The 2010s were a time of explosive change in the movie industry. Today’s powerhouse franchises — the Marvel cinematic universe in particular — experienced massive growth during this decade, changing 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 flowering into new life, it was easy for smaller, independent films to fall by the wayside. This doesn’t mean that there was any shortage of fantastic small-scale movies in the 2010s; it only means that it’s worth calling attention to those that haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve. This is a list that aims to do just that: to showcase the most underrated films from the 2010s, and to discuss what makes them worthy of further acclaim. Let’s get started.
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8 Paterson (2016)
Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson is a slow, quiet slice-of-life film starring Adam Driver. Driver’s character, Paterson, shares his name with his hometown in Paterson, New Jersey. An aspiring poet working as a bus driver, Paterson lives out 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 home, at the bar) as fuel for his poetic art. It’s a sweet movie, light on drama, and deserving of a lot more praise than it’s gotten.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Krisha (2015)
A24
Krisha is an underappreciated family drama that centers on its titular main character, a mother estranged from her family who wants desperately to be let back into their lives. Claiming sobriety, she visits her sister and her son for Thanksgiving, but things do not go well and Krisha slips back into alcoholism and addiction. This was director Trey Edward Shults’s debut film, and it’s remarkable for the way it captures an almost percussive anxiety. Binding it all together is lead actor Krisha (like the character) Fairchild, whose performance is shockingly authentic.
6 The Guest (2014)
Picture House
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 in blind for, as its twists are handled in playful and interesting ways. Dan Stevens gives an electric performance as David Collins, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who, despite his shady background, comes across as very likable. What starts as the story of friendly stranger in town quickly goes south when Collins begins to show his true colors. The Guest is certainly the most fun movie on this list, and it doesn’t get enough credit for all the things it does right (though a sequel may be coming).
5 Inherent Vice (2014)
IAC Films
Though 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 literary giant Thomas Pynchon’s novel of the same name has been overshadowed by Anderson’s other, bigger, works. Though outlets like Far Out have called attention to lead actor Joaquin Phoenix’s underrated performance, the movie’s complicated plot isn’t quite as well liked. In time, however, it is sure to be regarded as a cult classic, as Anderson did an excellent job bringing the novel’s grand conspiracies to the screen. It’s the best (and only) Pynchon adaptation.
4 Personal Shopper (2016)
Les Films du Losange
You wouldn’t guess it from the title, but Personal Shopper is one of the best horror movies of the 2010s. This subtle ghost story keeps viewers guessing from start to finish. Though light on scares, it conjures intense feelings of dread and unease that linger even as the credits roll. Kirsten Stewart gives a career-best performance as Maureen, a young woman working as a personal shopper for rich clients in Paris. Throughout the film, she searches for a sign from her recently deceased brother, who promised he would contact her from the afterlife. Personal Shopper is a gripping, ghostly study of loss that fans of Stewart won’t want to miss.
3 Under the Skin (2013)
BFI / Film4
Under the Skin is an eclectic sci-fi horror film full to bursting with sinister energy. But underneath all this is a human core, an examination of what it means to be human from the perspective of someone who is not. If this sounds vague, it’s because the movie itself is vague. Under the Skin doesn’t give you all the answers straightaway: you have to work for them. Thankfully, it’s a beautifully shot film with a stunning performance by Scarlett Johansson, which makes the effort worthwhile — and incredibly rewarding.
2 Leviathan (2014)
Fox
Leviathan is an acclaimed Russian drama that did not get a lot of traction in the United States. It tells the story of a stalwart mechanic, Kolya, who stands his ground against the corrupt local government trying to demolish his home. It’s a slow burn, but worth watching for its stellar performances and rich treatment of class issues and state violence. Leviathan did garner accolades the year it was released, per NPR. But, unfortunately, it seems to have fallen by the wayside, with very little writing on this gem of a film being done today.
1 Right Now, Wrong Then (2015)
Jeonwonsa Films
South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo has been steadily building his renown as a filmmaker for more than 25 years. His films have not always been particularly popular, both in and out of South Korea, but that’s now beginning to change. Sang-soo’s 2015 romantic drama Right Now, Wrong Then is one of his best works. It’s a deeply personal story of love and regret: a story told twice, as partway through the film it starts over and moves through an alternative series of events. Sang-soo plays with possibility throughout, reminding viewers that we need not follow one set path through life. Right Now, Wrong Then is a sincere study of life’s most transient moments, and arguably the most beautiful film of the 2010s. Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian hails it as a classic of South Korean cinema, but it has not received much attention from general audiences in the West.
