A lot of fantastic movies are released in any 10-year timespan, and an unfortunate consequence is that some are going to slip under the radar. This could be for a myriad of reasons, from a poorly thought-out release date to a lack of social media buzz. Not to mention, in the streaming era, movies have become increasingly disposable, with viewers often craving the next new thing before even rolling credits on what they’ve just watched.
Forgive me for sounding all “old man yells at cloud,” but over the last decade, I’ve seen plenty of must-watch flicks that have very quickly faded from public conversation. They may have been critically acclaimed, even award winners, but a couple of months, even just weeks, later, and they’re already forgotten, left to rot in a streaming service library or on a dusty DVD shelf.
After compiling my picks for the 10 greatest movies of the past decade last month, now I’m shifting my attention to the 10 that have become a little bit overlooked. To clarify, these certainly aren’t the only movies released between 2015 and 2025 that are underrated. Including them all would stretch this list well into the triple digits, but these are 10 movies that have faded into the background and I believe deserve to have the spotlight back on them.
10 most underrated movies of the past decade
10. ‘Theater Camp’ (2023)
One of the biggest compliments I can give “Theater Camp” is that I didn’t grow up a “theater kid” and still found this mockumentary, which lovingly lampoons all things stagey, an absolute hoot. Co-directed by “Booksmart’s” Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Noah Galvin and Ben Platt (a Tony award winner for the title role in Dear Evan Hansen), you can tell everybody involved absolutely loves the theatrical craft, and this leads to a movie that celebrates and pokes fun at the art form.
Set within a rundown theater camp in upstate New York, it sees a clueless “tech-bro” (Jimmy Tatro) roped in to run the camp after his theater-obsessed mother slips into a coma following a stage lights mishap. He’s ill-suited for the role and confused by camp’s quirky band of counselors (Gordon, Galvin, Platt among them). But over the summer, they band together in an attempt to stage a theatrical masterpiece to keep the camp afloat. Oh, and Ayo Edebiri features in a small role, which is always a huge bonus for me.
Buy or rent “Theater Camp” on Amazon now
9. ‘Silence’ (2017)
It might seem questionable to include a movie directed by Martin Scorsese in this list. After all, when a flick comes from one of the greatest filmmakers in history, can it be considered underrated? But that just speaks to the quality of “Silence” because this epic historical drama should be ranked among his best works, and is often overlooked in favor of Scorsese’s more commercially successful work. It’s thoughtful, sometimes unsettling, and anchored by career-best performances from Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson.
“Silence” follows two Jesuit priests (Garfield and Driver) as they venture to 17th-century Japan in search of their missing mentor (Neeson), who is rumored to have renounced his faith. Arriving in the region, they discover that villagers are forced to worship in secret for fear of being caught by the ruling lords, who are torturing Christians into submission. Considering weighty themes and visually stunning, “Silence” is a Scorsese masterpiece.
Buy or rent “Silence” on Amazon now
8. ‘Ad Astra’ (2019)
I had an “Ad Astra” movie poster on my wall for several years, which speaks to my love of this James Gray-directed sci-fi drama. However, I’m aware it’s a pretty divisive movie, and its 40% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes speaks to that fact. It’s an emotionally distant exploration of the stars, which won’t appeal to all, but if you’re seeking breathtaking effects, immaculate sound design, and a less flashy intergalactic narrative, it’s pretty hard to beat.
Brad Pitt plays Roy McBride, an astronaut with abandonment issues, after his father went missing in deep space some 30 years ago. But when a mysterious power surge threatens life in our solar system, McBride is sent on a mission to discover the cause, which may give him the answers about his missing father that he’s been desperately craving for years. Don’t expect a twisting narrative full of shocking moments, but “Ad Astra” is still quite the intergalactic voyage.
Watch “Ad Astra” on Fubo now
7. ‘The Last Duel’ (2021)
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up with director Ridley Scott for a different kind of historical epic. Also featuring Jodie Comer and Adam Driver, it’s inspired by real events and tells a story of honor, justice, and the importance of the truth. Its most interesting aspect is how the narrative is set up; viewers are shown the same events from the perspectives of its three main characters. This creates a very compelling conflict as our perception of the on-screen events shifts as each character tells their side of the story.
Jean de Carrogues (Damon) and Jacques (Driver) are two friends who turn into bitter rivals and subsequently are compelled to fight a bloody duel to the death. The reason for this brutal confrontation comes when Jacques is accused of sexually assaulting Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Comer). The narrative itself has something of a soap opera quality about it, but it’s the way it’s presented that really makes “The Last Duel” so much more absorbing.
Watch “The Last Duel” on Fubo now
6. ‘On Chesil Beach’ (2018)
Saoirse Ronan stars in this 19th-century-set heart-aching drama, and no, I’m not talking about “Brooklyn” (though that is a fantastic movie, but not quite “underrated” enough to make the cut). Instead, it’s “On Chesil Beach,” which didn’t get the attention it deserved when it was released in 2017. Perhaps it’s the fact that “Chesil Beach” is an undoubtedly heavy watch, centered on a relationship fraught with heartbreak. Nevertheless, as you’d probably guess, Ronan gives a stunning performance, and that’s reason enough to watch.
Opening in 1962, Edward (Billy Howle) and Florence (Ronan) meet and quickly fall in love. Despite their differences — both in interests and social backgrounds — they marry and honeymoon at the eponymous beach in South West England. What should be the start of their happy union instead sees deep cracks begin to splinter their relationship, which could spell the end of their marriage before it’s even truly begun. Just make sure you’re in the right mood for this one because it’s not a romantic drama that will warm your soul.
Watch “On Chesil Beach” on Amazon now
5. ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ (2020)
Aaron Sorkin is among my favorite writers in Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that his 2020 legal drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7” ranks highly on this list. Also directed by Sorkin, it was due to be released in theaters in 2020 before being dropped unceremoniously on Netflix because of the pandemic. It did scoop a few awards nods, but in the half-a-decade since, I’ve rarely, if ever, seen it brought up in film-related conversations, and that’s not right.
Inspired by true events, the movie follows the legal trial of a group of seven people known as the Chicago 7 (duh!). The U.S. government brings charges against the group, accusing them of conspiracy and the intention of starting a riot after the 1968 Democratic National Convention spirals into chaos. Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton and more recognizable names star. Plus, like all of Sorkin’s work, it packs razor-sharp writing and plenty of biting commentary.
Watch “The Trial of the Chicago 7” on Netflix now
4. ‘The Wailing’ (2016)
“The Wailing” is among the most chilling movies I’ve watched over the last decade. And as a huge horror fan, that’s really saying something, as I’ve consumed hundreds of scary movies over the last 10 years. Every single scene of this Na Hong-jin feature is laced with fear, and I implore you to watch it with company; otherwise, you might find yourself too spooked to see it through to the end. But stick with it, you will, because the central yarn is so darn gripping you’ll desperately want to find out what happens next.
This 2016 South Korean film sees a police officer (Kwak Do-won) arrive in a small village to investigate a virus that turns those infected deranged and violent. The stakes are made personal when his daughter is afflicted with the disease, and all signs point to a stranger who recently arrived in the area. If my recommendation isn’t enough to sway you, it’s been cited as a personal favorite of Ari Aster, director of “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” as well.
Watch “The Wailing” on Prime Video now
3. ‘Possessor’ (2020)
The best Cronenberg movie of the last decade doesn’t come from David Cronenberg, but instead from his son Brandon. Clearly, crafting unsettling but gripping psychological rides runs in the family. “Possessor” is a sci-fi nightmare with a twisting setup and a stunning lead performance from Andrea Riseborough. I want to avoid spoilers, but I have to give a special shout-out to its phenomenal final scene, which has stuck with me for years.
“Possessor” is set in the near future and sees an elite assassin, Tasya Vos (Riseborough), complete various hits for a powerful and sinister corporation. The intrigue comes in her method, which involves taking control of other people’s bodies to complete the job, but things get complicated when a host fights back against Tasya’s invasion of their mind. Fans of David Cronenberg will be pleased to know Brandon’s work is just as viscerally violent as well.
Buy or rent “Possessor” on Amazon now
2. ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ (2017)
“The Killing of a Sacred Deer” was Yorgos Lanthimos’ follow-up to his breakthrough “The Lobster,” and while the Greek director’s decade was defined by his next two movies, “The Favorite” and “Poor Things,” this psychological thriller is no less intriguing. In classic Lanthimos style, it leaps between unnerving and humorous and might just include Barry Keoghan’s most committed performance to date (yes, even more so than in “Saltburn”).
Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is a renowned surgeon, married to a doting wife (Nicole Kidman), but when a young boy, Martin (Keoghane), integrates himself within their seemingly perfect suburban existence, the situation spirals. As Martin’s true intentions come to light, Murphy is forced into an unthinkable choice to pay for his past sins. Part modern Greek tragedy, part twisting thriller, with just a splash of horror, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is Lanthimos at his unpredictable best. Just don’t expect a happy ending to this dark tale.
Watch “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” on HBO Max now
1. ‘Boiling Point’ (2021)
Not to boast, but the success of Netflix’s “Adolescence” earlier this year did not take me by surprise. Why? Because it came from director Philip Barantini and starred Stephen Graham, a pair who had already collaborated in 2021’s incredible “Boiling Point.” Like the aforementioned streaming show, this movie is presented as a single, continuous take, which adds not only cinematic flair but heightens the drama and simmering tension throughout.
“Boiling Point” chronicles a night of service in a swanky London restaurant. During this hectic evening, the eatery’s head chef (Graham) must deal with everything from health inspectors to an overbooked dining room, and all the while, he’s battling with his own demons. Also starring Vinette Robinson, Alice Feetham and Hannah Walters, it’s a pacey watch that will keep you on tenterhooks. And if you enjoy the movie, a follow-up TV show was released shortly afterward. It’s just as vital, but sadly, it drops the one-shot format.
Buy or rent “Boiling Point” on Amazon now
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