“Movies Aren’t Fun To Make”: Kirsten Dunst Names This Underrated Sci-Fi Tragedy As Her Favorite Filming Experience

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Kirsten Dunst recently revealed that filming Melancholia was her most enjoyable experience, which she noted with a touch of irony. This year, she starred alongside Channing Tatum in the dark comedy Roofman, after leading Alex Garland’s 2024 political thriller Civil War, which received critical acclaim. Prior to that, Dunst appeared in The Power of the Dog in 2021, a film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Kirsten Dunst has enjoyed a remarkably long career, starting as a popular child actress in films like Jumanji, Interview with the Vampire, and Little Women. Later, as a young adult, she frequently worked with director Sofia Coppola, appearing in The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette. She also gained recognition for her role as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies.

Kirsten Dunst recently revealed that despite generally finding filmmaking unenjoyable, she had a surprisingly good experience working on the 2011 science fiction film Melancholia. During an interview on the SmartLess podcast, she admitted that while she doesn’t usually love making movies, Melancholia was a uniquely relaxed and personal project.

Dunst shared that she enjoyed working on Melancholia. She described the experience as intimate and theatrical, like a small group living and working together in a cozy Swedish town. They stayed in a hotel and housing complex, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere. She felt it showed her what filmmaking could be like. She also mentioned they filmed during a beautiful Swedish summer.

Melancholia tells a focused story, beginning with a wedding celebration and then delving into the difficult relationships within a family. Sisters Justine and Claire are staying at Claire’s home with her husband, John, but their visit is overshadowed by the impending arrival of a planet heading towards Earth.

Melancholia, directed by Lars von Trier – known for films like Antichrist and Dogville – features Brady Corbet, Alexander Skarsgård, and Stellan Skarsgård. While its initial theatrical run wasn’t particularly successful, earning $21 million worldwide on a $9 million budget, it has since become more well-regarded, currently holding a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although Kirsten Dunst particularly enjoyed filming the unique movie Melancholia, she’s now working on projects more typical of her career. She and director Sofia Coppola plan to collaborate for a fifth time, continuing their partnership after films like The Bling Ring (2013) and The Beguiled (2017). Fans shouldn’t miss what is likely Dunst’s most overlooked film, either.

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2025-12-25 17:08