Underrated Movies You Absolutely MUST See
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Underrated Movies You Absolutely MUST See

There are some movies you have zero excuse for not seeing; here are some underrated ones.

64
Underrated Movies You Absolutely MUST See
Collider

Everyone has a favorite movie or two, but if you're an avid movie watcher and lover, the question "what's your favorite movie?" might be the hardest to answer. For me, it is nearly impossible because there are just way too many fantastic movies out there for me to pick one that stands out the most to me. However, regardless of what your favorite is, there are a fair amount of movies (both "classic" and newer) that I feel are absolute must sees. Many of these are much older while others are fairly new, but nonetheless, I feel as though several are underrated and deserve more attention than they've gotten. The ones that are considered "classics" are ones that, from what I've experienced, not enough people from my generation have seen. Several of these might be favorites of your parents, and will hopefully become favorites of your own. So, here is my list of movies, with their trailers for your convenience, that I think are underrated (in no particular order):

1. Requiem for a Dream (2000) - Rated R

Warning: This movie gets incredibly graphic, so if you're easily disturbed, unsettled, grossed out, or upset, you probably shouldn't watch it.

"Requiem for a Dream" is a fantastic story about a helpless mother, with her own addiction, attempting to rekindle her relationship with her son, who is addicted to, and selling, drugs. The cinematography is wonderful, as well as the acting and accuracy of drug addiction. Plus, Jared Leto is the main character, and who doesn't love Jared Leto?

2. The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) - Rated R

Oh my god, I cannot say enough fantastic things about this movie. The cast, the cinematography, the score, the plot, the action, EVERYTHING, is absolutely fantastic. The combination of Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper is electric and really adds a different dynamic to the film. It's difficult to describe the movie without giving too much away, but it's about a motorcycle rider that recently finds out an ex-lover of his gave birth to his son and attempts to be a part of his child's life. In the process, he crosses paths with Cooper's character, and, later, their sons also find ways to connect their lives. This film will keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time.

Fun fact: Supposedly, Ryan Gosling once wanted to be the most tattooed actor alive, but never went through with it. When casted for this role, his character description included lots of tattoos, so he requested to have every tattoo he wanted to be applied. After seeing the finished product for shooting, he was happy he didn't make the permanent decision.

3. Gone Girl (2014) - Rated R

Another absolutely fantastic film with an incredible cast, score, and flawless cinematography. Yes, this movie is very recent and had lots of media attention, but I still believe that it is underrated. I've found that either not enough people have seen it, and those who have simply did not appreciate it for what it is. This flick will also have you at the edge of your seat the entire time, just like "The Place Beyond the Pines". This is another movie that is hard to describe without giving too much away because it is just so detailed and amazing, I don't want to spoil anything! But, the story is about a New York writer and his seemingly perfect wife who ends up going missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. With her shocking disappearance, her husband becomes the main suspect in the case, while he tries to piece his own puzzle together. This movie is based on a book (which I am yet to read, but will definitely get around to) by Gillian Flynn, and I am sure it is incredibly written considering how fantastic this movie is.

4. Young Frankenstein (1974) - Rated PG

This movie is one of my all time favorites. I also absolutely love Mel Brooks, and believe he is a comedic genius. I also believe this is one of his best films. Gene Wilder is also wonderful. ANYWAY, "Young Frankenstein" is absolutely hilarious, and definitely would not be rated PG if it was released today (probably PG-13). If you haven't guessed by its title, or by the fact that it's a Mel Brooks movie, this flick is a spoof on "Frankenstein." After Dr. Frankenstein finds out that he has inherited his grandfather's estate in Transylvania, he journeys over and begins to experiment with human creation, eventually making the monster "Frankenstein." Accompanied by Marty Feldman, Wilder generates a laugh a minute, making this movie well worth the while. It is, in my opinion, a classic.

5. Spaceballs (1987) - Rated PG

Speaking of Mel Brooks, here's another one of his greatest films! "Spaceballs" is great for fans of "Starwars" and "Startrek," and if you're not a fan, it's still great because "Spaceballs" makes fun of these two popular outer space franchises! You don't even have to know much about either movie series to find this flick funny (take it from me, I haven't seen either series and I cry laughing at Brooks' film every time). In this film, planet Spaceball runs out of their air supply, so the leader of the planet sends an evil helmet man to kidnap the princess of another planet in attempt to steal air from their planet. However, things take a turn and two unlikely heroes save the day.

6. Boyhood (2014) - Rated R

This movie is beautiful in every single sense of the word. It opens with Coldplay's "Yellow," which immediately gave me the chills, literally seconds after it started. "Boyhood" is an incredible journey throughout a kid's childhood, allowing the viewer to relive and reminisce through their own. You get to re-experience your basic childhood memories of playing outside, fighting with your siblings, going through the horrors of middle and high school, and picking a college. What's amazing about this film is that the director used the same actors the entire time he filmed, so you're actually getting to watch these kids grow up and experience life; that's what makes this film so amazing, successful, and beautiful. What is also so unique about this film, and what truly adds to its accuracy, is the score. The music is accurate to the year the movie was shot, which only increases the feeling of nostalgia you get while you're watching. You will not regret watching this movie, and it will be one you want to watch again and again. It is truly a masterpiece.

7. Thelma & Louise (1991) - Rated R

"Thelma & Louise" should be the best friend anthem movie for girls. Not only does it make you appreciate the bond between best friends, but it makes you feel empowered, almost. It makes you want to just skip town with your bestie and go on a spontaneous road trip; it makes you want to adventure (and is also a little bit of a guide on what not to do on a road trip with your best friend, but I won't give too much away). Thelma and Louise are best friends who decide to go on a road trip, that eventually goes very wrong when Thelma is sexually assaulted and Louise kills the attacker. This leads the girls on a wild adventure to flee the country, leading them to meet an attractive cowboy, Brad Pitt, before the police find them.

8. This is 40 (2012) - Rated R

This is another movie that is pretty true to what growing up is like...except from the more adult perspective. I may not be 40, but I think most people, no matter what age, can realize how true many of these situations are based on what we've observed from the adults in our lives. With a hilarious cast, "This is 40" is not only real and funny (and might make its older audiences feel older), but makes you feel young again if you're older than 40. I'm assuming if you're younger than 40, it might make you fear the big 4-0 just a little bit more, but also make you realize that maybe it's not so bad? This movie explores all of the struggles that come with being 40 or older, between marriage, sex, family, friends, and work. It is full of the typical "I hate you but I love you" humor, as Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann frequently talk about how they would kill each other. "This is 40" is not your typical Rom-Com, but will leave you with the same feel-good feeling in the end.

9. Just Go With it (2011) - Rated PG-13

Speaking of Rom-Coms, here's another great one. Yes, it is an Adam Sandler movie, and while the trailer seems like just another crappy Happy Maddison production, I promise you it's actually good. I, personally, believe that this is the only recent Sandler movie that is actually funny. In "Just Go With it," a plastic surgeon pretends to be married to lie to women about this horrible marriage that he's in, hoping it will get him dates with no strings attached. But, when he finally meets a girl he thinks he wants to settle down with, he gets wrapped up in his own lies, ultimately creating the biggest web of lies one could possibly get caught in. His lack of honesty gets him into quite a bit of trouble, leaving him to drag in his secretary and her children to make the lie more believable.

10. Shutter Island (2010) - Rated R

Contrary to what some believe, this movie is not scary. Trust me, as a person who cannot even survive watching the trailer to any form of a horror movie, this movie isn't scary at all. However, it's definitely eerie. In this awesome thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, two U.S. Marshalls are sent to investigate a disappearance in an insane asylum located on a remote island. After arriving, the two Marshalls start to sense that terrible things are done to the patients there. The movie becomes an abundance of plot twists and has the audience questioning everything. But be careful, if you miss a second, you might get lost. This movie definitely requires your undivided attention.

11. Kill Bill series (Vol. 1: 2003, Vol. 2: 2004) - Rated R

This Tarantino series is jam packed with action and suspense, as per usual, and will make almost any girl feel like they can be a total badass like Uma Thurman. After being in a coma for four years because her ex-lover, Bill, tried to murder her, a former assassin makes a promise to herself to kill all of the people who contributed to the murder of her entire wedding party and unborn child, including Bill (thus the title: Kill Bill). The "Kill Bill" series are classic Tarantino, so if you're a fan and haven't seen these, you're pretty much guarateed to love them. I promise the movies are better than the trailers.

12. Pulp Fiction (1994) - Rated R

While we're on the topic of Tarantino, "Pulp Fiction" is one of the greatest cult classics. With an outstanding cast, including: Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Walken, and Bruce Willis, "Pulp Fiction" is one of the best crime movies of all time. Two hitmen's lives are intertwined with those of hard criminals, drug addicts, boxers, and gangsters in this "ultra-hip" action movie that is honestly quite difficult to describe. Warning: This movie does get graphic/unsettling in some scenes.

13. The Help (2011) - Rated PG-13

This movie made me bawl my eyes out, and it is very hard to make me cry when watching a movie. "The Help" is beautiful, funny, and real. Starring the amazing Emma Stone, "The Help" is about a young writer in 1960s Mississippi looking to interview the African American house help of affluent white families. She ends up turning the town upside down with her truthful interviews, bringing to light all of the terrible ways these women are treated. This movie is also based on a book by Katheryn Stockett.

14. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Rated R

This has to easily be one of the most fantastic movies I have ever seen. "Shawshank" is not your typical Stephen King story, but is unbelievable and thrilling as ever. After being accused of committing two murders, a young man (Tim Robbins) must serve a double life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. In his time there, he becomes close with another inmate (Morgan Freeman) and learns to adapt to the harsh conditions of prison life. This story is beyond suspenseful and will leave you in awe before the credits start rolling.

15. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Rated R

Who doesn't love a good Jim Carrey Movie? Also, who doesn't love Kate Winslet? If you love both of these actors, you'll probably love this movie too. But, this is not your typical Carrey comedy. While it sounds like another Rom-Com, it's actually more along the lines of a drama, in my opinion, and has also fallen under the sci-fi category. This beautiful film, another with a great score and cinematography, brings romance to a whole new level, showing the good, the bad, and the ugly, while introducing the concept everyone has thought about at least once: what if I could erase my ex? It explores the pain one feels behind loss, as Carrey's character undergoes a new procedure that allows one to erase all memories they choose. But, is he happy with his final decision? You'll have to watch to find out!

16. The Truman Show (1998) - Rated PG

Another Jim Carrey movie for you! This movie is a classic, and one unlike any other. Imagine if your entire life was nothing like you thought it was - if everyone you knew was an actor, and your life was a TV show set. Crazy right? Well, that's what Truman's life was. "The Truman Show" is a live broadcast of a young man's life, that has been running since birth. His family, his friends, his job, his whole life, is fake. Soon, Truman starts to notice strange things happening around him that he can't explain, and soon see's that everything revolves around him. The movie becomes a journey of Truman trying to discover what his world actually is, and if there is a separate world outside of what he has known his entire life. The film is incredible, and one I can never watch too many times.

17. Blue Valentine (2010) - Rated R / NC-17

Just another beautifully done Ryan Gosling movie for you. A winner of several Indie movie awards, as well as an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, "Blue Valentine" is a raw depiction of love, showing its ups and downs, twists and turns, and emotional roller coasters. The movie travels back and forth to different parts of this struggling couple's relationship, showing how they grew together, and how they've started to fall apart. With the same director as "The Place Beyond the Pines," this film has the same alluring cinematographic quality that will leave you floored.

18. Throw Momma from the Train (1987) - Rated PG-13

Another classic! "Throw Momma from the Train" is wonderfully funny, starring Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito, is about an author who decides to help one of his students stand up to his rude and verbally abusive mother. The author, who is in an unhappy marriage, makes a deal with his student: If the student kills the author's wife, the author will kill the student's mother. The attempt to put this into affect, with lots of bumps in the road. You'll also never be able to say the name "Owen" the same way ever again!

19. Weekend at Bernie's (1989) - Rated PG-13

"Weekend at Bernie's" is yet another classic that too many people from my generation have never seen! "Weekend at Bernie's" is anything but a typical weekend out in the Hamptons. Two salesmen are invited out to their boss's beach house when they alert him of fraudulent activity within the company. Little do they know that it's their boss committing the fraud, and is now planning to have them killed for catching him. Their weekend takes an unexpected turn when their boss is killed instead of them! They don't let this "little" bump in the road ruin their beach fun, but they instead decide to pretend their boss is still alive, and throw parties at his luxurious house instead. This movie is not just funny, but fun to watch!

20. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) - Rated PG-13

This movie will probably leave you sobbing very ugly tears. If Leonardo DiCaprio was going to win an Oscar, it should have been for this movie, not "The Revenant" (in my opinion). Starring another actor who has never won an Oscar, Johnny Depp, this movie is about a young man living in a very small town who is responsible for taking care of his mentally handicapped brother, and his exceedingly overweight mother, while working at the local grocery store to help support his family, and having an affair with a married woman in town. In a life that seems like a mess, the young man finds himself falling head over heels for an independent young woman named Becky. This film will make you laugh, cry, and make your heart swell. It is absolutely beautifully done and will quickly become one of your favorites.

21. The Heathers (1988) - Rated R

This movie is crazy, and will probably have you saying, "what the f*ck?" quite a few times, but it is great in every way, at the same time. Winona Ryder plays the main character, Veronica, who is a member of the most popular clique at school, "The Heathers" but often finds herself hating these girls she calls "friends" and doesn't like the way they treat her or her peers. When she starts dating a dark and mysterious boy, they decide to confront the leader of the clique and stage her suicide, after poisoning her. This soon leads them to go on a killing spree of all the people they dislike at school, but eventually, Veronica realizes that her insane boyfriend needs to be stopped.

22. Girl, Interrupted (1999) - Rated R

Last, but most certainly not least, Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder make a dynamic duo to take on this movie, based on a true story. If you're interested in Psychology, particularly the abnormal side, you'll love this flick. In the 1960s, a young girl finds herself in a mental institution after graduating high school. At first unaware that she has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Susanna struggles to fit in with the other patients at the hospital, until she meets Lisa. Lisa is Sociopath who loves to cause trouble at the hospital, but becomes a close friend to Susanna. Jared Leto also makes a little appearance as Susanna's love interest. The movie also features Brittany Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. The cast is great, the cinematography is fantastic, and the story is incredible.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41529
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

26020
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951333
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

134909
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments