Top 10 Underrated Films of the 2010s

Who knew Ryan Reynolds could be such a fantastic dramatic actor? Not many apparently, because “Buried” never fell on enough eyes. Granted, it’s $19 million box office take easily made a profit on a $2 million budget, but it’s still largely absent from discussions of great thrillers. Reynolds’ excellent performance is heart-stopping as he tries to escape being buried alive, and the film’s shot with an intense claustrophobic feel due to director Rodrigo Cortés’ eye for darkly lit camera angles. It’s a gripping thriller that’s bound to become a cult classic.

Another thriller, this story about a man who builds a shelter to protect his family from a storm and his own paranoia was praised by critics, but landed with an unwarranted thud with audiences. It only made $3 million at the box office, failing to make back its budget, and has since seemingly disappeared from existence. All this despite Michael Shannon’s hauntingly beautiful performance and the sheer dread that the film conveys. Maybe it proved too dark for viewers, but either way, “Take Shelter” deserves more of them.

Most people know Chris Hemsworth from his portrayal of Thor, but they are sadly missing out on one of his most powerful roles in this movie about two rival racecar drivers. Hemsworth and co-actor Daniel Brühl turn in great performances playing the historic drivers, and the expertly shot race sequences are as exciting as anything you would find in a blockbuster. Directed by Ron Howard and scored by the great Hans Zimmer, there really is no going wrong with this movie that many people sadly glazed over.

It’s Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt co-starring in a time travel movie. What more could you want? The pair play the same character, Joe, as his future self is sent back through time to be assassinated by his younger self, and the movie is just as awesome as that synopsis sounds. The film has a fantastic story with great characters, and the production design and cinematography are mesmerizing. It deserves to be hailed as a science fiction classic, but sadly, very few people seem to remember it even exists.

This J.J. Abrams movie really took us back to the good old days, and was fantastic in its own right. The film follows a group of kids making a home movie when an alien breaks free of government control, and is a surprisingly deep, heartfelt nod to ‘80s Spielberg movies. The story is both human and exciting, and the child actors are the best since “The Goonies.” It’s an underappreciated film that deserves to be seen by more people and to be placed among the best of science fiction.

With an all-star cast that features Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, you would think that this movie would be more popular than it is. Gosling plays a man who resorts to robbing banks to provide for his family, and Cooper as the cop who takes an interest. Both turn in great performances, and themovie itself tackles mature themes in an exciting, elegant fashion. The atmosphere is palpable and the cinematography throughout is stunning, which creates a fantastic movie that sucks you right into the world it creates – if you take the time to watch it.

While this movie is grossly underrated, we can understand how some people would be turned off by it due to the intensely dark subject matter – after all, it was directed by the man behind “The Exorcist.” Chris Smith is in debt to some bad people, so he plots to murder his own mother for the insurance money. While it may be too much handle, the movie is still filled with great performances, especially by Matthew McConaughey, whose work in “Mud” is also criminally overlooked. The NC-17 rating is warranted and probably kept many people away, but “Killer Joe” still a darkly hilarious ride.

Sometimes remakes can be a good thing, as evidenced by this underrated 2012 gem. An adaptation of the comic strip “Judge Dredd,” about a man given the power to judge and execute civilians in a wasteland, “Dredd” was surprisingly good, filled with amazing special effects, exciting slow-motion violence, and even some well-placed satire. However, it only earned $41 million, and was considered a bomb due to its $45 million budget. While some argue that the Stallone movie definitely didn’t help its reputation, “Dredd” deserves to stand on its own and receive greater recognition.

Director Martin McDonagh must have been influenced by Quentin Tarantino, as this movie is the perfect mixture between thriller and dark comedy. Thefilm follows a struggling screenwriter whose friend kidnaps a gangster’s Shih Tzu, setting off a string of satirical and thrilling moments. The all-star cast shines, including straight man Colin Farrell, a hilariously deadpan Christopher Walken, and an appropriately insane Sam Rockwell. The movie unpredictably mashes gleeful humor and extreme violence into a work that is both unique and overlooked.

Before we look at our most underrated movie of the 2010s, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “We Need to Talk About Kevin” (2011)
- “Robot & Frank” (2012)
- “Killing Them Softly” (2012)
- “Snowpiercer” (2013)

Easily one of the most overlooked movies of the decade so far, “Prisoners” is a fantastic film that showcases the talents of everyone involved. It’s about two young girls who are kidnapped in Pennsylvania, and while it sounds simple enough, it is a dark, complex, and emotional story that hits many unpredictable beats. The performances are outstanding, specifically those by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, and the movie was nominated for an Oscar for its breathtaking cinematography. It’s a work of art that deserves all the recognition it can get.

Do you agree with our list? What movie from the 2010s do you think is underrated? For more eye-opening top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.