Emily Blunt has always known how to captivate an audience. Her early career had her appearing alongside Judi Dench in The Royal Family in London’s West End in 2001, before she eventually moved to TV films like Boudica, and finally, to Hollywood blockbusters.
Soon after appearing in The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, Blunt began to score leading roles. Today, she remains one of the most beloved leading ladies in the business, with a wealth of very strong supporting roles under her belt, and many more movies on the horizon. Her popularity is all but guaranteed to keep growing.
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2011) – 6.8
• Available on Showtime
Emily Blunt starred alongside Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas in this romantic comedy-drama about a consultant who hires a fisheries expert to do the impossible – import salmon into Yemen so that a sheik can realize his dream of bringing fly fishing to his home country.
The entire film is one rather large allegory for “fighting upstream” and making the impossible into a reality; therefore it’s a tad bit hokey, but there’s a lot of charm in the performances that fans have responded well to over the years since its release. Blunt’s character is witty, yet sweet, especially when her connection to McGregor’s character starts to blossom.
Wild Target (2010) – 6.8
• Available for rent on iTunes
Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt had one of several successful team ups for the hilarious action/comedy Wild Target, which is tragically underrated. The premise is simple – Nighy’s character Victor is a pretentious, aging assassin who takes a fancy to Blunt’s character Rose, and refuses to kill her. Naturally, this sets off a chain of events by which he becomes her protector.
The two go on the run with Rupert Grint’s character Tony, a would-be protegee of Victor’s with delusions of grandeur. The comedy is stereotypically British, which is no bad thing, and it’s staffed with a great cast that also includes Rupert Everett, Eileen Atkins, and Martin Freeman.
Sunshine Cleaning (2008) - 6.8
• Available on Max Go
Blunt starred in this 2008 dramatic comedy about an irresponsible and carefree woman who decides to team up with her sister to start a crime scene cleaning service. She starred alongside veteran actors Alan Arkin and Amy Adams to round out the cast and the film scores high despite being one of the actress’s lesser-known roles.
The story revolves around the two sisters trying to make the business work, despite all odds. When Blunt’s character Norah threatens the stability and financial future of the business, it threatens to derail their relationship altogether. It’s a heartwarming and funny film that pulls the emotional strings while delivering some solid laughs at the same time.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – 6.9
• Available on Starz
The Devil Wears Prada tells the story of a recent college grad (Anne Hathaway) who finds herself working under a dictatorial, yet somewhat nonsensical fashion editor, named Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), in New York City. Emily Blunt co-stars as a gossipy, opportunistic, and vindictive assistant who plays a key role in the film.
This role shifted Blunt further into the spotlight, and positive audience reviews definitely helped. People loved that the movie came out even more compelling than the book it was based on, exposing both the scandals and excitement of the New York fashion scene.
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) – 7.0
This 2007 comedy-drama is based on the tale of Congressman Charlie Wilson and CIA officer Gust Avrakotos’ attempts to head up Operation Cyclone during the Soviet-Afghan war. The film starred big names including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Ned Beatty.
A young Emily Blunt also made an appearance in the film as Jane Liddle, the daughter of Larry Liddle (Peter Gerety). The movie received many positive reviews thanks to its all-star cast and fascinating script, with a slightly quirky take on the story.
The Adjustment Bureau (2011) – 7.0
• Available on Peacock
This sci-fi romance thriller tells the tale of a U.S. congressman who discovers that the random events that occur in his life are being controlled by a group of mysterious people. After something happens outside of the team’s manipulation, however, he decides to take his life into his own hands.
Though the tone of the movie was pulled into question, the chemistry between the leading pair was fully believable. It ended up selling Emily Blunt as a plausible actress who could handle her own in action and sci-fi films, which would pay dividends later on.
Gideon’s Daughter (2005) – 7.1
• Available on Hoopla
Blunt starred in several projects together with Bill Nighy, one of which was 2005’s Gideon’s Daughter, a BBC TV film. The story centers on Gideon (played by Nighy) whose relationship with his daughter has suffered due to years of infidelity. After his wife’s death, his daughter Natasha (played by Blunt) refuses to accept his apologies.
The relationship grows strained until Gideon falls in love with a woman named Stella, who has suffered the loss of a son. It’s her presence that both antagonizes, and disarms Natasha in equal turn, allowing her and her father to rekindle their relationship and move forward together. The complex emotions and characters proved a big hit with viewers, who’ve ranked it up with some of Blunt’s biggest blockbusters.
The Muppets (2011) – 7.1
• Available on Disney+ and Netflix
Emily Blunt might not have had a big starring role in the 2011 Muppets film, but she did make an appearance in it. While Jason Segel and Amy Adams took the leading roles, Blunt made a cameo as Miss Piggy’s receptionist at Vogue Paris.
This role was a nod to her breakout role as an assistant in The Devil Wear Prada. Its charm, heart, and humor had it gaining praise from both critics and general audience members, which is typical of these timeless and iconic puppets.
The Young Victoria (2009) – 7.3
• Available on Starz
In 2009, Emily Blunt took on the role of Queen Victoria in a British-American drama known as The Young Victoria. This film followed the queen as she navigated the uncertainty of politics and romance.
Generally, The Young Victoria was well-received, with many praising the strong cast, despite the plot feeling a bit soft. It eventually received a handful of Academy Award nominations and ended up winning one for Best Costume Design. This was definitely an underrated moment for Blunt’s career.
A Quiet Place II (2020/2021) – 7.3
• Available on Paramount+
As far as sci-fi sequels go, A Quiet Place II manages to nail it on almost every level. Some have complained that it’s not nearly as novel an idea as the first film, but that’s because it essentially picks up where the original left off and continues the story uninterrupted. Emily Blunt shines once again as Evelyn, a mother trying to protect her children in a terrifying world.
This time, Blunt’s character is forced to contend with a new challenge in the form of a newborn baby. Without the presence of her deceased husband Lee, she’s forced to rely on her own wits and ingenuity against an unstoppable alien menace. It’s one of the best alien-themed sequel films ever to hit the screen.
Looper (2012) – 7.4
• Available on Starz
This 2012 sci-fi film starred a cast including Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt. It followed a group of killers known as “Loopers” who are recruited by criminals to eliminate victims by pushing them back in time.
While Gordon-Levitt played the lead looper, Joe, Blunt portrayed a woman named Sara who lived on a farm, only for the two to cross paths. The thrilling plot of the movie had it gaining positive reviews from critics and audience members alike for its inventive plot and interesting CGI and makeup effects.
A Quiet Place (2018) – 7.5
Blunt’s husband John Krasinski put on his director’s hat to create a post-apocalyptic horror film in 2018. A Quiet Place tells the story of a family who tries to escape a land that’s been overtaken by vicious alien creatures with keen hearing who go on to create some of the scariest scenes imaginable.
While Krasinski played the father of the family, Blunt played his pregnant wife Evelyn. The film was lauded for the performances of its fantastic cast, plus direction, and of course, a clever use of sound rarely glimpsed in sci-fi/horror films. In fact, it ended up earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Editing.
Sicario (2015) – 7.6
• Available for purchase on Prime Video
The 2015 Emily Blunt-led thriller known as Sicario followed an FBI agent who sets out to track down the man in charge of the Mexican Drug War. The film scored a lot of praise for its gritty and realistic depiction of the harsh realities taking place at the southern border, and the flow of drugs between the two countries.
It was also applauded for an incredible screenplay, a stunning musical score, and fascinating cinematography. Blunt’s acting skills, as well as those of Benicio del Toro, were also lauded. Sicario received an array of accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Editing.
The Wind Rises (2013) – 7.8
• Available on HBO Max
This 2013 masterpiece deserves to be right up there with the most beautiful Japanese anime movies ever. It reached American audiences in 2014 with a star-studded voice cast including Joseph-Gordon Levitt, John Krasinski, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt.
The story is a fictionalized biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed many Japanese fighter aircraft. It was highly praised for its beautiful art, compelling story, and creative structure, not to mention scenes as harrowing as they were beautiful.
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) – 7.9
• Available for rent on iTunes
Emily Blunt teamed up with Tom Cruise for her highest-scoring movie of all time in 2014. Edge Of Tomorrow follows an officer (Cruise) who is thrown into a suicide mission time loop after a powerful fleet of aliens attacks the earth. As the two die repeatedly, only to be resurrected to live the day over again, they get increasingly smarter, to the point where they figure out a way out of their paradox.
The sci-fi action film received many positive reviews for its strong design, style, humor, and performances, not to mention one of the best uses of practical effects in sci-fi movies from the 2010s. It also put Emily Blunt in a role that wasn’t typically cast with someone of her stature in mind, which is sometimes the best recipe for success.
