As she ascended the Hollywood ladder in the late 2000s, Emily Blunt was a rising star who worked at the forefront of modern cinema and appeared in movies like The Young Victoria and The Devil Wears Prada. The Into the Woods actress’ recent performances in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer have further cemented her status among the greatest actors of our time.
Moreover, her acclaimed performance led to her being nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. Well, as she becomes a more important icon in modern cinema, Blunt has begun to share her thoughts on the industry, revealing her top four films during a SXSW Q&A session.
Surprisingly enough, though, none of these works belong to the Interstellar director.
Emily Blunt’s 4 Favorite Movies: No Room for Christopher Nolan?
With a diverse taste in movies, Emily Blunt’s all-time favorite is a reflection of her own bright choices, with films coming from well-known directors like Victor Fleming, David Lean, and Steven Spielberg.
The actress, 41, shared her four favorite movies during a Q&A session in her SXSW chat (via DiscussingFilm). What makes these choices so intriguing is that they do not include any masterpieces from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, with whom Blunt collaborated in the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
According to Blunt, “my favorite film of all time” is Spielberg’s groundbreaking blockbuster Jaws, starring Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss (via Rotten Tomatoes). Gushing in her praise for the movie, she added that she thinks it is more than just a drama about a Great White shark:
“I think it’s a film about people and relationships — and I just think the performances are fantastic. It has amazing characters and it has this very commercial, suspenseful backdrop, so I do think it’s a perfect movie”.
Second on her list is the epic biographical film Lawrence of Arabia, directed by David Lean. Considered to be among the best movies ever made, the film follows T.E. Lawrence’s (Peter O’Toole) life during World War I. Also starring Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn, it is hailed as a timeless classic in the history of film because of its amazing cinematography and stirring performances.
Next up is Gone with the Wind, helmed by Victor Fleming, a beloved historical romance film about Scarlett O’Hara’s life during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Even after accounting for inflation, this acclaimed flick remains the highest-grossing movie ever made. The 1939 movie, which had thirteen nominations, took home ten Academy Awards during the 12th Academy Awards.
Last but not least, Romancing the Stone, a romantic adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis, tells the story of a novelist who goes to Colombia to free her kidnapped sister. Action, romance, and humor are all expertly woven together in this viewer-pleasing comedy. It opened to rave reviews from critics and grossed over $115 million at the box office worldwide.
How Christopher Nolan and Emily Blunt First Met
Emily Blunt admitted that she first met director Christopher Nolan in order to be cast in one of his DC films during her interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. With her recent role as J. Robert Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty in Oppenheimer, the actress said she “hopes” to collaborate with the director once again. She acknowledged:
“I met him very briefly. But I don’t think I was right… No, I think it was before that.”
Although she did not say specifically which movie it was for, internet gossip suggested it was for The Dark Knight. Blunt added:
“Listen, the best girl wins.”
As a result of Blunt and Nolan’s work in Oppenheimer, Blunt was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor were among the seven Oscars that the movie won at the 96th Academy Awards. Regarded as one of the best films of 2023, it went on to become last year’s third-highest-grossing movie.
Anyway, the next time you are looking for a movie recommendation, take Emily Blunt’s cue and watch one of her top four favorites. Whether you prefer romance, action, or history, her list has something for everyone.
Also, Oppenheimer is streaming on Peacock Premium, and it’s a must-watch!
