Tilda Swinton’s 15 Best Movies, Ranked

Tilda Swinton’s movies prove that she is an actress whose versatility has no limits. Known for completely immersing herself in every role, Swinton has shown exceptional range in independent films, big-budget features, experimental art projects, and more. Her chameleonic talents have made her a muse for acclaimed directors like Bong Joon-Ho and Luca Guadagnino. She also frequently stars in Wes Anderson movies. Whether Swinton is playing an ethereal mythic figure, a ruthless executive, or an eccentric aristocrat, she brings striking physicality and rich emotional depth to each performance.

Over the years, Swinton’s memorable and bold performances have expanded the boundaries of gender, sexuality, and age in cinema. Upcoming projects promise more of Swinton’s mercurial magic as she reteams with visionary directors. Her sophisticated, nuanced acting continually expands the possibilities of what’s achievable on screen across every genre. Swinton is simply one of the most versatile, consistently impressive actors working today, captivating audiences with her hypnotic talent. While not all of Tilda Swinton’s movies have been hits, her talent always is.

15

Constantine (2005)

As Gabriel

Constantine - Poster - Keanu Reeves

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Constantine

R

Fantasy

Horror

Action

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7/10

13

9.2/10

Release Date

February 18, 2005

Runtime

121 Minutes

Director

Francis Lawrence

Writers

Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, Kevin Brodbin, Frank A. Cappello

Cast

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    Keanu Reeves

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Though Swinton is mostly known for her indie work and prestige dramas, she has proven that she can elevate the occasional blockbuster movie with her performance. That is certainly the case with Constantine, the comic book movie that stars Keanu Reeves as a cursed demon hunter who finds himself the one man who may be able to prevent a demonic entity from invading Earth. Swinton steals the show with her engrossing performance as Gabriel, an angel on Earth who shares a long history with Constantine but has plans of her own.

However, she also has a certain menacing quality behind her eyes that makes Gabriel all the more fascinating.

Swinton fits into the angelic role quite well as she is immediately alluring and seems otherworldly. However, she also has a certain menacing quality behind her eyes that makes Gabriel all the more fascinating. Though Constantine received a lukewarm critical response upon its release, its reputation has grown as an underrated comic book movie, which could mean Swinton will return in the much-talked-about Constantine 2.

14

Adaptation (2002)

As Valerie Thomas

Adaptation. - Poster

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Adaptation.

R

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Release Date

December 6, 2002

Runtime

115 Minutes

Cast

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Director

Spike Jonze

Writers

Susan Orlean, Charlie Kaufman

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Swinton makes the most of limited screen time to offer a memorable performance. As Valerie Thomas, the studio executive prodding a struggling Charlie Kaufman to adapt the book The Orchid Thief, Swinton magnifies a minor role through sheer talent. Whether portraying exasperation over Charlie’s excuses or unveiling her own Hollywood duplicity, Swinton grounds the film’s zigzagging flights of metafiction with keen comedic timing and micro-expressions.

She fleshes out a functional character into a subtle, scene-stealing tour de force. While her role may be minor in the context of the film’s ambitious scope, Swinton confirms why she elevates any project through sheer dedication to the truth behind each role. She is an ideal fit in this mind-bending story that Charlie Kaufman himself wrote and inserted himself into. Swinton more than holds her own in a movie that also stars Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep.

13

Doctor Strange (2016)

As The Ancient One

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Doctor Strange

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

8/10

11

7.2/10

Release Date

November 4, 2016

Runtime

115 minutes

Director

Scott Derrickson

Writers

C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson

Producers

Charles Newirth, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Stan Lee, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Benedict Cumberbatch In The Doctor Strange Premiere

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    Dr. Stephen Strange

  • Headshot Of Chiwetel Ejiofor In The UK Paramount+ Launch Event

    Chiwetel Ejiofor

    Mordo

Doctor Strange follows the journey of a brilliant yet arrogant surgeon, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, whose career is derailed. He finds redemption under the tutelage of a mystical sorcerer, learning to harness mystical powers to protect the world from dark forces. Released in 2016, the film expands Marvel’s cinematic universe into the realm of mysticism.

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As The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, Swinton fully embodies the role with ethereal wisdom that gets to the core of the film’s philosophical themes. Her acting performance resonates with the movie’s messages about ego, healing, and the power of belief. Swinton brings a mystical weight to the character that makes her impactful. Visually spectacular, yet still fundamentally character-driven, Doctor Strange utilizes special effects not just for stage presence but to progress the story.

Swinton’s acclaimed performance blends well with the movie’s overall crowd-pleasing blockbuster entertainment.

Her memorable presence in this superhero origin story demonstrates her talent for compelling acting, even in a big-budget context. While Swinton reprised her role in Avengers: Endgame and What If..?, Doctor Strange really allowed her to explore the character and also deliver one of the most emotional death scenes in the MCU.

12

The Room Next Door (2025)

As Martha

The Room Next Door (2024) - Poster

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The Room Next Door

Drama

ScreenRant logo

6/10

6/10

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Runtime

106 Minutes

Director

Pedro Almodovar

Writers

Pedro Almodovar, Sigrid Nunez

Cast

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Tilda Swinton’s latest project sees her once again teaming with a highly acclaimed filmmaker while also having the auspicious honor of appearing in the first English-language movie from Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. The Room Next Door is a drama that stars Julianne Moore as Ingrid, a woman who connects with her old friend, Martha (played by Swinton), when she finds out that Martha is dying of cancer. Together, the two women reconnect and discuss life and death as Martha contemplates the future.

The movie is largely made up of these conversations between the two women, but as good as Moore, Swinton gives a powerhouse performance in this complex role. Her performance hits so many nuances of this woman who is viewing her situation with pragmatism and openness, yet is clearly uncomfortable about being in a situation she cannot control. It is a surprisingly hopeful and uplifting movie about death.

11

Orlando (1992)

As Orlando

Orlando - Poster

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Orlando

PG-13

Drama

Fantasy

Release Date

December 11, 1992

Runtime

90 Minutes

Director

Sally Potter

Writers

Sally Potter, Virginia Woolf

Cast

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Orlando, directed by Sally Potter, is a film adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel. Set in 1600, it follows a young nobleman, promised land and fortune by Queen Elizabeth I, as he embarks on a journey exploring identity and transformation across centuries.

Main Genre

Drama

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Orlando showcases Swinton at the peak of her abilities, seamlessly bringing a complex literary character to life. As the gender-defying nobleman, Swinton inhabits Virginia Woolf’s poetic prose with subtle intensity. Her soulful performance highlights gender fluidity through imaginative androgyny. Swinton captures both Orlando‘s timeless continuity and shifting self-perception. Through eras and identities, she maintains a magnetic screen presence.

Tilda Swinton Bong Joon Ho Parasite

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Considered a career-defining role, Swinton’s Orlando elucidates why she’s unmatched at conveying the emotional interiors of enigmatic characters. The film shows Swinton’s singular skill at taking on interesting and complex characters. She received several smaller accolades for her performance but announced herself as a daring artist who can disappear into even the most complex of roles.

10

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

As Elizabeth Abbott

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

PG-13

Drama

Romance

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

8/10

5/10

Release Date

December 25, 2008

Runtime

166 minutes

Director

David Fincher

Writers

Eric Roth

Cast

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    Brad Pitt

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    Brad Pitt

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Swinton continued her trend of working alongside some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the business by joining the cast of David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the movie stars Brad Pitt as the title character, a man who finds himself with a strange condition that finds him aging backward. The movie follows him from his birth as an old man all the way to his senior years as an infant, with all the people he meets throughout his life.

Swinton stands out as one of the most intriguing characters he comes across in his journey as Elizabeth Abbott, a strong-willed woman with dreams of swimming across the English Channel. Swinton infuses the character with confidence mixed with vulnerability as she fears she is aging out of her dream yet is not ready to give up. The movie was nominated for Best Picture, while Swinton earned nominations from the Saturn Awards and the London Film Critics’ Circle.

9

A Bigger Splash (2016)

As Marianne Lane

A Bigger Splash (2015) official poster

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A Bigger Splash

R

Drama

Thriller

Music

Release Date

May 4, 2016

Runtime

124 minutes

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Writers

David Kajganich, Alain Page

Cast

See All

A Bigger Splash is a psychological drama directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film centers on rock star Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) and her filmmaker partner Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), who are on a recuperative getaway in Italy. Their tranquility is disrupted by the unexpected visit of Marianne’s former lover Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson), sparking a complex web of jealousy and desire.

Main Genre

Drama

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In Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, Swinton plays a rock star unable to speak after vocal surgery. Though dialogue-light, her performance remains impactfully expressive. As Marianne, Swinton relies on subtle gestures and whispers to convey potent emotions. Despite physical stillness, her character feels vibrantly alive and complexly conflicted. When Marianne’s former lover arrives unannounced with a mysterious companion, Swinton evokes both melancholic longing and sensual intrigue through telling glances.

Oliver and Elio sitting in the sun in Call Me By Your Name

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Her restrained yet magnetic acting matches the film’s hushed, tense atmosphere, making it a noteworthy addition to her filmography. Showcasing her incredible range, she adjusts dynamically between muted pain and desire. With no flashy theatrics needed, Swinton’s technical mastery shines through. The movie is also a terrific small ensemble with Swinton finding excellent chemistry with Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Dakota Johnson.

8

I Am Love (2009)

As Emma Recchi

I Am Love 2009 Film Poster

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I Am Love

R

Drama

Romance

Release Date

July 23, 2010

Runtime

120 Minutes

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Writers

Barbara Alberti, Ivan Cotroneo, Walter Fasano

Cast

Main Genre

Drama

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I Am Love epitomizes Tilda Swinton’s uncanny talent for conveying emotional subtlety. As Emma, a stifled Russian transplant in Italy, she depicts a slow-burning inner transformation purely through glances and gestures. Despite considerable dialogue, Swinton relies on heartbreaking understatements to depict her character’s sexual awakening. Once again backed by Luca Guadagnino’s tactile direction, she grounds each plot twist with refined empathy.

Swinton makes Emma’s liberation from domestic duties feel surprising and profoundly understandable. It’s a performance that earned her a BAFTA nomination and best represents her gift for displaying repression with intimate psychological insight. The absorbing arthouse drama I Am Love finds Swinton effortlessly acting with raw human vulnerability. The movie remains the best collaboration between Swinton and Guadagnino, with the filmmaker delivering her with the most substantial character of their work together thus far.

7

Burn After Reading (2008)

As Katie Cox

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Burn After Reading

R

Comedy

Crime

Documentary

Drama

5.5/10

Release Date

September 5, 2008

Runtime

96 minutes

Director

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Writers

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Cast

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  • Headshot Of George Clooney

    George Clooney

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    Frances McDormand

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Just as Swinton was coming off her first Oscar win, the Coen brothers were coming off of their multiple Oscar wins for No Country for Old Men. However, few could have predicted that their collaboration together would prove to be such a madcap comedy as Burn After Reading. The hilarious look at the mundanity of the modern espionage world deals with a low-level CIA analyst whose inconsequential information is stolen by a pair of dim-witted gym employees, setting off an increasingly chaotic situation.

She is wonderfully reserved in her role as an adulterous wife, Katie Cox, who seems to have contempt for the entire world.

Swinton joins an incredible cast that includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, and John Malkovich and still manages to stand out. She is wonderfully reserved in her role as an adulterous wife, Katie Cox, who seems to have contempt for the entire world. Swinton earned a BAFTA nomination for her hilarious performance.

6

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

As Eve

only lovers left alive poster

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Only Lovers Left Alive

r

Romance

Horror

7.9/10

Release Date

December 25, 2013

Runtime

123minutes

Director

Jim Jarmusch

Writers

Jim Jarmusch

Cast

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Only Lovers Left Alive is a romantic comedy and horror fantasy film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The movie stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, focusing on two centuries-old vampires that live in the modern age thanks to their supply of blood from various sources.

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Only Lovers Left Alive is a horror movie starring Tilda Swinton, where she inhabits the role of Eve, an ancient vampire disenchanted with immortal life. As one half of a bloodsucking couple living in barren Detroit, Swinton effortlessly channels director Jim Jarmusch’s signature offbeat style. With a minimal plot, the film relies entirely on Swinton’s innate magnetism and charisma to compel. Her unhurried scenes with co-star Tom Hiddleston give off a hazy intrigue, punctuating their aimlessness with dry commentary on the meaning of life.

Jarmusch is another filmmaker whom Swinton has collaborated with several times. Only Lovers Left Alive is not only their best movie together, but it is also considered the filmmaker’s best work of his impressive career. Jarmusch astutely capitalizes on Swinton’s enigmatic timelessness rather than any strict narrative. With subtle grace and intensity, her mysteriously engaging presence holds attention.

5

Snowpiercer (2013)

As Mason

Snowpiercer

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Snowpiercer

R

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

6/10

9/10

Release Date

July 11, 2014

Runtime

126 Minutes

Director

Bong Joon-ho

Writers

Bong Joon Ho, Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, Jean-Marc Rochette

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Chris Evans

    Chris Evans

  • Headshot Of Jamie Bell

    Jamie Bell

Snowpiercer is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The narrative takes place aboard a perpetually moving train carrying the last remnants of humanity after a failed climate-change experiment freezes the planet. Chris Evans stars as Curtis, who leads a group of lower-class passengers in a rebellion against the oppressive elite at the front of the train. The film explores themes of class struggle and survival.

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

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As the spokesperson for the oppressive overlord aboard a hijacked class-divided train, Swinton flourishes in Snowpiercer‘s plunge into dystopian extremes. Her bureaucratic mouthpiece, Mason, symbolizes the ridiculous extravagance used to enforce social stratification. Complete with visual gags like coke-bottle lenses and a fussy uniform, Swinton shapes Mason as a farcical functionary whose instability mirrors the deteriorating order she exists to maintain. Whether spewing absurd orders or unveiling callous agendas behind a prim mask, Swinton crafts an outrageously unhinged and hypnotic descent into irrational authority.

With Hollywood seldom allowing actresses to access such extremes, Swinton again proves her talent by matching the exaggerated allegories without restraint. There have been many English-speaking actors who have struggled to connect with filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s unique and brilliant tonal shifts, but Swinton dials in perfectly, stealing the show with the most entertaining performance in the movie.

4

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

As Social Services

Moonrise Kingdom Movie Poster

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Moonrise Kingdom

PG-13

Romance

Comedy

ScreenRant logo

8/10

8.5/10

Release Date

June 21, 2012

Runtime

94minutes

Director

Wes Anderson

Writers

Wes Anderson

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Bill Murray In The 65th BFI London Film Festival: 'The French Dispatch' premiere

    Bill Murray

  • Headshot Of Kara Hayward

    Kara Hayward

Directed by Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom is set on the fictional New England Island of New Penzance. The film follows Sam Shakusky and Suzy Bishop, two adolescent residents of the island who, after falling in love through letters, hatch a plan to run away together in order to escape their difficult lives. The ensemble cast includes Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton. 

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As the investigator dispatched to evaluate a child’s welfare, Swinton initially embodies bureaucratic indifference, with her severe outfits mirroring her joyless manner. However, in her watchful gaze and subtle frowns, the actress hints at the loneliness within such detachment. With just a few scenes, she unearths the humanity buried in this functionary job. It’s an understated yet memorable performance that epitomizes Swinton’s talent. Moonrise Kingdom showcases her ability at finding truth and complexity even in small supporting parts.

Similar to her work with Bong Joon-ho, Swinton proves her ability to connect with Wes Anderson’s distinct style, fitting effortlessly into the world he creates. Balancing deadpan comedy with quiet vulnerability, she makes the agent feel like a real person, not just a plot device. This was Swinton’s first movie with Anderson, but it is not hard to see why they have worked together so often since.

3

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

As Madame D.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel

R

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7.9/10

Release Date

March 28, 2014

Runtime

100 Minutes

Director

Wes Anderson

Writers

Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Willem Dafoe

    Willem Dafoe

  • Headshot Of Jude Law

    Jude Law

From director Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel stars Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H., the renowned concierge of the film’s titular hotel. Fiennes is joined by Tony Revolori as Zero, a newly hired bellhop who serves as Gustave’s partner-in-crime throughout the film. An older Zero, played by F. Murray Abraham, serves as the narrator for the story, which chronicles the adventures of Gustave and Zero after Gustave is framed for the murder of the wealthy Madame D., his patron and lover. 

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Tilda Swinton’s character in this Wes Anderson movie makes a hysterical mark despite minimal screen time. Enshrouded under prosthetics as the elderly dowager who bequeaths a priceless painting, she sets the story’s battle for inheritance into motion. Though her appearance is brief, Swinton’s deadpan drawl and physical precision expertly carve out the humor in each line. By wringing such boundless entertainment from limited material, Swinton epitomizes expert cinematic expertise.

Instead of letting the extensive makeup do all the work, Swinton makes herself an entirely convincing older woman, once again showing the chameleon-like abilities she has to disappear into a role. Her vivacious commitment makes this role feel integral through sheer force of talent. While the film is full of Anderson’s trademark aesthetics, Swinton’s work is a reminder that colorful performances are what make his movies perfect.

2

Michael Clayton (2007)

As Karen Crowder

Michael Clayton - Poster

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Michael Clayton

R

Crime

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

6/10

Release Date

October 12, 2007

Runtime

119 Minutes

Director

Tony Gilroy

Writers

Tony Gilroy

Cast

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    George Clooney

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    Tom Wilkinson

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Though George Clooney gives a terrific performance in the titular role, Michael Clayton is perhaps the movie that helped make Tilda Swinton a big name in Hollywood. Clooney stars in the grounded thriller as the titular fixer for a powerful law firm who cannot solve the issues in his own life. Swinton plays a terrific realistic villain role as a powerful corporate executive whose ambition leads her to attempt to cover up a crime which turns more deadly and puts Clayton in her crosshairs.

With many actors, the role would likely have been played with more of the typical “bad guy” feel. However, Swinton brings layers of humanity that make her character all the more chilling. Seeing her struggle with these decisions, her performance allows the audience to see that greed beating out morality is not done easily but can certainly happen. Swinton won her first Oscar for her performance.

1

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

As Eva Khatchadourian

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

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We Need To Talk About Kevin

R

Drama

Thriller

Mystery

Release Date

September 28, 2011

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

Lynne Ramsay

Writers

Lynne Ramsay, Rory Kinnear, Lionel Shriver

Cast

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We Need To Talk About Kevin is a psychological thriller directed by Lynne Ramsay. The film stars Tilda Swinton as Eva, a mother grappling with the aftermath of her son Kevin’s (Ezra Miller) violent actions. Through a series of flashbacks, the film explores the complex and troubled relationship between Eva and Kevin, highlighting themes of guilt, motherhood, and the nature of evil.

Main Genre

Drama

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Swinton delivers her most profound work in We Need to Talk About Kevin, fully immersing into the role of Eva, a mother to a troubled teen turned violent criminal. Told over the course of years in this family’s life, Swinton gets to play a gamut of emotions as this mother grows increasingly concerned with her son’s behavior, struggles with how she is viewed as a bad parent, and then deals with the aftermath when she is ultimately proven to be right. As Eva grapples with guilt, Swinton explores profound emotional paradoxes around culpability.

She embodies Eva’s isolation and anguish with wrenching authenticity while allowing ambiguity around whether Eva’s deficient parenting may have shaped Kevin’s pathology. By boldly leaning into such dichotomies, Swinton constructs a portrayal of powerful depth, channeling the layers any parent must confront in questioning their child’s acts. For inhabiting such an iconic archetype of the “mother of a monster” with humanity and wisdom, Tilda Swinton earns her greatest triumph.

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