25 Awesome Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen

Posted by , Updated on February 8, 2024

With so many movies released all the time, it’s hard to sift the wheat from the chaff. It’s likely there are plenty of awesome movies you probably haven’t seen. Some of these movies have been around for a long time and you just never got around to watching them, while others slipped under the radar not getting the publicity they deserve. Either way, these best movies you haven’t seen deserve your attention and definitely should go on your watch list. From trippy science fiction to compelling dramas, we did our best to put together some of the best, but rest assured there are likely many, many more that could go on this list. Ready to watch your next favorite movie? Here are 25 Awesome Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen.

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25

A Scanner Darkly

a scanner darklySource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405296/

Released in 2006, A Scanner Darkly is a film adaptation of the novel by Philip K. Dick, starring Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr.. About an undercover cop that starts to lose his identity after getting involved with a dangerous new drug, this movie is quite possibly the most faithful adaptation of a Dick novel. Director Richard Linklater filmed it in live-action and then used a post-production animation process, making it look like it was hand-drawn.

24

The Thing

the thingSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Though today it’s considered a cult classic, John Carpenter’s The Thing didn’t exactly do that great when it first released. As a result, this trippy, alien horror got over-looked by most, yet it’s arguably one of Carpenter’s best movies.

23

Brick

brickSource: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brick

Before he directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson had much humbler beginnings directing his independent film Brick, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. A neo-noir about a young man trying to solve his girlfriend’s murder, the dialogue, the characters, and the unique story make it a must-see.

22

Her

herSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Though this film won an Oscar for its screenplay, few people actually saw it. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, it’s about a man who falls in love with his lifelike computer operating system. While that might sound weird, the movie is beautifully shot, well-written, and well worth your time.

21

They Live

they liveSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/?ref_=nv_sr_1

About a drifter who finds glasses that reveal a world secretly ruled by aliens, this film is a clear political satire on consumerism and the media. It’s also an underrated gem that continues to prove its relevancy.

20

The Grey

the greySource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1601913/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Starring Liam Neeson, this film is a brutal, wilderness survival story with a clever philosophical subtext. About oil workers whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, they fight to survive against the brutally low temperatures and ravenous wolves hunting them.

19

Appaloosa

appaloosaSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800308/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Westerns don’t usually get the love they once did in Hollywood, but every now and then, a true gem emerges and this film is definitely one of them. Grounded by fantastic performances from Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen, this film follows two men hired to police a small town but things become complicated with the arrival of a young widow.

18

Annihilation

AnnihilationSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2798920/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Despite being both intelligently written, politically relevant, and also weird and terrifying, pretty much no one saw this movie. A box office flop but a critically darling, this film is practically an instant cult classic.

17

Moon

moonSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/?ref_=nm_knf_t1

Written and directed by Duncan Jones, this film is a cerebral science fiction about a man’s lonely life on the moon and his work getting resources back to Earth. Sam Rockwell gives a fantastic performance and the story has plenty of emotional twists and turns.

16

Ex Machina

ex machinaSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

About a software programmer who is selected to work on a special, cutting-edge project in artificial intelligence, he discovers he walked down a dangerous rabbit hole he might not be able to get out of. Compelling, thought-provoking, and tense, this film should be on everyone’s watch list.

15

Shattered Glass

shattered glassSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323944/?ref_=nv_sr_7

Though it stars everyone’s favorite Jedi, Hayden Christensen, don’t let that detract you from seeing the movie. It has a surprisingly good performance from Christensen, and the based-on-true-events story about a popular journalist that fabricated most of his stories is compelling all the way to the end.

14

Your Name

your nameSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5311514/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

An anime movie released in 2016, this film has everything you’d want in a movie. It’s funny, thought-provoking, emotional, unique, and keeps you guessing up to the end. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, you need to make it a priority.

13

A Ghost Story

a ghost storySource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6265828/

Written and directed by David Lowery, this movie is about a deceased husband trying to reconnect with his wife. One might think a movie with a ghost costume that’s literally a white sheet might be the worst movie ever, but one would be wrong. It’s a slow burn film, but it’s beautifully shot and told, raising questions about legacy and existence that’ll be left hanging long after the movie is over.

12

Badlands

badlandsSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069762/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Well known for his unique filmmaking style, Terrence Malick’s first feature Badlands is about an impressionable girl and her trouble-maker boyfriend that go on a killing spree in South Dakota. Despite its violent plot, it’s actually an introspective film about how a relationship between two outlaw lovers unfolds and leads to an inevitable end.

11

Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Aguirre, the Wrath of GodSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068182/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Werner Herzog’s nihilist perspective is on full display in this film about a man’s obsessive pursuit to find El Dorado. While it’s a slow burn movie and things only increasingly get worse as the plot progresses, it’s one of those films you should probably see at least once in your lifetime.

10

Locke

lockeSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2692904/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

As a feature-length film entirely set inside a car, this movie proves you don’t necessarily need constantly changing set pieces and tons of characters to make a story tense and intriguing. Again, this movie is just one man talking mostly on his phone the entire time, inside of a car, and that’s it. Still, somehow, they figured out a way to make it gripping from start to finish. Much of that is thanks to incredibly good writing and Tom Hardy’s great performance.

9

Primer

primerprimerSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Ever watch a movie where you were so confused you thought your head would explode? This is that movie times a thousand. Written and directed by Shane Carruth, it’s about a group of engineers that create a time machine and open a can of worms as a result. After it’s all over, you’ll more than likely to want to start over and watch it all again.

8

Enemy

enemySource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2316411/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the same director of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, this film is also a cerebral, make-you-think kind of movie. About a man who discovers his duplicate, it turns out to be much more than you originally think, with a thick and perplexing subtext. You’ll want to pay attention to the details to piece together this sometimes confusing puzzle. But, ultimately, you have to see the ending. It’s insane.

7

Breaking the Waves

breaking the wavesSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115751/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

This is one of those emotionally heavy and gut-wrenching movies you’ll want to mentally prepare yourself before watching. Still, Lars Von Trier presents an ethically difficult portrait of love, relationships, and connection that almost demands to be watched and discussed.

6

Blue Ruin

blue ruinSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2359024/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

At its core, this movie is a revenge film, but it’s also much more than that, cleverly revealing how a simple act of revenge can unravel and cause more problems, leading only to more violence and bloodshed.

5

The Mosquito Coast

mosquito coastSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091557/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_40

Whether it’s Apocalypse Now, Indiana Jones, or Six Days and Seven Nights, Harrison Ford loves to traipse around in the jungle, and The Mosquito Coast is no exception. About an eccentric inventor that leaves city life to build a utopia in Central America with his family, this film is a fascinating character study propelled by Ford’s more underrated performances.

4

There Will Be Blood

there will be bloodSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

A slow burn movie by Paul Thomas Anderson, this movie digs in deep to reveal the desperation and corruption fueled by the rush for oil in America. The story is rich, but watching Daniel Day-Lewis perform is perhaps the only real reason to watch this movie to its grim and bitter end.

3

2001: A Space Odyssey

2001 a space odysseySource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

This classic by Stanley Kubrick is likely the kind of movie you’ve lied about watching but truthfully fell asleep during half-way through. There’s no denying this movie is slow and unemotional, but what makes it so good is the cinematic magic Kubrick conveys on both an external and internal level, showcasing the dark truth of human progress.

2

12 Angry Men

12 angry menSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

While its title might not sound fun at all, this movie is actually a fascinating nail-biter through and through. A black-and-white classic from 1957, it tells the story of a jury of men trying to decide the fate of a young man. Initially, the jury leans toward a guilty verdict until a holdout stands firm and tries to force them to re-examine the evidence.

1

Sorcerer

sorcererSource: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076740/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

There’s a reason you and no one else ever saw this film – Star WarsReleased in 1977 on the same day as said film, it was instantly overshadowed and ignored, becoming a box office flop. It’s a true shame. A dark story about a group of men brought together to transport dynamite through the jungle, this film is a lot about fate and suffering, which is ironic, considering its box office fate was not so kind.

Admit it, you love movies. You can’t get enough of them. So, you’ll definitely want to check out our list 25 Best Movies Ever Made.



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