13 Underrated Films You Need to Watch Right Now

Underrated films hold a special place for those of us who crave bold storytelling and voices outside the mainstream.

Here’s our selection of thirteen overlooked movies—each chosen for its inventive vision, emotional depth, or unconventional edge.

If you value independent cinema and want to experience stories that challenge the familiar, this list was made for you.

1. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Break free from the usual animated blockbusters—this film is pure electric energy. You want family drama, bold visuals, and authentic LGBTQ+ representation in one package? This delivers every time.

What sets it apart:

• Bursting color and chaotic animation that match its wild road-trip storyline.

• Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, proving critical and peer respect.

• Katie, the queer lead character, is a rare example of genuine, positive representation in mainstream animation.

• Real anxieties about technology and generational divides play out through both comedy and drama.

• Crafted by Michael Rianda and creatively powered by Lord & Miller, it balances quirky humor with relatable family moments.

If you crave an animation that speaks honestly about today while pushing style and story forward, The Mitchells vs. the Machines arms you with joy and a hefty dose of self-reflection.

Not every family epic has to look the same, sound the same, or play by the old Hollywood rules.

2. Cam (2018)

You want tension, digital danger, and real-life perspective on the world of online sex work? Cam pierces the surface. It tosses aside horror clichés for a suspense that’s private, contemporary, and deeply unsettling.

Reasons Cam Stands Out

• Dual role, tour-de-force performance by Madeline Brewer.

• Written from true experience (Isa Mazzei’s own story), so every scene rings authentic.

• Tech paranoia and identity split handled with nuance—no easy answers, just fearless questions.

• Gets under your skin without relying on tired horror tropes.

This one is best for viewers who thrive on unease and want movies with both meaning and edge. If you wrestle with issues of agency, selfhood, or online legacy, Cam does more than just entertain.

3. Bad Trip (2021)

Do you crave comedy that jolts you out of autopilot? Bad Trip isn’t your average prank movie. It’s a hidden gem where pranks drive a whole, heartfelt narrative—every setup is both hilarious and human.

Why It Works for Indie Comedy Fans

• Eric André’s blend of wild improvisation with real public reactions.

• Keeps the laughs real but knits them into a coherent, surprisingly touching storyline.

• Stands tall next to cult classics like Office Space thanks to its social test subjects—and the payoff is always fresh.

Best for: Fans who want comedy that shakes up the genre, makes the most of surprise, and always has heart behind the chaos.

4. His House (2020)

Step into a horror film rooted in real-world fear. His House makes the haunted house personal, following Sudanese refugees dealing with trauma and a malevolent force in their new home. Here, horror is heavy with meaning.

What Makes This Essential

• Studio-quality tension in a story that’s actually about survival, guilt, and alienation.

• Standout performances by Wunmi Mosaku and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù ground the terror in genuine emotion.

• Jumps from social critique to supernatural dread without missing a beat.

Viewers who want social relevance in their scares, or anyone tired of empty, jump-scare horror, will find something transformative here.

The scariest stories often come from lived realities and cultural displacement.

5. Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Want to see Westerns shaken up? Bone Tomahawk fuses horror with frontier grit, then turns the tension up one gut-wrenching notch after another.

Highlights for Genre Aficionados

• Kurt Russell leads a cast whose chemistry turns every slow scene into a loaded threat.

• Unflinching violence is used not for shock, but to ask uncomfortable questions about civilization and brutality.

• No shortcuts—practical effects and careful pacing push you out of your comfort zone.

This is for those who refuse to settle for formula. If you demand movies that zig where others zag, keep this one in your queue.

6. Alex Strangelove (2018)

Tired of the same old coming-of-age movies? Alex Strangelove gives you real, messy, optimistic stories about discovering who you are—especially, who you want to love.

How It Breaks the Mold:

• No stereotypes here. The script and performances ring honest, warm, and unforced.

• Tackles confusion and joy in sexual identity with rare generosity.

• Witty, modern dialogue lets you root for every character.

Alex Strangelove works for viewers who demand both fun and authenticity in LGBTQ+ cinema. If you value stories that feel true to life, with a big heart and bigger laughs, give this your attention.

7. RRR (2022)

Every so often, a film reminds you just how wild and powerful cinema can be. RRR doesn’t hold back. With historical fiction and explosive spectacle, it earns its spot with global audiences.

Reasons Indie Fans Connect with RRR

• Action scenes and dance numbers are bigger, louder, and more inventive than what Hollywood delivers.

• Celebrated internationally for breaking boundaries and championing anti-colonial narratives.

• New voices, new perspectives—precisely what indie audiences crave when looking beyond the Western mainstream.

If your goal is to expand your world, connect with global stories, and be floored by what cinema can achieve, RRR is your new landmark.

8. The Endless (2017)

You like films that make your mind race long after credits roll? The Endless is your test. It’s low-budget cosmic horror with brains, built by filmmakers who know indie ingenuity beats big budgets any day.

What Makes This a Must-Watch

• Two brothers return to a cult. Reality bends. Time loops. The strangeness never feels random.

• You get Lovecraftian dread, but the terror is personal and character-driven.

• Every shot stretches a small budget into creative gold.

If you want stories that reward your patience, flex your curiosity, and reward a second viewing, The Endless is for you.

9. A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Animation as you’ve never seen. This Philip K. Dick adaptation, directed by Richard Linklater, drops you into a world of paranoia, fractured identities, and addiction with rotoscoped visuals that blur the line between reality and hallucination.

• Headlined by Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., and Winona Ryder—each wrestling with who they are and how much they’re watched.

• The visual style sets it apart from every sci-fi movie out there—proving vision trumps budget.

• Examines tech, surveillance, and substance abuse years before these topics became genre norms.

For indie-minded sci-fi fans ready for a challenge, A Scanner Darkly proves deep ideas pay off.

10. Crimes of the Future (2022)

Cronenberg is back. If you’re after body horror with brains, Crimes of the Future delivers. This isn’t just shock for shock’s sake—it pushes you to confront bigger questions about tech, art, and evolution.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

• Visceral performances from Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart.

• Explores how humans adapt, create, and mutate—blurring the line between art and anatomy.

• Demands attention, not just for its effects, but for the questions it sparks.

People who want films that twist comfort into curiosity, and are not afraid to dig deep, will find one of Cronenberg’s most thought-provoking works yet.

Some films demand your courage and your open mind, not just your attention.

11. Dark City (1998)

You want a film that anticipated today’s obsession with simulation and memory? Dark City was there before The Matrix. A puzzle box dressed as a noir, brimming with moody streets and reality-bending design.

Reasons Genre Fans Should Revisit:

• Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly lead a twisty, atmospheric journey.

• Every frame oozes style and substance, with a retro-future vibe that still feels fresh.

• Cult following has grown—don’t miss out on a movie that keeps influencing sci-fi TV and film.

For viewers eager to connect the dots from overlooked classic to genre-defining trend, this is essential.

12. Pitch Black (2000)

Found yourself craving minimal, intense sci-fi? Pitch Black is the answer. It sets up a group of survivors (including Vin Diesel’s breakout antihero Riddick) on a planet where darkness is deadly.

• Taut storytelling, practical effects, and no room for bloated spectacle.

• A rare action thriller where moral ambiguity means everyone’s a suspect.

• Spawned its own cult franchise because it respects your smarts, not your expectations.

Pitch Black belongs on your watchlist if you like stripped-down stakes and characters who fight for every breath.

13. Enemy Mine (1985)

Not enough films tackle prejudice and survival with the intensity of Enemy Mine. You get Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. locked in a test of endurance and cross-cultural empathy.

Key Takeaways

• Survival isn’t easy—on an alien planet, enemies must adapt or perish together.

• Practical effects, detailed world-building, and real emotional stakes.

• It’s an allegory that doesn’t preach, just provokes thought.

Ideal for those who want character-first sci-fi and believe that the best stories stretch both heart and mind.

How to Discover More Underrated Films Worth Your Attention

Once you’ve watched these hidden gems, don’t stop. Push your taste further. There are more films out there that never make it to the multiplex.

Try These Practical Steps

• Check indie film festivals and specialist platforms for new releases.

• Join online communities—Letterboxd, Reddit—or follow indie film blogs for personal picks and trusted recommendations.

• Prioritize new filmmakers and unique voices. The next cult classic might come from an unexpected place.

• Watch with attention, and compare unfamiliar genres or directors with your usual favorites.

The best discoveries start with open curiosity and grow with active sharing among a like-minded community.

Here at Level 33 Entertainment, our team spends every week hunting for films that challenge, entertain, and expand what’s possible in indie cinema—just look at titles like Chasing Amy, Finding Tony, or Facing Monsters in our collection. Our approach? Champion filmmakers with bold visions, support stories that refuse to follow mainstream maps, and open the world of independent film to audiences like you.

Conclusion

Curiosity leads. Commitment keeps you going.

With these thirteen underrated films, you get new worlds to explore and more conversation starters for your next meetup. Stay hungry for original stories, seek out what’s hidden, and never stop recommending your favorites. Your advocacy can turn a quiet film into the next indie legend.