Underrated Films That Deserve Their Flowers This Year
In the world of movies, there are always those big hits everyone talks about, and then there are the hidden gems that quietly make their mark. These underrated films might not have had the spotlight they deserve, but they pack a punch with their unique stories, standout performances, and creative flair. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path for your next movie night, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re into gripping dramas, inventive sci-fi, or heartfelt comedies, there’s something here for everyone here. Let’s dive in!
The Man from Earth (2007)
This film is a rather odd but thought-provoking sci-fi drama about a professor claiming to be immortal. Despite its low budget and limited release, it developed a cult following for its intellectual narrative and continuation of events in an eerily inexplicable manner.
The Fall (2006)
A visually stunning fantasy film about a bedridden stuntman who tells a young girl a fantastical story. Despite its artistic brilliance, it was largely overlooked by mainstream audiences.
Moon (2009)
Starring Sam Rockwell as a man nearing the end of his three-year stint on a lunar base, this film dwells on philosophical themes that were praised within niche audiences, but it has largely remained underappreciated.
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
An Argentinian thriller about a retired legal counselor writing a novel to find closure for an unresolved case. It won an Oscar but didn’t gain widespread attention outside of cinephile circles.
Brick (2005)
A neo-noir mystery set in a high school, following a teenager investigating his ex-girlfriend’s murder. Its unique style was critically acclaimed but didn’t achieve commercial success.
In Bruges (2008)
This film is a dark comedy about two hitmen hiding out in Belgium. Though praised for its sharp wit and performances, it didn’t attract a broad audience that it was hoping to upon its release.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
A witty crime comedy featuring a thief mistaken for an actor. Despite positive reviews, it struggled at the box office. So much so that even Robert Downey Jr.’s stardom couldn’t save its performance.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
A beautifully shot western drama exploring the life of the infamous outlaw. Its slow pace and length led to mixed reception despite critical acclaim.
The Station Agent (2003)
This is a heartwarming story about a man seeking solitude in an abandoned train station. Acclaimed at film festivals, it remains lesser-known among general audiences to date.
Primer (2004)
A complex time travel film celebrated for its intellectual depth but criticized for its confusing narrative, leading to a niche but dedicated fan base. Might be worth checking out?
Sunshine (2007)
A visually striking sci-fi thriller about a mission to reignite the dying sun. Despite its impressive visuals, it failed to make a significant impact at the box office at the time of its release.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
While it received positive reviews, the film was not able to reach a wide audience. This is a charming adventure-comedy film from New Zealand about a boy and his foster uncle evading authorities in the wilderness.
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
A quirky sci-fi romance about a magazine writer investigating a classified ad seeking a time travel companion. It was well-received but remains under the radar.
A Ghost Story (2017)
A poetic exploration of time and existence, this film features a man who returns as a ghost to observe his widow. Its unique style divided audiences—while some really liked it, majority felt that it was too abstract in its storytelling.
The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
This is a heartfelt coming-of-age comedy about a high school girl navigating teenage life and its many, many complications. It received critical praise for its near but modest box office returns.
The Way Way Back (2013)
Yet another touching coming-of-age drama, this film is about a shy teenager finding confidence during a summer vacation. Despite positive reviews, it didn’t achieve major commercial success when it was released. Could be fun to check it out for your next movie night?
The Nice Guys (2016)
A hilarious buddy cop comedy set in 1970s Los Angeles, this film was loved by its audiences for its humor and chemistry. But while it was praised for its interesting take, it barely performed at the box office.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
A moving story about friendship and loss, following a high schooler making films with a classmate who has leukemia. It was critically acclaimed for its moving depiction of teenage and how young adults navigate complicated emotional battles. Its select audiences adore the film for its authenticity but, all in all, it didn’t gain a large audience.
Sing Street (2016)
A feel-good musical drama about a boy forming a band to impress a girl. Despite its charm and positive reviews, it remains relatively unknown in the larger film-buff communities.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
A realistic teen romance about a charismatic high school senior and an introverted girl. Its authenticity was praised, but it flew under the radar for many viewers.
Blue Ruin (2013)
This film is a gripping revenge thriller about a man seeking justice for his parents’ murder. Its raw intensity earned somewhat niche acclaim, but it has largely remained a hidden gem.
Upgrade (2018)
A thrilling sci-fi action film about a man with an implanted AI seeking revenge. It was largely well-received by critics but didn’t achieve mainstream popularity.
Annihilation (2018)
A visually stunning sci-fi thriller about a team exploring a mysterious, alien-infected zone. Despite critical praise, it struggled to find a wide audience. Many at the time believed it was because of the largely female-led casting that led to low ratings of the film.
The Guest (2014)
A stylish and suspenseful thriller about a soldier visiting a grieving family. Its unique blend of genres was appreciated by critics but overlooked by the public.
Short Term 12 (2013)
A powerful drama about a young woman working at a foster care facility. It received widespread acclaim but didn’t achieve broad recognition.
Warrior (2011)
An intense sports drama about two estranged brothers competing in a mixed martial arts tournament. Though critically praised, it underperformed commercially.
Enemy (2013)
A surreal thriller about a man who discovers his exact double. Its complex narrative was divisive but praised for its originality in storytelling. The mind boggling ways of depiction however took a toll on the actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who later recounted how difficult it was for him to have pulled this character in double role off.
Take Shelter (2011)
A gripping psychological drama about a man experiencing apocalyptic visions. Despite critical acclaim, it remains relatively unknown. For those who enjoy a little thrill on a lazy night, this might be the perfect watch.
The Invitation (2015)
A tense horror-thriller about a dinner party that takes a dark turn. Its slow build and suspense were praised, but it remains underappreciated. Many audiences felt that the plot was sort of predictable and did not really bring any fresh perspectives along its trajectory.
The Hunt (2012)
A powerful drama about a man falsely accused of child abuse. Its intense narrative received critical acclaim, but it didn’t reach a wide audience.
It Follows (2014)
A unique horror film about a supernatural entity following its victims. Its originality was praised, yet it remains a cult favorite rather than a mainstream hit.
The Babadook (2014)
This is a haunting psychological horror about a single mother and her troubled son. The film’s plot was more or less predictable, which led to the loss of popularity following its initial release.
Green Room (2015)
A brutal thriller about a punk band trapped in a neo-Nazi bar. Its intensity was praised, but it remains relatively unknown.
A Most Violent Year (2014)
A gripping crime drama set in 1980s New York. Despite positive reviews, it struggled to find a large audience.
Mississippi Grind (2015)
A character-driven gambling drama about two men on a gambling trip. It received critical praise but didn’t gain broad recognition.
Calvary (2014)
A darkly comedic drama about a priest facing a death threat. Its exploration of faith was well-received, but it remains underappreciated.
Nightcrawler (2014)
A disturbing look at media ethics through the eyes of a freelance crime journalist. Despite critical acclaim, it didn’t achieve major box office success.
Locke (2013)
A tense drama set entirely in a car, following a man dealing with personal and professional crises. Its unique approach was praised, yet it remains a hidden gem.
Mud (2012)
A compelling coming-of-age story about two boys who befriend a fugitive. Despite positive reviews, it didn’t gain widespread popularity.
Boy (2010)
A touching coming-of-age film from New Zealand about a young boy’s relationship with his absentee father. It was critically acclaimed but remains relatively unknown.
Colossal (2016)
A unique sci-fi comedy about a woman who discovers she can control a giant monster. Its originality was praised, but it didn’t achieve mainstream success.
The Guard (2011)
A darkly comedic Irish crime film about an unorthodox police officer. Despite positive reviews, it remains underappreciated.
Leave No Trace (2018)
A moving drama about a father and daughter living off the grid. Parts of the film were widely acclaimed for their authenticity in portraying the lived experiences of their characters, the film largely did not do well because of its specificity. Many audiences felt that it could have delivered the context a little better than it did.
The Lobster (2015)
A darkly comedic dystopian film about a society where single people must find a partner or be turned into animals. Its unique premise was praised, but it remains a cult favorite amongst a select few.
Under the Skin (2013)
A haunting sci-fi film about an alien woman preying on men. Its artistic approach divided audiences but earned critical acclaim.
The Witch (2015)
A chilling period horror film about a Puritan family encountering dark forces. Audiences loved Anya-Taylor Joy’s performance as the titular character but overall, the film did not emerge as a widespread favorite.
Swiss Army Man (2016)
A bizarre and touching comedy-drama about a man stranded on an island who befriends a talking corpse. Its originality was praised, but it remains underappreciated to this day.
Good Time (2017)
A tense crime thriller about a man trying to save his brother after a botched bank robbery. Contrary to the title, many audiences said that they did not have a good time watching the film. It received critical acclaim but didn’t achieve widespread recognition.
American Animals (2018)
A fascinating heist drama based on a true story, blending documentary and narrative filmmaking. This film was largely well-received but didn’t gain a large audience which, many speculate, could have been due to the monotony in the plot itself.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
An epic crime drama spanning generations, following a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to bank robbery. Despite positive reviews, it remains under the radar—best known only for bringing together the famous Hollywood couple who played the titular characters, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, together.
The Grey (2011)
A gripping survival thriller about a group of men stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. It was praised for its intensity but didn’t achieve major box office success.
Enemy Mine (1985)
A thought-provoking sci-fi drama about two enemy soldiers stranded on a hostile planet. It received mixed reviews but developed a cult following.
Sound of My Voice (2011)
An intriguing psychological thriller about a couple infiltrating a cult. Its unique narrative was praised, but it remains relatively unknown in the mainstream film communities.
Snowpiercer (2013)
A visually stunning sci-fi action film starring Avengers’ Chris Evans, this film is about a train carrying the last remnants of humanity. Despite critical acclaim, it struggled to find a wide audience at the time of its release.
Mudbound (2017)
A powerful historical drama about two families in post-WWII Mississippi. While it didn’t gain widespread recognition, the film itself was praised for its depiction of the ways in which the war impacted intimate familial bonds that reverberated through generations as trauma.
Tangerine (2015)
A raw and vibrant indie drama about a transgender sex worker on Christmas Eve. It was praised for its performances and unique storytelling but remains underappreciated.
Blue Valentine (2010)
A heart-wrenching romantic drama about the disintegration of a marriage. Its realistic portrayal was acclaimed, but it didn’t achieve major commercial success.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
A harrowing war drama about a child soldier in Africa. Despite critical acclaim, it struggled to find a broad audience. Many audiences claimed that the film, while powerful, failed to reach audiences partly due to the alienation of the emotions of the titular character who also happened to be a child.
The Rover (2014)
A tense and gritty post-apocalyptic thriller about a man tracking down his stolen car. It was praised for its intensity but remains relatively unknown.
Victoria (2015)
An impressive one-shot thriller about a young woman caught up in a bank heist. Its technical achievement was praised, yet it didn’t gain widespread popularity.
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
A haunting psychological drama about a woman escaping a cult, starring Elizabeth Olsen. This film received critical acclaim but remains underappreciated in part due to the very predictable, specific plot narrative.
The Fits (2015)
A unique and mesmerizing coming-of-age film about a girl joining a dance team. Its originality was praised, but it remains relatively unknown.
Slow West (2015)
A visually stunning western about a young man searching for his lost love. Despite positive reviews, it didn’t achieve major box office success. Many at the time believed it was because the romance trope has been overused in mainstream filmmaking and saturated audiences to its impact, no matter how well delivered.
The Skeleton Twins (2014)
A darkly comedic drama about estranged siblings reconnecting. Its performances were praised, but it remains underappreciated.
Rush (2013)
Based on the life of F1 racer Niki Lauda and his on-track rivalry with James Hunt, fellow racing champion. This film did not gain widespread attention but many within the sporting community of Formula 1 regarded the film as an authentic, empathetic representation of racing drivers, their lives, their struggles and their on-track rivalries.
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)
A dark comedy about a man searching for his ex-girlfriend in the afterlife. Its unique premise was praised, but it remains a cult favorite.
The Lives of Others (2006)
A gripping German drama about surveillance in East Berlin. Despite winning an Oscar, it didn’t achieve widespread popularity and has, to this day, remained a film appreciated only in niche film communities.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
A hilarious horror comedy about two well-meaning hillbillies mistaken for killers. It was well-received but remains underappreciated.
Shotgun Stories (2007)
A powerful family drama about feuding brothers. Its raw storytelling was praised, but it failed to garner too much attention at the time of its release. Audiences, in general, felt that the portrayals were increasingly predictable and the plot could have benefitted more by departing from the characters’ narratives to focus on the context.
Another Earth (2011)
A thought-provoking sci-fi drama about the discovery of a parallel Earth. Its unique narrative was praised, yet it didn’t achieve major commercial success.
So, there you go, folks—These films may not have hit the mainstream jackpot, but they’ve left a lasting impression on those who have watched them. So next time you’re in the mood for something different, give one of these underrated gems a try. You might just stumble upon your new favorite movie, waiting quietly for its moment to shine.