Anne Hathaway is one of the most accomplished and respected actors in Hollywood over the past two decades, but she’s also incredibly versatile, as one 2016 film showcases. Hathaway won an Oscar for a short appearance in Les Miséables, portrayed an iconic character like Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, and that’s just the tip of her versatility.

There’s also when she played a scientist in Interstellar, a princess in The Princess Diaries, and is returning to her most popular role in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Despite those varying roles, there’s no doubt that the most unique part ever played by Hathaway is from the film where she plays a kaiju monster.

Colossal Has An Incredibly Strange Premise

That movie is 2016’s Colossal, which features an intriguing setup that’s unlike almost anything else in cinema. In Colossal, Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, a writer struggling with alcoholism who has just lost her job and been dumped by her boyfriend, who then discovers something unexpected one day.

While drunk, Gloria walks through a local playground, and at the same time, a giant reptilian monster attacks Seoul. Somehow, Gloria’s movements at the playground match up perfectly with how the monster is destroying Seoul. She manifested the kaiju and nobody knows how or why.

Hathaway signed onto the project when it was described as “Godzilla meets Lost in Translation,” and that’s a pretty appropriate description. The film’s unique setup leads to some fascinating and gripping scenes, always leaving the audience to wonder what exactly is going on.

Along with Anne Hathaway, Colossal is boosted by a strong supporting cast including Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, and Tim Blake Nelson. On top of that, the critical reception was quite strong, sitting at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, making this creative film a true hidden gem.

Anne Hathaway Gives Her Most Underrated Performance Ever In Colossal

As noted, Anne Hathaway has had an acclaimed career that includes wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs. So calling something out as her most underrated performance and listing it among her best work means it had to be great, which is the case for Colossal.

This is Hathaway portraying a woman who has plenty of demons (she was nominated for her first Oscar for playing a similar person in Rachel Getting Married), yet she also manages to make you root for her. Even when she learns she’s controlling the kaiju and still selfishly does it, there’s still a desire to see her turn things around.

Hathaway showcases the layers that make Gloria a complex character. She also plays so well off her co-stars, making every scene with them stand out. Praise went to Hathaway’s performance, as even the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes mentions her work:

Colossal’s singular strangeness can be disorienting, but viewers who hang on may find that its genre-defying execution—and Anne Hathaway’s performance—is well worth the ride.

Colossal is a small film that features a big Anne Hathaway performance, making it something must-see for fans of the actor or anyone interested in movies with strange setups.