30 Hidden Film Gems That More People Ought To Know About As Shared By People Online
Maybe it’s just our bizarre fascination with all things underdog, but when a movie is popular and then there is that one dude who disagrees, it doesn’t have as strong of an effect as would it have vice versa—if a given movie is not that popular and there’s that one dude who loves and praises it.
Well, the voices of such people were heard in a recent AskReddit post by u/Starzz_1, who asked the lovely Reddit community what’s a movie they love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?
While the post itself got some modest love with nearly 3,000 upvotes, over 5,100 people voiced their opinions on movies that they think are awesome, despite not having done well in terms of popularity (for whatever reason, not necessarily because they weren’t all that good).
Bored Panda has compiled a list of some of the best answers that you can find below. Vote and comment on the ones you love, and why not let us know some movies that you loved, despite their mediocre popularity. If anything, check out the list for some movie recommendations!
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It's not unknown, but The Emperor's New Groove is a really slept on Disney movie. Still to this day is one of the funniest animated movies ever made, IMO.
Another bonder for my family...Patrick Warburton is one of the funniest Disney characters ever and his pairing with Eartha Kitt is why sometimes Disney gets it so right... 'Pull the lever CRONK!!!.... Wrong lever!!!'
Gattaca. Hardly anyone I know has seen it. Ethan Hawke is superb and I love the film noir/sci fi style of the movie.
It's a very well done movie - sci-fi that is rooted in plausibility so becomes uncomfortable as an actual possible future instead of just a fantastical imagined world.
Since the director (Donner) passed and I saw it mentioned a couple of times with him I’ll go with Ladyhawke. Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and pre-Ferris Bueller Matthew Broderick.
All set to 80's electro/synth music... its mad... I had the biggest crush on Rutger Hauer...
Idiocracy. One of the funniest movies I’ve seen also terry cruise was in there
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. A surprising amount of people I’ve met have never heard of it even.
First no.... definite no... Find the 80's BBC TV series if you want something that actually resembles the books...You'll be glad you did...
In Bruges, it’s an amazing film great acting everything builds on the story and means something.
I loved it so much I went to Bruges to find all the buildings in the film.
The Cube.
It's a 1997 Canadian horror film directed by Vincenzo Natali. It's nightmare fuel psychological horror about 5 people who woke up in a giant complex from which they have to escape.
Highly recommend it.
Evolution. Its dumb but has some great comedic lines.
Benny and Joon. It’s my favourite movie. It’s got a very young Johnny depp as the lead role. He falls in love with a mentally ill girl names joon who is taken care of by her older brother Benny. He bends over backwards for her and makes her laugh with his silly antics. He plays kind of a young Charlie Chaplin role.
I think this post misses the fact that Johnny Depp's character is also mentally ill; and if not mentally ill, then on the spectrum.
The Burbs, it has so many good quotes and it’s sad when no one ever knows what I’m talking about.
This may not be unknown enough to qualify, but Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" - incredible cast and just an all-around great Gilliam fantasy, especially for anyone interested in world history.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It always makes me want to travel and live a little deeper.
Chronicles of Riddick. I dont fully understand why i love it as much as i do. But the movie has some of the best/cheesiest/funniest 1 liners ive ever heard. While also just being very entertaining. I liked Pitch Black before it also has some classic 1 liners. And Riddick after was a failed attempt at combining both movies before it.
Pitch Black.... the original and the best.... When Vin Diesel was a nobody.... filmed in the outback of Coober Pedy, Australia (hence the really bad bit part actor accents....seriously how much did they need to pay Keith David)
E4punisher suggested:
The 13th Warrior. It got bad reviews, but I think it’s a fun movie to watch.
BlacksmithNZ responded:
Great movie, and there are a few memorable scenes.
One that blew me away was Antonio character who is smart but can't speak the language of the other 12. From memory, the Vikings are not translated.. as somebody watching the movie you are like the 13th and not understanding what they are saying.
He tags along on a longish journey just listening to the others chat, swear and abuse him. Then he suddenly swears back as he has figured out enough of the language. At that point the all the characters speak the same language.
I can't think of another movie that dealt with characters not understanding other characters language like this.
Lo there do I see my father; Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them In the halls of Valhalla. Where the brave may live forever.
Moulin Rouge. Everyone that I ask to watch it with me says it’s weird as hell and too zany to follow. But I love it! Songs and all!
Better Off Dead. An 80s teen comedy staring John Cusack in which he repeatedly tries to commit suicide (humorously), has cartoon/claymation animated hallucinations set to Van Halen, has to win a ski competition to woo his ex, and is relentlessly stalked by a young paperboy over 2 dollars. It’s incredibly goofy and one of my favorite 80s movies of all time.
And there is also a pop-punk band named after the protagonist that has clips from the movie in most of their songs.
"Truly a sight to behold. A man beaten. The once-great champ, now, a study in moppishness."
Not sure how much this counts, but The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. Great comedy/spy movie that did surprisingly poorly in theaters. Definitely recommend a watch.
I LOVE that film. I’ve watched it so many times. Wish there was a 2nd
It’s not a movie but it’s a show called Farscape. I’m born in 96 so I’m not sure how popular Farscape was back in the day, but.. I loved that s@#t.
The Rocketeer, simply fantastic superhero movie from the early 90's.
Train to Busan. People refuse to watch it because of subtitles.
Reign of Fire is the t@#s and I never hear it talked about.
OH, I was so disappointed at the final movie when it came out. It was originally supposed to take place during WWII. The Nazis were drilling into the Earth to tap the Earth's Core for power, and inadvertently awakened the hibernating dragons. So the World had to join together to fight them, while the Nazis were trying to figure out how to control the dragons and use them as weapons. There was even a planned aerial dogfight between WWII fighters and dragons. I would have loved to see that version.
The Quick And The Dead is without doubt the most underrated action movie of the 90's. think enter the dragon or bloodsport but replace martial arts with a quick draw tournament in the old west. starring the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio and Russel Crowe before they were famous and directed by Sam Raimi, with all his directing style trademarks in full glory. its a highly, highly entertaining movie.
Rat Race. Movie is hysterical with a great cast. Maybe it’s popular but I’ve never heard anyone talk about it, even when it came out in theaters.
Lucky Number Slevin.
No idea how to describe it. It's not really a mob movie, although the main character is mixed up two mob bosses, a hitman, dirty NYC cops, and a horserace 20 years before that got an entire family wiped out. But it's a solid "wtf is going on here??" With an all star cast: Josh Hartnett, Sir Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu.
Also Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is sweet, The Brother's Bloom is ... odd, but worth watching, and Across the Universe is one of the best musicals ever.
Sister Act 2, apparently it has really bad reviews on rotten tomatoes but I freaking love it!!
Return to OZ
I read all the OZ books as a kid and this is much closer to the feel than the Wizard of Oz movie with Garland. I love how dark it is, and to this day it's one of my favorite movies.
Love, love, LOVE this movie ever since I saw it as a child.... I was a strange child.
I can only speak from experiences in my country and friends I have talked to.
Hardly anyone here has seen Donnie Yen in the Ip Man movies, or any of his other work really
Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day
It's a cute, feel good movie with a surprisingly high caliber cast.
ParaPixie suggested:
Crimson Peak with Tom Hiddleston. Very thrilling. It's Tim Burton meets Loki meets Alice in Wonderland... But with Murder!
verypracticalside responded:
Beware of Crimson Peak!
I hate horror movies, and I hate (-insert the theme of that one awkward part you-know-what-I'm-talking-about-) but that movie.
Feast for the eyes, practical effects and costuming to die for, badass lead woman, every character treated so lovingly by Guillermo del Toro to let their personal reveals/developments build and shine...
There's a reason we watch it every Halloween. It is thrilling, and it does transport you.
I've just Googled it and have been informed that the critic score for it is a mere 6.5...uncultured swine, I tell you.
Long story short: I thought it was visually stunning, but had a very tepid story line
Only Lovers Left Alive. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as vampires. Sexy film. Fantastic music.
Pirates: Band of Misfits. I don't think it's particularly unknown, but no one ever talks about it.
SIRIWITVT suggested:
Song of the sea
CausticSofa responded:
Yes! This one is so pretty. I went to babysit my friend’s kids one night and while the friend was getting ready to go her daughter asked me if I liked the film and I replied I’d never seen it. Friend said, “What!? Ok, you kids can skip your bath tonight. You have to show her this movie!” I was impressed. The story is sweet and the visuals are stunninnnng.
Red Eye. B level movie where Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAddams blow everyone else out of the water.
Pandorum.
A sci-fi horror Resident Evily type film.
It's an entertaining popcorn movie.
I really liked Mary and Max. Most people don't know of it. I've only seen it comes up once in a "sad movie" AskReddit post. Animation was great and the story had me crying at the end like a baby. It's one of the most depressing movies, that doesn't make you depressed. It was a happy cry for sure but it's so sad.
"Defiance"
An amazing TRUE story with photos during the credits of the real people. It takes place deep in the woods of WW2 Poland. A massive colony of Jewish people who defied the Nazis and fought along side the Russians and they survived the ENTIRE war there in the woods until it was over (obviously some of them died because they were fighting too). Some of which moving to the united states after (covered in the credits). So amazing. The start of the movie can be a little slow. But it was very good.
Good movie, though not that accurate to the real life partisan group of the Bielsky Brothers who. They tamed down the groups activities, took out the two leaders violent temper with their subordinates, and didn't include some of their most brilliant and daring raids. Good film, but not as accurate to the real story as one would wish
Zorro, The Gay Blade
It's Zorro and his secret twin brother who is EXTREMELY flamboyant and it's absolutely hysterical
George Hamilton is so under appreciated. He was great in dramatic films too, but yes, his comic delivery and timing are right up there. A must see is LOVE AT FIRST BITE. You'll thank me.
Out Cold (2001) I don't know if it's disliked but I haven't met anyone in real life who's heard of it.
It's Casablanca...but with snowboarders!
Veggietales: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
For a kids movie, it has a pretty great story line, some decent action and dark undertones that outdoes 99℅ of movies of the same target audience, and an absolute slammer of a parody of Rock Lobster by the B-52s (called Rock Monster) that honestly does it better than the original.
James Gunn's pre-GOTG movies, 'Slither' and 'Super'
They aren't very well known and both of them flopped in theaters. I love both of them because the bizarre humor works for me but I would understand why some people wouldn't like them.
This should be higher. Slither is so so great. Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks!
The Fountain. Done by Darren Aronofsky starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. I think people thought it was just too weird.
Repo: The Genetic Opera. Don’t know why it’s not more widely known, Paris Hilton was in it!
One of the best parts is when Paris Hilton's face falls off cause she got surgery just before the show
Mom and Dad Save the World. Dumb low-budget comedy from the 90s that was simply fantastic!
It wasn't molestation. Nor did he posses child porn as the media reported. Read the court records. Media screaming for blood and provoking witch hunts for profit do not represent the truth. Did I mention people in the crowd screaming "burn the witch!" Syndrome also.
Predestination (2014). A time travel banger starring Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook (of Succession fame).
Six string samurai. Basically a post apocalyptic flick where the bombs went off in the 50’s and Buddy Holly had to pick up a sword and go roaming samurai in the wasteland.
Got curious if I could find it because it’s been a few years and apparently it’s on YouTube if anyone wants to check it out.
Cannibal! the Musical
An early work from Trey Parker and Matt Stone. It tells the story of Alferd Packer, who confessed to cannibalism while on trial for the deaths of his five other party members.
The movie was released by the venerable Troma Entertainment.
It’s witty, it’s gruesome, and the songs are catchy.
SO GOOD!!!! Got my Hubs to track it down for me....loved as a teen, love it now... If Trey Parker writes songs in something I will watch it...
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping bombed at the box office, but in my opinion it’s one of the best comedies ever made. A satire of pop stardom written by and starring The Lonely Island, and featuring a song with the lyrics “f@#k me like we f@#$%d Bin laden”? Should’ve won an Oscar tbh
If that's one of the best comedies "ever made" (read "I've watched"), then you've not seen much..
Kung Fury.
It's on YouTube, queue it up and enjoy a half hour of hilarious ridiculousness.
Bebes Kids. Maybe the hype died down? Idk. But if it doesn’t fit the category completely, it’s still a good movie IMO
Big Trouble.
The movie famously flopped after 9/11 because of the plot involving a bomb being smuggled on a plane (which wasn’t a very hip storyline at the time).
I always thought it was really funny and had some nice supporting characters. It’s definitely criminally underrated.
UHF by Weird AL plot is simple but lots of bits and quotes that are funny.
Some of these I get, but some others I must have a different definition than Bored Panda in regards to "few people know about".
The majority of content on Bored Panda (and many other sites) is taken from Reddit. In this case it was a question posed in the r/AskReddit sub. The question, as asked on Reddit was "What’s a movie you love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?".
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UHF by Weird AL plot is simple but lots of bits and quotes that are funny.
Some of these I get, but some others I must have a different definition than Bored Panda in regards to "few people know about".
The majority of content on Bored Panda (and many other sites) is taken from Reddit. In this case it was a question posed in the r/AskReddit sub. The question, as asked on Reddit was "What’s a movie you love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?".
Load More Replies... 