Watts starred in Gus Van Sant's mystery drama "The Sea of Trees", opposite Matthew McConaughey, as the wife of an American man who attempts suicide in Mount Fuji's "Suicide Forest". The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d'Or, but was heavily panned by both critics and audiences, who reportedly booed and laughed during its screening. Critic Richard Mowe stated the audience reaction should "give the film's creative team pause for reflection about exactly where they went so badly awry." Justin Chang of "Variety" also criticised the film, but commended Watts's performance for being "solidly moving and sometimes awesomely passive-aggressive." "The Sea of Trees" did not find an audience in theaters.