15 forgotten movies that deserve more love 

Hollywood is an industry that has been minting movies for a century. And each year, new movies are released for the entertainment and pleasure of its avid movie-goers. While many films continue to get critical acclaim even years after their launch, there are some underrated gems that fly under the radar and lose out on visibility. Here are some of the movies that audiences have forgotten about that must be given their due attention.

**Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.**

1. Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Directed by Randal Kleiser, this 1980s sci-fi adventure movie has loads of mystery and mayhem. People often remember ET and The Goonies, but tend to forget this masterpiece from the same era. The movie is about a 12-year-old boy who is abducted by aliens and transported from 1978 to 1986. It was one of the first movies to use CGI extensively and had an entirely electronic film score. A must-watch.

2. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, this comedy movie is about two New Yorkers who are put on trial for a murder they did not commit. One of them decides to get help from his cousin, who arrives in conservative Southern America with his fiancé. The movie was famous for its time but has gradually lost its charm. The film’s humor and trial scenes are impeccable, especially Tomei’s performance during the climax scene. Another must-watch.

3. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

A satirical mockumentary and black comedy, this movie often goes under the radar. Directed by Michael Patrick Jann and starring Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, and others, the movie is about the pressure and craze that young women have when they compete in a beauty pageant and the extreme measures they are willing to take to secure the winner’s title. The movie could not gain numbers at the box office but is now considered a cult film.

4. Network (1976)

Directed by Sidney Lumet, this satirical black comedy from the 1970s still rings true in today’s age and day. The film is essentially about a fictional television network that does not have appropriate ratings to bolster its channel and the comedy and drama that ensues. Starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, and others, even though the movie enjoys acclaim and was a hit during its time, many people have forgotten its telling commentary in modern times. A must-watch.

5. Didi (2024)

This coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Sean Wang went under the radar, even though it is a 2024 movie. The film is set during the early aughts and is about a Taiwanese-American boy who uses the rise in social media to hide away from his feelings of inadequacy and an overburdened mother. But the internet heightens his preexisting feelings. The movie is a beautifully shot and layered look at the stories of immigrant children and is a must-watch.

6. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Few movies are well-made comedy heists with a clever plot and witty dialogues. Directed by Charles Crichton, A Fish Called Wanda, is one such film that needs to be watched by more people. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, the film is about a band of thieves whose leader is in jail and has hidden a stash of diamonds. As the group double-crosses each other and uses all sorts of tactics to get to the jewels, the movie becomes a true caper.

7. Monster House (2006)

Starring the voices of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Steve Buscemi, and others, this animated movie from the early aughts has impressive motion-capture animation and an engrossing plot. Directed by Gil Kenan, the supernatural comedy is about a bunch of kids who enter a haunted house during Halloween. The film did well at the contemporary box office but audiences have forgotten it with time as a slew of animated studios have come up. This one remains a must-watch.

8. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Starring John and Joan Cusack, Minnie Driver, and others, this black comedy directed by George Armitage is about an assassin, Martin Blank (Cusack), who attends his high school reunion in his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He soon takes an assignment over there and learns that a mysterious figure is also out to kill him. The movie is famous for its iconic soundtrack that has ska, new wave, and alternative punk rock songs. An underrated watch.

9. Dark Shadows (2012)

Other movies by Tim Burton like Edward Scissorhands have a steady fan following. But many movie-goers have yet to appreciate the full repertoire of the famous director. Dark Shadows is a gothic movie that needs more appreciation. Starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and others, the movie is about a playboy, Barnabas (Depp) cursed by a witch, who turns him into a vampire and buries him alive. Barnabas escapes after two centuries and decides to get his revenge.

10. CODA (2021)

Starring Emilia Jones, Daniel Durant, and others, this coming-of-age comedy-drama is a sweet and heartfelt movie that is criminally underrated. Directed by Sian Heder, it is about a child of deaf adults, Ruby (Jones), who is an aspiring singer and wants to grow her family’s fishing business. The film uses deaf actors to play the deaf characters and uses sign language to communicate. The movie won multiple awards and more people should watch this one.

11. Body of Lies (2008)

A Ridley Scott directed movie that people might have forgotten but one that contains loads of action and star power, Body of Lies, is a spy action thriller starring Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others. The movie is about the CIA’s attempts to catch a noted terrorist who remains elusive. As the target is unable to be caught, the relationship between a CIA operator and his senior gets strained. The movie offers action and intrigue.

12. Signs (2002)

While M. Night Shyamalan is most famous for The Sixth Sense, the revered director has directed some of the most layered horror dramas that are worthy of appreciation. Signs is a sci-fi horror thriller starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix and is about a Priest in a small town that discovers mysterious crop circles in his cornfield. Like most Shyamalan movies, there are kids and the horror is subtle and unnerving. The movie also explores themes of kinship and faith.

13. American Gangster (2007)

Starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and others, this biographical crime movie is another Ridley Scott movie that deserves attention. The movie revolves around the life of real-life gangster Frank Lucas, who used to smuggle heroin into America through the service planes of the Vietnam War and became a notorious criminal. Denzel does a remarkable job of portraying Lucas and the movie was well received at the time.

14. The Prestige (2006)

A Christopher Nolan directorial that needs more widespread attention, this psychological thriller is based on a novel by Christopher Priest. It features Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians in Victorian London who go head-to-head over a teleportation illusion. The film is a tense flick and offers an intriguing plot over a simple premise. Nolan fans must definitely watch this one from the director’s early oeuvre.

15. The Lost Daughter (2021)

Starring Olivia Coleman and based on a novel by Elena Ferrante, this psychological drama movie is the directorial debut film of Maggie Gyllenhaal. The movie is about a middle-aged professor (Coleman) who is holidaying in Greece and comes across a young mother and daughter who bring back dark memories from her past. The film is a poignant and layered look at motherhood and guilt.