Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster is not only a talented actress, but, in the past few years, she’s also trying her hand as a director and a producer. Some of her films like The Silence of the Lambs, Panic Room, Taxi Driver, and The Accused need no introduction. Additionally, she has been a part of ensemble-driven hits like Inside Man, and Elysium.

At the same time, she has also been a part of a few features that either went under the radar or weren’t able to sustain their legacy with time. Yet, some of these heavily underrated films add to Foster’s diverse body of work, showcasing her range as a performer.

Nell (1994)

Nell starred Jodie Foster as the titular character, a woman who struggles with social interactions as she was raised in an isolated cabin by her mother. The film drew mixed critical responses for a somewhat predictable storyline, but Nell garnered unanimous praise for its leading lady. Foster relied on a certain naivety to bring out the fears and insecurities of Nell Kelly.

For her performance, she was nominated for an Oscar and Globe, but the film seems to be largely forgotten in the face of her previous nominations.

The Beaver (2011)

The Beaver reunited Jodie Foster with her Maverickco-star Mel Gibson who takes charge as the lead character Walter Black, a depressed CEO struggling with loneliness and family troubles. As a means of escapism, he resorts to using a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communication. This premise meanders between heartwarmingly comedic and darkly dramatic tones as Foster also assumes directorial duties.

The film’s storyline might definitely be absurd for some, but it definitely offers a unique perspective on human loneliness, bolstered by Foster’s direction.

Freaky Friday (1976)

The original Freaky Friday might not be that popular today, largely due to the success of its modern-day remake starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. A young Foster played Annabel Andrews while Barbara Harris played her mother Ellen. A series of hilarious misadventures commences when both daughter and mother accidentally switch their bodies and deal with their respective problems.

Unlike the remake, the cause behind the switch isn’t explained and is largely open to interpretation. Both Harris and Foster received nominations at the Golden Globes in the Comedy/Musical category.

Flightplan (2005)

A massively underrated psychological thriller, Flightplan features Foster as an aero-engineer and a single mother carrying her husband’s corpse aboard a plane. When her daughter disappears on the flight, Foster’s protagonist is faced with the problem of proving her own sanity to the rest of the passengers.

While it might not be as superior as Panic Room, another mother-daughter thriller starring Jodie Foster, Flightplan still makes for an intriguing watch. The film established German director Robert Schwentke, as he went on to direct hits like Red and Insurgent.

Bugsy Malone (1976)

Bugsy Malone might have been forgettable given how 1976 was already a loaded year for the actress, having shared credits on Taxi Driver as well as Freaky Friday. But, the gangster musical comedy continues to be one of her highest-rated films. The film stars an ensemble cast of child actors playing adult roles.

Scott Baio plays a gangster who rises to fame in the Prohibition era while Foster appears as Tallulah, a rival gangster’s ‘gun moll’ and Malone’s ex. While Foster’s character is definitely a damsel in distress, Bugsy Malone has still aged better than many other gangster films because of its parodying nature and self-aware humor.

Sommersby (1993)

Based on the French film The Return of Martin Guerre, Sommersby is a complex human drama set in the Reconstruction period that succeeded the Civil War. Richard Gere’s John Sommersby returns back home to his wife Laurel (Foster). However, as time progresses, Laurel suspects that maybe her husband is not the person he claims to be.

The ‘impostor’ theme is a common trope in cinema and TV, but Sommersby still offers a fresh and intriguing take. Both leads drew critical acclaim, while the film turned out to be a huge box office success, grossing about five times its budget.

Nim’s Island (2008)

Nim’s Island might not be an absolute masterpiece in the children’s fantasy genre, but it has enough heart and soul to make it worth a watch, especially for younger viewers.

Adapted from Wendy Orr’s short story of the same name, Nim’s Island stars Abigail Breslin as the young explorer Nim. Coping with the disappearance of her father and surviving on a desolate island, she somehow makes a long-distance acquaintance with an adventure book author Alexandra Rover (Foster). Even though Rover writes about fearless characters, she herself is an agoraphobe. To save Nim, she decides to finally let go of her fears and embark on an actual island adventure.

Maverick (1994)

Maverick boasted immense talent on and off-camera, as it was written by William Goldman and directed by Richard Donner. Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster star as two con artists embark on a battle of wits as the titular hero wishes to join a high-stakes poker game. On their trail is the lawman Marshal Zane Cooper played by James Garner.

Garner’s role serves as a tribute to the original Western series Maverick that ran from the late 50s to the early 60s. Additionally, the film also features guest appearances by popular icons of the time like Corey Feldman and Danny Glover.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1976)

One of her four appearances in 1976, The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane added to Foster’s status as a talented child actor. The film has had a cult status and falls under multiple genres including that of horror, thriller, and mystery.

It might be a triggering watch for some for the heavy themes of child exploitation that it handles. Foster plays a 13-year-old girl who seems to be living alone in a small seaside town. As the plot thickens, the audiences discover the dark secrets that the girl tries hiding.

Little Man Tate (1991)

Little Man Tate is a major work to be viewed by fans of Jodie Foster for this was her directorial debut. She herself co-starred as the mother of a child prodigy (Adam Hann-Bird) who struggles to fit in with the rest of the society. Critics and audiences loved the film during its time of release with some noting the similarities between the film’s narrative and Foster’s own experience as a child prodigy.

The film is also notable for being written by Scott Frank, who was not as famous back then as today. In the present, Frank has made a name for himself with Logan, The Queen’s Gambit, and several other works.