10 Underrated Movies From 2016: Hidden Gems You Might Have Missed

It’s surprising to realize 2016 was ten years ago! That makes it even more enjoyable to revisit some of the year’s underrated movies. While 2016 gave us fantastic films like Moonlight, La La Land, Your Name, and The Nice Guys, discovering the hidden gems is particularly rewarding.

2016 saw a wealth of fantastic independent and lesser-known films. These movies ranged from dramas starring big names like Brie Larson, Anne Hathaway, and Daniel Radcliffe, to diverse stories exploring different genres. They’re all definitely worth watching.

Free Fire

Okay, so I just finished watching Free Fire, and what I really liked is how it manages to be both an action movie and a comedy. It’s pretty contained – most of it happens in one place – which means the actors and the writing really have to carry the whole thing, and honestly, they do a great job!

Fortunately, Free Fire delivers on both its clever writing and strong acting. The dialogue is quick and witty, and the performances are consistently good. The film features a talented cast, including Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, and Sharlto Copley.

Released in 1978, Free Fire is an action-packed film featuring a tense shootout between two rival gangs in a warehouse. The story focuses on who will survive, and the constant uncertainty about who to trust keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

The Monster

Originally known as There Are Monsters, the film The Monster tells a captivating story with a straightforward idea. It centers on Kathy, a woman struggling with alcohol and a temper, as she takes her daughter, Lizzy, to her father’s house.

While driving, the characters accidentally hit a wolf, causing their car to break down on a remote road. They soon realize they’re being hunted by something mysterious. Despite being made on a limited budget, the movie expertly creates a suspenseful and frightening atmosphere.

Even though the movie was made with a small $3 million budget, the monster looks surprisingly realistic. Zoe Kazan gives a standout performance as Kathy, making this one of the most overlooked films of the year.

Swiss Army Man

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as Daniels, gained widespread recognition for directing the critically acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once. The film was a major success, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Daniels themselves won the award for Best Director.

Before their well-known film, the duo first made a splash with Swiss Army Man. The movie centers around Hank, a man stranded on a deserted island, who finds a surprising glimmer of hope when a body washes up on the shore.

Paul Dano gives a fantastic performance as Hank, and Daniel Radcliffe is brilliant as Manny, who is playing a corpse. It’s remarkable how well Radcliffe portrays a dead body, really showcasing his acting skills.

The Love Witch

The Love Witch is a truly underrated gem from the 2010s, and beyond just its release year of 2016. The film follows a contemporary witch who uses spells and magic to make men fall in love with her, but things don’t always go as planned, often leading to unfortunate consequences.

Filmed on 35 mm, The Love Witch is visually stunning, and Samantha Robinson delivers a captivating performance as Elaine Parks. It’s a film that really champions its main character and her journey.

The movie The Love Witch is critically acclaimed, earning a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers loved the performances, its unique visual style, and the way it explores relationships between men and women. Good news for fans: writer and director Anna Biller is already working on a new film, expected in 2026.

Sing Street

Coming-of-age movies are often really unforgettable, and Sing Street is a hidden gem within the genre. It tells the story of a teenager who starts a band to win over a girl he likes.

While the idea behind Sing Street has potential, the film truly shines because of its strong sense of time and place. Set in South Dublin in 1985, it vividly captures the fashion and music of that era.

The film Sing Street features a strong cast including Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, and Maria Doyle Kennedy. While it’s not a widely famous movie, it did receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Taika Waititi is now a well-known filmmaker. He first gained widespread recognition for directing Thor: Ragnarok within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and later won an Academy Award for the screenplay of Jojo Rabbit.

Some would argue that Taika Waititi’s finest film is Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It tells the story of a boy in foster care and his foster dad who become close while evading authorities after a tragedy.

Taika Waititi’s unique comedic style shines throughout Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and the film is surprisingly heartwarming. It’s also boosted by a fantastic cast, featuring Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rhys Darby, and Waititi himself.

Hush

Mike Flanagan is one of the most well-known names in horror today. He’s created several popular Netflix series, including The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher. He’s also directed film adaptations of Stephen King novels like Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck.

Before tackling bigger projects, Flanagan created a standout thriller called Hush. The film follows a deaf and mute woman whose peaceful home is terrorized by a killer.

This film creates a remarkably intense atmosphere with very little dialogue. You’ll feel like you’re fighting alongside Kate Siegel’s character and will be rooting for her survival. It’s a genuinely scary and surprisingly good horror movie.

20th Century Women

The standout feature of 20th Century Women is its incredible cast. The film showcases the talents of three generations of actresses, led by Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, and Elle Fanning.

20th Century Women takes place in Southern California in 1979. The film, which draws on writer and director Mike Mills’ own upbringing, tells the story of a mother who asks two younger women to help her raise her teenage son.

Though 20th Century Women wasn’t a blockbuster, it received widespread critical acclaim. It earned nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.

Colossal

Colossal has a truly original idea at its heart. The story follows a writer who’s lost her job and battling alcoholism. She soon discovers that whenever she gets drunk, a massive creature appears and wreaks havoc in Seoul.

It seems counterintuitive, but that’s actually what makes it so effective. Watching the character discover her purpose and the impact it has on others offers a compelling viewpoint.

Anne Hathaway stars in Colossal, with Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, and Tim Blake Nelson appearing in supporting roles. The film has received strong reviews, earning an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is considered one of Hathaway’s strongest performances.

Raw

Okay, so Julia Ducournau blew everyone away with Titane, but honestly, I think her first film, Raw, is where she really shines. It’s a horror movie, but it’s so unusual – you’re not even clued in that it’s about cannibalism at first! It’s a really clever and unsettling take on the genre.

Raw tells the story of Justine, a dedicated vegetarian, who begins veterinary school and leaves home for the first time. A challenging initiation experience unexpectedly leads her to eat raw meat, and she soon finds herself intensely craving it.

This leads Justine into a terrifying ordeal involving cannibalism, making the film incredibly disturbing. It’s a standout horror movie from the 2010s and deserves a wider audience.

2026-03-18 21:14