The 25 Most Underrated Movies Of All Time (2025)

Movies audience have been missing out on these underrated movies. On average, in the modern day, more than 1,000 movies are produced every year in the United States. That is a huge number of stories brought to life on screen, and it’s impossible to see all of them. Movies with big budgets make it to the big screens while others get smaller releases on streaming. Lower-budget movies make the film festival rounds and can gain more financing that way. Among those potentially thousands of movies being released worldwide, however, only a few get to stand out.

Many of the rest of those movies are extremely underrated. Either they haven’t been seen by very many eyeballs, or they didn’t get a big release outside of their home country, or for whatever reason, another movie overshadowed them. These movies make up the most underrated movies of all time that certainly deserve a watch.

25 Black Christmas (1974)

Directed By Bob Clark

Black Christmas

R

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Black Christmas is a 1974 horror movie from A Christmas Story director Bob Clark. The Canadian slasher centers on sorority girls who are stalked and killed by a crazed killer during the holiday season. Throughout the film, the teenagers get strange and threatening calls from the killer known as Billy. Black Christmas recieved mixed reviews upon release but has since become a cult classic.

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Director

Bob Clark

Release Date

December 20, 1974

Writers

Roy Moore

Cast

Olivia Hussey , Keir Dullea , Margot Kidder , John Saxon , Andrea Martin , Marian Waldman

Runtime

98 Minutes

Though some will argue that Black Christmas doesn’t belong among underrated movies, it’s often completely forgotten when it comes to discussions about slasher films. Black Christmas has had two remakes since it was originally made in 1974, but the original is, arguably, the best.

It’s also one of the earliest slasher movies with a final girl and influenced all of the slashers that came after it, including Halloween, which was released a few years later. Black Christmas features Olivia Hussey in the main role as a sorority sister who finds that her sisters are being killed off after they’ve been receiving obscene phone calls.

Of course, in the 1970s, reviewers were mixed on whether or not the movie was good. Many didn’t understand the point of the movie since it left events open-ended. It’s since become a cult classic known for its feminist tone.

24 Lost In America (1985)

Directed By Albert Brooks

Lost in America

R

Comedy

Lost in America follows David and Linda Howard, successful yuppies from Los Angeles, who decide to abandon their careers and liquidate their assets. Inspired by Easy Rider, they embark on a journey across America in a Winnebago after David faces a career setback. The film was released in 1985.

Director

Albert Brooks

Release Date

February 8, 1985

Writers

Monica Johnson

Cast

Albert Brooks , Julie Hagerty , Michael Greene , Garry Marshall , Maggie Roswell , Tom Tarpey , Hans Wagner , Ernie Brown , Joey Coleman , Art Frankel , Donald Gibb , Sylvia Farrel , Tina Kincaid , Candy Ann Brown , Robert Hughes , Raynold Gideon , John Di Fusco , Michael Cornelison , Radu Gavor , John Reade , Pat Garrison , Byron Tong , Gayle Lanza , Charles Boswell , Zeke Manners

Runtime

91 minutes

Lost In America was well received by critics when it was released in 1985, but it didn’t make a splash on any awards circuits or at the box office. Over 30 years later, it might not be remembered as well as other Albert Brooks movies. Brooks not only directs and co-writes the movie, but is one of the stars as well.

The movie follows a husband and wife who decide to quit their jobs, sell everything they own, and live life on the road. Unfortunately, it becomes a comedy of errors as everything that can go wrong, will, including the wife revealing a gambling problem once they reach Las Vegas.

Lost In America is a great satire and critique of the American dream as audiences once knew it. The jokes are hilarious and the chemistry of the cast is perfect.

23 Sleeping With Other People (2015)

Directed By Leslye Headland

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10/10

Sleeping With Other People

R

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Sleeping With Other People is a romantic comedy directed by Leslye Headland, featuring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie. The film follows two former college acquaintances who meet again years later and form a platonic friendship to support each other's commitment issues. Their evolving relationship challenges their initial intentions, setting the stage for an unconventional love story.

Director

Leslye Headland

Release Date

September 11, 2015

Writers

Leslye Headland

Cast

Jason Sudeikis , Alison Brie , Adam Scott , Jason Mantzoukas , Natasha Lyonne , Adam Brody​ , Amanda Peet

Runtime

101 Minutes

In the 2020s, there’s a kind of nostalgia for old-school romantic comedies of the 1990s. This 2015 movie, however, is a hidden gem that will fill the void for a lot of audience members.

Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis star as two adults who had a one-night stand a decade before the events of the movie. When they meet back up, they develop a friendship and attempt to avoid any sexual tension despite their attraction to one another. As they both begin to develop feelings for one another, they try to move on by seeing other people, not wanting to ruin what they have.

Along the way, they both have to deal with their own complicated issues surrounding sex and intimacy. It makes for a heartfelt, but also hilarious movie that more romance fans should be checking out.

22 The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Directed By Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, David Michener, And John Musker

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7.5/10

The Great Mouse Detective

G

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Musical

Mystery

The Great Mouse Detective is an animated adventure film directed by Ron Clements and Burny Mattinson. Released in 1986, the film follows the ingenious mouse detective Basil of Baker Street, who is on a mission to thwart the schemes of the villainous Ratigan. Set in Victorian London, the story includes iconic supporting characters such as Basil's companion Dr. Dawson and the kidnapped toy maker Hiram Flaversham’s daughter Olivia.

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Director

Ron Clements , Burny Mattinson , David Michener , John Musker

Release Date

July 2, 1986

Writers

Peter Young , Vance Gerry , Steve Hulett , Ron Clements , John Musker , Bruce Morris

Cast

Vincent Price , Barrie Ingham , Val Bettin , Susanne Pollatschek , Candy Candido , Diana Chesney

Runtime

74 minutes

For decades, Disney had the market cornered on animated movies for kids and families. Though other studios put out quality stories, they just couldn’t catch up to the juggernaut of a studio. That has begun to change in recent years, but there are still a few movies in Disney’s animated catalog that have been overlooked by many. One of those is The Great Mouse Detective.

The Great Mouse Detective is Disney’s version of Sherlock Holmes - except, of course, that the detective and his assistant are both mice investigating mysteries in the London mouse community. The villain is one of Disney’s scariest, a rat who isn’t afraid to murder other characters on screen. It’s possible that, like The Black Cauldron, some parents found it a little too scary for their young kids when it was initially released, and that’s contributed to it being forgotten by so many.

It truly is a fantastic Sherlock Holmes adaptation, if it can even be called that. From an era in which animation was still all hand-drawn, the movie is a snapshot of a long-gone era for Disney.

21 Stardust (2007)

Directed By Matthew Vaughn

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6/10

7.3/10

Stardust

PG-13

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Romance

Stardust is a fantasy-based romantic adventure-comedy by director Matthew Vaughn and based on the original novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. In the film, Tristan, a young man who lives in an English town near a magical border wall, decides to catch a fallen star to win the affection of a woman named Yvaine. However, Tristan soon learns what - or who - the star is, and a grand adventure back to England begins.

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Director

Matthew Vaughn

Release Date

August 10, 2007

Writers

Jane Goldman , Matthew Vaughn

Cast

Claire Danes , Charlie Cox , Sienna Miller , Ricky Gervais , Jason Flemyng , Rupert Everett , Peter O'Toole , Michelle Pfeiffer , Robert De Niro

Runtime

128 Minutes

Stardust got lost in the shuffle of 2000s romance movies despite being a near-perfect adaptation of its source material. The movie is based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name and combines the perfect ratio of fantasy, adventure, and romance.

In the movie, a young man sees a star fall beyond the wall that separates his small village from the next and he vows to retrieve the star for the woman he loves. When he crosses the wall, however, he finds himself in a place where magic comes to life, witches use nefarious purposes to keep themselves young, and a star isn’t an object but a living, breathing, woman.

Stardust takes the audience on a superb adventure as the man and the star grow closer, evade a witch and her sisters, and become friends with a ship of pirates that take to the skies. It’s one of the gems that gets overlooked in favor of the bigger-budget fantasies and is easily one of the most underrated romances.

20 Chef (2014)

Directed By Jon Favreau

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8/10

8/10

Chef

R

Comedy

Drama

Adventure

Chef is a road movie written, directed, and starring Jon Favreau, where his character Carl Casper quits his job at a prestigious restaurant and starts a food truck business with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony) and best friend Martin (John Leguizamo). He also receives help from his ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) and her ex-husband Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.).

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Director

Jon Favreau

Release Date

May 30, 2014

Writers

Jon Favreau

Cast

Jon Favreau , John Leguizamo , Bobby Cannavale , Emjay Anthony , Scarlett Johansson , Dustin Hoffman

Runtime

114 minutes

Most modern movie audiences know Jon Favreau from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has long been a character actor and director though, and Chef is his own passion project after appearing in so many big-budget blockbuster movies like those of the MCU. Favreau directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the movie.

Chef follows a celebrity chef who loses his job at a prestigious restaurant after getting into a fight with a food critic about his work. He decides to work for himself, reconnecting with his love of food and his son while opening up his own food truck. Chef Roy Choi oversaw the menus created for the movie so the food is authentic and looks delicious.

While the movie landed well with critics, not a huge number of people saw the project. It’s definitely some of Favreau’s best work.

19 Burlesque (2010)

Directed By Steve Antin

Burlesque

PG-13

Drama

Romance

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Director

Steve Antin

Release Date

November 23, 2010

Writers

Steve Antin

Cast

Cher , Christina Aguilera , Eric Dane , Cam Gigandet , Julianne Hough , Alan Cumming , Peter Gallagher , Kristen Bell , Stanley Tucci , Dianna Agron , Glynn Turman , David Walton , Terrence J , Chelsea Traille , Tanee McCall , JaQuel Knight , Allison Kyler , Tyne Stecklein , Paula Van Oppen , Isabella Hofmann , James Brolin , Stephen Lee , Denise Faye

Runtime

119 Minutes

Musicals are not for everyone. That is one of the biggest reasons they are hit or miss at the box office. Burlesque, as a musical, had two things going for it from the start: Christina Aguilera and Cher. The two powerhouse vocalists play the main characters. While the former is an aspiring performer who gets a job as a waitress at a burlesque club, the latter is the owner.

Much of the musical features romantic comedy clichés, but that doesn’t detract from the performances. Aguilera is a force to be reckoned with. She’s got the charm and naivete that her small-town character needs, but she also has the fire and drive that gets her up on the stage of the club. The music of the movie calls back to older jazz and burlesque clubs while still featuring a modern storyline.

18 Blue Crush (2002)

Directed By John Stockwell

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6/10

Blue Crush

PG-13

Drama

Sports

Romance

Blue Crush is a sports drama film directed by John Stockwell, focusing on Anne Marie, a young woman training for a major surfing competition in Hawaii. Amidst personal struggles and a budding romance, Anne Marie must overcome her fears and societal expectations to achieve her dreams in the competitive world of professional surfing. The film stars Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sanoe Lake.

Director

John Stockwell

Release Date

August 16, 2002

Writers

Susan Orlean , Lizzy Weiss , John Stockwell

Cast

Kate Bosworth , Michelle Rodriguez , Matthew Davis , Sanoe Lake , Mika Boorem , Chris Taloa , Kala Alexander , Ruben Tejada

See Also

The 10 Coolest Guns in Western Movies & TV Shows

Young women of a certain generation are likely familiar with Blue Crush. Outside of that, however, there wasn’t a huge audience for the movie. It’s the most underrated sports movie of the modern day.

Inspired by a magazine article about female surfers in Hawaii, the movie chronicles one young woman’s attempt to get onto the professional surfing circuit after suffering a difficult setback. She’s supported by her two best friends (and roommates and co-workers), but she also has to raise her little sister after their mother left them, and still has to hold down a job to contribute to the rent. The movie also features a romantic subplot as she falls for a football player vacationing at the hotel where the women work.

The movie might have some rough CGI in moments where Kate Bosworth’s head is digitally inserted onto the body of a surfer, but it’s got the right amount of heart and some stellar performances by the entire cast.

17 All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)

Directed By Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, And Dan Kuenster

All Dogs Go to Heaven

G

Drama

Animation

Family

Comedy

Fantasy

All Dogs Go to Heaven is an animated film directed by Don Bluth. Released in 1989, it follows the story of Charlie B. Barkin, a German Shepherd who returns to Earth from Heaven and embarks on a journey marked by redemption and friendship. The movie features the voices of Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and Judith Barsi, delivering a poignant tale set against the backdrop of 1930s New Orleans.

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Director

Don Bluth , Gary Goldman , Dan Kuenster

Release Date

November 17, 1989

Writers

David N. Weiss , David J. Steinberg , Larry Leker , Ken Cromar , Gary Goldman , Monica Parker , John Pomeroy , Guy Shulman , Linda Miller

Cast

Burt Reynolds , Dom DeLuise , Judith Barsi , Melba Moore , Daryl Gilley , Candy Devine , Charles Nelson Reilly , Vic Tayback , Rob Fuller , Earleen Carey

Runtime

84 Minutes

Though Disney’s animated movies were, for a very long time, seen as the only movies for kids, Don Bluth has made a string of animated movies that all offer colorful characters, fantastic stories, and poignant drama. Bluth is the person behind such childhood tear-jerkers as The Land Before Time and An American Tail. Often overlooked in favor of the dinosaur story, however, is All Dogs Go To Heaven.

All Dogs Go To Heaven follows a dog who escapes heaven after being murdered, intent on exacting revenge on the friend who betrayed him and killed him. On his quest for revenge though, he reunites with another dog he’s friends with and befriends an orphaned little girl. He ends up learning what it really means to be a friend.

The movie had the misfortune of competing at the box office against Disney’s The Little Mermaid in 1989, releasing to theaters on the same day. The Little Mermaid won out, though All Dogs Go To Heaven did have high enough VHS sales to warrant a sequel and TV series being made eventually. The movie is just as compelling for kids as it is for adults, and it’s a wonderful example of a golden age for animation.

16 All I Wanna Do (1998)

Directed By Sarah Kernochan

Strike!

Drama

Comedy

Strike!, released in 1998, is set in the 1960s and follows a group of friends at an all-girls school. Facing a merger with a neighboring all-boys school, they devise a plan to preserve their institution while navigating typical adolescent challenges.

Director

Sarah Kernochan

Release Date

August 21, 1998

Cast

Gaby Hoffmann , Kirsten Dunst , Monica Keena , Rachael Leigh Cook , Lynn Redgrave , Tom Guiry , Vincent Kartheiser , Matthew Lawrence , Heather Matarazzo , Merritt Wever , Rosemary Dunsmore , Nigel Bennett , Zachary Bennett , Robin Dunne , Hayden Christensen , Shawn Ashmore , Christopher Redman , Dorothy Gordon , Roger Dunn , Robert Bockstael , Brenda Devine , Jenny Parsons , Michael J. Reynolds , Caterina Scorsone , Aaron Poole

Runtime

97 minutes

Part of the reason All I Wanna Do lands among such underrated movies is because it’s largely been lost to obscurity because of title changes and editing for television airings. The movie was also released under the titles of Strike! and The Hairy Bird.

It’s a dramedy set in an all-female boarding school in the 1960s. When the girls find out that the school is set to merge with a nearby boys’ school, they fight against the merger. It’s like a female-centric (and slightly younger) Animal House.

With a who’s who of late ‘90s and early 2000s teen actors in the movie, it’s like a time capsule in more ways than one. The movie features Rachel Leigh Cook, Kirsten Dunst, Gabby Hoffman, Monica Keena, and Heather Matarazzo as some of the teenage girls at the center of the story. All of the actresses have higher profile projects to their name, but this is one that sees them at some of the best in teen roles.

15 Better Off Dead (1985)

Directed By Savage Steve Holland

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9/10

Better off Dead

PG

Comedy

Romance

Better off Dead is a 1985 teen romantic comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland. The film stars John Cusack as Lane Myer, a high school student who becomes despondent after his girlfriend breaks up with him. Amidst his comedic and dramatic attempts to win her back, Lane eventually finds new perspectives on life and love through his interactions with friends and a new romantic interest.

Director

Savage Steve Holland

Release Date

October 11, 1985

Writers

Savage Steve Holland

Cast

John Cusack , David Ogden Stiers , Kim Darby , Demian Slade , Amanda Wyss , Diane Franklin , Scooter Stevens , Curtis Armstrong , Yuji Okumoto , Brian Imada , Laura Waterbury , Dan Schneider , Chuck Mitchell

Runtime

97 Minutes

Better Off Dead takes the idea of someone with a miserable life who is contemplating suicide and simply keeps putting obstacles in their way. It makes for a surprisingly funny flick that not many people have actually seen.

The 1985 movie stars John Cusack as the teenager who just cannot seem to catch a break. His girlfriend breaks up with him, his little brother is more interesting than he is, he loses his job, and his parents don’t seem to care about him at all. He doesn’t feel like he has anything left to live for, but his plans to end his life keep getting derailed by things like a skiing contest against the local bully.

While it’s rumored that John Cusack hated the movie and how it was received by critics, when he was asked about it in a 2013 Reddit AMA, Cusack explained, “I just thought it could have been better, but I think that about almost all my films. I have nothing against the film.... Glad people love it still.”

14 Speak (2004)

Directed By Jessica Sharzer

While most audiences became aware of Kristen Stewart thanks to her casting in the Twilight film franchise, she had been a working child actress long before those movies got off the ground. Stewart appeared in Panic Room opposite Jodie Foster and as a child leading a heist in Catch That Kid before she was even old enough to drive. She also appeared in this underrated drama.

Speak was inspired by Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel of the same name. It follows a young woman in high school who stops speaking after she’s raped by an older and more popular student at a party. As she struggles to deal with the trauma of what happened to her, she has to rebuild her life and her confidence.

Critics praised Stewart’s performance, but the movie was only broadcast on Lifetime and Showtime after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, not allowing a wider audience to see it.

13 The Night Comes For Us (2018)

Directed By Timo Tjahjanto

The Night Comes For Us

R

Action

Crime

Thriller

The Night Comes For Us is a 2018 Indonesian action thriller film that follows Ito, a former triad enforcer, who must protect a young girl from a gang of assassins while on the run in Jakarta. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the film features a high-octane mix of martial arts and gunfights as Ito faces off against his former allies.

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Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Release Date

October 5, 2018

Writers

Timo Tjahjanto

Cast

Joe Taslim , Iko Uwais , Julie Estelle , Sunny Pang , Asha Kenyeri Bermudez

Runtime

121 Minutes

When movie audiences think of martial arts movies, they tend to think of Chinese and Japanese cinema first. This Indonesian thriller, however, might have them wanting to expand their horizons a bit more.

The movie follows a Six Seas Triad member who takes it upon himself to hide a young girl after her entire village is wiped out by the Triad. He is relentlessly pursued by one of his old friends, but that doesn’t lessen his resolve. It comes down to one man against whole swaths of criminals that he once worked alongside as he strives to make sure one little girl stays safe, even if he might not live to see his goal through.

The combat sequences in The Night Comes For Us are on par with John Wick, arguably the biggest franchise to include martial arts in the modern day. It was released directly to streaming thanks to a distribution deal with Netflix, but it mostly flew under the radar.

12 A Wrinkle In Time (2018)

Directed By Ava DuVernay

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5/10

4.5/10

A Wrinkle In Time

PG

Family

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Based on the book of the same name by Madeline L'Engle, A Wrinkle In Time is a classic science-fantasy tale. After learning her astrophysicist father is being held captive on a distant planet deep in the grip of a universe-spanning evil, Meg Murry works with her highly intelligent younger brother, her classmate, and three astral travelers to save him.

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Director

Ava DuVernay

Release Date

March 8, 2018

Writers

Jennifer Lee , John Stockwell

Cast

Mindy Kaling , Storm Reid , Chris Pine , Reese Witherspoon , Oprah Winfrey , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Zach Galifianakis , Michael Pena

Runtime

109 minutes

A Wrinkle In Time, the novel by Madeleine L’Engle, has been adapted numerous times, but usually for the small screen. The 2018 adaptation of the novel sought to bring the story to life on a huge scale on movie theater screens, and it succeeded. Unfortunately, the movie was critically panned when it did so and didn’t make its budget back at the box office.

A Wrinkle In Time follows the story of Meg and her little brother Charles Wallace as they go on a journey across space and time to save their missing father from the IT. They’re aided by Meg’s friend Calvin (who would eventually become her husband in the original series of novels). The story takes the children across a physics-defying adventure that reminds them about the importance of love and empathy.

2018’s version of the movie deserves so much more love than it got as it is beautiful to watch unfold with massive set pieces, amazing costumes, and breathtaking fantasy sequences. It’s also got a stellar cast in Storm Reid, Levi Miller, Chris Pine, Mindy Kaling, and more.

11 Beyond The Lights (2014)

Directed By Gina Prince-Blythewood

Beyond The Lights

The pressures of fame have artist Noni on edge, until she meets Kaz, a young policeman who works to help her find the courage to develop her own voice and become the singer she was destined to be. Meanwhile, they enter into an intense and unforgettable relationship.

Director

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Release Date

November 14, 2014

Writers

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast

Nate Parker , Minnie Driver , Colson Baker , Danny Glover , Elaine Tan , Darryl Stephens

Runtime

116 minutes

Beyond The Lights is another modern romance that didn’t get the recognition that it deserved. While it received several nominations for awards from the NAACP Image Awards and the Black Reel Awards, outside of organizations made to specifically honor Black artists, the movie didn’t pick up much momentum. It’s a gorgeous love story that really should have.

The movie follows a young black woman with a singing career just at the start of her superstardom as her mental health is rapidly declining. A young police officer saves her life. It’s as though The Body Guard was pulled into the modern era and made sure to address the effects of climbing the stairs to stardom on mental health. It’s the kind of movie that entertains as much as it opens a dialogue, so it’s a shame that it so easily got swept under the rug by audiences.

10 Wings of Desire (1987)

Directed By Wem Wenders

Wings of Desire

PG-13

Fantasy

Documentary

Drama

Romance

Wings of Desire is a 1987 film directed by Wim Wenders, featuring angels Damiel and Cassiel as they observe Berlin's inhabitants. The plot unfolds as Damiel yearns to experience human life after falling in love with a trapeze artist, exploring themes of existence and longing.

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Director

Wim Wenders

Release Date

May 17, 1987

Writers

Peter Handke , Richard Reitinger , Wim Wenders

Cast

Bruno Ganz , Solveig Dommartin , Otto Sander , Curt Bois , Peter Falk , Hans Martin Stier

Runtime

128 minutes

This German film actually provided the basis for the movie City of Angels starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Though the American movie is better known, the original deserves the spotlight just as much.

Wings of Desire sees a group of angels who watch over Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. One of the angels falls in love with one of the humans he observes and decides to become mortal to be with her. It’s certainly a slower-paced movie than many of the other underrated gems here, but the slower pace allows the audience to be more present in the events of the movie.

Though the movie did win awards from several film festivals across Europe at the time of its release, it largely faded away until interest was renewed thanks to City of Angels a decade later.

9 Fighting With My Family (2019)

Directed By Stephen Merchant

7/10

Fighting With My Family

PG-13

Biography

Comedy

Drama

Written and directed by Stephen Merchant, Fighting with My Family is a Comedy and Drama Sports-based film based on a true story. Starring Florence Pugh, Dwayne Johnson, Lena Headey, and Nick Frost, the series chronicles the career of Saraya Jade Bevis as she rises through the ranks of the WWE to become iconic women's wrestler, Paige.

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Director

Stephen Merchant

Release Date

February 14, 2019

Writers

Stephen Merchant

Cast

Lena Headey , Jack Gouldbourne , Vince Vaughn , Leah Harvey , Dwayne Johnson , Florence Pugh , Olivia Bernstone , Elroy Powell , Nick Frost , Jack Lowden

Runtime

108 minutes

Florence Pugh seems to have burst onto the blockbuster film scene like a bullet out of nowhere, but that’s not entirely true. She’s been steadily working since she was a teenager. Her big break really came from this sports movie, Fighting With My Family, before she appeared in Midsommar and Little Women.

Pugh might be better known for the latter two (and her MCU role as Yelena Belova), but Fighting With My Family shows how versatile and physical of a performer she is. She stars as a young woman beginning her wrestling career in a family of wrestlers. It’s based on a 2012 documentary about the wrestler Paige, whom Pugh brings to life in the movie.

Many people dismissed the movie because they saw it as a way to advertise for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) without realizing the story was inspired by real events. They also dismissed it as something frivolous, but it’s entertaining and solidly acted.

8 One Cut Of The Dead (2017)

Directed By Shin'ichirô Ueda

One Cut of the Dead

Comedy

Horror

Drama

One Cut of the Dead is a Japanese indie film directed by Shinichirou Ueda. The story follows a film crew shooting a low-budget zombie movie, only to be interrupted by real zombies. The film showcases an innovative take on the horror-comedy genre, with surprising narrative twists that defy the typical conventions of zombie cinema.

Director

Shin'ichirô Ueda

Release Date

November 4, 2017

Writers

Shin'ichirô Ueda

Cast

Takayuki Hamatsu , Yuzuki Akiyama , Harumi Shuhama , Kazuaki Nagaya , Hiroshi Ichihara , Mao

Runtime

96 minutes

One Cut Of The Dead might be the best modern zombie movie, which is impressive. There have been a lot of zombie movies made in the last few decades as different writers want to put their own spin on the same idea. One Cut Of The Dead really does put a whole new spin on the genre - and it starts with a 40-minute-long opening sequence that is all one long shot. That’s unheard of in movies today.

It’s a very meta take on the zombie subgenre of horror as it involves a group attempting to make a zombie movie as a real-life zombie outbreak occurs. One Cut Of The Dead is really a love letter to the subgenre and horror as a whole. It will certainly appeal to anyone who has an interest in zombie movies, filmmaking, or even just someone who loves movies and wants to have a good time.

7 The Terrorist (1998)

Directed By Santosh Sivan

In the last 20 years, India has transitioned towards darker movies and away from the lighter spectacle of Bollywood from the 1990s. That’s not to say those lighter moves don’t exist, but there has definitely been an effort to make darker stories stand out at the cinema. Part of that is due to dramatic character studies like The Terrorist.

The movie follows a young woman who belongs to a militant group. Her brother was a martyr to their cause, and she’s been so haunted by his actions that she decides to give her own life during a suicide bombing that will also kill a politician. After she volunteers for the job, however, she is confined to a safe house in the countryside to await the day of the attack, and it’s there that she learns she is pregnant. The knowledge leads to a lot of introspection and turmoil for her as she struggles with her decisions.

The movie isn’t about the action of a bombing. Instead, it’s about the person behind it. It includes little dialogue, relying on the audience to really watch what the young woman is going through and just what motivates her in the end.

6 Miss Granny (2014)

Directed By Hwang Dong-hyuk

Miss Granny

Miss Granny (2014) is a South Korean comedy-drama directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The film centers around a 74-year-old woman who magically regains her 20-year-old appearance. As she navigates her newfound youth, she revisits her past dreams and aspirations, all while keeping her true identity a secret. The film blends humor and heartfelt moments, offering a poignant reflection on aging and the passage of time.

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Director

Hwang Dong-hyuk

Release Date

January 22, 2014

Cast

Na Moon-hee , Shim Eun-kyung , Park In-hwan , Sung Dong-il , Lee Jin-Wook

Runtime

124 Minutes

Miss Granny is not underrated in South Korea. There, the comedy is well known. As often happens with domestic releases in smaller nations, however, the rest of the world could be sleeping on something that should have become an international hit. South Korean cinema and television has only recently become available legally to more countries outside of small distribution deals with other Asian nations.

Miss Granny follows a woman in her 70s who miraculously finds herself in the body of her 20-year-old self after taking a picture at a photo studio. She gets to navigate life in the modern day in a younger body with all the wisdom that has come with age. Of course, this happens just as her son wants to put her in an assisted living facility and her relationships with her family members have become strained.

The movie is hilarious as it places the title character into some absurd situations, but it also provides excellent commentary on what it means to be a woman as she finds certain things outside of her control no matter what age she appears to be.

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