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- With recent divisive releases like Tár, Triangle of Sadness and Everything Everywhere All at Once, it's clear to see that there are numerous hidden gems out there waiting to be discovered by cinephiles and future fans. These remarkable overlooked films may not always receive the critical acclaim they deserve when they first come out, but re-evaluation and discussion from fans reveal them to be the hidden gem movies they really are.
Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video have a wide selection of movies. Searching for the ideal movie to watch takes a significant amount of time. Sometimes viewers might come across movies they might not have even remembered a commercial, trailer, or other advertisements. These are considered hidden gem movies or underrated films.
The 2018 crime drama American Animals, the 2021 musical Annette, and the 2006 romantic film Candy are some of the films that require the viewer a bit more searching for on Amazon Prime Video. Luckily, there's no shortage of movie recommendations from Reddit, with users under the r/MovieSuggestions thread and r/AskReddit thread having proposed their suggestions for great films that might not have been as popular when they were released.
Updated on December 11th, 2022, by Hannah Saab:
With recent divisive releases like Tár, Triangle of Sadness and Everything Everywhere All at Once, it's clear to see that there are numerous hidden gems out there waiting to be discovered by cinephiles and future fans. These remarkable overlooked films may not always receive the critical acclaim they deserve when they first come out, but re-evaluation and discussion from fans reveal them to be the hidden gem movies they really are.
'Twice Upon a Time' (1983)
Reddit user bryanhbell suggests viewers should watch is Twice Upon a Time. The film centers on nightmares and dreams. In the film, nightmares are controlled by Synonamess Botch (voiced by Marshall Efron), and his goal is to continue giving those who sleep nightmares. Ralph The All Purpose Animal (voiced by Lorenzo Music) and Mumford wanted to prove that they could be better employees, but their next actions mistakenly help Synonamess Botch with his master plan.
Twice Upon a Time is an animated film that doesn't rely on computer-generated graphics such as Pixar films or a combination of 2D animation with 3D animation like the creators used for The Mitchells vs. the Machines. Instead, as the Redditor describes, Twice Upon a Time "was shot using an animation process called 'Lumage' in which cut-outs are animated by hand and lit from underneath, with light shining through the artwork, rather than the traditional method of being lit from above."
'The 'Burbs' (1989)
Among the movies that Reddit users recommend, Reddit user Ok_Lengthiness_2590 advises audiences to watch the 1989 film The Burbs, sharing that their "whole family loves" it. There aren't many unusual events in the Mayfield Place neighborhood. The Klopeks recently moved into the neighborhood, and several neighbors, including Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks), grow suspicious of them. Their bizarre behavior makes the neighbors wonder if they can actually be murderers.
Could it be that they are paranoid, or is it possible that the neighbors are committing evil deeds? Many viewers might enjoy not only Hanks's performance in the film but Bruce Dern's performance as Mark Rumsfield is enjoyable as well. The 'Burbs is a cult classic – it was a box-office success despite receiving poor reviews.
'Oscar' (1991)
Available to stream on Hoopla.
Those searching for a comedic action film might want to watch Oscar, recommended by Reddit User DobRex, who says it's "hilarious and has the same kind of vibe" as 1985's Clue. For Eduardo Provolone's (Kirk Douglas) dying wish, he wanted his son, Angelo "Snaps" Provolone (Sylvester Stallone), to leave his gangster life behind. Angelo is unfamiliar with becoming a regular businessman but agrees to fulfill his father's promise. However, earning money legally is the least of his worries when he finds out that his daughter, Lisa (Marisa Tomei), is pregnant.
Angelo portrays the overprotective father similar to Steve Martin's character, George Banks, in Father of the Bride. Except Stallone's character, Angelo, insists on finding a husband for his pregnant daughter, but none of the contenders seem to pass the test. The movies include hilarious banter between Angelo and his daughter, along with unexpected situations that seem to affect Angelo dramatically.
'Living in Oblivion' (1995)
Available to stream on Peacock.
Viewers who enjoy satire and over-the-top humor in films may like the 1995 satire Living in Oblivion. Redditor vhs_punk suggested that viewers watch the movie Living in Oblivion as despite its "low budget," "it has its moments." Living in Oblivion points out the struggles of being an independent filmmaker.
Steve Buscemi stars in this film as Nick Reve, a filmmaker working to put together a low-budget movie. During the production, he runs into some technical and non-technical complications. The complicated relationships and the tensions between cast members might differ from those that the characters from the 2022 film The Bubble had to navigate while trying to film a movie during the pandemic.
'Smoke Signals' (1998)
Available to rent on Apple TV.
Among the several recommendations that Redditor CinemaCity lists, one of the films they mention is Smoke Signals (1998), which they describe as a "well-acted and well-written independent comedy-drama about a tenuous friendship between two young men of Native American heritage." Thomas (Evan Adams) and Victor (Adam Beach) viewed Arnold (Gary Farmer) differently. When Thomas was a child, Arnold saved him from a fire, but despite his heroic efforts, Arnold's son, Victor, only saw his father's alcohol and violent behavior. After hearing about Arnold's death, Victor and Thomas take a road trip to retrieve his remains.
During their road trip, they approach the feelings toward Arnold, both the positive and negative ones, a theme typical for movies that feature two characters going on a road trip. Smoke Signals is the first film that featured a Native American cast of directors, producers, and writers, according to Variety.
'The Interview' (1998)
The 1998 psychological thriller The Interview is the film the user Apellosine recommends since it is "a great psychological thriller." The film stars Hugo Weaving as Eddie Rodney Fleming, who is accused of stealing a car. This was the charge initially presented to him when the police entered his apartment and arrested him.
The majority of the film takes place in the interrogation room. Flashbacks and dramatic camera angles are incorporated into the narrative as police officers ask Eddie a set of questions. As the story continues, the viewers realize the police officers' true intentions.
'The Sapphires' (2012)
Available to rent on Apple TV.
The Redditor where_is_my_nose suggests that those looking for an underrated movie to watch might consider The Sapphires (2012), writing that "it's funny, has a lot of heart, and some great music." The Sapphires is based on a true story about four young women who desired to become famous singers.
The story is set in 1968 Australia, where Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Kay (Shari Sebbens), Gail (Deborah Mailman), and Julie (Jessica Mauboy) met Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd). Dave searched for his next stars and saw potential in the Indigenous women. He needed to train them so that they could sing to American troops in Vietnam.The Sapphires is a comedy and a biography. The most notable part of the film includes the catchy, upbeat songs The Sapphires sang.
'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' (2013)
Available to stream on HBO Max.
The Redditor greenhedgehog9 suggests viewers see the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty "as it has some wonderful locations and a very wholesome story." Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) sees his life passing right before him and decides that he needs to embrace his sense of adventure and discovery. Instead of daydreaming about the places he could have visited, he is tasked with capturing the last photo that would appear in the magazine.
Viewers who have seen the 2022 drama Severance starring Adam Scott as Mark might have noticed some similarities between the show and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, as they tackle several similar themes and issues in completely different ways.
'1917' (2019)
Available to rent on Apple TV.
Viewers interested in finding a war film might consider arteffect_avi's suggestion to watch 1917, noting that it is "amazingly done," the "entire thing shot as a one take," and that is "won" an "Oscar for best cinematography." The film centers on Lance Corporal Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Will Schofield (George MacKay), tasked with delivering a message to Colonel MacKenzie. The message they have to deliver warns Colonel MacKenzie's troops to retreat since the Germans are planning an attack.
Time is the enemy for both soldiers as they have to deliver the message in time as the lives of their comrades are in their hands. 1917 won three Academy Awards in 2020 for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.
'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)
Available to stream on Showtime.
In a thread about "surprising, well written, visually stunning hidden gems," the user lounginaddict doesn't need to say much in their comment "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The absurdist comedy-drama A24 film follows Chinese-American immigrant Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) who is struggling to balance her hectic business, failing marriage and messy relationship with her daughter. When the protagonist learns that she's the only one across the multiverse who can save everyone from certain doom, it's the last thing she needs.
While the fan-favorite movie needs no introduction among fans of wacky films or anything A24 distributes, it is still a hidden gem for those who mostly pay attention to mainstream releases. It's a film viewers should see at least once in their lifetimes, as it's a truly wild ride with a surprisingly philosophical message.