Charli XCX has curated a list of five underrated films that shaped her artistic sensibility, revealing tastes that stretch far beyond pop music into the experimental and the visionary. The singer included works by Sofia Coppola and David Lynch, directors whose unconventional approaches to narrative and visual storytelling align with XCX's own boundary-pushing aesthetic.
XCX's selections underscore a pattern among contemporary pop artists who draw inspiration from cinema's more esoteric corners. Coppola's distinctly dreamlike, character-driven narratives and Lynch's surrealist explorations of American culture have both influenced a generation of musicians interested in visual production and conceptual depth. By elevating these films as "underrated," XCX participates in a broader cultural conversation about canon and critical reassessment, particularly regarding auteurs whose work exists outside mainstream commercial success metrics.
The list reflects an artist attuned to texture, mood, and formal experimentation. Her own music videos and album aesthetics frequently mirror cinematic language, suggesting these films function less as entertainment recommendations and more as technical and philosophical reference points. XCX has long demonstrated a commitment to collaboration with experimental filmmakers, including her work with director A.G. Rojas on recent projects.
This kind of public curation matters within music discourse. When prominent artists highlight overlooked cinema, they redirect fan attention and streaming traffic toward films that might otherwise remain marginal. For XCX's audience, the list serves as an informal education in visual culture, positioning pop music not as isolated from cinema but as deeply intertwined with it.
The specific titles XCX selected remain central to understanding her creative vision. Her recognition of Coppola and Lynch reaffirms how contemporary pop's most interesting voices often emerge from multimedia literacy, drawing equally from film, fashion, visual art, and music production. This cross-disciplinary approach has become essential to how artists at XCX's level construct their public personas and creative output.