Top 20 Underrated Movies of the Century So Far

We still have another 80 years to go, but the 21st century has already given us so many overlooked gems. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 20 Underrated Movies of the Century (So Far).

For this list, we’re taking a look at amazing films released between 2000 and 2019 that were ignored by mainstream audiences. While some of these films received critical acclaim and even minor cult followings, they’ve yet to achieve the credit they deserve.

Now more than ever, it’s hard to say if technology is our friend or foe. Several movies have offered their two cents on the debate and “Upgrade” is among the most inventive. The film is carried by a magnetic performance from Logan Marshall-Green as Grey, a man who’s left paralyzed following a tragic mugging. Simon Maiden is equally strong as the voice of STEM, an AI implant who gives Grey a second chance at life and revenge. Writer/director Leigh Whannell crafts an involving mystery, but the real question throughout “Upgrade” is who’s truly in the driver’s seat: Grey or STEM? We can only hope that this film grows a wider following because Whannell has ideas for a sequel.

You know something is wrong with society when “Meet the Spartans” opens #1 at the domestic box office while this hilarious spoof fell flat financially. Despite coming out only a couple years after “Walk the Line” and “Ray,” we guess the musical biopic still seemed like a fairly niche subgenre to parody in 2007. With the subsequent releases of “Love & Mercy,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Rocketman,” though, people have become more conscious of the tropes we constantly see in these movies. “Walk Hard” is a clever sendup of these clichés, delivering some surprisingly catchy original songs and a great cast led by John C. Reilly – who’s also one of the century’s most underrated comedic talents.

True crime stories have seen a rise in popularity throughout the century, but “Bernie” is one of the most unique and underappreciated approaches to the genre. We’d say that this is a mockumentary, but unlike “This Is Spinal Tap” or “Borat,” there’s actually a fair deal of truth to Richard Linklater’s film. Jack Black gives one of his most charismatic performances as Bernie Tiede, a real-life mortician who was put on trial for the murder of an elderly rich woman. While all signs point to Bernie’s guilt, the town has a hard time believing that somebody so lovable could be responsible for taking a person’s life. Likewise, it’s easy for the audience to forget that such a charming film is based on a heinous crime.

Based on the title and advertisements, people went into “It Comes at Night” expecting a more traditional apocalyptic horror film. Rather than solely relying on jump scares and gore, Trey Edward Shults’ film delivered a far more understated and physiological experience. Above all else, this is a morality tale that examines how far a family will go to preserve their own lives. Instead of a big, scary monster, the audience pulls back the curtain to find a mirror. The lack of a straight-forward villain, coupled in with a slow pace, may have caused the film to fall through the cracks. For fans of classic “Twilight Zone” episodes like “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” you’ll appreciate the film’s haunting and even timely themes.

How were you introduced to Rian Johnson? Probably through his more mainstream work like “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” For many critics, though, it was clear that Johnson had the makings of an audacious filmmaker based on his directorial debut, “Brick.” Just as “Knives Out” brought the murder mystery into the 21st century, “Brick” is a classic film noir set in a modern high school. Think “The Third Man” meets “10 Things I Hate About You.” On a shoestring budget of only $450,000, Johnson delivers a stylized homage to detective stories that’s elevated by a witty screenplay and a hardboiled performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Now that Johnson’s profile has risen significantly, you owe it to yourself to catch up with this bull’s-eye.

It’s no wonder why “Miami Vice” underperformed at the box office back in 2006. It came out at a time when Hollywood was giving every retro TV show the big screen treatment – and we mean every show! It was easy for “Miami Vice” to get lost in a shuffle that include “Bewitched” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Unlike those movies, this adaptation took a nostalgic property and evolved it for modern audiences. At the time, critics negatively compared the film to its source material and Michael Mann’s previous efforts. Now that the dust has settled, many have cited the film’s stellar cinematography and graphic action as an inspiration. It even made Time Out’s list of the 101 best action movies ever made.

It’s surreal to think that few people born in the 2010s would recognize a video rental store. “Be Kind Rewind” came out shortly before chains like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video bowed out. When all the tapes at a struggling video store are erased, Mos Def and Jack Black decide to reshoot each film. “Be Kind Rewind” will not only resonate with fans of classic films, but also anyone who grew up making home movies with no budget. Looking back now, the film reminds us of something we’ve lost in the streaming era: how video stores brought people together to share their passion for cinema. Had the film come out today, we have a feeling it would’ve made a stronger impression in the nostalgic zeitgeist.

Having gained a reputation as one of our greatest filmmakers, it’s not often that we see a Martin Scorsese picture go unnoticed by audiences. What’s especially surprising about “Silence” is that it didn’t even generate much noise at the Academy Awards. Despite garnering positive reviews across the board, the film only got one Oscar nomination, for Rodrigo Prieto’s captivating cinematography. “Silence” deserved so much more award attention for Scorsese’ ambitious direction and Andrew Garfield’s heartbreaking lead performance. Garfield is nothing short of phenomenal as a Jesuit priest torn between his faith and survival in a grueling environment. Maybe it was the epic runtime of 161 minutes that turned people off, but a film of this magnitude shouldn’t go speechless.

With 2004’s “Primer,” director Shane Carruth delivered one of the century’s strangest, most unforgettable examples of experimental filmmaking. Almost ten years later, Carruth returned with a follow-up film that’s every bit as bizarre. It’s a classic story of boy meets girl, although Kris and Jeff have more in common than they initially realize. Both were exposed to a parasite that’s transferred from humans, to pigs, to orchids. Yeah, based on that description, you can probably tell if “Upstream Color” will be your cup of tea. For those with an open mind, though, this is an unusually beautiful story about the search for identity and how love can blossom in the most unlikely places.

When some people can’t even pronounce the title, chances are a movie isn’t going to pack theaters. Even if you did catch “Synecdoche, New York” during its initial run, there’s a good chance you wrote it off as pretentious nonsense. It may take some time to reflect upon and even multiple viewings, but more and more people are starting to see the brilliance of Charlie Kaufman’s film. Kaufman transforms Synecdoche into a surreal playground crawling with rich symbolism, finding the point where realism and absurdity intersect. If it flew under your radar, went over your head, or you just need a reminder of how incredible Philip Seymour Hoffman was, check out why Roger Ebert named this the best film of the 2000s.

From one Charlie Kaufman film to another, “Anomalisa” demonstrates why the 21st century has been a golden age for feature animation. Unfortunately, animated movies tailored exclusively for adults remain a tough sell. Co-directed by stop-motion artist Duke Johnson, “Anomalisa” brings out the whimsy and the mundane in a man’s mid-life crisis. The characters may be puppets, but few films overflow with more raw humanity. Everyone in Michael Stone’s world blends into one another, that is except for one woman he encounters on a business trip. Could this stranger be the key to Michael’s happiness or is he simply caught up in the moment? In any case, this is a peculiar, humorous, and provocative triumph that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It truly is an anomaly.

It’s a shame that when most people hear the title “Dredd,” the first thing they think of is that Sylvester Stallone trainwreck. For those who’ve seen Pete Travis’ wickedly entertaining reboot, you know that Karl Urban’s portrayal of Dredd makes for one of the coolest action heroes to come out of this century. Returning to the character’s hard-hitting, mysterious roots, this is the gritty interpretation that comic book fans waited years for, but hardly anyone turned up to see. Audiences were quick to pass judgment, missing out on a thrilling, expertly crafted, and character-driven extravaganza. While the cult following for “Dredd” is growing, we’re still waiting for a sequel or a TV continuation to finally get the green light.

Oscar Isaac gives a multi-layered performance as Abel Morales, who’s not exactly a gangster, but not exactly a legitimate businessman either. Turning to criminals for help, Abel does everything he can to keep his hands clean, but still finds blood on them. Jessica Chastain steals the show as Abel’s wife, who’s like Lady MacBeth if she were a New Yorker in the 1980s. “A Most Violent Year” stands out as this century’s only film that won the National Board of Review’s top prize, but didn’t go on to receive any Oscar nominations. It’s possible that Academy members and audiences were caught off guard by the movie’s tone, which is far less bombastic than its title suggests. Nevertheless, few modern crime dramas have been more compelling.

“25th Hour” was one of the first films to address the 9/11 attacks, but it didn’t start out with that intent. The film was actually in development around the same time America faced its darkest day, promoting director Spike Lee to weave the tragedy into the story. The film is primarily set in 2002 as Edward Norton’s Monty faces his final 24 hours before a seven-year prison sentence. Although 9/11 isn’t the focus, Monty’s feelings of anger, fear, and uncertainty tapped into what many people were experiencing. It may not be Lee’s best-known joint, but “25th Hour” captured the end of an era and the trauma that’s still felt today. It’s only grown more profound, being featured on various best of the decade lists.

Granted, “Master and Commander” did receive 10 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. Since then, however, people rarely seem to talk about this adaptation of Patrick O'Brian’s historical novel. Even when the film came out, it didn’t make the biggest splash at the box office. Perhaps the film’s underperformance can be attributed to bad timing. It was released only a few months after another high sea adventure, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and a month before another cinematic epic, “Return of the King.” Audiences missed out on one of the century’s most rousing achievements, complete with mind-blowing cinematography from Russell Boyd, daring direction from Peter Weir, and a gripping performance from Russell Crowe. It’s definitely one we’d love to see rereleased on the big screen.

Almost a decade after “Walk Hard,” audiences overlooked another musician satire that deserved to perform much better. Helmed by Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone (aka The Lonely Island), this mockumentary is essentially a series of “SNL” Digital Shorts, loosely tied together by a plot. That may not sound very engrossing, but the film isn’t intended to be plot-driven. It’s driven by laughter, and “Popstar” never stops tickling your funny bone. Being a Lonely Island Production, the film has no shortage of memorable tunes, from “Turn Up the Beef” to “I'm So Humble.” Of course, the best is an ode to the assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Backed up by a never-ending supply of cameos, “Popstar” is funnier and smarter than anyone likely anticipated.

“Take Shelter” is everything that “The Happening” should’ve been. With echoes of Hitchcock, the film includes a riveting performance from Michael Shannon as Curtis LaForche. Haunted by dreams and visions, Curtis is convinced that a devastating storm is on the horizon. Yet, nobody shares Curtis’ concerns and his mother’s history of mental illness only gives us more reason to believe that he’s going crazy. Thus ensues a tense psychological thriller about a man who’s either saving or endangering his family. Although “Take Shelter” leaves much up to interpretation, it’s hard not to think of climate change as Curtis tries to open everyone’s eyes to a looming disaster. In that sense, the film only grows more relevant and unsettling with each passing year.

“Under the Silver Lake” starts off with a typical neo-noir setup as slacker Sam, played by Andrew Garfield, searches for a mysterious woman who disappeared overnight. The conspiracy Sam uncovers is anything but conventional, however. To give away any more information would do this twisted, borderline comedic thriller a disservice. Let’s just say that the first ten minutes barely touch upon the cryptic insanity that ensues. Some movies take us down the rabbit hole, but this movie takes us to places that would make the Mad Hatter’s tea party look like a laid-back lunch. A film like this was far too unreal to ever be a mainstream success. Like “Blue Velvet” or “Mulholland Drive,” though, we want to dissect every inch of it.

We can think of a few reasons why nobody saw this revisionist western. The runtime clocks in at 160 minutes and the title is just as long-winded. On top of that, the title kind of gives away a major spoiler. Even with that knowledge, however, “Jesse James” is a tense drama about a notorious outlaw and the young admirer destined to betray him. Despite the constant reminders of what’s coming, it’s the dynamics between these character that keeps us at the edge of our seats. The story takes its time, but the inevitable final destination continues to haunt us. Along the way, we’re treated to some superb cinematography courtesy of Roger Deakins. In many respects, this is the Coen brothers movie the Coens never made.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Che” (2008)

“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” (2002)

“Locke” (2013)

“Ingrid Goes West” (2017)

“Lord of War” (2005)

When “Zodiac” was released back in 2007, only two other films made it onto more critical best of the year lists. When critics compiled a list of the 21st century’s best films thus far in 2016, “Zodiac” was ranked #12. Yet, for whatever reason, this remains director David Fincher’s unsung masterpiece, having bombed financially and received no Oscar nominations. Considering that the Zodiac killer was never caught, you’d think that this film would feel like an unfinished puzzle. Even if pieces are missing, “Zodiac” is the whole package: skillfully made, perfectly cast, and shockingly faithful to Robert Graysmith’s non-fiction book. It’s a fascinating thriller that constantly leaves us guessing if we’re watching a game of cat and mouse or a dog chasing his own tail.