Have you ever got your eyes widened when you saw the IMDb rating of your favorite movie, which you thought was an absolute masterpiece?
Felt hurt when the critics butchered your favorite flick as a rotten craft?
Sometimes watching a movie that tells stories that interest you with characters that you can relate to are far more satisfying than watching the top-rated one.
That is why I put together a list of movies that are some of my favorites that are nowhere on the best films list.
I will try to write about the movie, express why I loved the film and should you watch the movie?
This post contains:
My favorite underrated movie list
So let’s start my favorite underrated movie list
Perfect Strangers (Italian: Perfetti sconosciuti)
This one is a forever favorite for me.
This is an Italian movie released in 2016 directed by Paolo Genovese. This was a commercially and critically successful movie in Italy and also has a world record for the most remade film in history, with 18 versions of this movie made in countries all over the world.
I still think this movie is underrated, considering the attention it deserves.
Synopsis:
On a lunar eclipse, seven close friends got together for a dinner party. While they were talking and bantering, Eva, a relationship therapist, said that most couples would separate if they saw each other’s messages. This thought became a game and everyone eventually took part and you could see the tension creeping over all their laughter. The truths that eventually unraveled between these close friends were so staggering that it changed their life.
Why I loved it?
What I love about the movie is how perfectly the movie portrayed our imperfections that we cover up with lies in front of even our closest friends.
Should you watch it?
If you are interested in the mystery of human behavior and want to watch some thought-provoking piece of cinema. Then definitely check out this one.
The man from earth
A movie that baffled me like no other.
This one is a 2007 science fiction movie written by Jerome Bixby and directed by Richard Schenkman. This movie ponders on the existence of an immortal man from the upper Paleolithic age. There is a lot of historic jargon that you need to deal with, but trust me, the movie is worth it.
Synopsis:
John Oldman is a college professor who is moving to a new place. On the evening of his departure, as he is packing his belonging, his fellow professors came over and to give him a surprise farewell. They kept asking why is he leaving, to which John didn’t deliver a concrete answer.
After pushing hard enough, John slowly began dwelling on the possibility of an immortal man from the late stone age still present in this world. John then started talking about sailing with Columbus and painting gifted from Van Gogh himself to reveal to everyone that he is indeed this immortal man. Each professor began questioning John to disprove his claims, but eventually, all failed.
Towards the end of the movie, John finally revealed that he is also a religious character, at which the revelation was too much for his friends to handle, and John dismisses everything he said as a novel he is working on.
Why I loved it?
The movie just showers you with thoughts you never dreamt of before and does so with such sensibility and historic accuracy that leaves you stunned at the end of the movie.
Should you watch it?
If you want to have an intellectual stroke and can deal with some history jargon, then go watch it right now.
The Lego Movie
By now, you might have stamped me as boring and intellectual.
So this is a fun movie that I just love, that’s for everyone.
The Lego Movie is an animated movie directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in 2014 and tuned out to be a very successful movie in every aspect.
Synopsis:
In the Lego world, an evil Lord named Business posses a superweapon called ‘Kragle’ from the wizard Vitruvius who then professes a person named ‘the Special’ will stop the weapon with the piece of resistance.
Years later, a construction worker named Emmet Brickowski is mistaken for the ‘the Special’ by a woman named Wyldstyle. She and Vitruvius are master builders who oppose the Business’s evil plan.
Though initially disappointed by Emmet, Wyldstyle and Vitruvius believed he showed some signs of potential and was sent to get the support of a council to defeat the Business. Emmet failed to impress the council which they hoped would help them stop Business. But Business suppresses all their attacks and Emmet had to sacrifice his life to protect others.
But then Emmet reached the actual world and realizes that the story is played out by a kid in a basement with his father’s Lego sets. The father who is unimpressed by his son decides to glue his perfect Lego creations.
Emmet seeing this tells Finn to put him back to the Lego set to bring him back to life and Emmet then confronts Business, which is based on Finn’s father. The climax is that Emmet gives a speech which is played out as Finn talking to his father, who will have a change of heart. Thus business undoes everything and capped Kragle with the piece of resistance which is played out in the actual world as Finn’s father letting his sister play along with him.
Why I love this movie?
Besides being a really fun flick, I love this one for the message it delivers, about valuing the imperfect creation than fixating on the perfect one.
Should you watch it?
This is a movie that you can enjoy regardless of your taste as this is a fun movie with a message.
Into the wild
Let’s get back to the serious ones. A movie that flares up the rebel in you.
Into the Wild is a biographical adventure drama written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn in 2007. The movie is based on the book ‘Into the Wild’ written by Jon Krakauer. This is a movie that received a lot of critical acclaim, awards, and nominations.
Synopsis:
A man named Christopher McCandless when realized the truth about his and his sister’s birth became disenchanted with modern society and decides to live in the wilderness. The movie is about this travel through North America and finally to Alaska.
Why I love this movie?
This movie is about leaving all the social baggage we carry from our birth and embracing the wild. Something that I believe everyone at one point in their lives has thought about. This movie is a glimpse into that life, the people you meet, the stories you hear, the lives you change.
Should you watch it?
A movie that tinkers about the question of the meaning of life. The movie is fun, intellectual, and deep. A good watch for all and a must-watch for people who question their lives.
Black Swan
A movie about perfection
This 2010 thriller movie directed by Darren Aronofsky with the story of Andres Heinz is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful movie with Academy awards and much more.
Synopsis:
Nina played by Natalie Portman is a ballerina in New York City ballet company. Her profession consumes her life with an excessively controlling mother who was a former ballerina. When the prima ballerina was forced to retire, the artistic director announces the production of their new season, Swan Lake. He is looking for a ballerina to play dual roles, an innocent and fragile White Swan Odette and a sensual Black swan Odile.
Nina is perfect for the White Swan role but couldn’t be a convincing Black Swan. When she asked Thomas to reconsider her role, Nina shows a glimmer of Odile in her and Thomas casts Nina for the role. But during the rehearsals, Thomas showed Nina her competition, Lily, who is perfect for the Black Swan.
The insecurity and pressure made Nina lose her grip on reality and start hallucinating events.
Her delusion distorted her reality and in the last performance, she perfects both the characters but at a substantial cost.
Why I love this movie?
This movie is about the psychological struggle of trying to perfect and finally doing so at the expense of everything, and it is something that interested me. The movie offers some stellar performances as well.
Should you watch it?
If you want to see a nearly perfect movie about perfection, give this one a try. Undoubtedly good for anyone.
Focus
Another fun movie on the list. All about deception and manipulation.
Focus is a 2015 comedy thriller written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie in lead roles. A commercially successful movie with a mixed response from critics.
Synopsis:
Seasoned con-man Nicky Spurgeon played by Will Smith meets an amateur con artist Jess Barrett played by Margot Robbie. He would take her under his wing when she impressed him, and slowly the two became fond of each other. After performing an impressive con, Nicky left Jessy with her cut as he doesn’t want to proceed with this relationship with his colleague.
But when years later he went for his next con, Nick finds Jessy and rekindles their relationship. Towards the end, this puts both of them in a very compromising position and eventually, the con nearly fails. But the two end up together.
Why I love this movie?
I love this movie for the startling twists and particularly impressive deception from the grifters. I have my interest in psychology and this movie is about manipulation and deception using psychology and that’ why I love it. Will Smith and Margret Robbie add charm to the movie.
Should you watch it?
If you want to watch a fun flick with lots of twists and turns and impressive scenes without trying to be profound, check out this one.
The invisible guest
The Invisible Guest is a 2016 Spanish mystery thriller film written and directed by Oriol Paulo. The movie is commercially successful but with an impassive critical response.
Synopsis:
A successful Spanish business person Adrián Daria is accused of murdering his lover, Laura Vidal. To avoid jail, he hires the prominent defense attorney Virginia Goodman, who visits him at his apartment.
Virginia will request him to reveal the truth so she can make the case for him. Adrián gives his version of the story and with Virginia’s sensible and timely question extracts the truth from Adrián.
Adrián finally reveals that he actually committed a murder of a person named Daniel Garrido, which Laura was aware of, and that finally made him kill her.
In the climax, Adrián realizes that the person who he talking to was actually Daniel’s mother and they now have his confession recorded.
Why I love this movie?
This is a thrilling movie with the mystery unfolding slowly, leaving us guessing about the truth. They nailed the climax twist well, and the movie managed to impress me as a thriller.
Should you watch it?
If you have an apatite for a mystery thriller, then check out this one.