help that the characters of Wills and Burke aren't funny or particularly witty, and the film's heart regularly feels as if it's in the wrong place.

Kidman plays Julia Matthews, a young actress who has found success on the stage. It's a rather thankless role, but Kidman does get to showcase some of her more comedic abilities. It's not a film worth watching, but it certainly helped hone the seemingly endless list of talents Kidman possesses.

While Nicole Kidman has been a major A-list talent for some time now, her incredibly diverse acting career began as a teenager with her first film role in the Australian family drama movie "Bush Christmas." Kidman plays Helen Thompson, a young woman who sets off with her brother and cousin on horseback through the Australian outback. They're on a mission to get their racehorse, Prince, back from thieves.

The film hasn't aged especially well, as it has some very questionable racial politics. Although it's definitely one of the cheesiest films Kidman has ended up making, it still has its moments. Kidman shows her adventurous side in "Bush Christmas," and we get to see the usually poised actress let loose, ride horses, and eat witchetty grubs. Who wouldn't want to see that?

There was understandably a lot of hype for "The Goldfinch," which was based on Donna Tartt's hit Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, and included an amazing cast of actors like Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, and Finn Wolfhard. So, where did it all go wrong? The film takes place over a decade, as it follows Theo (Ansel Elgort), who survived a horrific attack that claimed the life of his mother. Kidman stars as the graceful but cold Mrs. Barbour, who becomes Theo's guardian via foster care and helps his love of art blossom.

Despite a great deal of anticipation, "The Goldfinch" bombed when it was released. It earned a paltry $9.9 million worldwide, which was a huge loss compared to its $45 million budget. Critical reception was very poor, with many complaining that the film squandered its fascinating source material. Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent said, "it's all poeticism without a sense of humanity, since the characters themselves aren't written as people, but as broad statements. Kidman's Samantha can only express emotion through significant glances."

Frank Oz's 2004 film "The Stepford Wives" takes a very different approach from the 1975 film of the same name (both adapted from Ira Levin's 1972 novel), as it turns the story's science fiction horror into a full-out comedy. Kidman stars as Joanna Eberhart, a big-wig television executive, who loses her job after an embittered contestant from one of her reality shows goes on a violent attack. Joanna undergoes a serious breakdown, so her husband Walter (Matthew Broderick) moves their family from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the picturesque Connecticut suburb of Stepford.

Things are perfect in Stepford, but — as Joanna soon discovers — they're a little too perfect. The women seem to take great delight in having virtually no personalities at all, and all any woman in Stepford seems to want to do is serve her husband. After a bizarre incident where one of the Stepford wives dances until she collapses, Joanna seeks to get to the bottom of things in this seemingly perfect town. The film was universally panned upon release, and it only just made back its considerable budget at the box office. Despite its negative reception, Kidman really shines in "The Stepford Wives." Even though it's considered one of her weaker films, any fans of camp will find an awful lot to enjoy here.

"The Goldfinch" isn't the only disappointing adaptation of a major bestselling novel in Nicole Kidman's career. There's also "Before I Go To Sleep," based on S.J. Watson's novel of the same name. There's some major talent in front of the camera, as Kidman stars alongside fellow A-lister and Oscar-winner Colin Firth. Life isn't easy for Christine Lucas (Kidman), who tragically suffers from anterograde amnesia, a condition that prevents her from making memories. Every day, she goes through the same process, as if she's stuck in a time loop. She has to relearn who her husband is and who she is because of a traumatic past injury. One fateful day, things finally begin to fall into place for Christine, and she discovers that everyone around her may not be as they seem.

Despite big-time pedigree from its stars and its source material, "Before I Go to Sleep" barely made a dent at the box office and received a number of negative reviews. However, Kidman is genuinely impressive here and she's great at plumbing the depths of human sadness, as her expressive face allows for the shocking revelations to come across strongly. 

You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of "Billy Bathgate," a crime drama directed by Robert Benton ("Kramer vs Kramer"). The 1991 film reunites Benton with Dustin Hoffman, who stars as fearless real-life gangster Dutch Schultz. The ruthless Schultz enlists Billy Bathgate (Loren Dean) to join his crew and he shows him the ropes. While becoming Schultz's protégé, Bathgate finds himself falling for his mentor's mistress, Drew Preston (Nicole Kidman). It's not long before Bathgate finds himself torn between love and obligation, but crossing the menacing Schultz could have deadly consequences for both him and the woman he loves.

While "Billy Bathgate" has an impressive story and cast, all of which should make for a thrilling crime drama, it's a lot less than the sum of its parts. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly observed that "there's a joyless, dutiful air to everything that happens" in the film. David Ansen of Newsweek was similarly harsh, saying that the movie "isn't an embarrassment, but it's a puzzle. Watching it, you can't locate the passion that drew the filmmakers to it in the first place."

It seems to happen to all great performers when you've been in film after film after film: Sometimes, you've just got to phone it in. That is certainly what Kidman seems to be doing in Ryan Murphy's dire adaptation of "The Prom," based on the Broadway musical of the same name. The film is about a teenager in Indiana, who wants nothing more than to take her girlfriend to prom, but her conservative town and parent-teacher association refuse to permit it. This injustice draws the attention of a group of Broadway performers, who discover the story on Twitter and make their way to Indiana to save the day, but more importantly, to reinvigorate their own careers.

Kidman plays Angie Dickinson, a Broadway diva and chorus girl, who wants to play the lead in "Chicago" more than anything. She gets a couple of fun moments, but it's not a particularly memorable role, and it really does feel like she's there for a paycheck. Considering how disappointing the film is, we can't really blame her, as her co-stars Meryl Streep and Andrew Rannells seem to be doing the exact same thing. And the less energy devoted to James Corden's stereotypical and offensive portrayal of a gay man, the better.

It's easy to see why an actor with a pedigree like Nicole Kidman would be drawn to star in "Strangerland." There's a lot for Kidman to sink her teeth into as Catherine, a mother desperate to find her two teenage kids, who disappear right before a brutal dust storm. The storm makes her mission seemingly impossible, but that won't stop Catherine from doing whatever it takes to find her children.

Despite the promising role, a characteristically strong performance from Kidman, and an excellent cast that includes Joseph Fiennes, Hugo Weaving, Lisa Flanagan, and Meyne Wyatt, "Strangerland" is a pretty lifeless movie. Despite Kidman's best efforts, the film lacks direction, as drags out its fairly simple premise for nearly two hours. It's also quite easy to figure out the secrets and twists of "Strangerland," so that when it's all over, you'll probably wish you didn't waste your time on it.

Not to be confused with the HBO Max series about a vigilante, "The Peacemaker" is an action thriller starring two of the world's biggest stars: Nicole Kidman and George Clooney. Kidman plays nuclear expert Julia Kelly, who joins forces with Clooney's military man, as the two set off on an epic mission together. They have to recover nuclear warheads believed to be stolen by vengeful terrorists, which were used to cause a brutal train collision that killed thousands. When they discover that the terrorists now have New York in their sights, they race to save the world from impending nuclear war.

"The Peacemaker" performed well at the box office, bringing in over $100 million worldwide. But critics were less impressed, as the movie struggles to find interesting things for Kidman and Clooney's characters, who have very little behind them except their focus on the mission. Although admittedly, it is refreshing that the two don't have a romantic subplot. It's a fairly thankless role for Kidman, who has a lot less fun than her counterpart, even though she does well with the material at hand.

While Nicole Kidman clearly has a wide range, it's not often that she really gets to play against any and all expectations. Thankfully, in Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy," that's exactly what she gets to do. Kidman plays the mascara-drenched Charlotte Blessing, a sultry Floridian woman in love with Hillary van Wetter (John Cusack, operating at peak creepiness), whom she believes to be wrongly imprisoned.

Though the film bombed at the box office, Kidman is electric here. She clearly takes pleasure in going for broke, especially in a delightfully unhinged prison sequence that would even make fans of "Basic Instinct" blush. Though the film's critical panning matched its poor commercial results, there's actually a lot to enjoy in this lean-all-the-way-in approach that Daniels takes. It's a huge departure from his previous film "Precious," and it makes the most of its star-studded cast, where nobody shines brighter than Kidman. Recently, critics seem to be seeing the light when it comes to "The Paperboy," as Guy Lodge of The Guardian revisited the film's merits in 2021. He writes, "In 'The Paperboy,' [Daniels] set out to make trash first and foremost, smuggling in some burning sexual and political nuances along the way, and made the best film of his career."

Nicole Kidman generally excels when playing historical figures. This is the woman, after all, who won her first Oscar for portraying author Virginia Woolf. In "Hemingway & Gellhorn," she plays real-life war correspondent Martha Gellhorn, a genuine trailblazer, who was on the front providing vital journalism all the way until her 80s. The film explores Gellhorn's relationship with writer Ernest Hemingway (Clive Owen), which lasted from the beginning of the Spanish Civil War until the end of World War II.

Kidman and Owen have pretty scintillating chemistry, and it's clear from their first scene together in a Florida bar that they're meant to be together. "There's too much rum in this rum," Gellhorn tells Hemingway with a delicious seductiveness that helps make Kidman's character shine. She's clever, strong, audacious, and exciting to watch. While their romance is steamy, the film is decidedly less so, as it abounds in clichés, and is also weighed down by its hefty 2.5-hour runtime.

"BMX Bandits" is gloriously '80s. It's about three friends who love BMX riding and discover a stash of — wait for it — walkie-talkies. They soon discover that the walkie-talkies were hidden away for sinister purposes, as a criminal gang is planning to use them to pull off a big-time bank robbery. The trio — which includes Kidman as youngster Judy — take the walkie-talkies, which makes them the new targets of the robbers and forces the teens to use every inch of their biking talents to escape this danger. The movie is ridiculous, cheesy, and corny, but it's also a really good time.

Kidman is a total delight in "BMX Bandits," as she delivers a performance full of joy and excitement. She's a BMX rider every bit as good as her male peers — if not better — and she portrays her character with sassy confidence and a strut in her step. "Bush Christmas" may have been her first feature film role, but it was "BMX Bandits" that really signaled to the world that Nicole Kidman was a singular, exciting talent destined for great things.

Although her career has been long and storied, Kidman hasn't taken many opportunities to play villains. Thankfully, she brings her talents to the antagonist role of Marisa Coulter in "The Golden Compass," based on the first book of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Wisely using her striking beauty to seduce and add dimension to her wickedness, Coulter gets gradually more mischievous as the film goes on. Her alluring warmth is directly at odds with what she's really capable of (including kidnapping children and performing cruel experiments), and Kidman clearly thrives playing such an insidious role. It's also fun to see Kidman in such exquisite costuming: Her sparkly golden dress and extravagant fur coats are simply to die for.

While the Chris Weitz-directed film earned plaudits for its production design and visual effects, it failed to live up to its impressive source material, and earned a negative critical and fan response. Joshua Starnes of Coming Soon explains that "something fundamental to good storytelling — heart — has been lost, leaving a final product as icy and impossible to care for as Mrs. Coulter herself."

John Cameron Mitchell's "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" features one of film's most common romances: that between a quiet teen and an alien (of course). After the brilliant "Rabbit Hole," it's no surprise that Kidman would want to work with director John Cameron Mitchell again, and this film offers her a completely different character. Charged with unpredictable and furious energy, Kidman is truly wild as Queen Boadicea in a role that's every bit as silly and absurd as the character's name.

While the film takes a big, big swing — there aren't many sci-fi romantic comedies, that's for sure — it also suffers a pretty big miss. While its scope and ambition are admirable, it struggles with a real lack of focus, and everything feels all over the place. The film hardly made a penny at the box office, and it wasn't especially well-received by critics or audiences. Perhaps the film tries a little too hard to be different, and as Christopher Orr of The Atlantic wisely claims, "One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie."

"The Human Stain" follows Colman Silk (Anthony Hopkins), a well-established professor respected by his peers and adored by his students. One day, he makes a passing remark in a class, and before he knows it, he's brought in front of a university tribunal and fired for his alleged racist remarks. Furious over the decision, Silk vows revenge and sets out to write a book with his colleague Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise) in order to clear his name. All the while, he's engaging in an affair with Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman), a much younger woman. Silk falls for Farley with ease, but she has a complicated past of her own, the very nature of which threatens to peel apart the layers of deception that Silk has built for himself.

While the film is a respectful retelling of Philip Roth's novel of the same name, "The Human Stain" largely loses a lot of its significance and emotional heft in this screen translation, which was written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Robert Benton. While it's fun to watch Kidman play a seductress with a dark past, it's hard to shake the idea that she may have been miscast here, and while the cast is really strong, it all just feels a bit off. Still, fans of weighty dramas and Kidman fans will find something worthwhile in this movie.

"Aquaman" is the movie that has the rather surprising distinction of being Nicole Kidman's highest-grossing film, and it marked Kidman's return to the world of superhero blockbusters for the first time since 1995's "Batman Forever." Kidman has a supporting role as Atlanna, the Queen of Atlantis and mother of Aquaman. She's not in the film an awful lot, but she does get a particularly impressive action scene that takes place in a house. It's pretty freaking awesome to watch Nicole Kidman wield a weapon and be a total boss.

Though the film was a big hit with audiences as it raked in over $1 billion worldwide, critics were a bit less positive. Although, they were entertained by the glorious nonsense in the movie. As critic Richard Crouse notes, "Wan decorates every frame with eyeball entertainment that grasps the sublime and the silly of the 'Aquaman' origin story."

Yet another film that showcases Nicole Kidman is an actress who is capable of just about anything, "Birthday Girl" is an off-kilter romantic comedy. It stars Kidman as Nadia, a mail-order bride ordered by John (Ben Chaplin), a successful worker, who has always found love to be elusive. To fulfill his desire for partnership, he finds Nadia on a website called "From Russia With Love" and brings her to England. Their relationship is a bit rocky to start, but Nadia's talents in the bedroom seem to make up for their general lack of passion for one another. When some of Nadia's family come to visit, things suddenly change, and the film takes a very unexpected turn from rom-com to a crime thriller.

Kidman is an actress who clearly enjoys playing roles that subverts expectations. She showcases this impressive range in "Birthday Girl," where she plays a character that we discover more and more about with each passing minute. It's one of the weirder movies Kidman has starred in, and while the major shift in genres doesn't fully work, it's still worth checking out.

In the emotional war drama "The Railway Man," Kidman plays Patti, the wife of Eric (Colin Firth), who was a British army officer that was captured as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II. Still haunted by his torturous past, he receives word that the man responsible for his misery — a soldier named Nagase (Hiroyuki Sanada) — is still alive. With a push from Patti, Eric agrees to confront Nagase face to face, in the hopes of finally putting his demons to rest. "The Railway Man" is the first of multiple collaborations between Kidman and Firth ("Before I Go To Sleep" and "Genius" would follow), and this film contains their finest work together.

Firth and Kidman share a strong yet understated chemistry, and even seeing the pair discuss buying supplies for their kitchen is enjoyable since their relationship feels completely believable. Similarly to "My Life," Kidman plays second fiddle to her co-star, since the film is really about Eric's journey, as he confronts the atrocities that he endured in the Second World War. The film is a bit too quiet for its own good and suffers from some the occasional lackadaisical pacing, but ultimately, "The Railway Man" has a strong emotional through line and is a worthy viewing experience.

Nicole Kidman is often admired for her stunning beauty in addition to her versatility as an actress, and that's something she delightfully upends in Karyn Kusama's "Destroyer." Kidman is practically unrecognizable as Erin Bell, a police officer ravaged by her past. When she was younger, Bell went deep undercover on a case in which she was trying to help take down a sinister California gang. Her cover was tragically blown, which destroyed the case, and her failure ended up seeping into her own life like a parasite. "I'm mad, I'm still mad. It's burned a circuit in my brain," Bell confesses. One day, a clue next to a dead body suggests that she may have another shot at the case, something she never expected to happen.

"Destroyer" shines thanks to Kusama's clever direction and Kidman's raw and unflinching performance. It's a genuinely gritty film, and Kidman's Bell has all the embittered nastiness in the world to make it work. Critics received the film well and were quick to point out how excellent Kidman is in the role. While it's certainly a tough watch, those who love to see Kidman find something new to work with will certainly find something to love here.

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) works as an interpreter for the United Nations in Sydney Pollack's 2005 mystery thriller "The Interpreter." One day at work, everything appears to be going along as usual, until Broome believes she overhears something shocking: a scheme to assassinate Edmond Zuwaine (Earl Cameron), the President of (the fictional) Matobo, a country in Southern Africa that is also her birthplace. She alerts the authorities, but agents soon become suspicious of her explanations. In fact, once they uncover Sylvia's past, they believe her to be their prime suspect.

Kidman is solid in this twisty political thriller, once again playing a woman whose secrets are slowly revealed over the course of the film. Sure, things get pretty ridiculous a little too quickly, which ultimately manages to render the whole thing rather implausible. But that doesn't make going along for the ride any less of a blast.

"I've often wondered why it is we have children, and the conclusion I've come to is, we want someone to get it right this time. But not me. Personally speaking, I can't wait to watch the world tear you apart," Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) maliciously and chillingly tells her daughter India (Mia Wasikowska). In Park Chan-Wook's excellent English-language debut "Stoker," Kidman plays the gloriously unhinged Evelyn, who invites India's uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) to live with their family after the sudden death of her husband. Only thing is, India has never heard of her Uncle Charlie and she grows increasingly obsessed with his presence in their home.

"Stoker" is a visually sumptuous film by director Chan-Wook. Its creative style keeps things enticing, while its bold mood and atmosphere situate the tension on a knife's edge. As Jason Bailey observes for Flavorwire, "There is a freedom to [Chan-Wook's] filmmaking; he's trying things, odd moods and unexpected edits and unconventional compositions ... you can't help but respond to the wit and playfulness of his style." It doesn't hurt that the film has some thrilling twists and genuine excitement, and Kidman is tremendous in this performance.

In this sweeping and emotional movie set during the American Civil War, Nicole Kidman plays Ada Monroe, a woman whose husband Inman (Jude Law) is sent off to fight in the war. Some time later, Inman deserts and begins his tumultuous journey back home to Cold Mountain, North Carolina. Meanwhile, Ada is on the verge of doom, as she tries to maintain order at home while also dealing with her dying father. It's all made worse that her letters to Inman go unanswered, which leaves a ferocious doubt in Ada's mind that threatens to destroy her. A source of potential relief comes from Ruby (Renée Zellweger in an Oscar-winning role), a drifter who helps Ada keep things afloat.

"Cold Mountain" was a financial hit, and a critical one too, as it picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations, including ones for Law and Zelwegger. Kidman was the only headlining performer left out of the Oscar nominations, which is surprising since she delivers an exceptional performance in "Cold Mountain" that simmers with despair, ferocity, and power.

"Dead Calm" is the film that first brought Kidman to Tom Cruise's attention when he was looking for his "Days of Thunder" costar. So, arguably, this is the movie that marked Nicole Kidman's transition from Australian actress to bonafide Hollywood star. As Rae Ingram, Kidman is a revelation, brimming with a sort of secretive intensity that makes it impossible to look away from her. "Dead Calm" follows Rae and her husband John (Sam Neill), who are reeling from the death of their young son. In order to escape and try to decompress, they embark on a holiday on their yacht. While out at sea, they discover the sole survivor on a schooner (a magnificent Billy Zane) and rescue him. It turns out to be a decision the Ingram family will come to regret, as the stranger will soon reveal his true self and threaten their lives.

"Dead Calm" is an intoxicating cat-and-mouse thriller and received a strong critical reception. Critic Nigel Floyd of Time Out praised Kidman's talent in particular: "A classic piece of pared-down genre film-making is lent extra depth by an emotional subtext stressing Kidman's transition from dependent wife to resourceful individual."

Based on the 1971 film of the same name, Sofia Coppola's "The Beguiled" greatly improves upon the original. The movie takes place at a girls' boarding school in the South during the American Civil War. Because of the war swirling around them, the girls very rarely leave the confines of the school grounds, and their sheltered lives are thrown for a loop when an injured enemy soldier (Colin Farrell) appears at the gates. Kidman is really in her element here as Miss Martha, the head of the school, who is greatly hesitant to let the soldier into their sanctuary. She runs things with a quiet dominance, which gradually gets more and more menacing as time goes on, and she's clearly willing to do whatever it takes to protect her charges.

The film received great acclaim, and Sofia Coppola became just the second woman to win Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, where "The Beguiled" premiered. Critics celebrated the film's merits, with Total Film's Jane Crowther saying, "witty, menacing and steamy (in every sense), 'The Beguiled' is an intelligent update and Coppola's best work to date."

A heartfelt and uplifting story about an extraordinary journey to return home, Garth Davis' "Lion" follows the Australian-raised Saroo (Dev Patel) from childhood to adulthood, as he seeks to find his birthplace in India and the family that was taken away from him as a child. The incredible true story is based on the memoir "A Long Way Home," written by Saroo Brierly, and "Lion" is a thoughtful and emotional adaptation of this book.

Kidman stars alongside the brilliant Patel as Saroo's adoptive mother Sue, who struggles with her son's determination to return to India and leave their family behind. "I'm sorry you couldn't have your own kids," Saroo tells her in a heart-wrenching scene. Sue reveals that she could in fact have children, but she wanted Saroo and his adopted brother Mantosh more than anything else in the world.

Kidman got her first Best Supporting Actress nomination thanks to her emotionally vulnerable performance here. "Lion" earned six Academy Award nominations in total — including Best Picture — and was loved by critics and audiences alike.

Grace (Nicole Kidman) appears in a small American town, begging the inhabitants for a place to stay, as she's being pursued by violent criminals. The town — which is uniquely stylized as a barren soundstage with white chalk outlines on the ground in place of buildings — appears friendly and charming, and takes Grace under their wing in exchange for work. As Grace works tirelessly to maintain her safety, the townsfolk become increasingly manipulative, taking advantage of Grace's innocence for their own personal gain.

Lars Von Trier's "Dogville" is both the bleakest and longest film in Kidman's immense filmography, clocking in at a massive 178 minutes. It's often extremely difficult watch, as Kidman's character endures horrifying hardships, but the film provides a masterful exploration of societal depravities. Though Von Trier's film got a mixed reception upon its release, "Dogville" has recently had quite the resurgence, as it has regularly appeared in lists of the best films of the 21st century, including Time Out, The Guardian, and BBC.

An emotionally crushing and worthwhile film, "Rabbit Hole" features a revelatory performance from Nicole Kidman as a mother whose happy life is turned inside out with the sudden death of her child. Becca (Kidman) and her husband Howie (Aaron Eckhart) have very different approaches to their grief: While Howie wants to keep every possible memento of their child, Becca is keen to move to a new home and try to start over.

Kidman delivers a powerful portrait of a grieving woman and offers an interesting and different take. Yes, Becca is deeply emotional and no stranger to a sudden breakdown — typical after a sudden loss — but she often surprises with her behavior too. In a scene at group therapy for people suffering from loss, another couple states that their child was taken from them because God needed another angel. Becca snaps, angrily responding with, "Why didn't he just make one? Another angel? I mean, he's God after all, why didn't he just make another angel?" It's a harrowing, sensitive, and humane performance that anchors the wonderful film, and it earned Kidman her third Oscar nomination.

In Gus Van Sant's hilarious black comic satire "To Die For," Kidman is luminous as Suzanne Stone. Stone is a beautiful woman who wants nothing more than to be a big-time broadcast journalist. Stone gets a job as an assistant at a local cable station, and while it's entirely menial and thankless work, she believes that if she works tirelessly, she'll make her way onto the TV screen. It's not long before she becomes the weather reporter, but it's not nearly enough for her ambitions. When her husband starts pressuring her to give up her career for a family, she devises a scheme and enlists some high schoolers — including the hapless Jimmy (Joaquin Phoenix) — to help achieve her professional goals, no matter the cost.

"To Die For" is incredibly clever in its dissection of our unrelenting obsession with celebrity culture, and the innate desire to be seen. Critics loved the film, including Margaret McGurk of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who wrote, "Aside from outstanding performances, the movie is smartly paced and well-designed. Most of all, it delivers fascinating characters and provocative ideas with skill and grace."

It's all come down to this: Nicole Kidman's very best film is a family-friendly movie about a CGI bear from Darkest Peru. It may be surprising to see a film like "Paddington" at the very top of our list, but after watching it, it really shouldn't come as a shock. We don't think Kidman has ever had a better time performing than in "Paddington," where she plays the evil and menacing Millicent, who works at the Natural History Museum in London. When she hears that Paddington (Ben Whishaw) — a very rare type of bear — has come to London, she decides to do absolutely whatever it takes to have this bear on display in her museum.

Kidman is simply everything in the film, donning a wonderful blonde bob while delivering a villainous performance with tremendous wit and a sense of high camp. She's simply having the time of her life being the bad guy, but she also injects a great deal of truth and honesty in her character, something she's perfected over the course of her career. It's as every bit frightening as it is hilarious, and it's an incredibly challenging duality that only an actress as talented as Kidman can pull off. The film is also the most universally adored of her career amongst critics, and when it comes to Nicole Kidman, this role and this film stand supreme.