The 2010s were a time of explosive changes in the film industry. Today’s powerful franchises – particularly the Marvel movie universe – have experienced tremendous growth in this decade, pushing the definition of what it means for a movie to be successful (is it successful or is it Endgame successful?) With multi-billion dollar franchises breathing new life, it was easy for smaller, independent films to fall by the wayside. This doesn’t mean there was a shortage of great small-scale movies in the 2010s; it just means it’s worth drawing attention to those who haven’t received the recognition they deserve. Here’s a list that aims to do just that: showcase the most underrated movies from the 2010s and discuss what deserves more credit. Let’s start.
8 Paterson (2016)
Jim Jarmusch’s paterson is a slow, quiet film from life starring Adam Driver. The driver’s character, Paterson, who shares his name with his hometown in Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson, an aspiring poet who works as a bus driver, leads a modest, routine life with his wife and dog. He writes when he can and uses the sights and sounds around him (on his bus route, in his house, at the bar) as fuel for his poetic art. It’s a sweet film, light on drama, and deserves far more praise than it has gotten.
7 Krisja (2015)
Krisha is an underrated family drama centering on the titular protagonist, an estranged mother who desperately wants to be let back into their lives. Claiming to be sober, she visits her sister and her son for Thanksgiving, but things don’t go well and Krisha slips back into alcoholism and addiction. This was director Trey Edward Shults’ debut film, and it’s notable for the way it captures an almost percussive dread. Tying it all together is protagonist Krisha (as the character) Fairchild, whose performance is shockingly authentic.
6 The Guest (2014)
The guest starts quietly and ends with a bang – it’s a thriller in disguise full of dark surprises. This is the kind of movie you should go blind for, as the twists and turns are handled in playful and interesting ways. Dan Stevens gives an electric performance as David Collins, a former US Army sergeant who, despite his murky background, comes across as very sympathetic. What begins as the story of a friendly stranger in town quickly turns south as Collins begins to reveal his true nature. The guest is definitely the cutest movie on this list, and it doesn’t get enough credit for all the things it does well (although there might be a sequel).
5 Inherent Vice (2014)
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While its reputation has slowly improved since its release, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is not one of his most popular films. This adaptation of the novel of the same name by literary giant Thomas Pynchon is overshadowed by Anderson’s other, larger works. Although outlets such as Far away have attracted attention to show the underrated performance of actor Joaquin Phoenix, the film’s complicated plot is not that well liked. In time, however, it will surely come to be considered a cult classic, as Anderson did an excellent job of bringing the novel’s grandiose conspiracies to the screen. It’s the best (and only) Pynchon adaptation.
4 Personal shopper (2016)
You wouldn’t guess from the title, but Personal shopper is one of the best horror movies of the 2010s. This subtle ghost story will keep viewers guessing from start to finish. While it’s a mild fear, it evokes intense feelings of dread and unease that linger even as the credits roll. Kirsten Stewart stars in her best career as Maureen, a young woman who works as a personal shopper for wealthy clients in Paris. Throughout the film, she searches for a sign of her recently deceased brother, who promised to contact her from the afterlife. Personal shopper is a gripping, haunting study of loss that fans of Stewart won’t want to miss.
3 Under the Skin (2013)
under the skin is an eclectic sci-fi horror film bursting with sinister energy. But underneath it all lies a human core, an exploration of what it means to be human from the perspective of someone who isn’t. If this sounds fuzzy, it’s because the movie itself is fuzzy. under the skin does not immediately give you all the answers: you have to work for it. Fortunately, it’s a beautifully shot film with a stunning performance by Scarlett Johansson, which makes it worth your while – and incredibly rewarding.
2 Leviathan (2014)
Leviathan is a critically acclaimed Russian drama that did not receive much attention in the United States. It tells the story of a tough mechanic, Kolya, who stands his ground against the corrupt local government trying to demolish his house. It’s a slow burn, but worth watching for its great performances and rich treatment of class issues and state violence. Leviathan got accolades in the year of release, per NPR. But sadly it seems to have gotten out of hand, with very little written about this gem of a movie being done today.
1 Right Now, When Wrong (2015)
South Korean author Hong Sang-soo has been steadily building his fame as a filmmaker for more than 25 years. His films have not always been particularly popular, both in and outside South Korea, but that is now beginning to change. Sang-soo’s 2015 Romantic Drama Right now, wrong then is one of his best works. It is a deeply personal story of love and regret: a story that is told twice, halfway through the film it starts again and goes through an alternate series of events. Sang-soo plays with possibilities everywhere, reminding viewers that we don’t have to follow one particular path through life. Right now, wrong then is a heartfelt study of life’s most fleeting moments, and arguably the finest film of the 2010s. Peter Bradshaw from the guard greet it as a classic of South Korean cinema, but it has not received much attention from the general public in the West.