10 Most Painfully Underrated Cameron Diaz Movies
By Published May 10, 2026, 11:55 AM EDT Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Ever since she made her big screen debut in The Mask, has been one of the most prominent actresses in all of Hollywood. She has received nominations at the Golden Globes and British Academy Film Awards, while also appearing in some of the biggest blockbusters of her era. From iconic action movies to a litany of fun romantic comedies, Diaz is a versatile performer with an impressive filmography to her name.
Her most iconic roles include that aforementioned debut in The Mask, one of the three leads in Charlie's Angels, , and the billion-dollar animated franchise, Shrek. She's also worked with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese in one of her best movies, Gangs of New York. With so many great projects to her name, even after stepping away from acting for about a decade, that leaves room for some of her true gems to become criminally underrated.
Some were critical darlings that not many people watched, while others were poorly reviewed and deserved better. Some are hilarious, while others are filled with action. Regardless, each of these movies showcases just how talented Cameron Diaz is and should be watched by any fan of the actor.
10 Back In Action (2026)
After about 10 years away from acting, Cameron Diaz returned to the screen in the aptly named Back in Action. The film hit Netflix early in 2026 and saw Diaz team up with Jamie Foxx as they played a couple who are pulled back into their past as CIA operatives after raising a family for 15 years.
While Back in Action doesn't have the freshest premise out there, it does right by the subgenre. There's a lot of fun to be had in the situations the characters are thrust into, while Diaz and Foxx are clearly having a blast together. Unfortunately, critics didn't give it much respect.
9 The Box (2009)
Cameron Diaz is most known for her roles in the action and comedy genres, but The Box gave her a chance to branch out into the world of sci-fi and thrillers. Based on the 1970 short story "Button, Button," the twisty story follows a couple who receive a box from a mysterious man that comes with a proposition.
They can earn $1 million if they press the button in the box, but the catch is that if they do, someone they know will die. That sets in motion a wild tale of characters unsure of what to do. Diaz is very good as Norma Lewis in this imaginative yet underrated project.
8 The Last Supper (1995)
Everyone remembers that in 1994. However, most people don't know what her second film was, yet they should because The Last Supper is really good. This hidden gem sees Diaz as part of a strong cast.
She stars alongside Jason Alexander, Nora Dunn, Courtney B. Vance, Bill Paxton, and more in a movie about a group of liberal grad students who invite a group of extreme conservatives to dinner with a plan to murder them. That wild setup made for a great use of dark humor and Diaz shows a lot of star power as Jude in this early role.
7 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
The first Charlie's Angels movie from 2000, starring Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore, was a box office hit and, even with mixed reviews, has plenty of fans who still appreciate it to this day. The sequel, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, was less positively received.
The main cast returns and adds the likes of Bernie Mac and Demi Moore to make things fun. Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle is completely ridiculous in the best way, as people can just watch it and have a great time. While its lackluster reviews are understandable, we like this way more than the critics did.
6 A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
As evidenced by The Last Supper, not enough people talk about the early work of Cameron Diaz. Most people appreciated her debut and then didn't discuss much until My Best Friend's Wedding. Around the same time that rom-com got released, A Life Less Ordinary also came out.
This was far less successful commercially and wasn't well-received, yet it's still underrated. The unexpected premise sees two angels get sent to Earth to make a kidnapper fall in love with his hostage. Diaz plays the hostage, while the cast is rounded out by the great Delroy Lindo, Ewan McGregor, and Holly Hunter.
5 She's The One (1996)
Another hidden gem from early in Diaz's career is She's the One. It's surprising that more people don't know about this one, considering Diaz is joined by a star like Jennifer Aniston, who was also on the rise in the '90s and is beloved today.
She's the One is named after the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name and sees Diaz play Heather, a woman who cheats on her fiancée with his brother. That sets some uncomfortable events in motion in this solidly received drama that also boasts a Tom Petty soundtrack.
4 Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her (2000)
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000 but didn't get a wider release until a year later. That was after the success of films like Charlie's Angels, yet this Diaz picture remained undervalued.
The premise of Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her focuses on five different stories, all centering on women while focusing on themes like loneliness and longing. The film holds an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is one of the highest scores for a Diaz project.
3 The Sweetest Thing (2002)
Critics weren't too pleased with The Sweetest Thing, yet it's a film that was . The movie is pretty sex positive, especially from the standpoint of its female characters, and has gone on to gain a cult following.
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Cameron Diaz stars alongside Christina Applegate and Selma Blair, making for a stellar trio of actors to lead the way. The story sees Diaz's Christina find chemistry with a guy at a club and, for the first time, go after him. What unfolds in a barrage of comedy gold and even musical numbers.
2 The Other Woman (2014)
The Other Woman has one of the most fun premises of Diaz's filmography. In it, she plays Carly, a woman who learns that her boyfriend is actually married. The man's wife is upset at first but then befriends Carly and the two learn that the man is also cheating on both of them.
That leads the three women to team up and exact revenge on him. Diaz has great chemistry with Leslie Mann and Kate Upton as the ladies out for revenge and there are some laugh-out-loud moments in this underrated comedy.
1 In Her Shoes (2005)
It's truly a shame that more people don't talk about In Her Shoes because it's not just Diaz's most criminally underrated film, it's also , period. Diaz stars alongside Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine, which should be enough to get people interested.
In Her Shoes sees Cameron Diaz as party girl Maggie, who gets kicked out of her father's home and moves in with her business-centric sister (Collette). This causes a strain in their relationship that leads to another change when their grandmother comes into town. Critics praised the film for various aspects, including the performances.
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