Kirsten Dunst’s four favourite movies of all time
Masterfully toeing the line between being a mainstream star and a darling of independent cinema, few Hollywood actors are as whole-heartedly beloved as Kirsten Dunst. Most widely known for her role as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies of the 2000s, which kicked off Marvel’s superhero franchise dominance, Dunst is also a dynamic performer, having shined in collaborations with the likes of Lars von Trier and Sofia Coppola.
Though she wouldn’t know it at the time, Dunst’s introduction to the movie industry would become more significant than she could have ever realised, taking a bit-part in the Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese collaboration New York Stories before voicing the titular character in the American version of Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Still only a child when she gained her first roles, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that Dunst’s career would really get going, appearing in the beloved adventure movie Jumanji in 1995 before a collaboration with Sofia Coppola in 1999’s Virgin Suicides would thrust her into the movie limelight. An actor capable of vulnerability with sharp dramatic expertise, Dunst quickly became sought after by some of the industry’s most burgeoning talents, from Peter Bogdanovich to Michel Gondry.
These days, her dedication to her craft seems bolder than ever, choosing a range of independent films that challenge her as a performer, with her list of personal favourite movies also reflecting this truth.
Speaking to Letterboxd while promoting her role in Alex Garland’s provocative drama Civil War, Dunst was quick to highlight her love for the esteemed ‘Best Picture’ winner The Godfather, which remains a favourite of actors and directors alike from across the globe. Setting a new standard for screen performance, Marlon Brando stars in the film as Don Vito Corleone, the head of the American mafia, looking for a successor to his throne.
Yet, Coppola’s movie might be the only truly mainstream pick from Dunst, with her next choice being the beautiful Ingmar Bergman film Persona from 1966, starring Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson. Recognised as one of the greatest psychological dramas ever made, the Swedish tale follows a nurse who finds her persona steadily melding with that of her mute patient.
Dunst’s final two films are ones that were significant to her in her youth, choosing Robert Altman’s underrated 3 Women and Wim Wenders’ classic Paris, Texas. It’s no surprise to see Altman’s classic on the list, with the dream-like visuals of the film going on to inspire Dunst’s own performance in Virgin Suicides, while Paris, Texas is a film that swells with so much longing and romance that it enraptures any viewer that gazes their eyes upon it.
Take a look at the full list of Dunst’s favourite movies below and explore a short collection of films that reflect the dynamism of the performer herself.
Kirsten Dunst’s favourite movies:
- 3 Women (Robert Altman, 1977)
- The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
- Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)
- Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966)
