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30 Hidden Film Gems That More People Ought To Know About As Shared By People Online
Maybe it’s just our bizarre fascination with all things underdog, but when a movie is popular and then there is that one dude who disagrees, it doesn’t have as strong of an effect as would it have vice versa—if a given movie is not that popular and there’s that one dude who loves and praises it.
Well, the voices of such people were heard in a recent AskReddit post by u/Starzz_1, who asked the lovely Reddit community what’s a movie they love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?
While the post itself got some modest love with nearly 3,000 upvotes, over 5,100 people voiced their opinions on movies that they think are awesome, despite not having done well in terms of popularity (for whatever reason, not necessarily because they weren’t all that good).
Bored Panda has compiled a list of some of the best answers that you can find below. Vote and comment on the ones you love, and why not let us know some movies that you loved, despite their mediocre popularity. If anything, check out the list for some movie recommendations!
More Info: Reddit
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#1
It's not unknown, but The Emperor's New Groove is a really slept on Disney movie. Still to this day is one of the funniest animated movies ever made, IMO.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
Another bonder for my family...Patrick Warburton is one of the funniest Disney characters ever and his pairing with Eartha Kitt is why sometimes Disney gets it so right... 'Pull the lever CRONK!!!.... Wrong lever!!!'
RELATED:
#2
Gattaca. Hardly anyone I know has seen it. Ethan Hawke is superb and I love the film noir/sci fi style of the movie.
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
It's a very well done movie - sci-fi that is rooted in plausibility so becomes uncomfortable as an actual possible future instead of just a fantastical imagined world.
#3
Since the director (Donner) passed and I saw it mentioned a couple of times with him I’ll go with Ladyhawke. Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and pre-Ferris Bueller Matthew Broderick.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
All set to 80's electro/synth music... its mad... I had the biggest crush on Rutger Hauer...
#4
Idiocracy. One of the funniest movies I’ve seen also terry cruise was in there
#5
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. A surprising amount of people I’ve met have never heard of it even.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
First no.... definite no... Find the 80's BBC TV series if you want something that actually resembles the books...You'll be glad you did...
#6
In Bruges, it’s an amazing film great acting everything builds on the story and means something.
Dispatcherqueen 3 years ago
I loved it so much I went to Bruges to find all the buildings in the film.
#7
The Cube.
It's a 1997 Canadian horror film directed by Vincenzo Natali. It's nightmare fuel psychological horror about 5 people who woke up in a giant complex from which they have to escape.
Highly recommend it.
#8
Evolution. Its dumb but has some great comedic lines.
#9
Benny and Joon. It’s my favourite movie. It’s got a very young Johnny depp as the lead role. He falls in love with a mentally ill girl names joon who is taken care of by her older brother Benny. He bends over backwards for her and makes her laugh with his silly antics. He plays kind of a young Charlie Chaplin role.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago (edited)
I think this post misses the fact that Johnny Depp's character is also mentally ill; and if not mentally ill, then on the spectrum.
#10
The Burbs, it has so many good quotes and it’s sad when no one ever knows what I’m talking about.
#11
This may not be unknown enough to qualify, but Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" - incredible cast and just an all-around great Gilliam fantasy, especially for anyone interested in world history.
#12
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It always makes me want to travel and live a little deeper.
#13
Chronicles of Riddick. I dont fully understand why i love it as much as i do. But the movie has some of the best/cheesiest/funniest 1 liners ive ever heard. While also just being very entertaining. I liked Pitch Black before it also has some classic 1 liners. And Riddick after was a failed attempt at combining both movies before it.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
Pitch Black.... the original and the best.... When Vin Diesel was a nobody.... filmed in the outback of Coober Pedy, Australia (hence the really bad bit part actor accents....seriously how much did they need to pay Keith David)
#14
E4punisher suggested:
The 13th Warrior. It got bad reviews, but I think it’s a fun movie to watch.
BlacksmithNZ responded:
Great movie, and there are a few memorable scenes.
One that blew me away was Antonio character who is smart but can't speak the language of the other 12. From memory, the Vikings are not translated.. as somebody watching the movie you are like the 13th and not understanding what they are saying.
He tags along on a longish journey just listening to the others chat, swear and abuse him. Then he suddenly swears back as he has figured out enough of the language. At that point the all the characters speak the same language.
I can't think of another movie that dealt with characters not understanding other characters language like this.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago (edited)
Lo there do I see my father; Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them In the halls of Valhalla. Where the brave may live forever.
#15
Moulin Rouge. Everyone that I ask to watch it with me says it’s weird as hell and too zany to follow. But I love it! Songs and all!
#16
Better Off Dead. An 80s teen comedy staring John Cusack in which he repeatedly tries to commit suicide (humorously), has cartoon/claymation animated hallucinations set to Van Halen, has to win a ski competition to woo his ex, and is relentlessly stalked by a young paperboy over 2 dollars. It’s incredibly goofy and one of my favorite 80s movies of all time.
And there is also a pop-punk band named after the protagonist that has clips from the movie in most of their songs.
Kookamunga 3 years ago
"Truly a sight to behold. A man beaten. The once-great champ, now, a study in moppishness."
#17
Not sure how much this counts, but The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. Great comedy/spy movie that did surprisingly poorly in theaters. Definitely recommend a watch.
Julie Johnson 3 years ago
I LOVE that film. I’ve watched it so many times. Wish there was a 2nd
DarkAngelNic 3 years ago
I don't think Armie is going to be hired for films for quite a while or ever at all.
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Marcellus the Third 3 years ago
Main reason for me to completely disregard:"Of course it's a cheapo quick knockoff". I'll give it a chance, now!
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Two_rolling_black_eyes 3 years ago
I love Ruy Ritchie's style and his interpretation of this world is a great romp.
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
Such a fun movie. Great characters, amazing soundtrack, just fun. I have recommended this to so many people since it came out, and every single one of them has liked or loved it.
CharliAnn Olney 3 years ago
I am old enough to have watched the series on TV. Sorry, not impressed with the movie.
Robert Miller 3 years ago
My only complaint was they didn't have David McCallum and Robert Vaughn do cameos ....
Neil Bidle 3 years ago
I remember the series so figured I'd give it a go after this post. Didn't like it I'm afraid, felt rushed and forced with the enemies-now-friends-now-best-friends dynamic which was not only obvious and cliché, but unnecessarily convoluted for what was a poor man's Bond with Henry Cavill who I don't much like, and Armand Hammer who made me cringe watching some of his actions knowing what's been revealed of his private life.
Eithne Griffiths 3 years ago (edited)
I didn't see the film but I loved the tv series. shows how old I am.
#18
It’s not a movie but it’s a show called Farscape. I’m born in 96 so I’m not sure how popular Farscape was back in the day, but.. I loved that s@#t.
#19
The Rocketeer, simply fantastic superhero movie from the early 90's.
#20
Train to Busan. People refuse to watch it because of subtitles.
#21
Reign of Fire is the t@#s and I never hear it talked about.
Sean Harrison 3 years ago
OH, I was so disappointed at the final movie when it came out. It was originally supposed to take place during WWII. The Nazis were drilling into the Earth to tap the Earth's Core for power, and inadvertently awakened the hibernating dragons. So the World had to join together to fight them, while the Nazis were trying to figure out how to control the dragons and use them as weapons. There was even a planned aerial dogfight between WWII fighters and dragons. I would have loved to see that version.
#22
The Quick And The Dead is without doubt the most underrated action movie of the 90's. think enter the dragon or bloodsport but replace martial arts with a quick draw tournament in the old west. starring the likes of Leonardo Dicaprio and Russel Crowe before they were famous and directed by Sam Raimi, with all his directing style trademarks in full glory. its a highly, highly entertaining movie.
#23
Rat Race. Movie is hysterical with a great cast. Maybe it’s popular but I’ve never heard anyone talk about it, even when it came out in theaters.
#24
Lucky Number Slevin.
No idea how to describe it. It's not really a mob movie, although the main character is mixed up two mob bosses, a hitman, dirty NYC cops, and a horserace 20 years before that got an entire family wiped out. But it's a solid "wtf is going on here??" With an all star cast: Josh Hartnett, Sir Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu.
Also Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is sweet, The Brother's Bloom is ... odd, but worth watching, and Across the Universe is one of the best musicals ever.
#25
Sister Act 2, apparently it has really bad reviews on rotten tomatoes but I freaking love it!!
#26
Return to OZ
I read all the OZ books as a kid and this is much closer to the feel than the Wizard of Oz movie with Garland. I love how dark it is, and to this day it's one of my favorite movies.
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
Love, love, LOVE this movie ever since I saw it as a child.... I was a strange child.
#27
I can only speak from experiences in my country and friends I have talked to.
Hardly anyone here has seen Donnie Yen in the Ip Man movies, or any of his other work really
#28
Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day
It's a cute, feel good movie with a surprisingly high caliber cast.
#29
ParaPixie suggested:
Crimson Peak with Tom Hiddleston. Very thrilling. It's Tim Burton meets Loki meets Alice in Wonderland... But with Murder!
verypracticalside responded:
Beware of Crimson Peak!
I hate horror movies, and I hate (-insert the theme of that one awkward part you-know-what-I'm-talking-about-) but that movie.
Feast for the eyes, practical effects and costuming to die for, badass lead woman, every character treated so lovingly by Guillermo del Toro to let their personal reveals/developments build and shine...
There's a reason we watch it every Halloween. It is thrilling, and it does transport you.
I've just Googled it and have been informed that the critic score for it is a mere 6.5...uncultured swine, I tell you.
Mariele Scherzinger 3 years ago (edited)
Long story short: I thought it was visually stunning, but had a very tepid story line
#30
Only Lovers Left Alive. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as vampires. Sexy film. Fantastic music.
What do you think ?
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
UHF by Weird AL plot is simple but lots of bits and quotes that are funny.
Kayla J 3 years ago
Some of these I get, but some others I must have a different definition than Bored Panda in regards to "few people know about".
Phendrena 3 years ago
The majority of content on Bored Panda (and many other sites) is taken from Reddit. In this case it was a question posed in the r/AskReddit sub. The question, as asked on Reddit was "What’s a movie you love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?".
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Moscow on the Hudson. The Conversation. The original Taking of Pelham 123. Mr Church. Brief Encounter. Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. Far from the Madding Crowd. Anything pre-code. Anything with Edna May Oliver. Any of the Marx Brothers movies up to about 1937. Also, a lot of the films in the article are remakes, either of older films, or of older TV shows. If you want to see really good forgotten gems, seek out the originals of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and The Quick and the Dead. If Out Cold is supposed to be Casablanca with snowboarders, then just watch the original Casablanca. I guarantee it’ll be much better. Rat Race is supposed to be the sequel for It’s a Mad Mad Mad World—-a stupid sixties slapstick, but my god the cast they were able to assemble makes you forget the outlandish storyline!
Sue Grigg 3 years ago
Hope And Glory. Probably one of my favorite movies, nobody I know has ever heard of it even with 5 Academy Award nominations..
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
“They’re lovely when they’re full, and it’s so sad when they sag”. Saw this movie on HBO right after it left the theatres. Been trying to get my British WWII buff husband to watch it for years. No idea why he’s so damn resistant.
Load More Replies... Kari Panda 3 years ago
What Dreams May Come. Not sure how popular the movie is internationally, but where I live, barely anybody has seen it and those that have find it boring. One of Robin Williams‘ best roles imo.
John C 3 years ago
absolutely! i have the dvd. What Dreams May Come is a beautiful movie, but one of those that takes repeated viewings to really appreciate... which I suspect the aethetics of certain scenes and the heaviness of the movie overall might have prevented
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Octavia Hansen 3 years ago
Try these: The Man Who Would Be King (Sean Connery & Michael Caine -- story by Ruyard Kipling); Five Element Ninjas (1982) -- strangely elegant layout; Cone Heads movie; The Darkest Hour (not the Churchill one -- alien invasion of Moscow & the world) (2011). Even if you have to buy them, they are cheap and you WILL watch them many times over!
Rob Sims 3 years ago
The Man Who Would be King is my joint top favourite film (with Blade Runner), I can watch it over and over again, it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and 2 Golden Globes, it's got a stunning Maurice Jarre soundtrack, 2 Actors at the top of their respective games plus a fantastic turn by the late Saeed Jaffrey, more people need to see this film!! Now Zardoz on the other hand...!!
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 3 years ago (edited)
Some good ones there. I'd add these: The Triplets of Belleville is animated and so weirdly wonderful. Little Otik is almost impossible to find and bizarre, not for children. Jeanne Tripplehorn in the romcom 'Til There Was You. A love story set in Los Angeles torn between old and new. The best for last, Peter's Friends. It's really watching dear old friends reunited. Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson (and her mom,) Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton again as a married couple, Kenneth Branagh, Rita Rudner and Alphonsia Emmanuel.
Daria B 3 years ago
If you like Belleville, I also suggest The Illusionist. That one was interesting and beautiful as well.
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Candy 3 years ago
My favorite to share with people is The Intouchables. It's a French film so, subtitles. But I watch everything with subtitles anyways so IDC, lol. It's based on a trued story and the two main characters were cast perfectly IMO (Omar Sy of recent Lupin fame). It's on Netflix!
Sanne H. 3 years ago (edited)
I agree with you that it’s a very recommendable movie. Even my husband, who is mostly into things like Marvel and Star Wars loved it. But I wouldn’t call it unknown. Everyone that I know that has seen at least one French movie in their life has watched this one.
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Tracy Sellars 3 years ago
The Grand Budapest Hotel is such a lovely quirky movie. Highly recommend it. Beautifully filmed and the characters and story line are wonderful.
Michael Vickery 3 years ago
I'd recommend The Grifters with John Cusack, Angelica Huston and Annette Benning. It set me off on reading Jim Thompson books, who has been described as a dime store Dostoevsky.
Ana 👁👄👁 3 years ago
Family Stone. Best Christmas movie in the world and for all the famous actors in it I feel like people sleep on it.
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
This is a very good movie. My family loves it as well.
Load More Replies... Amina Hays 3 years ago
I could list so many but I'm going with The Happiness of the Katakuris. It's a Japanese zombie musical. It's so good!
M O'Connell 3 years ago
I highly recommend the short film Troops (1997), it's a parody of the tv show Cops, but set in the Star Wars universe. It was produced entirely by fans and far exceeds the latest studio films in quality.
Bill Evs 3 years ago
The first I'd recommend is 'Withnail & I'. It's a British film from the 80's and it's a great watch. I suppose it would be classed as a "comedy-drama" but I'm not sure that does it justice. Second is Dog Soldiers about a squadron of British army soldiers who, whilst on a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands, get attacked by werewolves. Funny and dramatic.
That One Weirdo 3 years ago
Emperors New Groove is the best creation known to mankind jands down
Carmen Sandiego 3 years ago
Home! People didn't like it because it was sad, ig? It's not. It's an awesome movie with a great soundtrack.
Abby Parker 3 years ago
Paranorman was a great film. I think it got overshadowed by Coraline so not many people I know have seen it. Also, 9 from Tim Burton. Great cast and surprisingly tense for an animated movie O.O
staygoldponyboy 3 years ago
Out Cold wasn't mentioned (unless I missed it), but is pictured in the headline. That movie is hilarious, though.
Ila in Maine 3 years ago
Rubber a Horror/Comedy movie is a forgotten movie that is a real gem. I know no one who didn't find it either disturbing or funny or both. Yet there are only a select intelligent few who know about it. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rubber
Miss Melanie 3 years ago
I think Best In Show is another really great one that’s underrated but hysterical😹😉
Elizabeth Molloy 3 years ago
The Field. A film about an Irish farmer who refuses to sell his field, which leads to arguments with his son. Sounds dull, but it's brilliant! Hear My Song, British-Irish comedy about a club owner trying to track down a long-disappeared singer for his girlfriend's mother. Hilarious and has great music too!
Elizabeth Molloy 3 years ago
Cronos, The Devil's Backbone, both early works by Guillermo del Toro. City of Lost Children is a French dark fantasy which is also funny. Spanish thrillers The Body and In Her Eyes. Alex de la Iglesia's Day of The Beast, The Baby's Room and Accion Mutante all Spanish comedy/horror/action films, respectively. I could go on ...
AJ 3 years ago
Two come to mind. PCU...an obscure 90's college comedy starring Jeremy Piven and a very young David Spade. It's kind of dumb but I still quote it to this day. Another one is Serial Mom, also from the 90's. Can't go wrong with John Waters.
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Can't go wrong with George Clinton and P-funk at your party and I've owned Serial Mom for many years and my family loves it. It's my daughter's go to movie for comedy, for anyone that visits and hasn't seen it. Pussywillow.
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DDmaybeandor 3 years ago
This is a great article. I'd like to see it again in the future but broken up by genre.
something to ponder 3 years ago
Atlantis movie by Disney. It came out in the early 2000's. It has several famous voice actors including Lenard Nimoy. The characters are from diverse background and woke together to option their goals. It's such a good movie.
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
If you like surreal and weird "fantasy" I highly recommend MirrorMask, it's not super well known but omg, I love that movie so much.
Mariele Scherzinger 3 years ago (edited)
Further notable additions that come to mind: Byzantium (2012), Perfect Sense (2011), Breakfast On Pluto (2005), The Headsman / Shadow of the Sword (2005), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
GFSTaylor 3 years ago
I saw Perfect Sense. It ran for one week at the local multiplex, and I was the only person in that screening. I liked it.
Load More Replies... The-JoeBai 3 years ago (edited)
I don’t think Moulin Rouge!, which garnered 8 Academy Award nominations, winning two, and had a box office I take of $180m (at the turn of the century) was a particularly “Hidden gem”, boredpanda?!
Amy Broderick 3 years ago
'Legend' with a very young Tom Cruise and Tim Curry as the Devil 'Kung Fu Hustle' makes so much fun of king fu movies and is hilarious! 'Canadian Bacon' has an all-star cast and is definitely one of John Candy's best
Half-Jewish-Doggo 3 years ago
you guys need to watch Atlantis: The Lost Empire its a disney movie from 2000 and absolutely incredible
Kimberly Brown 3 years ago
You forgot “The Fifth Element” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”. Two great movies that didn’t get as much recognition as they should have.
Robert Miller 3 years ago
Matewan -1987 by John Sayles Starring Chris Cooper in his film debut with a cast including James Earl Jones , David Strathairn , Kevin Tighe and Mary McDonnell a true story of American history and compelling story . A must watch !
Bert van Aalsburg 3 years ago
I love these kind of lists. Under-appreciated movies. I always see a few that I whole-heartedly agree with. And others that I haven't seen and add to my must-see list.
F. H. 3 years ago
Sorry, what is this list? Movies that were big in the 90s and early 2000s? Most of these aren't hidden gems, but movies that were quite big at their time. Most of these are - whether they are good or bad - big studio movies that almost everyone had seen at the time. Moulin Rouge a hidden gem? It was the pinaccle of trash cinema back then. Reign of Fire? My friends were all completely hyped by the trailers, but it ended up being a boring grey mess. Shouldn't a hidden gem be, well... hidden? Smaller indie movies, maybe?
Random Anon 3 years ago
There are several in my list: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000), The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Japanese animation, 2004), Fringe (series 2008), Firefly (2002), Serenity (2005) and too many to list here.
CalamityOne 3 years ago
Tremors - the original movie, not so much the 17 sequels or the limited-run TV series. Comedy, horror, a touch of romance, and Kevin Bacon.... The build-up of tension as the main characters keep discovering bodies and try to figure out what's killing everyone in their isolated flyspeck little desert town, gets me every time (despite the cheesy special effects, lol)...
Faith Hurst 3 years ago
Hidden? How are these films so often instantly available but yet less known than when you had to go to the theater or just happen to catch them on TV?
Kel Gal 3 years ago
Maybe for you. I’m 53 and have seen a lot of movies in my time and yet have not heard of many of these.
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Peter Kelly 3 years ago (edited)
Years ago, I went to the cinema to watch a particular film (back in the day when you got two!) and it was excellent: 'Fear is the Key'. I'd have that in this list, but the 'B' movie was even better. It was 'The Gunfight', starring Kirk Douglas, as a renowned but aging sheriff, and Johnny Cash, as a world-weary gunfighter. I recommend everyone to see it. Another fun one is 'Dark Star': early Sci-fi on a tiny budget, but brilliant!
FABULOUS1 3 years ago
My biggest one would be Bowfinger with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. Then Blast from the past two of my all time favorites images-2-6...a03590.jpg 
Chris Arlott 3 years ago
Can't believe the Triplets of Belleville wasn't in this list, it's an excellent animated film.
Chris Arlott 3 years ago
Can't believe the Triplets of Belleville wasn't in this list. Excellent film
kjorn 3 years ago
Southern Comfort (1981 or 82): the national guard are in training in the bayou. they stole a boat from the cajun people and one of the soldier scared them for fun with his M60 loaded with blank bullet. but the cajun fight back and start killing them. it's a run for the mens. great analogy about vietnam war.
lara 3 years ago
If you loved "Better Off Dead" and "The Burbs" watch American Dreamer. ohmygawd that is a funny, funny, funny movie. And another, which is damned impossible to find is "Knights." It has a lot of "real" Hollywood stars. It has the best one liners I have ever heard for a movie that isn't "supposed" to be funny. And Lance Henricksen as the "bad guy" chews up the scenery with all the aplomb of GodzIlla going after Toyko. Kris Kristoffersen is "the good guy" and Kathy Long the "heroine." Watch if for no other reason than Lance Henricksen.
gaston caffaratti 3 years ago
"Come and see"... Russian film about the horrors of the nazi invation, really raw and kind of hard to watch at moments
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
Dread. No creatures,demons, or otherworldly things...The only monster is fear and how others manipulate us with it.
something to ponder 3 years ago
Atlantis:The Lost Empire (2001) it is such a diverse character cast along with several big name actors. So underated.
Toko Danganronpa 3 years ago
I would like to add "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" (2016) to the list. Absolutely hilarious yet underrated. Great message yet still a bonkers comedy that is one of my favourite movies to date.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago
not a movie technically, but you can watch "Ringing Bell" on Youtube. It's a kids cartoon. Permanently f****d me up when I was about 5 years old.
Juririn 3 years ago
Let me add: Uncanny (2015) - sooo much better than Ex Machina!!! - great acting, it really leaves you with an uncanny feeling that you need to watch it again. and again. and discover something new each time; Stoker (2013) - creepy and seductive in a perverse way, Bitter Moon (1992) and Carnage (2011), both great casts, both directed by R. Polanski.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
Also adding 1993 movie 'Who's the man???' Hip Hop + Comedy = Gold.... 'No wait down the end'... My brother and I still do lines from this fun movie.... "I wouldn't let that brother cut my taxes'...
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
UHF by Weird AL plot is simple but lots of bits and quotes that are funny.
Kayla J 3 years ago
Some of these I get, but some others I must have a different definition than Bored Panda in regards to "few people know about".
Phendrena 3 years ago
The majority of content on Bored Panda (and many other sites) is taken from Reddit. In this case it was a question posed in the r/AskReddit sub. The question, as asked on Reddit was "What’s a movie you love that is unpopular or unknown by most people?".
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Moscow on the Hudson. The Conversation. The original Taking of Pelham 123. Mr Church. Brief Encounter. Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. Far from the Madding Crowd. Anything pre-code. Anything with Edna May Oliver. Any of the Marx Brothers movies up to about 1937. Also, a lot of the films in the article are remakes, either of older films, or of older TV shows. If you want to see really good forgotten gems, seek out the originals of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and The Quick and the Dead. If Out Cold is supposed to be Casablanca with snowboarders, then just watch the original Casablanca. I guarantee it’ll be much better. Rat Race is supposed to be the sequel for It’s a Mad Mad Mad World—-a stupid sixties slapstick, but my god the cast they were able to assemble makes you forget the outlandish storyline!
Sue Grigg 3 years ago
Hope And Glory. Probably one of my favorite movies, nobody I know has ever heard of it even with 5 Academy Award nominations..
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
“They’re lovely when they’re full, and it’s so sad when they sag”. Saw this movie on HBO right after it left the theatres. Been trying to get my British WWII buff husband to watch it for years. No idea why he’s so damn resistant.
Load More Replies... Kari Panda 3 years ago
What Dreams May Come. Not sure how popular the movie is internationally, but where I live, barely anybody has seen it and those that have find it boring. One of Robin Williams‘ best roles imo.
John C 3 years ago
absolutely! i have the dvd. What Dreams May Come is a beautiful movie, but one of those that takes repeated viewings to really appreciate... which I suspect the aethetics of certain scenes and the heaviness of the movie overall might have prevented
Load More Replies... Octavia Hansen 3 years ago
Try these: The Man Who Would Be King (Sean Connery & Michael Caine -- story by Ruyard Kipling); Five Element Ninjas (1982) -- strangely elegant layout; Cone Heads movie; The Darkest Hour (not the Churchill one -- alien invasion of Moscow & the world) (2011). Even if you have to buy them, they are cheap and you WILL watch them many times over!
Rob Sims 3 years ago
The Man Who Would be King is my joint top favourite film (with Blade Runner), I can watch it over and over again, it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and 2 Golden Globes, it's got a stunning Maurice Jarre soundtrack, 2 Actors at the top of their respective games plus a fantastic turn by the late Saeed Jaffrey, more people need to see this film!! Now Zardoz on the other hand...!!
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 3 years ago (edited)
Some good ones there. I'd add these: The Triplets of Belleville is animated and so weirdly wonderful. Little Otik is almost impossible to find and bizarre, not for children. Jeanne Tripplehorn in the romcom 'Til There Was You. A love story set in Los Angeles torn between old and new. The best for last, Peter's Friends. It's really watching dear old friends reunited. Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson (and her mom,) Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton again as a married couple, Kenneth Branagh, Rita Rudner and Alphonsia Emmanuel.
Daria B 3 years ago
If you like Belleville, I also suggest The Illusionist. That one was interesting and beautiful as well.
Load More Replies... Candy 3 years ago
My favorite to share with people is The Intouchables. It's a French film so, subtitles. But I watch everything with subtitles anyways so IDC, lol. It's based on a trued story and the two main characters were cast perfectly IMO (Omar Sy of recent Lupin fame). It's on Netflix!
Sanne H. 3 years ago (edited)
I agree with you that it’s a very recommendable movie. Even my husband, who is mostly into things like Marvel and Star Wars loved it. But I wouldn’t call it unknown. Everyone that I know that has seen at least one French movie in their life has watched this one.
Load More Replies... Tracy Sellars 3 years ago
The Grand Budapest Hotel is such a lovely quirky movie. Highly recommend it. Beautifully filmed and the characters and story line are wonderful.
Michael Vickery 3 years ago
I'd recommend The Grifters with John Cusack, Angelica Huston and Annette Benning. It set me off on reading Jim Thompson books, who has been described as a dime store Dostoevsky.
Ana 👁👄👁 3 years ago
Family Stone. Best Christmas movie in the world and for all the famous actors in it I feel like people sleep on it.
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
This is a very good movie. My family loves it as well.
Load More Replies... Amina Hays 3 years ago
I could list so many but I'm going with The Happiness of the Katakuris. It's a Japanese zombie musical. It's so good!
M O'Connell 3 years ago
I highly recommend the short film Troops (1997), it's a parody of the tv show Cops, but set in the Star Wars universe. It was produced entirely by fans and far exceeds the latest studio films in quality.
Bill Evs 3 years ago
The first I'd recommend is 'Withnail & I'. It's a British film from the 80's and it's a great watch. I suppose it would be classed as a "comedy-drama" but I'm not sure that does it justice. Second is Dog Soldiers about a squadron of British army soldiers who, whilst on a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands, get attacked by werewolves. Funny and dramatic.
That One Weirdo 3 years ago
Emperors New Groove is the best creation known to mankind jands down
Carmen Sandiego 3 years ago
Home! People didn't like it because it was sad, ig? It's not. It's an awesome movie with a great soundtrack.
Abby Parker 3 years ago
Paranorman was a great film. I think it got overshadowed by Coraline so not many people I know have seen it. Also, 9 from Tim Burton. Great cast and surprisingly tense for an animated movie O.O
staygoldponyboy 3 years ago
Out Cold wasn't mentioned (unless I missed it), but is pictured in the headline. That movie is hilarious, though.
Ila in Maine 3 years ago
Rubber a Horror/Comedy movie is a forgotten movie that is a real gem. I know no one who didn't find it either disturbing or funny or both. Yet there are only a select intelligent few who know about it. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rubber
Miss Melanie 3 years ago
I think Best In Show is another really great one that’s underrated but hysterical😹😉
Elizabeth Molloy 3 years ago
The Field. A film about an Irish farmer who refuses to sell his field, which leads to arguments with his son. Sounds dull, but it's brilliant! Hear My Song, British-Irish comedy about a club owner trying to track down a long-disappeared singer for his girlfriend's mother. Hilarious and has great music too!
Elizabeth Molloy 3 years ago
Cronos, The Devil's Backbone, both early works by Guillermo del Toro. City of Lost Children is a French dark fantasy which is also funny. Spanish thrillers The Body and In Her Eyes. Alex de la Iglesia's Day of The Beast, The Baby's Room and Accion Mutante all Spanish comedy/horror/action films, respectively. I could go on ...
AJ 3 years ago
Two come to mind. PCU...an obscure 90's college comedy starring Jeremy Piven and a very young David Spade. It's kind of dumb but I still quote it to this day. Another one is Serial Mom, also from the 90's. Can't go wrong with John Waters.
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Can't go wrong with George Clinton and P-funk at your party and I've owned Serial Mom for many years and my family loves it. It's my daughter's go to movie for comedy, for anyone that visits and hasn't seen it. Pussywillow.
Load More Replies... DDmaybeandor 3 years ago
This is a great article. I'd like to see it again in the future but broken up by genre.
something to ponder 3 years ago
Atlantis movie by Disney. It came out in the early 2000's. It has several famous voice actors including Lenard Nimoy. The characters are from diverse background and woke together to option their goals. It's such a good movie.
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
If you like surreal and weird "fantasy" I highly recommend MirrorMask, it's not super well known but omg, I love that movie so much.
Mariele Scherzinger 3 years ago (edited)
Further notable additions that come to mind: Byzantium (2012), Perfect Sense (2011), Breakfast On Pluto (2005), The Headsman / Shadow of the Sword (2005), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
GFSTaylor 3 years ago
I saw Perfect Sense. It ran for one week at the local multiplex, and I was the only person in that screening. I liked it.
Load More Replies... The-JoeBai 3 years ago (edited)
I don’t think Moulin Rouge!, which garnered 8 Academy Award nominations, winning two, and had a box office I take of $180m (at the turn of the century) was a particularly “Hidden gem”, boredpanda?!
Amy Broderick 3 years ago
'Legend' with a very young Tom Cruise and Tim Curry as the Devil 'Kung Fu Hustle' makes so much fun of king fu movies and is hilarious! 'Canadian Bacon' has an all-star cast and is definitely one of John Candy's best
Half-Jewish-Doggo 3 years ago
you guys need to watch Atlantis: The Lost Empire its a disney movie from 2000 and absolutely incredible
Kimberly Brown 3 years ago
You forgot “The Fifth Element” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”. Two great movies that didn’t get as much recognition as they should have.
Robert Miller 3 years ago
Matewan -1987 by John Sayles Starring Chris Cooper in his film debut with a cast including James Earl Jones , David Strathairn , Kevin Tighe and Mary McDonnell a true story of American history and compelling story . A must watch !
Bert van Aalsburg 3 years ago
I love these kind of lists. Under-appreciated movies. I always see a few that I whole-heartedly agree with. And others that I haven't seen and add to my must-see list.
F. H. 3 years ago
Sorry, what is this list? Movies that were big in the 90s and early 2000s? Most of these aren't hidden gems, but movies that were quite big at their time. Most of these are - whether they are good or bad - big studio movies that almost everyone had seen at the time. Moulin Rouge a hidden gem? It was the pinaccle of trash cinema back then. Reign of Fire? My friends were all completely hyped by the trailers, but it ended up being a boring grey mess. Shouldn't a hidden gem be, well... hidden? Smaller indie movies, maybe?
Random Anon 3 years ago
There are several in my list: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000), The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Japanese animation, 2004), Fringe (series 2008), Firefly (2002), Serenity (2005) and too many to list here.
CalamityOne 3 years ago
Tremors - the original movie, not so much the 17 sequels or the limited-run TV series. Comedy, horror, a touch of romance, and Kevin Bacon.... The build-up of tension as the main characters keep discovering bodies and try to figure out what's killing everyone in their isolated flyspeck little desert town, gets me every time (despite the cheesy special effects, lol)...
Faith Hurst 3 years ago
Hidden? How are these films so often instantly available but yet less known than when you had to go to the theater or just happen to catch them on TV?
Kel Gal 3 years ago
Maybe for you. I’m 53 and have seen a lot of movies in my time and yet have not heard of many of these.
Load More Replies... Peter Kelly 3 years ago (edited)
Years ago, I went to the cinema to watch a particular film (back in the day when you got two!) and it was excellent: 'Fear is the Key'. I'd have that in this list, but the 'B' movie was even better. It was 'The Gunfight', starring Kirk Douglas, as a renowned but aging sheriff, and Johnny Cash, as a world-weary gunfighter. I recommend everyone to see it. Another fun one is 'Dark Star': early Sci-fi on a tiny budget, but brilliant!
FABULOUS1 3 years ago
My biggest one would be Bowfinger with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. Then Blast from the past two of my all time favorites images-2-6...a03590.jpg
Chris Arlott 3 years ago
Can't believe the Triplets of Belleville wasn't in this list, it's an excellent animated film.
Chris Arlott 3 years ago
Can't believe the Triplets of Belleville wasn't in this list. Excellent film
kjorn 3 years ago
Southern Comfort (1981 or 82): the national guard are in training in the bayou. they stole a boat from the cajun people and one of the soldier scared them for fun with his M60 loaded with blank bullet. but the cajun fight back and start killing them. it's a run for the mens. great analogy about vietnam war.
lara 3 years ago
If you loved "Better Off Dead" and "The Burbs" watch American Dreamer. ohmygawd that is a funny, funny, funny movie. And another, which is damned impossible to find is "Knights." It has a lot of "real" Hollywood stars. It has the best one liners I have ever heard for a movie that isn't "supposed" to be funny. And Lance Henricksen as the "bad guy" chews up the scenery with all the aplomb of GodzIlla going after Toyko. Kris Kristoffersen is "the good guy" and Kathy Long the "heroine." Watch if for no other reason than Lance Henricksen.
gaston caffaratti 3 years ago
"Come and see"... Russian film about the horrors of the nazi invation, really raw and kind of hard to watch at moments
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
Dread. No creatures,demons, or otherworldly things...The only monster is fear and how others manipulate us with it.
something to ponder 3 years ago
Atlantis:The Lost Empire (2001) it is such a diverse character cast along with several big name actors. So underated.
Toko Danganronpa 3 years ago
I would like to add "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" (2016) to the list. Absolutely hilarious yet underrated. Great message yet still a bonkers comedy that is one of my favourite movies to date.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago
not a movie technically, but you can watch "Ringing Bell" on Youtube. It's a kids cartoon. Permanently f****d me up when I was about 5 years old.
Juririn 3 years ago
Let me add: Uncanny (2015) - sooo much better than Ex Machina!!! - great acting, it really leaves you with an uncanny feeling that you need to watch it again. and again. and discover something new each time; Stoker (2013) - creepy and seductive in a perverse way, Bitter Moon (1992) and Carnage (2011), both great casts, both directed by R. Polanski.
Monty Is Fiennes 3 years ago
Also adding 1993 movie 'Who's the man???' Hip Hop + Comedy = Gold.... 'No wait down the end'... My brother and I still do lines from this fun movie.... "I wouldn't let that brother cut my taxes'...
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