Amid the release of big-budget blockbusters and critical darlings, scores of films have fallen by the average viewer's wayside as of late. Whether it's due to the COVID-19 pandemic or a general paucity of proper marketing, many titles featured herein came up short at the worldwide box office, and they hold meager name value today. But each one deserves to be ranked among the best projects of the past few years.
Most of the films on this list were made by talented directors, and they have star-studded casts to boot. You're sure to recognize many names that appear, while others will be more unfamiliar. All that said, these are twenty recent movies not enough people are talking about.
20 The Protégé (2021)
With the talented Martin Campbell at the helm, The Protégé (2021) features keen direction around every corner of production. Its cast performs to the perfect extent, with Maggie Q playing the lead, named Anna. As a child, she was saved by an assassin named Moody, who trained her to become the world's most efficient contract killer. Moody is portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, while Michael Keaton plays the film's antagonist.
Why It Deserves More Attention
With a compelling plot (written by Richard Wenk) and a talented array of performers, director Martin Campbell saw a promising project come into perfect fruition. High-octane action, tangible character development, notable shot value — no matter the facet of filmmaking or storytelling, Campbell channeled his inner assassin and took successful aim with The Protégé. It deserves more love today.
19 El Angel (2018)
Written and directed by Luis Ortega with Lorrenzo Ferro in the lead role, El Angel (2018) chronicles the true story of a serial killer who was active in Buenos Aires during the 1950s. His name is Robledo Puch, though his film character is called Carlos. Like his real-life counterpart, his face resembles that of an angel, and he thus carries a great charisma that no one in his life is able to resist.
Why It Deserves More Attention
Once Carlos befriends Ramón, who's played by Chino Darin, the two begin a series of evil escapades that facilitate a gripping on-screen journey if not for the character dynamics alone. Critics doled out particular praise for Ferro's performance, though each name involved in El Angel deserves credit for their work. Hardly anyone in the film community discusses this title today, but it's time to turn things around.
18 Champions (2023)
A sports film remade from a Spanish-language project of the same name, Champions (2023) follows a minor-league basketball coach who's played by Woody Harrelson. That famous American actor shines as Marcus Marakovich, with other names among the talented cast of Champions including Kaitlin Olsin, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, and Mike Smith.
Why It Deserves More Attention
One of the greatest directing duos in Hollywood history are the Farrelly Brothers, who made names for themselves in the 1990s with comedies like Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996), and There's Something About Mary (1998). The movie at hand marks the solo directorial debut of Bobby, the slightly younger Farrelly brother. And despite its lack of name value, Champions ranks among the funniest Farrelly films ever.
17 The Columnist (2019)
It's worth noting off the bat the intriguing premise of The Columnist (2019). With Katja Herbers as a writer, the plot kicks off when she begins receiving anonymous death threats from online trolls. What plays out is a stylishly gruesome experience that deserves far more love across the board of viewership today.
Why It Deserves More Attention
The plot of The Columnist by itself is enough to maintain all elements of intrigue until the fireworks of the film's finale. With a compelling effort from Herbers and dazzling dialogue that's often good for a laugh, a refreshing air of lightheartedness is added to an otherwise bloody affair. Though it may not be everyone, The Columnist deserves more love, nonetheless.
16 The Way Back (2020)
Among the most underrated sports films ever made is The Way Back (2020). Considering it features famous performer Ben Affleck as the lead, the only viable reason why audiences slept on this project would be COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, Warner Bros. released it in digital form, as well. But even then, The Way Back eluded audiences.
The Way Back
- Release Date
- March 5, 2020
- Director
- Gavin O'Connor
- Cast
- Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins, Hayes MacArthur, Da'Vinchi, Rachael Carpani
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
Why It Deserves More Attention
The power of the primary performance is rivaled by the poignance of the plot, with Affleck playing an alcoholic ironworker whose wife has recently left him. Upon receiving an offer to coach the basketball team of his former high school, brilliant character development unfolds with one of the best performances of Affleck's career. Director Gavin O'Connor deserves more credit for the overall product.
15 Along for the Ride (2022)
A romantic drama, Along for the Ride (2022) marks the directorial debut of Sofia Alvarez. She adapted the script from Sarah Desson's novel of the same name, with critics for the most part citing the film as a mediocre retelling of the story. However, those criticisms were unjust in hindsight, resulting in one of the decade's most overlooked titles so far.
Why It Deserves More Attention
It's a compelling plot, firstly: Before leaving for college, eighteen-year-old Auden West spends the summer with her father and stepmother in a small town called Colby. She meets Eli, and the two develop a dynamic unlike few characters you'll read about today. He introduces Auden to all the childhood activities she missed while focusing on school. It's a well-acted ride that more audiences should have come along for.
14 Greenland (2020)
It's rare that big-budget excursions like Greenland (2020) fall beneath the public radar. Much of its dearth of popularity can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, but even with streaming stints on HBO and Amazon Prime, this apocalyptic disaster film is rather short on name value. That's even in spite of Gerard Butler being featured in the primary role.
Greenland
- Release Date
- July 29, 2020
- Director
- Ric Roman Waugh
- Cast
- Morena Baccarin, Gerard Butler, David Denman, Scott Glenn, Brandon Quinn, Andrew Bachelor
- Main Genre
- Thriller
Why It Deserves More Attention
Intense moments of action and suspense are one thing for a blockbuster of this caliber. Those are elements are generally expected. Luckily for the cast of Greenland, screenwriter Chris Sparling crafted a compelling plot that's surprisingly replete with hard-hitting scenes of great emotional value. It's a memorable watch through and through, with director Ric Roman Waugh leading his actors to greatness.
13 Booksmart (2019)
Among the funniest movies of its decade, Booksmart (2019) was made by Olivia Wilde in her directorial debut. Its script was penned by four other creatives: Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Foget, and Katie Silberman. Their names are entirely worth noting, as Booksmart features some of the most intelligent and uproarious dialogue that you're ever likely to hear.
Why It Deserves More Attention
As two nerdy high school seniors (played brilliantly by Katlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) prepare for graduation, they expand their social horizons by hopping around parties. It's a fairly basic plot that's seen into hilarious fruition thanks to the aforementioned screenwriting efforts along with brilliant direction and laugh-out-loud performances. If contemporary comedies are ever in contention, Booksmart is salient to the discussion.
12 No Man of God (2021)
A unique serial killer chronicle, No Man of God (2021) focuses on the relationship between Ted Bundy and special agent Bill Hagmaier. The latter is played by Elijah Wood, while Luke Kirby portrays Bundy. Both leads perform brilliantly, and they establish a tangible dynamic that carries the quality of the film until its final thought-provoking frame.
Why It Deserves More Attention
There's no killing in No Man of God, but a resonant sense of horror is developed through Kirby's chilling performance as Bundy. Wood shines as Hamaier, as well, with the FBI agent spending the plot dissecting the psyche of the killer. Amber Sealey directed two world-class performers within an overall engrossing plot — it's a shame so few film fans have experienced it.
11 Mad God (2022)
A stop-motion animated film, Mad God (2022) has a fascinating story regarding pre-production. Believing the days of stop-motion animation were being left in the dust, writer-director Phil Tippett shelved his idea for Mad God for two entire decades. And although they may not have heard of it, film fans should consider themselves lucky that Mad God was eventually made.
Mad God
- Release Date
- June 16, 2022
- Director
- Phil Tippett
- Cast
- Alex Cox, Niketa Roman, Satish Ratakonda, Harper Taylor
- Rating
- Not Rated
- Main Genre
- Animation
Why It Deserves More Attention
Via a diving bell, a mysterious figure credited as "The Assassin" descends into a hellish underworld. He combats giant monsters and meets fresh faces along the way. Though not the deepest of plots, Mad God features a stylistic stop-motion gravitas that will resonate with fans of the animated subcategory.
10 Daniel Isn't Real (2019)
A psychological horror film directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer from a script he co-wrote alongside Brian DeLeeuw, the plot of Daniel Isn't Real (2019) follows a troubled teen who summons from his past an imaginary friend named Daniel. Initially, protagonist Luke hopes his old friend will help him cope with recent personal traumas.
Why It Deserves More Attention
As Daniel's evil intentions are revealed, Luke battles various dilemmas within a well-made overall product. Starring Miles Robbins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sasha Lane, and Hanna Marks, the film at hand features fantastic performances across the board of its cast. Every character in Daniel Isn't Real shares a unique rapport with the next, with the overall product being of the utmost originality.
9 Never Grow Old (2019)
Starring Emile Hirsch, the revisionist western Never Grow Old (2019) saw direction under Ivan Kavanagh. Performers like John Cusack and Déborah François provide supporting efforts as Hirsch plays the protagonist, named Patrick Tate. It tells a rather basic western story, with the original script being wirtten by Kavanagh.
Why It Deserves More Attention
Thanks to Kavanagh's keen directorial sense and penchant for storytelling, Never Grow Old should maintain all elements of intrigue until the final gunshot rings out. This is a notable dramatic effort from both Hirsch and Cusack — fans of theirs would be remiss to turn their backs on Never Grow Old.
8 American Animals (2018)
As he sets out to rob his school's archives, an art student named Spencer Reinhard (played by Barry Koeghan) leads American Animals (2018) to unique and underrated greatness. The film uses unreliable narrators and an unconventional structure to tell a rather lighthearted tale of real-life proportions. It even weaves documentary segments of the figures on which the characters are based.
Why It Deserves More Attention
With actors like Evan Peters and Blake Jenner providing supporting efforts alongside Keoghan, this heist film is worth a watch for the dynamic of their characters alone. But this is also an intelligent script, with well-written dialogue and perfect pacing around every corner of its plot. There's no reason for American Animals to have come up short at the box office, nor for it to be left in the cold today.
7 Leave No Trace (2018)
An underrated filmmaker, Debra Granik directed Leave No Trace (2018) from a script she co-wrote alongside Anne Rosellini. And although it received widespread praise upon release, currently holding a 100% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, the film is hardly discussed by film fans today.
Leave No Trace
- Release Date
- June 29, 2018
- Director
- Debra Granik
- Cast
- Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Foster, Jeffery Rifflard, Michael Draper, Derek John Drescher, Peter Simpson
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Drama
Why It Deserves More Attention
Ben Foster plays a veteran and father named Will, who lives in the forest with his daughter. Will has post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting in an emotional journey the whole way through. American actor Ben Foster has numerous high-quality stints under his belt that flew under the public radar if they didn't also come up short with critics. Leave No Trace is an unfortunate example of the former.
6 The World is Yours (2018)
One of the best films you're likely to read about today, The World is Yours (2018) saw direction by Norman Graves from a script he co-wrote alongside two other creatives: Karim Boukercha and Noé Debré. It features Karim Leklou as François, while other noteworthy names among the cast include Isabelle Adjani and Vincent Cassel.
Why It Deserves More Attention
Though not all the aforementioned names are likely to ring a bell, their talent is on full display in their respective fields. Adjani and Cassel are among the greatest performers to ever be born in France, and The World is Yours is among their most overlooked titles, respectively. It's a compelling crime comedy that deserves more love from audiences around the world.
5 The Outpost (2020)
Among the greatest war films you've probably never seen is The Outpost (2020), directed by Rod Lurie. Set amid the War in Afghanistan, its plot specifically chronicles the Battle of Kamdesh. An outpost of the U.S. army, Kamdesh is located in a remote valley with a base that's viewed as a deathtrap.
Why It Deserves More Attention
It's plot follows a group of American soldiers who combat three hundred enemies equipped with mortar weapons and night-vision capabilities. What plays out is a perfect balance of action and poignance, going down among the finest war films of the century. Critics widely agreed, with The Outpost holding a 92% approval rating on consensus website Rotten Tomatoes. Aside from COVID-19, there's no telling why audiences didn't tune in.
4 The Forest of Love (2019)
Directed by Sion Sono, one of the foremost filmmakers active in Japan today, The Forest of Love (2019) chronicles the criminal activities committed in Kyushu, Japan at the turn of the twenty-first century. The plot was adapted to the screen by Sono himself, who penned the original script to great critical acclaim.
Why It Deserves More Attention
Although some critics (and plenty of audiences, mind you) took issue with the film's length, a well-paced plot provides endless entertainment value on intrigue alone. There's also meaningful shot value, with heartfelt performances emitted through every frame of the film. It's a true technical triumph, The Forest of Love, even if its run time is a bit much for some to stomach.
3 No Sudden Move (2021)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, an ensemble cast of names sees No Sudden Move (2021) into darkly comedic and entirely thrilling fruition. Starring Benicio del Toro and Don Cheadle, efforts of the supporting variety are provided by David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Brendan Fraser, and Kieran Culkin. Everyone brings forth some of the most meaningful performances of their respective careers
No Sudden Move
- Release Date
- July 1, 2021
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Cast
- Don Cheadle, Jon Hamm, Kieran Culkin, Brendan Fraser, David Harbour, Benicio Del Toro
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
A thrilling and darkly comedic plot is the heart and soul of No Sudden Move, with genius character dynamics facilitating some indelible interactions. With a superb script from underrated screenwriter Ed Solomon, every plot point of No Sudden Move comes together in seamless fashion to create an undeniable masterpiece of suspense, and overall entertainment. If more audiences were privy to its quality, No Sudden Move would likely be known as one of the finest films of the decade.
2 The Art of Self-Defense (2019)
Written and directed by Riley Stearns with Jesse Eisenberg in the lead role, The Art of Self-Defense (2019) should be cited by critics and audiences alike as one of the funniest movies of the 2010s. It may be among the most uproarious films ever made, as Eisenberg's protagonist Casey enrolls in a karate dojo to better defend himself from potential attackers in the night.
Why It Deserves More Attention
Eisenberg's trademark style of awkward humor shines through and through as Casey, with other performers among the cast including Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots. Twists and turns galore will keep audiences on their toes throughout the plot, while perfectly acted exchanges of thought-out dialogue define the quality in the end. The Art of Self-Defense is among the most special films of its decade, and it deserves more recognition as such.
1 Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)
With Michael Jai White in the director's chair, Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) was made from his own original script. It also features White in the lead role as the notorious, eponymous outlaw. It's a spoof of western movies from Hollywood's past, with Outlaw Johnny Black going down among the funniest movies its genre has ever seen.
Why It Deserves More Attention
A farcical plot, hilarious one-liners, and a charismatic performance from White — from every fathomable perspective, Outlaw Johnny Black will hit home across the board of comedic resonance. Many laugh-out-loud moments are facilitated by White's well-paced story, and his comedic prowess is on full display as the notorious Johnny Black. And while a certain corner of film fans recognize the quality hereof, Outlaw Johnny Black should be discussed ad nauseam as one of the funniest films of the century.
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