10 Most Underrated Movies Of 2024 That You Need To See

2024 was a great year for movies, with blockbusters and critical darlings galore, but even then, there were a number of films that went under the radar last year, despite being some of the best movies of the year. Countless successful movies were released in 2024, but there are a special few that likely stuck out in audiences' minds. Some include Wicked, Gladiator II, Challengers, Dune: Part Two, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and more. Of course, these movies deserve all the praise, yet a vast array of hidden gems also premiered in 2024, and they deserve way more attention.

A 2024 movie that is considered underrated is one that was very well-received, and deserves a place among the best movies of the year, but got little recognition in the mainstream. Oftentimes, these are smaller, indie movies that did not benefit from massive budgets or incredible casts. They probably lacked solid marketing as well. Despite having engaging premises and strong reputations, they were only recognized by a rare few. Overall, the following movies are projects that viewers should watch in the new year, before they're forgotten completely.

10 Snack Shack

Best Friends Try To Get Rich

One movie that definitely got swept under the rug in 2024 was Snack Shack. Released in March 2024, this movie follows best friends AJ and Moose as they take over the rundown snack shack at their local pool. The pair craft a plan to become rich, and are on their way to doing so, until they meet Brooke. The beautiful and cool lifeguard suddenly puts a wedge in their business plan, and also their relationship with each other.

Despite a $4.5 million budget and pretty basic premise, Snack Shack managed to impress critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned an 81% critics score and an 88% audience score. Viewers praised the movie for being straightforward fun and evoking the wonderful feelings of a summer day spent by the pool. Furthermore, the chemistry between leads Gabriel LaBelle and Conor Sherry did not go unnoticed.

9 The Order

A Veteran FBI Agent Takes Down White Supremacists

A later release that also escaped audiences was The Order. This December release stars Jude Law as an FBI agent who tries to take down a white supremacist group known as The Order, who have a plan to overthrow the federal government. Alongside Law, the movie stars Nicholas Hoult, Jurnee Smollett, and Marc Maron. This movie has an even smaller budget, at just $2.1 million. It is based on a non-fiction book entitled The Silent Brotherhood.

Critics agreed that The Order was an action-packed thriller with an enticing 1970s setting and a classic story of men being destroyed by their ambitions.

It is rather surprising that The Order didn't make a splash in 2024 considering its talented cast. Hoult, in particular, has earned quite a bit of praise recently with movies like Juror #2 and Nosferatu. Regardless, The Order went mostly unnoticed, despite earning a Certified Fresh 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics agreed that The Order was an action-packed thriller with an enticing 1970s setting and a classic story of men being destroyed by their ambitions.

8 Oh, Canada

A Dying Filmmaker Comes Clean

A movie with a notable cast that deserves a bit more attention is Oh, Canada. The film follows Richard Gere as dying director Leonard Fife, who sits for one final interview before his death. Through a series of interview excerpts and flashbacks, audiences learn that Fife's progressive reputation was actually built on a series of lies. In actuality, the beloved filmmaker discarded most of the people who cared about him throughout his life.

Oh, Canada does not have the same critical success as some of the other movies on this list, but that doesn't take away the more intriguing aspects of this film. From the shocking premise to the fantastic cast, this movie has plenty to offer audiences who enjoy drama. Alongside Gere, Oh, Canada stars Jacob Elordi, Michael Imperioli, and Uma Thurman. Furthermore, it is the first collaboration between Gere and director Paul Schrader since American Gigolo.

7 Good One

A Teenage Girl Goes On A Hiking Trip

A quiet yet powerful entry from 2024 is Good One. This drama story follows Sam, a teenage girl who goes on a weekend-long camping trip into the Catskills with her father and his recently divorced friend. It is obvious that Sam is the odd one out on this trip, but more than that, she acts as an observer of her father's relationship with his friend. Good One is India Donaldson's directional debut, and had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Good One scored an impressive Certified Fresh 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been deemed one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review. Audiences were captivated by the movie's subtlety, and its unwillingness to explain itself. In this way, the film sucks viewers in and forces them to be like Sam: an observer in this world of quiet gestures and unsaid truths.

6 Didi

A Young Taiwanese Boy Grows Up In The Age Of The Internet

For those who love a coming-of-age story, Didi is certainly the way to go. In this July 2024 movie, a 13-year-old Taiwanese kid named Chris is on the cusp of going to high school in 2008, and seeks refuge on the internet to escape his monotonous life. Though he loves his family, he tries to learn how to embody the American standard of cool via flirting and skateboarding. All the while, Chris must come to terms with his identity and what it means in American society.

Didi is another indie success, winning the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and joining the top 10 best independent movies of 2024. With a Certified Fresh 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has been lauded for its accurate depiction of growing up in the 2000s and the painful issues many struggled with as a result of the internet. Furthermore, the movie imbues a wonderful warmth and kindness into the mostly difficult experience of being an adolescent.

5 Exhibiting Forgiveness

An Artist's Life Changes When His Estranged Father Returns

Another particularly moving piece from 2024 is Exhibiting Forgiveness. Released in January 2024, the film follows a Black artist named Tarrell, whose path to success is disrupted when his estranged addict father comes back into his life. As a result, Tarrell must renegotiate his relationship with his dad, while also figuring out who he is in relation to his past. The movie stars André Holland, Andra Day, and John Earl Jelks.

Exhibiting Forgiveness is another movie that feels like a gut-punch to audiences.

Exhibiting Forgiveness is another movie that feels like a gut-punch to audiences. Watching Tarrell struggle to forgive his father is an experience that may prove relatable to anyone who has ever had to face a wrongdoing in their life. Although Exhibiting Forgiveness does include moments of hope, the movie is more about the messiness of life and the ways in which emotions can change over time - for better or worse.

4 Woman Of The Hour

A Woman Is On A Gameshow With A Serial Killer

A fantastic Netflix movie that many may have unknowingly skipped past last year is Woman of the Hour. Directed by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut, this movie tells the true story of Sheryl Bradshaw, a young woman who starred on an episode of The Dating Game, only to find that the man who won a date with her is actually a serial killer. Kendrick not only directed the film, but also starred as Sheryl, alongside Daniel Zovatto.

Woman of the Hour is a perfect watch for those obsessed with true crime. This film delves into a story that definitely deserves more limelight, and luckily, Kendrick comes at it from a place of care and kindness. Woman of the Hour never feels like an exploitation, but instead, gives credit where it's due to its victim and protagonist, Sheryl. On top of that, it is a colorful and chilling expose on violence and the invisibility of criminals. There's a reason why the film earned a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

3 The Bikeriders

The Evolution Of A Biker Gang

Yet another star-studded movie that was overlooked last year was The Bikeriders. This crime drama film follows a Midwestern motorcycle club over the course of decades, as it transitions from a welcoming place for outsiders and outcasts to a highly dangerous gang that commits violence against those who first started the club. Notably, The Bikeriders stars Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Norman Reedus, and Mike Faist.

The Bikeriders is a compelling story that pulls from real life, not only in terms of story, but in regard to true prejudice that has taken place in America. The movie boasts a completely immersive world that highlights how culture has changed over time, specifically through the lens of motorcycle clubs, which may not be completely familiar to most viewers. Overall, critics were impressed with the film's performances, and this is what gave the film its strong 80% critics score.

2 A Different Man

An Aspiring Actor Gets A Significant Facial Procedure

One particularly unique film that should be on audiences' radars is A Different Man. In this black comedy thriller, an aspiring actor with a facial disfigurement decides to undergo an experimental procedure which gives him a new face. At first, the protagonist is shocked by his newfound fame and success, yet he soon begins to regret losing what made him himself. The film stars Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan.

Another underrated movie Sebastian Stan starred in in 2024 was The Apprentice.

Yet another contender in the top 10 independent films of 2024, A Different Man is a surprisingly bold adventure into a story that may seem familiar to many, but which twists and turns in many unexpected ways. Through dark comedy, this movie delves into disability and how physical change cannot necessarily bring about the much more necessary internal change. Overall, this movie deserves all the awards and nominations it has received.

1 I Saw The TV Glow

A Young Man Becomes Obsessed With A Strange TV Show

Last but not least, there is I Saw The TV Glow. Released in May 2024, this fantasy horror film centers on Owen, a young man who befriends Maddy, and becomes obsessed with her favorite TV show, The Pink Opaque. When Maddy goes missing, Owen must return to his boring and unfulfilling life, yet her unexpected return many years later prompts him to question how much of their favorite show was real, and how much was simply made up in their heads.

I Saw The TV Glow is not necessarily for everyone, but it is a film that will speak deeply to a wide range of people. Beautifully strange and uncanny, this movie explores what it means to feel like an outcast, and more than that, to feel as though you don't belong in your world or your body. With strong lead actors and a gorgeous setting, I Saw The TV Glow is a project viewers should not miss as 2024 comes to an end.

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