Photo: Underrated Movies, The Nice Guys and Ad Astra
Subheading: There is not a year that passes that excellent films are released and underperform at the box office. Whether it be due to a poor marketing campaign or an unfortunate release date next to a big blockbuster, sometimes the best films of the year go mostly unnoticed by audiences even when critically they are acclaimed. These films, incredible as they may be, do not get the love they should. Therefore, giving the films credit in retrospect is important.
Filmmakers work tirelessly to have their visions shown to audiences yet even when that vision is successfully realized, it is not seen by as many people as it was intended to. Within this article are ten films from the past five years, not including 2021, that were excellent but for one reason or another flew under the radar. In no particular order, here are the ten most underrated films of the past five years.
Related article: The Complete List of 2021 Oscar Nominations Celebrations, Surprises & Snubs | The Show Must Go On
Related article: April Movies Release Schedule: The Most Accurate List of Every Movie Coming Out in April Live Updates
Each and every year, there are films released that do not get the love or shine that they should have. Whether it be due to a poor marketing campaign or an unfortunate release date next to a big blockbuster, sometimes the best films of the year go mostly unnoticed by audiences even when critically they are acclaimed. While Im sure there are excellent films that went under my radar as well, I have compiled what in my opinion are the ten most underrated films of the last five years, not including 2021, in no particular order.
As the directorial debut of actor Joel Edgerton, The Gift released in 2015 to critical praise as well as profitable numbers at the box office yet just five years later, no one talks about it. Starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and Joel Edgerton, the film follows a couple who after moving back to the husbands hometown receive unwelcomed visits by an old acquaintance. This mystery-thriller is engaging from start to finish, Edgerton knows exactly how to position his characters to maximize tension. The performances of both Edgerton and Bateman stand out as some of the best dramatic work the two have done and the controversial ending is one that I still think about to this day.
Available for rental on AppleTV+ and wherever digital films are sold.
Related article: MUST WATCH Hollywood Insiders CEO Pritan Ambroases Love Letter to Black Lives Matter VIDEO
Subscribe to Hollywood Insiders YouTube Channel, by clicking here.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is one of the funniest comedies of the last decade. This mockumentary follows popstar Conner4real, played by Andy Samberg, as he launches his follow-up album to his hit solo project, Thriller, also. From the minds behind The Lonely Island, Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer, this mockumentary takes full advantage of its medium and will consistently have you belly laughing at its absurd moments and hilarious songs. The supporting cast in this film is incredible stars from Simon Cowell to Justin Timberlake to Bill Hader all make appearances.
Directed by Taccone and Schaffer, who both also star in the film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping has heart to it the film explores friendships and how they evolve, almost mirroring the three friends rise to stardom with The Lonely Island. The film was marketed as a Justin Bieber parody film, against the wishes of the three stars, and was met with lukewarm box-office reception despite performing well critically. I urge any and all comedy fans to give Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping a shot as I did, you will not regret it.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping: Available for rental on Amazon Prime Video.
Related article: The Power of Positivity: Ikorodu Bois + Chris Hemsworth + Russo Brothers + Sam Hargrave
Limited Time Offer FREE Subscription to Hollywood Insider
Click here to read more on Hollywood Insiders vision, values and mission statement here Media has the responsibility to better our world Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.
The Nice Guys feels like a classic 70s buddy cop film that would have supplanted its spot in cinematic history decades prior to its 2016 release. Yet unfortunately, perhaps due to its proximity in release to MarvelsCaptain America: Civil War, it underperformed at the box office.
Starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as they investigate the death of an adult-film star in smoggy 1970s Los Angeles, the film is a joy from start to finish. Writer and director Shane Blacks quick, smart dialogue keeps you engaged from scene to scene captivated by our two lead characters. This is another film that has consistent laughs and deserves more credit for being the excellent film it was than it got at the time of its release.
The Nice Guys: Streamable on Hulu.
Kathryn Bigelows gripping drama, Detroit, depicting the cities 1967 riots after repeated confrontations between the black community and Detroit police released to box-office failure in 2017. This film is utterly heart-breaking and had my stomach turning throughout as the clear abuse of power and racial discrimination and violence occurs on screen. While it is by no means enjoyable in the traditional sense, Detroit is an important watch. The subject matter of the films true story is unfortunately still scarily relevant to the present day and it is a shame that this film went under the radar of both audiences and the academy. With powerhouse performances from actors such as John Boyega, Anthony Mackie, and Will Poulter, Detroit is a film that needs to be seen, so I implore you to make the time to do so.
Detroit: Available for rental on the Google Play Store.
Related article: Hollywood Insiders CEO Pritan Ambroase: The Importance of Venice Film Festival as the Protector of Cinema
Related article: The Masters of Cinema Archives: Hollywood Insider Pays Tribute to La Vie En Rose, Exclusive Interview with Director Olivier Dahan
From the mind of Aneesh Chaganty, Searching is a mystery film starring John Cho as his character David Kim searches for his missing daughter. What makes this fairly conventional premise so interesting is its creativity in its medium. The film is a screen-life film, meaning it is all shot to look as if it is on screens such as laptops, phones, etc. Searching is one of the most creatively told stories Ive ever seen on the big screen. The amount of information about the plot and characters Chaganty is able to convey visually is incredible.
The opening five-minute sequence is one of the most emotional openings to a film since Pixars Up. The film is heartfelt and emotionally gripping, having something to say about both grief and family. Searching is truly one of my favorite films of all time and while performing well for its budget at the box office, got no love at the Academy Awards and deserves to be seen by all movie fans.
Searching: Available for rental on FandangoNow.
From writers Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, and Rafael Casal comes Blindspotting starring the two writers. The film follows best friends Collin and Miles during Collins last few days of parole. This feel is incredibly intelligent having things to say about race, police brutality, life in underserved communities, the judicial system, and interracial friendships yet with all of these dense thematic elements the film is very fun and upbeat. Diggs and Casal are both excellent in the film and play off each other extremely well.
Related article: Myers-Briggs Personality Goes Hollywood: Which Movie & TV Characters Are the Same As Your Personality Type? | The Complete Guide
Related article: Reliably Hilarious Danny McBride: Give Him the Recognition He Deserves
The way the two writers incorporate rapping in the film is also excellent and effective and had a very distinct Hamilton feel. This is another film that I would implore film fans to see as it is both enjoyable and educational, broadening perspectives on important social issues. The film wasnt seen by nearly enough people and it needs to be.
Blindspotting: Streamable on TNT.
Originally slated to be a part of the Cloverfield anthology series, director Julius Avery proved to producer J.J. Abrams that his zombie-war film, Overlord, was quality enough to stand on its own. Starring talents such as Wyatt Russell and Jovan Adepo as soldiers in World War II deep behind enemy lines, Overlord mixes classic war film action with zombie horror perfectly. The opening plane sequence is one of the most intense openings to a war film since Saving Private Ryan.
The characters are endearing and the effects are visually astounding, yet the film did not blow the doors off of the box office as it could have. Overlord was an original film that found itself overlooked by audiences and that is a shame because it is truly one of the most exciting films of the decade.
Overlord: Streamable on Amazon Prime Video.
Related article: An Analytical Look, and Listen, into 2021 Oscar Nominees for Best Original Score
Related article: Twitter Backlash: Demand An Apology From Esquire UK For Stating Protagonists of Promising Young Woman and Joker Are Alike
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, and Dakota Johnson, The Peanut Butter Falcon is one of the sweetest and most inspirational films Ive ever seen. The film follows Zak, a 22-year-old man with Down Syndrome, as he tries to travel with his new friend, Tyler, to North Carolina to meet his professional wrestling idol. This film, in my mind, is bigger than just a movie. This film is the living proof of its message, do not let anyone tell you what you cannot do.
I will not spoil any of the films wonderfully touching plot, but what I will say is that it carries with it some very valuable and thought-provoking lessons that I think should be heard by everyone. Gottsagen is incredible in the role of Zak and anchors the entire film with his charm as well as his chemistry with LaBeouf. The film didnt receive nearly enough love at the Oscars but did succeed financially, but not to the degree it should have. This is an excellent, touching film and is another important watch for everyone.
The Peanut Butter Falcon: Streamable on Amazon Prime Video.
Ad Astra, set in the near future, stars Brad Pitt as Major Roy McBride, an astronaut, who is on the journey to Neptune to investigate a signal from his fathers space station, a station to which all aboard were believed to be dead. This film bombed at the box office despite it being visually incredible. The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema, who also shot Interstellar, is truly an accomplishment.
Related article: Brad Pitts Plan B Entertainment: A Tribute to One of the Biggest Champions of Auteur-Driven Films | Minari
Related article: A Tribute to Brad Pitt: His Greatest Roles & Transformations The Winners Journey
The performances are also very impressive, Pitt is incredibly subdued in his performance which feels very real. His character goes on a significant emotional journey despite his emotionless performance Tommy Lee Jones also appears in the film and is equally as great. While it is understandable why the film did not blow the doors off the box office, despite being aesthetically a blockbuster the film is paced like a slow-burn indie film. This slower, more nuanced pace was something I enjoyed and appreciated, and would highly recommend the film if that is up your alley.
Ad Astra: Streamable on CinemaxGO.
Perhaps the most unlucky film on this list, Love and Monsters was delayed and forced to be released straight to VOD due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The film stars Dylan OBrien as he traverses the monster apocalypse in search of his high school girlfriend Aimee. This movie has the entire package: thrills, laughs, and heart. Dylan OBrien is excellent in the lead role and elevates the film at every turn. The world of the monster apocalypse is an exceptionally fun and interesting one and I hope to see more of it in the future. The film was dealt a bad hand due to its unfortunate release timing making its financial success underwhelming at best, yet the film still stands out amongst the crowd when reflecting on the films of 2020.
Love and Monsters: Available for rental on Vudu
Happy Watching! Enjoy!
By Sean Aversa
Click here to read Hollywood Insiders CEO Pritan Ambroases love letter to Black Lives Matter, in which he tackles more than just police reform, press freedom and more click here.
An excerpt from the love letter: Hollywood Insiders CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, Hollywood Insider fully supports the much-needed Black Lives Matter movement. We are actively, physically and digitally a part of this global movement. We will continue reporting on this major issue of police brutality and legal murders of Black people to hold the system accountable. We will continue reporting on this major issue with kindness and respect to all Black people, as each and every one of them are seen and heard. Just a reminder, that the Black Lives Matter movement is about more than just police brutality and extends into banking, housing, education, medical, infrastructure, etc. We have the space and time for all your stories. We believe in peaceful/non-violent protests and I would like to request the rest of media to focus on 95% of the protests that are peaceful and working effectively with positive changes happening daily. Media has a responsibility to better the world and Hollywood Insider will continue to do so.
Ways to support Black Lives Matter Movement to end systemic racism
Do you know the hidden messages in Call Me By Your Name? Find out behind the scenes facts in the full commentary and In-depth analysis of the cinematic masterpiece
A Tribute To The Academy Awards: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | From Rami Malek, Leonardo DiCaprio To Denzel Washington, Halle Berry & Beyond | From Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep To Bette Davis & Beyond
In the 32nd Year Of His Career, Keanu Reeves Face Continues To Reign After Launching Movies Earning Over $4.3 Billion In Total John Wick, Toy Story 4, Matrix, And Many More
underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies, underrated movies
Link:
Underappreciated Gems The Top 10 Most Underrated Movies of the Past 5 Years - Hollywood Insider
- 25 Best Horror Movies Set In The Woods - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The 20 best horror movies on Hulu (March 2024) - Entertainment Weekly News - March 24th, 2024
- The best zombie movies, ranked - can you survive the zombie apocalypse? - The Manual - February 11th, 2024
- The Best Zombie Movies and Shows on Netflix The Best Zombie Movies and Shows on Netflix - Paste Magazine - February 11th, 2024
- Peacock Now Streaming One of the Best Zombie Movies Ever - ComicBook.com - January 18th, 2024
- Top 7 Best Zombie Movies To Binge Watch On OTT! - HerZindagi - January 18th, 2024
- The 20 Best Movies on Freevee (January 2024) - Paste Magazine - January 9th, 2024
- 13 Bloodiest & Goriest Horror Movies of All Time The Crypt - crypt.creepycatalog.com - January 9th, 2024
- Brave Citizen and other Korean movies and shows Cha Chung-hwa has acted in - Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur - November 25th, 2023
- Top Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com - January 25th, 2023
- Top Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster - January 17th, 2023
- Top - Wikipedia - January 17th, 2023
- top - Wiktionary - January 17th, 2023
- Top best and worst, top in uk, top in US, top in the world - KnowInsiders - January 17th, 2023
- [Top 15] 7 Days to Die Best Seeds (Alpha 19) | GAMERS DECIDE - November 19th, 2022
- [Top 10] 7 Days To Die Best Base Designs | GAMERS DECIDE - October 19th, 2022
- 'Terrifier 2' has people passing out and it's playing in NJ - New Jersey 101.5 FM - October 19th, 2022
- 10 Best Horror Films of the 1970s - High on Films - October 19th, 2022
- Look at the detail! Pics from The Amazing Pumpkin Carve 2022 in Titusville, NJ - New Jersey 101.5 FM - October 19th, 2022
- You Won't Find "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on TV This Year: Here's How to Watch - wcrz.com - October 19th, 2022
- 10 'Scooby-Doo!' Episodes and Movies That Are Perfect for Halloween! - Bloody Disgusting - October 11th, 2022
- Box Set Review: The Incredibly Strange Films of Ray Dennis Steckler (1962 - 1986) - HorrorFuel.com: Reviews, Ratings and Where to Watch the Best... - October 11th, 2022
- 35 Best Entrance Themes In Wrestling History Ranked - Wrestling Inc. - October 11th, 2022
- South Korean Movies That Have Left Global Audience Asking For More - Outlook India - September 16th, 2022
- Rob Zombie - IMDb - August 31st, 2022
- Sci-Fi Movies That Made The Cast Do Gross Things - /Film - August 31st, 2022
- Top Ten Most Beautiful Blond Models - ReelRundown - August 31st, 2022
- The Keymaster And The Gatekeeper 105.7 The Point - 105.7 The Point - August 31st, 2022
- Carter and the best Asian martial arts movies on the Internet right now - Entertainment News , Firstpost - Firstpost - August 22nd, 2022
- [Top 25] Best Zombie Games for PC | GAMERS DECIDE - August 14th, 2022
- [Top 5] Minecraft Zombie Apocalypse Mods That Are Awesome - August 14th, 2022
- New Netflix Zombie Movie Debuts on Top 10 List - Horror - August 14th, 2022
- Ten Different Ways to Start a Zombie Apocalypse Story or Novel - August 14th, 2022
- 'The Gray Man' Has Massive Debut on Netflix - ScreenCrush - July 28th, 2022
- 50 Most Memorable Danny Glover Movies Ranked Worst To Best - Looper - June 14th, 2022
- 5 best movies and shows on Prime Video this weekend: The Boys - Amazon Adviser - June 5th, 2022
- Poll: What's the Best Korn Album? - Vote Now - Loudwire - June 5th, 2022
- Stories of the subcontinent: Films from India, Pakistan, Nepal illuminate 75th anniversary line-up of Cannes Film Festival - The Financial Express - May 17th, 2022
- Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn Has Officially Exited The Oppenheim Group, But Is That A Good Thing? - msnNOW - May 4th, 2022
- Ten Movies That Were Saved by Their Ending - 25YearsLaterSite.com - April 8th, 2022
- Top 10 movies from 2021 that take your breath away! - Financial World - April 8th, 2022
- 15 Years Ago: The Failure of 'Grindhouse' Heralds a New Era - Ultimate Classic Rock - April 8th, 2022
- Lzzy Hale + Katie Daryl Return for New Seasons of AXS' 'A Year in Music' + 'Top Ten Revealed' - Loudwire - April 8th, 2022
- Crack At it Again - Brewster Suspect Arrested in Danbury, Again - i95rock.com - April 8th, 2022
- Top 5 Zombie Base Building Games (Build, Defend, Survive ... - March 27th, 2022
- Top 10 Reasons the Zombie Apocalypse Could Really Happen ... - March 27th, 2022
- HORROR TEN SPOT: Top 10 Asses - March 27th, 2022
- 60 Best Zombie Movies of All Time | Stacker - March 27th, 2022
- All time best end-of-the-world movies to watch in 2022 - Digital Boom - January 23rd, 2022
- 2022s big TV and movie anniversaries - Polygon - January 9th, 2022
- The George Romero-Helmed Stephen King Adaptation We'll Never Get To See - /Film - December 14th, 2021
- The 15 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of 2021 Ranked - /Film - December 14th, 2021
- Google Has Revealed All the Movies and TV Shows We've Been Searching for in 2021 - Concrete Playground - December 14th, 2021
- How Shaun of the Dead Got a Boost From Hollywood and Comic-Con Geeks - Gizmodo - November 29th, 2021
- A Kickass Zombie Movie Is Back From The Dead To Terrorize Netflix - We Got This Covered - November 13th, 2021
- Fans Go Wild As Shang-Chi Arrives On Disney Plus - We Got This Covered - November 13th, 2021
- Day of the Dead interview with star Christopher Russell - 1428 Elm - October 20th, 2021
- Best Zombie Movies Streaming on Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime - IndieWire - September 5th, 2021
- James Gunn and Craig Mazin made The Boys six years before the comic - The Digital Fix - August 10th, 2021
- Michigan Congressmen and Women Can Work Together, Some Times - wbckfm.com - wbckfm.com - July 11th, 2021
- Netflix's 'Resident Evil' Anime Shows Off Exactly Why People Love the Franchise - Thrillist - July 11th, 2021
- The best TV series to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Now, BritBox and more this July 2021 - iNews - July 11th, 2021
- No Hands Clapping - by Jonah Goldberg - The Remnant - The Dispatch - July 11th, 2021
- 50 Best Zombie Movies of the 21st Century - Cultured Vultures - July 1st, 2021
- Fewer in NJ getting COVID, and most are unvaccinated, Murphy says - New Jersey 101.5 FM - July 1st, 2021
- In Between The Poop And The Pope 105.7 The Point - 105.7 The Point - July 1st, 2021
- How many Halloween movies are there ? The complete Michael Myers timeline to watch before Halloween Kills arrived - Sportskeeda - July 1st, 2021
- Lucifer And Army Of The Dead Top Nielsens As Cruella Debuts On Disney+ - Forbes - July 1st, 2021
- What to watch on Netflix Top 10: Most popular shows May 28 - Tom's Guide - June 1st, 2021
- Box Office is Back Thanks to A Quiet Place Part II and World War Z - Film School Rejects - June 1st, 2021
- Army of the Dead Is One of Netflix's Biggest Hits with 72 Million Account Views and Counting - MovieWeb - June 1st, 2021
- New from Netflix in June: series, films and documentaries Explica .co - Explica - June 1st, 2021
- 10 greatest movie trilogies of all time - The Independent - May 21st, 2021
- Army Of The Dead (2021) - Rotten Tomatoes - May 21st, 2021
- The 10 Best Alien Invasion Movies - Cinelinx - May 8th, 2021
- 40 Years Ago: 'Friday the 13th Part 2' Makes Jason a Killer - Ultimate Classic Rock - May 8th, 2021
- If Browns Take a Wide Receiver in Round 1... - Yardbarker - April 23rd, 2021
- Former Bengals Great Gives His Thoughts on Penei Sewell and Ja'Marr Chase Debate - Yardbarker - April 23rd, 2021
- Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson are showing us why early-season stats can be meaningless - Yardbarker - April 23rd, 2021
- Cubs place OF Joc Pederson on 10-day injured list - Yardbarker - April 23rd, 2021
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero