The world is mourning the great Diane Keaton, who died on October 11, 2025, at the age of 79, following a battle with an undisclosed illness. Keaton rose to prominence after portraying Kay Adams-Corleone, the wife of the mob boss, Michael Corleone, in The Godfather. She would go on to appear in popular movies like Annie Hall, Manhattan, The Little Drummer Girl, Father of the Bride, The First Wives Club, and Book Club.
Keaton also valued collaboration, appearing in many movies directed by Woody Allen. Besides that, she received numerous accolades throughout her career, including an Oscar, a BAFTA, and two Golden Globe Awards, along with nominations for two Emmys and a Tony. A true symbol of Hollywood success, Keaton’s legacy will live for decades. Unfortunately, some of her movies remain underrated. Many of them are arguably funnier or more intellectually stimulating than her popular films.
Here are 10 of Diane Keaton’s most underrated movies.
‘Lovers and Other Strangers’ (1970)
Lovers and Other Strangers ushers us into wedding preparations. Mike (Michael Brandon) and Susan (Bonnie Bedelia) are getting ready to say “I Do!” but trust their families to bring with them their own Cupid-related struggles. Mike’s parents are wondering whether they should really be together, while Susan’s sister, Joan (Diane Keaton), is having a hard time with intimacy. Will the wedding go as planned?
No Joy at This Wedding
Adapted from a play by Joseph Bologna and Renée Taylor, this romance-drama combines humor with heartbreak to great effect. In her Hollywood debut, Keaton’s charismatic performance evokes the never-ending challenges of adult relationships. You’ll love how she conveys both steeliness and a tiny pinch of vulnerability. It’s rumored that Francis Ford Coppola cast her in The Godfather after watching her here. Also, watch out for Sylvester Stallone as one of the extras.
‘The Other Sister’ (1999)
After years in a special school, Carla Tate (Juliette Lewis), a young woman with mild mental health challenges, returns home, eager to prove she is better. Her conflicted mother, Elizabeth (Diane Keaton), struggles to adapt to the new living arrangements, while her dad, Radley (Tom Skerritt), supports her. When she falls for Danny (Giovanni Ribisi), a kind man with similar challenges, sparks fly. Will the two live happily ever after in The Other Sister?
Overcoming All Obstacles
Love tales don’t get much grander than The Other Sister, which has Keaton acting her heart out like she’s new in the business. Director Garry Marshall does well by setting this heartwarming, passionate film against a vast mental health canvas spanning several days during which situations change in ways audiences never expected. Overall, the film celebrates resilience, acceptance, and the desire to live life by one’s own rules. The final scene, where a band plays “76 Trombones” from The Music Man, will warm your heart.
‘Hampstead’ (2017)
Struggling with loneliness, Emily Walters (Diane Keaton), an American widow living in London’s Hampstead neighborhood, befriends Donald Horner (Brendan Gleeson), an Irishman living in a makeshift shack on Hampstead Heath. With property developers threatening to evict Donald, Emily joins him in a fight to defend his space. A major controversy follows in Hampstead.
Home Is Everything
Based on the life of Harry Hallowes, who successfully claimed ownership of a half-acre plot of Hampstead Heath, Hampstead brings tears to your eyes, while somehow preventing you from walking away. Keaton and Gleeson are not only supremely talented but wonderful to listen to; you’ll find yourself noting down some of the things they say. Better yet, audiences get to learn a lot about property law, including adverse possession, which is a huge component of the plot’s spine.
‘I Will, I Will… for Now’ (1976)
Never get back with an ex? Elliot (Elliott Gould) and Leslie (Diane Keaton) from I Will, I Will… for Now didn’t get the memo. Shortly after divorcing, the two thoughtlessly decide to remarry upon realizing they still love each other. But it doesn’t take long for the previous problems to resurface. Signs now point to a second separation.
Flogging a Dead Horse
What’s not to love about I Will, I Will… for Now? Audiences will delight in the music and countless other triumphs, but will frown at the constant arguments. What makes this dizzying whirl of relationship problems so much fun is the string of misadventures. Despite their challenges, the two find themselves in numerous hilarious moments. Pure magic from the opening minute to the last.
‘The Good Mother’ (1988)
The Good Mother starts as a love story before descending into a custody battle. Anna Dunlap (Keaton), a Boston piano teacher, wins custody of her six-year-old daughter, Molly (Asia Viera), after divorcing her husband, Brian (James Naughton). She then falls for Leo (Liam Neeson), a sexually liberated sculptor, but when Molly opens up to her dad about an inappropriate encounter with Leo, Brian sues for custody. The war thus begins.
Post-Divorce Woes
Directed by Leonard Nimoy — better known for playing one of the most iconic Star Trek characters (Spock) — The Good Mother reminds us how hard it is usually for divorced mothers to juggle between love and motherhood. Choosing the wrong partner can create irreversible problems. The film is an ideal option for those who were displeased with Keaton’s tendency to star in too many comedies. There is nothing to smile about, but a lot to learn.
‘Poms’ (2019)
In Poms, Martha, an elderly woman suffering from cancer, decides to forego further chemotherapy and relocates from her New York apartment to a retirement community called Sun Springs in Georgia. There, she quickly makes friends, and together, the women decide to defy age stereotypes by forming a cheerleading squad. Wait till they get to the competitions.
Rewinding the Years
Our sense of identification with Martha as she progresses from distraught woman to the best version of herself really leaves an impression today. The frenzied process by which the women reclaim their joy, learning teen dance moves, and scrambling madly through the alleys of the retirement home, creates some of the zaniest comic sequences reminiscent of Silent Era comedy movies. Here, Keaton doesn’t shine alone. Pam Grier and Phyllis Somerville give great support.
‘Smother’ (2008)
Noah Cooper (Dax Shepard) already has enough problems in Smother. He is unemployed, and his wife, Clare (Liv Tyler), isn’t pleased by the current situation. Understandably, he curses out when his overbearing mother, Marilyn (Diane Keaton), decides to move in after separating from her husband. Predictably, her meddling ways drive the couple to the edge. Now what?
Too Much To Handle
Thanks to a marvelous cast and a screenplay that emphasizes the slow, painstaking process in which couples and extended families disintegrate, Smother ought to be regarded as one of the finest comedies of the 2000s. When members of this family are thrown together again by circumstance, we realize the extent of their regrets and mistakes, and as the audience, we somehow relate. The things they fight about are nothing new. It’s commendable how the movie doesn’t just depict family conflicts but also suggests great ways to solve them.
‘The Lemon Sisters’ (1990)
The Lemon Sisters follows three friends — Frankie (Diane Keaton), Noreen (Kathryn Grody), and Eloise (Carol Kane) — who perform as singing acts in Atlantic City. Each has personal problems. Frankie’s love life is a mess, Eloise is plagued by self-doubt, and Noreen just wants a stable life.
Friends Make the Best Coworkers
One of only two films made by director Joyce Chopra, The Lemon Sisters is warm, gripping, and inspiring, with priceless chemistry and out-of-the-box repartee between the charismatic leads. The film also inaugurates the “leader of the ensemble” style that Keaton would employ numerous times in her career. Premiering the same year as The Godfather Part III, the comedy-drama was somehow overshadowed by Keaton’s other movie, but it deserves a relook.
‘Arthur’s Whisky’ (2024)
In Arthur’s Whisky, Joan (Diane Keaton), a widow, discovers that her late husband had invented a youth-restoring elixir. Curious, she and her best friends Linda (Patricia Hodge) and Susan (Lulu) sample it and are transformed into their younger selves. But after a series of wild events, they conclude that real joy isn’t really found in youth, but in one’s own mind.
No Shame in Aging
Beautifully photographed and featuring an excellent cast, director Stephen Cookson’s restraint yields a resonant, elegant, and humorous piece of filmmaking. As always, Diane Keaton infuses the proceedings with warmth and wit, managing to stand out despite the presence of equally capable performers around her. Most importantly, Arthur’s Whisky reminds us that there is no shame in aging. In a world where people strive to look young, it’s always important to love yourself the way you are.
‘Radio Days’ (1987)
Directed and written by Woody Allen, Radio Days takes us back to the golden age of radio in 1940s New York. Allen also stars as Joe (Seth Green), a young man growing up in a Jewish family that enjoys radio broadcasts. His adventures are narrated by an older Joe (portrayed by Allen), and as the clock ticks, we get to see how radio transformed families and shaped young minds.
The Slice of History We Never Knew We Needed
Radio Days is a great movie to watch now, especially for younger audiences, considering that the medium is no longer as popular as it once was. Numerous insights demonstrate how radio transformed the media and paved the way for television. As all this happens, the characters get caught up in some of the most heartwarming family moments. Diane Keaton only has a minor role as a singer, but she makes an impact.
