We’re halfway through the 2020s. It’s been a tumultuous decade to say the least, but it’s also been filled with massive blockbusters and cultural touchstones. However, some amazing films slip through the cracks and don’t get anywhere near the attention they deserve.
So, if you’re done with the big hitters like Top Gun: Maverick, Barbie, and whatever the latest addition to the MCU is, take some time to watch these overlooked and underloved films from the 2020s.
The Last Duel (2021)
Watch The Last Duel on Fubo
It’s wild to think of any film from Ridley Scott as being underrated, but The Last Duel very much fits that bill. Simply put, it wasn’t universally loved as with other films by Scott, and has a mixed reputation because of this, despite its A-list cast and interesting story.
The Last Duel is an interesting proposition. It’s a tense drama set in medieval times, whose story is told through three different perspectives. There is Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), and Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer), the latter of whom accuses Le Gris of rape.
As you may expect, each perspective adds different angles and flavor to the story, focusing on the lack of voice for women in those times, culminating in a tense duel.
How to Have Sex (2023)
Watch How to Have Sex on Netflix
I know; this movie has a provocative, eye-catching title. But it’s far from the steamy romp you might think you’re about to embark on. It’s actually a far grittier look into teenagers coming of age, drinking, vulnerability, and consent.
I really liked how raw parts of How to Have Sex are. It captures the rush of adolescence: neon-lit dance floors, late-night laughter, the excitement of breaking rules, and that first big holiday abroad. But it also delivers on the darker, seedier underside of all of that, with the three teenage girls quickly realizing that they might be a little less experienced than they realize.
How to Have Sex actually won the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival and is well regarded by anyone who watches it. For me, it hit home as I have two teenage girls at home, and another daughter fast approaching it. However, it’s a great watch either way.
The Green Knight (2021)
Buy The Green Knight on Apple TV+
I was super hyped for The Green Knight. I grew up reading Arthurian legends, and was excited to watch what I thought would be a high-budget, enthralling look into one of the most intriguing characters from those tales: Sir Gawain.
It was not what I expected. Like, not at all. The Green Knight was a surreal delve into otherworldly, dreamlike scenes that take you in and out of consciousness. It touches on all the key topics from the original stories, such as honor, mortality, ego, and more. But its presentation was far from what I expected to see.
This approach is definitely what sets The Green Knight apart and is why it received such mixed reviews at launch. I can understand why. Yet, if given time and rewatched, or at least considered with an open mind, it delivers a unique cinematic experience, and one that will stay with you for a long while.
Pig (2021)
Watch Pig on Netflix
Pig surprised me. Nicolas Cage is a meme-worthy person with an acting career spanning decades, but he does have a better range than people give him credit for. That’s what’s on display in Pig, where Cage plays Rob, a reclusive,truffle-hunting chef living in the Oregon wilderness whose beloved foraging pig is stolen.
It doesn’t really go where you think it might. There is no casual violence or murder-rampage like we’ve seen in other Cage movies. Instead, Pig is a look at meditation, loss, and legacy, albeit sprinkled with some odd scenes and directorial choices.
Pig isn’t a masterpiece. But it’s absolutely worth a watch and is definitely underrated.
Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
Watch Cha Cha Real Smooth on Apple TV+
No, it’s not the Cha Cha Slide. It’s way better than that. Cha Cha Real Smooth stars Cooper Raiff (who also directs) as Andrew, a 22-year-old with an odd skill: he’s a hype man for bar mitzvahs.
Along the way, he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), a young mother, and her autistic daughter, Lola, the combination of which begins to change his perspective on life. It’s a heart-warming coming-of-age movie that is really brimming with lovely, warm moments, with some references to that oh-so awkward phase between your late teenage years and early adulthood.
This is another one that sounds a little cheesy, but it’s worth a watch—you’ll understand why I think it’s underrated.
On the Count of Three (2021)
Watch On the Count of Three on Hulu
On the Count of Three is a black comedy with a touchy subject matter: a suicide pact between two friends (hence the title).
It follows the story of two lifelong friends, Val (Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott), who make a suicide pact and decide to live their final day to the fullest—or at least, their definition of it.
But it turns into an amusing exploration of their friendship and why they might have more going for them than they initially realize. It has dark moments, but also a lot of funny ones, too.
Don’t skip these underrated films from the 2020s
There are always amazing films that go under the radar. It’s the unfortunate problem with movies; when something else is hitting the heights, it usually means something else is being ignored, even if it has the potential to be amazing. But you can catch up on the films you’ve missed in the 2020s, with the prospect of even more to come (or not!).
