Kirsten Dunst’s 15 Best Performances Ranked, from ‘Civil War’ and ‘Melancholia’ to ‘Bring It On’

[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in September 2019. It has been updated with new entries to coincide with the release of “Civil War.”]

Kirsten Dunst has many talents as an actor, but one of her best virtues is quite possibly just how cool she is. From her days as a teen star in “Bring It On” and “The Virgin Suicides” to her current era as an adult who takes on adventurous, ambitious roles in movies like “The Power of the Dog” and “Civil War,” Dunst has always had a charm and ease to her that has made her feel both relatable and glamorous. Part of it is her wry, catlike smile which gives her movie star looks some individuality. Part of it is her interviews, in which she projects a down-to-earth nature that feels authentic rather than put-on. And most of it comes from her choice of projects, which shows a great sense of taste and a desire to do truly great, ambitious, and weird work.

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Dunst has dabbled in plenty of mainstream star vehicles of course, from comedies like “Bring It On” to superhero movies like “Spider-Man.” But by-and-large, after getting her start as a preternaturally gifted child actor in the 1994 double bill “Interview With the Vampire” and “Little Women,” Dunst has spent her career choosing rich roles in off-kilter films. Her teen idol career started with cult classic comedies “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and “Dick,” and saw her become the muse of Sofia Coppola, in a creative partnership that has stretched from 1999’s “The Virgin Suicides” to 2017’s “The Beguiled” and hopefully beyond. Along the way, she’s done bold work in beloved films and shows like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Melancholia,” “Fargo,” and “On Becoming a God in Central Florida.”

Dunst’s great taste hasn’t always been shared by the industry at large, and it’s been sadly easy to take her for granted over the years — something she’s expressed discontent with. “I feel like a lot of things I do people like later. I’ve never been recognized in my own industry. I’ve never been nominated for anything. Maybe like twice for a Golden Globe when I was little and one for ‘Fargo.’ Maybe they just think I’m the girl from ‘Bring It On,'” she said in a 2019 interview. She would eventually get her due with a nomination for 2021’s “The Power of the Dog,” but a single nod feels like minor consolation for an all-time great career going largely ignored. Dunst is one of the best actors of her generation, and a quick glance at the movies she’s been in will only confirm it.

With Dunst currently starring in “Civil War,” IndieWire decided to refresh our list of the actor’s all-time greatest performances. The films listed are ranked based on the quality of Dunst’s performances, not necessarily the overall strength of the movie itself. With that said, read on for Kirsten Dunst’s 15 best performances, ranked.

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