10 Underrated Movies to Put on Your Watchlist

Great movies typically get recognition from everyone: audiences, film critics, film festivals, etc.

However, various underrated movies don’t reach the ceiling they’re supposed to reach. Oftentimes, the reason is a lack of a marketing budget, while sometimes they don’t catch the radar of film critics.

Whatever the reason, here’s a list of the 10 most underrated movies.

Coherence

Made on a shoestring budget, it’s one of the most clever, underrated movies in the sci-fi genre. If this movie were made today, when sci-fi is popular, it would have gotten more attention.

Nevertheless, with a budget of only $50,000, Coherence is more than impressive. Making any film with such a budget is almost impossible, let alone a sci-fi. However, director James Ward Byrkit pulled it off. This film also has underrated actors like Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon, Elizabeth Gracen, etc.

Don’t Think Twice

One of the warmest underrated movies that also has bitter moments. Don’t Think Twice addresses a rare but important topic – improv troupes. It’s highly challenging to be great in an improv troupe, and this film showcases all the positive and negative sides of the acting profession.

In addition, it has a beautiful cast, including Gillian Jacobs, Mike Birbiglia, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Gethard, etc. Even though an independent film, it got a Critics’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Comedy.

The Score

The Score is one of the underrated movies which have an excellent leading cast. When you team up Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, and Angela Bassett, it’s difficult to make a bad movie.

It’s an entertaining crime and heist movie about an aging thief who wants to retire. However, a young thief persuades him into doing one last heist. Perhaps this film doesn’t deserve a lot more attention as a whole. Still, Norton undoubtedly deserved a lot more attention for his role, even an Oscar nomination.

Dust

The only reason Dust wasn’t significantly praised is that it was misunderstood when it came out. It should’ve been a unique moment since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival after Milcho Manchevski won many awards for Before the Rain. Milcho did get a warm welcome, but Dust didn’t. Unfortunately, it was extremely misunderstood.

But what’s good is that afterward, it was highly praised by film critics, especially for its cubist-like fractured narrative. This movie’s cast includes great actors like Joseph Fiennes, David Wenham, Adrien Lester, etc.

Lost in America

Considering the rising popularity of road trips, hiking, and free spirit culture, Lost in America would maybe be a massive hit today.

However, it came out in 1985, and we all know the 80s were culturally far from the 70s and even the 90s. Therefore, it didn’t get significant attention, but it did have a good box office: $10 million on a $4 million budget. Albert Brooks directed it, wrote it, and played the leading role along with Julie Hagerty.

The One I Love

Offbeat and smart, The One I Love deserves more attention for the good acting and screenwriting. A dark romance and comedy with mysterious elements, it follows a couple who go on vacation to make things better, but they become worse. 

The couple is played by Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss, while Ted Danson plays a therapist. A fun fact is that most of the dialogue was improvised while everything else was defined in a 50-page document.

The Game

A rollercoaster that’s aged like fine wine, David Fincher’s The Game was liked by audiences and had a good box office. However, it didn’t get enough attention from the award ceremonies. It only has one nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film.

Nevertheless, you’ll enjoy this movie at least because of the cast, which includes Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, James Rebhorn, etc. Also, you’ll certainly enjoy it because it’s directed by Fincher.

Medicine For Melancholy

Director Barry Jenkins did a brilliant job with Medicine for Melancholy, considering he had a budget of only $13.000. Yes, you read that right. The leading roles are played by Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins.

It’s an intelligent romance drama that got attention from the Chicago International Film Festival, but it would’ve been more popular with a bigger budget. Nevertheless, this indie movie was Jenkins’s feature film debut, and it’s a damn good one!

In a Year with 13 Moons

This one is Fassbinder’s emotional gut-punch about identity, loneliness, and love. In a Year with 13 Moons is one of the bravest movies ever. Not just because of the theme about a transgender woman, but also because it was released in 1978. Back then, it took a lot of guts to create a transgender film.

It’s pointless to make hints about this film. It’s much better to watch it and discover it yourself. Maybe not a true masterpiece, but definitely worth watching. Volker Spengler plays the transgender woman and does a great acting job.

Huddersfield

When it comes to the most significant underrated movies of all time, Huddersfield is a must-watch. It’s one of my favorite movies ever, and one of the best screen roles by legendary actor Nebojsa Glogovac. It’s hard to believe Glogi managed to play such a challenging role in a movie. Believe it or not, he also played it in a theater play.

The rest of the cast is also excellent, including Goran Susljik, Vojin Cetkovic, Josif Tatic, Suzana Lukic, Damjan Kecojevic, etc. Huddersfield is one of the most authentic and underrated movies.

Final Words on Underrated Movies for Your Watchlist

Above, you have a list of top underrated movies to put on your watchlist. Some of these may not be masterpieces, but they are undoubtedly worth watching. Depending on your favorite genre, pick a movie and enjoy.

And remember, if a movie is popular, it doesn’t mean that it’s good. Mozart is less famous than Taylor Swift, if you know what I mean.