Summary
Sandra Bullockis in many popular movies, but some of her best acting has been done in unexpected places. Like most actors, Bullock has not always been in enormous hits, and this means that there are plenty of hidden gems to mine from all points of her career. Though Bullock got her start in romantic comedies, she’s worked across all genres, and there’s something in her filmography for audiences of all types. Somegreat films featuring Bullock have flown under the radar because they have smaller budgets or didn’t reach wide audiences,but this means they can be rediscovered now.
Even movies that weren’t critically acclaimed at the time deserve a second chance, as many of Bullock’s films have become cult classics over the years.
Even movies that weren’t critically acclaimed at the time deserve a second chance, as many of Bullock’s films have become cult classics over the years. ThePractical Magicmovies starring Bullock and Nicole Kidman deserved betterthan its low Rotten Tomatoes score, and the past few years have seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to its recent following. The same could be true forBullock’s other underrated films that have gone unnoticed and unrecognizedcompared to her biggest hits. Many of these films were from early in her career when Bullock was first making her mark on the industry.
Sandra Bullock’s 12 Best Movies, Ranked
Despite Sandra Bullock having a long acting career and playing many characters, they are not all equal in quality.
Bullock and Keanu Reeves starred in two movies together, including the originalSpeed, butdespite their excellent chemistry, Reeves declined to return for the sequel.ThoughSpeed 2didn’t reach the heights of popularity ofSpeedand is largely forgotten about, the film does see Bullock flexing her action muscles. Since Reeves is absent, the story revolves almost entirely around Bullock’s character, Annie. Additionally,Speed 2introduces some fun new characters and actors, making for a decent follow-up.
Unfortunately, critics and audiences pannedSpeed 2because it differed too strongly from the first movie, but this let the film stand on its own.
Willem Dafoe plays the antagonist, John Geiger, and he and Bullock play off each other as well, as Annie fights against Geiger to stop the hijacking of a ship. Unfortunately, critics and audiences pannedSpeed 2because it differed too strongly from the first movie, but this let the film stand on its own. It wouldn’t have made sense to recreate the same story beats fromSpeed, as Reeves’s absence made that impossible.RevisitingSpeed 2today allows viewers to see its merits without comparing it to the original.
The Net
Cast
The Net is a thriller directed by Irwin Winkler, featuring Sandra Bullock as Angela Bennett, a computer analyst who becomes entangled in a conspiracy that erases her identity. As she battles to uncover the truth, Angela encounters unexpected allies and adversaries. The Net explores themes of privacy and digital vulnerability in the rapidly evolving world of technology.
The outbreak of reach and power of the internet was still being discovered in 1995 whenThe Netwas released, and so movies about online conspiracies and artificial intelligence were booming at the turn of the century.InThe Net, Bullock plays an introverted systems analyst, Angela Bennet,who begins living a nightmare as her identity is erased due to her possession of a disc drive that a group of terrorists are after.
Angela Bennet is a solid role for Bullock, as Bennet is an isolated character who has her trust in the institutions she’s built her career on shaken to its core. As a movie,The Netis a great example of an early Internet thriller.It successfully roots the story in the characters' lives while simultaneously existing in the nebulous space of the Web. The fear of losing one’s identity and the power of the internet taking over the world has only grown in recent years, makingThe Netwell ahead of its time.
Bullock’s character, Cassie, is reminiscent of her earlier role as the FBI Agent Gracie Hart inMiss Congeniality.
Not only does Bullock star in this early 2000s thriller, but she’s joined by a young Ryan Goslingas a young man implicated in the murder and abduction of a woman.Murder by Numberswas loosely inspired by the true events of the Leopold and Loeb case, as it tracks two teenage boys who conspire to commit murder and then plant evidence to link someone else to the crime. Bullock’s character, Cassie, is reminiscent of her earlier role as the FBI Agent Gracie Hart inMiss Congeniality. However,Murder by Numberstells a much more sinister tale.
Most of the film is dedicated to elevating Bullock’s performance,as her tortured character becomes obsessed with proving the guilt of the young boys played by Gosling and Michael Pitt. When watchingMurder by Numbers, it’s best to expect a character-driven drama rather than a thrilling criminal investigation, as the story is just as much about Cassie’s journey to heal from her trauma as it is about catching the killers. However, it’s exciting to see Bullock in a more serious and dramatic role early in her career.
The Vanishing
The Vanishing is a psychological thriller directed by George Sluizer and stars Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, and Sandra Bullock. The film follows a man’s obsessive and desperate search for his girlfriend who mysteriously disappeared during a road trip. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he encounters a calculated abductor whose sinister intentions come to light. The Vanishing is a remake of Sluizer’s own 1988 Dutch film, Spoorloos.
The Vanishingis defined more by the absence of Bullock’s character, Diane Shaver, than it is by her performance,as the inciting incident of the film is her disappearance. Though her image is everywhere, and her boyfriend is obsessed with uncovering the truth about her absence, it takes a long time for Bullock to reappear. Though her part is predominantly featured only in flashbacks, without Diane, there would be no plot inThe Vanishing. At the time of its release, the movie was negatively compared to the original French-Dutch film of which it was a remake.
Though Bullock can be seen in many thrillers, she has been in very few horror movies, and it’s interesting to see her as the victim instead of the investigator. It’s clear thatThe Vanishingwas an early project for Bullock,as her current level of fame would have seen her cast as a much more prominent character.However, there are still plenty of chilling moments inThe Vanishing, largely due to Jeff Bridges’s terrifying performance as the villain, Barney Cousins.
Two Weeks Notice
Two Weeks Notice is a romantic comedy directed by Marc Lawrence, featuring Sandra Bullock as Lucy Kelson, a dedicated environmental lawyer, and Hugh Grant as George Wade, a charming yet capricious real estate tycoon. The film revolves around the dynamic between the two characters as Lucy decides to resign from her role at George’s firm, setting the stage for a series of humorous and heartfelt events.
Two Weeks Noticefollows a classic case of opposites attracting and enemies to lovers.
Bullock and Hugh Grant have both been in some of thebest movies from the golden age of rom-coms, andTwo Weeks Noticesees the two romantic leads come together with surprisingly strong chemistry.Two Weeks Noticefollows a classic case of opposites attracting and enemies to lovers.Lucy (Bullock) is an impassioned environmental lawyer, and George (Grant) is a big-time executivewho only cares about his bottom line. However, it doesn’t take long for George to realize that he cares more about Lucy than he ever imagined.
ThoughTwo Weeks Noticedid well at the box office and performed strongly in 2002, since then, it’s rarely mentioned when discussing the actor’s best rom-coms. It’s undeniable thatTwo Weeks Noticecan’t compete with heavy hitters likeMiss CongenialityorNotting Hill, but there’s something special about the project.Putting Grant and Bullock together was an unexpected pairing,but the two stars don’t outshine each other; they only make the other burn brighter.
Forces of Nature
Forces of Nature is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Bronwen Hughes. The film stars Ben Affleck as Ben Holmes, a bridegroom whose cross-country trip to Savannah for his wedding is disrupted by a series of calamities. Along the way, Ben meets Sarah (Sandra Bullock), a free-spirited woman who challenges his views on life and love. Their journey becomes a test of fate and the power of unforeseen events.
Forces of Naturefailed to launch Ben Affleck into a career as a romantic leading man, butit’s a subversive addition to the rom-com genre that breaks many tropes throughout its narrative.Their characters, Sarah and Ben, are both desperate to get from New York City to Savannah, Georgia, and every possible obstacle to their travel plans gets in the way. Ben is on his way to his wedding, but he can’t deny his attraction to Sarah or the fact that she brings out the best in him.
Bullock often plays the type-A character in her movies, and Sarah is a foil to this, as a free spirit who encourages Ben to go with the flow and let life happen to him. The film is at its best when it lets Bullock and Affleck lean into the buddy-comedy aspects of the script rather than the romantic side. However,what the pair lack in romantic chemistry they make up for in comedic timing,as both actors do well in comedies and satires, andForces of Natureis an update on the screwball rom-coms of the early 20th century.
The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt, directed by Simon Wells, Brenda Chapman, and Steve Hickner, portrays the story of two brothers with conflicting destinies. Their once strong bond is tested as their paths diverge, leading to significant ramifications as they navigate their responsibilities.
Many viewers who were young when they first saw the movie might not have been aware of her work in the project.
Not many animated movies have taken advantage of Bullock’s skills as a voice actor, but she shines inThe Prince of Egypt, even if she isn’t one of the major players in the film.The movie is a more child-friendly retelling of the tale of Moses from the Bible,and Bullock voices Miriam, Moses’s biological sister, who is part of the reason Moses leaves Egypt to help the Hebrews. The biggest reason to revisitThe Prince of Egyptis to look out for Bullock as Miriam.
Many viewers who were young when they first saw the movie might not have been aware of her work in the project.The Prince of Egyptwas well received when it was released in 1998, but it’s lost some of its popularity over the years as animation has come a long way in terms of visual and technical innovation. However, it’s fun revisiting classic animated films likeThe Prince of Egypt. Though it’s a religious story, it holds enough dramatic tension to capture the attention of any audience member, andthe animation style is gorgeous, as are the set pieces.
Two If By Sea
Two If By Sea is a romantic comedy directed by Bill Bennett, featuring Sandra Bullock and Denis Leary. The film follows a couple on the run after stealing a valuable painting, seeking refuge in a quaint beach house in New England. Amidst their attempts to evade law enforcement, they confront the complexities of their relationship, balancing crime and love.
Two If by Seasees Bullock as part of a Bonnie-and-Clyde-type couple of art thieveswho end up hiding away in Rhode Island while evading the police. The beautiful homes and wealthy class of people who surround them pressure Roz (Bullock) and her boyfriend Frank (Denis Leary) to offload their stolen paintings and start an honest life.Two If by Seais in conversation with classic rom-coms likeHow to Steal a MillionandFunny Face, which use art heists as the basis for the leads falling in love.
It’s an updated take on the romantic crime film, and while it isn’t on par with the classics, it’s still a fun addition and lets Bullock shine as Roz. Bullock has better chemistry with other leading men she’s partnered with, but Leary holds his own alongside Bullock and gets in a few jabs throughout the story. The movie had an underwhelming performance at the box office, butwhen compared to the rom-coms released today, it has much more heart and isn’t afraid to be silly.
In Love and War
In Love and War is a historical drama directed by Richard Attenborough, based on Ernest Hemingway’s experiences during World War I. The film stars Chris O’Donnell as a young Hemingway and Sandra Bullock as the nurse Agnes von Kurowsky, who inspires his first major work. The narrative explores their brief romance and the impact it had on Hemingway’s writing career.
It’s clear that Kurowsky and Hemingway’s romance is doomed from the start, but the viewer can’t help but root for the couple to get together.
Based on the true story of the relationship between famed American writer Ernest Hemingway and the nurse Agnes von Kurowsky,In Love and Wardramatizes their love story to great effect, leaving the audience in tears by the end. It’s clear that Kurowsky and Hemingway’s romance is doomed from the start, but the viewer can’t help but root for the couple to get together. At first, it’s difficult to situate Bullock in a period piece, as she rarely stars in them, butshe gives her all to the role for a stirring performance.
They meet in a hospital during World War I, with Kurowsky caring for Hemingway as he recovers from his battle wounds. This is already a romantic meeting, making it difficult to believe something so cinematic could happen in real life, butIn Love and Warmakes the story work. Though the film has been accused of being unrealistic,the point of the film was never to accurately chronicle Hemingway’s early life.As a sweeping romantic period drama, it does its job well.
This Controversial Drama Starring Sandra Bullock That Made $309M Is Now On Netflix
One of Sandra Bullock’s most successful films is available to stream on Netflix, but its reputation has become tainted by controversy in recent years.
Fire on the Amazon
Fire on the Amazon is an adventure drama film directed by Luis Llosa. Starring Sandra Bullock and Craig Sheffer, the movie explores the illicit activities of logging companies in the Amazon rainforest. When a renowned environmental activist is brutally murdered, two determined individuals team up to expose the truth amidst the dangerous jungle terrain and widespread corruption.
Bullock would later return to her rom-com adventure roots inThe Lost Citywith Channing Tatum, but prior to this, she starred inFire on the Amazonwith Craig Sheffer. It’s fair to say that there is a strong prevalence of the white savior complex inFire on the Amazonand that audiences should view the film with a critical eye. However, when looking for a contemporary take on love stories in harrowing physical conditions,Fire on the Amazonis the spiritual successor to films likeRomancing the Stone.
However,Fire on the Amazontakes on a more dramatic and explicitly political stance, as the main characters are fighting against corporate developers trying to destroy the Amazon rainforest.As always,Sandra Bullockeasily captures the spirit of a passionate environmentalist, a role she’s played a few times in her career. Her commitment to her stunts and the more difficult aspects of filming the movie demonstrate the actress' ability to handle any challenge.
