TOP 12 UNDERRATED HOLLYWOOD MOVIES

 TOP 12 UNDERRATED HOLLYWOOD MOVIES

If you are a cinema fanatic like me, you would probably agree with this list. But in case you are just an average person who watches movies just for entertainment purposes, then I am sure you must be bored of watching the same kind of movies again and again. You are probably looking for something new. Something that you haven’t watched. But you also need to enjoy the movie. Just because you are looking for unpopular movies doesn't mean that you are okay watching anything. It needs to be good. So, here are top 12 underrated movies that you may or may not have heard of, but would definitely wanna watch!

Disclaimer: The movies are not ranked in any way. The numbering is done for my sake so that I can keep a count.

1) Safe House

Safe House is one of those movies for which you are required to not use your brains. It is an action and thriller movie that follows Matt, an unexperienced but ambitious CIA agent who is given the opportunity to hold Tobin Frost, a world class fugitive who is wanted by mercenaries for some important information that he holds.

Safe House is one of those movies where Ryan Reynolds does not play himself. He plays a serious character manages to hold his own against Denzel Washington. It is one of those movies that is best left as an independent movie and does not require an unnecessary sequel.

Do watch it in case you are looking for some adrenaline infused action thriller spy movie.

 

2) Snatch

I absolutely loved this movie. It feels like an underrated British version of Ocean’s 11. A crime heist movie set in the backdrop of London’s underworld, Snatch features an ensemble cast of Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Benicio Del Toro, Alan Ford, etc.

At some points, Snatch suffers from the burden of carrying too many characters but somehow it gives justice to all of them. It feels like it was made by Quentin Tarantino considering the style and the amount of expletives it has. But surprisingly it was directed by Guy Ritchie, one of my favourite filmmakers.

Snatch is also a movie wherein Brad Pitt proves to the world that not only is he good looking, but also an amazing actor. The way he picks up the accent of the gypsies, it is absolutely mind-blowing. If you are a fan of heist and comedy movies, Snatch deserves a watch.

 

3) The Devil’s Advocate

The name of the movie is exactly the premise of the movie. Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a hot-shot lawyer who receives the offer to work for John Milton (Al Pacino), the head of one of New York’s top law firms. But soon enough, he discovers that John Milton is, in fact, the Biblical version of Devil himself.

I was taken aback by the cast of the movie. Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Connie Nelson, etc. In the world of Hollywood where you only get to see limited genres, The Devil’s Advocate is a fresh take which steps away from the overused tropes and styles and gives you something new to watch. It cannot really be classified into any genre as it is not a horror movie as such. Maybe you can call it drama but I would beg to differ. Even though it has an interesting plot, after watching the movie I was left unsatisfied. I wish the filmmaker would have done something more instead of just focusing on Charlize Theron’s character more than the others. Nevertheless, you can certainly give it a watch if you are bored of digesting the same unoriginal films.

 

4) Nope

This one comes from Jordan Peele. In his entire lifetime, Jordan Peele has only made 3 movies. And all 3 of them are something different and original. Nope was his most recent movie. I absolutely loved the concept and the plot twist. It is a very intelligent movie and one of the few horror films where the characters are not dumb.

I feel like people have just forgotten this movie altogether. It was a masterpiece that is now lost in time. No one talks about it for some reason. I also particularly loved this movie because it gave me an irrational fear of clouds for quite a while. In case you have watched the movie you would understand what I am saying. 

I am not going to describe the plot of this movie to you as I want you to watch it without any idea of what you are walking in to. And I can promise you that at the end you will be satisfied.

 

5) Nightcrawler

Okay, I agree with you. Nightcrawler cannot be called as underrated anymore simply because of that one scene where Jake Gyllenhaal cuts himself while breaking the mirror. Nevertheless, I don’t see a lot of people talking about this movie when anyone mentions thriller.

Nightcrawler is an absolute masterpiece that really shows that Hollywood is capable of making movies that are not just a sequel or a book adaptation. The director of the movie actually did his research and brought it down to perfection. And of course, then you have Jake Gyllenhaal. One of 21^st century’s best actors. He always manages to give his 100% in every movie. Sometimes, even if the screenplay and the plot is good, the director needs an actor who can bring it to life. Jake Gyllenhaal perfectly manages to breathe life into the character of Louis Bloom. I adored his characterization and the little hidden details that they put.

Nightcrawler is one of those movies that needs to be talked about more often. In case you are looking for an actual ‘Thriller’ movie, this is the recommendation I give you.

 

6) Valkyrie

No, it is not a Marvel movie. In fact, it is a World War 2 movie. And a heavily underrated movie at that. I don’t understand why the critics did not like this movie. It was a very well made movie supported by a good cast and good cinematography. I am assuming it did not do very well because of the controversy that surrounded it. Now, I don’t know much about the historical accuracy but keeping that aside, if you treat Valkyrie as a fictional chain of events, you are bound to be baffled.

Just like Nope, I am not going to reveal a lot about the plot as I want you watch it without any expectations. All I can tell you is that it follows a group of brave men and women who singlehandedly try to take down Hitler’s regime. And Valkyrie is one of those movies where Tom Cruise, (just like Brad Pitt in Snatch) proves that not only is he good looking, but also a very talented actor.

 

7) Chronicle

Chronicle is a 2012 American found-footage type of movie. In case you have ever seen the movie Paranormal Activity, you would understand what I am saying. It is not shot on a movie camera as such but rather a normal video camera, giving it the feel as if the entire chain of events had been recorded. Talk about original ideas, Chronicle is the perfect movie to watch with friends. It follows the story of 3 teenagers who accidentally gain superpowers. It is not a happy story by a long shot, but a few scenes here and there really capture the essence of friendship.

It also stars Michael B. Jordan and Dane DeHaan, two big time actors who were pretty much unknown that time. I did not really like the ending of the movie all that much but I think the story was very well presented. Chronicle is one of those movies which you wish were true so that it could happen to you and your friends too. It also has the potential to start a franchise that may interest the superhero fan club.

  

8) Air Force One 

A brilliant political drama and action movie that blends the elements of mystery and thriller perfectly and creates a situation like nothing ever seen before.

Air Force One follows the hijacking of the United States President’s convoy by a group of radical terrorists and how the President manages to fend off the situation. Harrison Ford is the President. A selfless, intelligent and brave President of The United States of America. What else can one ask for?

At every point of the movie, the tension is high, the stakes are rising. But all you have to do is kick back and relax. Let the filmmakers handle everything.

 

9) Pale Rider

When anyone talks about Western movies, there is only one man you ever think of. Clint Eastwood. The Father of Western movies (Not his actual title, just something that I like to call him). And this is one of Mr. Eastwood’s lesser known Western movies which has a rotten tomato score of 93%. The main reason why Pale Rider is not a very popular movie is because it is overshadowed by Clint Eastwood’s other Western flicks such as The Dollars Trilogy, Unforgiven, Cry Macho, etc.

But just because it is a lesser known movie doesn’t mean that it is not well made. It has all the regular elements of an Eastwood movie. An outlaw, a sheriff, a deputy, a village in trouble and a rich man who controls the village.

Pale Rider is an exciting movie that you cannot question too much. Don’t think too much about Clint Eastwood’s character. Go with the flow and you are going to be amazed.

10) War of The Worlds

The name of the movie sounds as if it is the ultimate science fiction movie burdened with heavy CGI and a star-studded cast. While that is not the case, the actual plot of the movie won’t disappoint you either.

It is a story of a father who tries to save his children in the midst of an alien invasion on Earth. Again, another movie where Tom Cruise shines his ability as an actor rather than just a movie star. War of The Worlds is an intense and emotional science fiction movie and you wouldn’t be surprised if I told you the name of the director – Steven Spielberg.

Just like Pale Rider, War of The Worlds is overshadowed by Mr. Spielberg’s other successful movies such as Jurassic Park, E.T., Minority Report, Schindler’s List, etc. Although it is a very well made movie, I would not recommend you to watch it with your family or friends. It is best watched alone.

 

11) The Man Who Would Be King

So far, all of the movies that I have suggested above are not as underrated as I am making them seem. You might have heard of at least quite a few of the aforementioned films. But this particular film, is a very old, ‘lost in time’ sort of a movie.

Sean Connery and Michael Caine play two small time crooks who go in search of a country untouched by white people for centuries, with the intention to fool the people and rule over them. I would consider this movie as one of cinema’s greatest productions.

The Man Who Would Be King is another type of a movie which cannot be classified into just one genre. Maybe adventure, but the adventure part of the movie stops being fun when it is required, and the tone becomes serious. This is the kind of movie which you may or may not enjoy, depending upon your knowledge and appreciation for cinema. I would personally suggest you to skip this movie if you are the kind of person who watches cinema only for entertainment purposes.

 

12) The Ghost and The Darkness

My mother, to this day, doesn’t like the fact that I showed her this movie. Personally, I did not find anything too scary but there are some elements which is not for the weak hearted.

The story follows John Patterson (Val Kilmer), a British engineer who enlists the help of Charles Remington (Michael Douglas), a hunter, to kill two man-eating lions that have been creating nuisance for workers who are assigned to build a bridge in rural Kenya.

It is a fictionalized account of a real story that took place in 1898 in Tsavo, Kenya. That makes it even more dangerous to watch. Even though there exist horror movies such as The Conjuring, Annabelle, Paranormal Activity, Insidious, etc. The Ghost and The Darkness is a good watch for any horror or thriller enthusiast.

 

So that was it folks! I hope I enriched your watchlist with refreshing stories and underrated movies that you will enjoy watching. Have fun everybody. Feel free to drop your own movie recommendations in the comment section!