Top 6 Kirsten Dunst Movies You Need to See

by Stephen Milek

There was a point in college when II went through a Kirsten Dunst phase. She was cute and bubbly and not a bad actress.   She had her share of silly teen movies in the 90's like other actresses of that time but in 1999 she had a break out year with 3 movies and 2 of which make this list.  Since then she has proven that she is a good actress when given the right part.  While she hasn't done much of note lately (but I look forward to seeing her on season 2 of Fargo) she made it around the pitfalls of other child actresses to more adult movies.  
Lets take a look back at some of her notable roles.  I had trouble ranking them so we are just going to do it chronologically.  

Interview with a Vampire (1994)
We were first introduced to Kirsten Dunst when she was just 12 years old in Interview with a Vampire.  It wasn't her first role but it was the one that catapulted her to the spotlight.   Acting alongside high profile actors like Tom Cruise, Christian Slater,  and Brad Pitt she was able to steal the spotlight.. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and won the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Actor for the role.  And so began a great career.  

The Virgin Suicides (1999)
This movie really blew me away and part of that was Dunst's performance.  The movie is a dark look at suburbia and depression.  Dunst give a great performances as Lux Lisbon one of the youngest of 5 sisters.  She is both sexual and mysterious and total enigma to the boys that are obsessed with her.  The movie is directed by Sofia Coppola who went on to direct Dunst in Marie Antoinette but it is this film I think is one of the highlights of both their careers.  

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
The same year as The Virgin Suicides she was in another movie with a reference to death in the title.  But Drop Dead Gorgeous is the complete opposite.  Instead of being depressing it is a hilarious look at a beauty pageant in the Minnesota.  Dunst plays Amber Atkins an ambitious and talented girl who sees the Beauty Pageant as a way to escape her small town.  But in her way is the equally ambitious Gladys Leeman who will stop at nothing to see her daughter win.  The movie is told as a mockumentary and there are so many great moments in it.  Besides Dunst the movie was the first time we got to see Amy Adams on screen. 

Crazy/Beautiful (2001)
A little known Kirsten Dunst movie but one that always fascinated me. This is one of the sexiest roles she has ever done.  As the title suggests she is both beautiful and crazy.  As the daughter in a privileged family she has everything she could want but nothing makes her happy.  Until she meets the boy from the wrong side of the city.  The story is nothing new but you just cant take your eyes off of Dunst.  

Spider-Man 1 and 2 (2002 and 2004)
Probably her most well known movies.  Couldn't pick one.  Both movie are great but if we are talking about her acting alone would probably have to go with Spider-man 2 as she has a little be more to do in that one.  The first one she just mostly stands around and looks cute and she does a great job at that.  She won Best Female Performance and shared Best Kiss at the MTV movie awards for part 1.  

Melancholia (2011)
Melancholia is the movie that finally showed the world what a great actress she is.  While I am not normally a fan of Lars von Trier this is one of his better movies and he was able to get a great performance out of Dunst.  She won Best Actress at Cannes and numerous critic awards that year and it was the closes she has ever come to being nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.