10 Best Movies You’ve Never Heard Of

The number of movies made over the last century is staggering. From the silent shorts of early Hollywood, to the 100+ theatrical releases each year, to the endless stream of made-for-TV holiday rom-coms, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to have seen more than a fraction, maybe 5%, of all films ever created.

So, narrowing down a list of the 10 best movies you’ve never heard of is both subjective and daunting. Still, I’ve curated these ten picks because they stand out - whether their initial popularity faded with time, they proved pivotal in a filmmaker’s career, or they’re simply outstanding films that deserve more attention.

Written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan; Directed by Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is the type of filmmaker that can garner big box office returns even if no one knows what his movie’s about. That wasn’t always the case though. At the age of 30, Nolan created his first major theatrical film, Memento, about Leonard (Guy Pearce) who has no short-term memory after seeing his wife brutally murdered. With a series of tattoos as mementos and clues, he embarks on solving his wife’s murder with the help of a sympathetic detective and bartender.

This film showed Nolan’s potential to become the acclaimed filmmaker he is today with an original story and even more unique way of telling it.

*Personal note: This movie was released before the prevalence of cell phones. I walked up to an independent theater to see it and, after it ended, I went to the lobby and started calling people from a payphone to tell them how amazing it was. I couldn’t wait until I got home to tell people about it.

Written by Ehren Kruger; Directed by Mark Pellington

This gripping thriller reflects the climate of domestic terrorism that unsettled the United States in the 1990s. On one side, many believed the government was overreaching its authority, with incidents like Waco and Ruby Ridge becoming flashpoints where federal raids to serve warrants ended in deadly confrontations. On the other, there were devastating attacks such as the Oklahoma City bombing, which claimed the lives of more than 100 people.

Arlington Road follows a man whose wife was murdered in such an FBI raid gone wrong. Dealing with grief and paranoia, he begins to suspect his neighbors are plotting something sinister. It’s a smart, relevant political thriller that holds up as a commentary on domestic terror before it went international with 9/11. Arlington Road always keeps you guessing and has one of the biggest surprise and suspense-filled third acts that any screenwriter could use as inspiration. It's also the first theatrical film of screenwriter Ehren Kruger who had gone on to write The Ring, Top Gun: Maverick and F1.

Written and Directed by Trey Edward Shults

Waves is a beautifully shot movie about a suburban family forced to deal with a domineering father and the fallout of a somewhat accidental death.

The movie is told in two parts. The first part focuses on Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a popular high school wrestler who is pushed to the max by his highly-competitive, yet loving father. Tyler suffers a sports injury that threatens everything he’s worked for, so instead of doing what he needs to recover, he doesn’t tell anyone. This leads to a worse injury ending his season and any athletic career beyond. His personal problems only exacerbate his emotions until it leads to a life-defining night with his pregnant girlfriend.

The second part of the movie shifts to Emily (Taylor Russell), Tyler’s sister who must navigate life in the dark shadow of her brother and a distraught family dynamic. She finds comfort in a boyfriend who she helps reconcile with his dying father.

Waves is a brilliant romantic drama with an aggressive sports angle that sticks with you long after the movie ends.

Written and Directed by David Mamet

Mamet was a master storyteller on the stage before making his mark in Hollywood, which he made as early as his Academy Award nominated screenplay The Verdict in 1982. His dialogue is sharp and his stories are filled with compelling characters. He was Aaron Sorkin before Sorkin became famous.

The Spanish Prisoner follows a highly-intelligent inventor who meets a man at a resort who offers to protect his interests. Everything seems on the level, but the layers of deceit add up to become a twisted game of who you can trust and who means harm. This movie keeps the audience guessing until the end and enforces the age-old rule our parents taught us, don’t talk to strangers.

Written by Jon Favreau; Directed by Doug Liman

Swingers captures a moment in time as it follows a struggling actor and stand-up comedian navigating mid-1990s Hollywood after a breakup with his girlfriend. It not only brought the talents of Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Heather Graham and director Liman, it also spawned a mini-trend in swing dancing. The $200,000 budgeted movie was a personal story of Favreau’s in which he cast his friends and features several other up-and-comers.

The movie is funny with lots of heart and it captures a time in the entertainment industry where indie films could thrive.

Story by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby; Additional Dialogue by Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin; Directed by Leo McCarey

Long before Judd Apatow’s crew or the bad boys of Saturday Night Live, there was a comedic quartet known as the Marx Brothers, who are considered one of the most popular comedic groups in movie history. You’ll likely recognize Groucho Marx from his thick moustache and eyebrows as well as signature cigar in any number of culturally-relevant comedy content.

Duck Soup is some of their best work which still holds up almost 100 years after its release. The dialogue is sharp and witty, the comedic, screwball gags make you laugh out loud and it’s a fun story about a bankrupt nation deciding to go to war with its neighbor. Any fan of comedy should check out Duck Soup.

Written and Directed by Andrew Dominik

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a long title for a long movie (2 hours 40 minutes) and it’s a bit of a slow burn, but it’s captivating as it makes you sit with the characters and get a feeling of the environment for which they live. The film follows the final days of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and his infamous bandits, which include the awkward young Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), who had idolized James since his childhood.

The title gives away the ending, but it’s the journey that makes the ride all worth it. This movie is stellar on all levels and a great study for any filmmaker looking to enhance their craft. Although nominated for just two Academy Awards, it was deserving of so many more.

Written by Billy Wilder and Harry Kurnitz; Directed by Billy Wilder

There is no shortage of excellent films by Billy Wilder, but Witness for the Prosecution isn’t in the top three that come to mind when one brings up his career. The movie is about an aging barrister, basically a British lawyer, who takes on a case of a young man accused of murdering a woman soon after she makes him the heir to her fortune.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, the movie can teach filmmakers a lot about set up and pay off, as well as how to create mystery and mess with the audiences’ heads. It stands out for its twists and turns that you don’t see coming. Even if you watch it on streaming, they still have the notice at the end of the movie that reads: "The management of this theater suggests that for the greater entertainment of your friends who have not yet seen the picture you will not divulge to anyone the secret of the ending of Witness for the Prosecution."

Deterrence is a political thriller that takes place in a single location, a diner, about the President (Kevin Pollak) who must deal with an escalating international crisis while seeking shelter in the middle of a nasty Colorado snowstorm. Not only does he deal with making life or death decisions in the middle of an election year, but he has to make them alongside a handful of advisors, secret service agents, diner patrons and via phone with those tasked with carrying out his orders.

Deterrence can show how to build tension in a single location and how those with power act in the middle of a crisis. 

Marilyn Monroe’s last movie may very well have been her best performance. Playing a divorced woman, she finds herself in a love triangle with an aging cowboy, played by Clark Gable in his final movie, and a younger, widowed cowboy who falls hard for Monroe’s character. It’s well-written, directed and performed but bombed at the box office. The Misfits has aged well and gained critical appeal. It’s both a great film and sad because it shows Monroe’s true potential.

Seeking out lesser-known films opens the door to stories that challenge, surprise, and inspire in ways blockbusters often can’t. These hidden gems expand our understanding of cinema, highlight forgotten voices, and remind us that some of the most powerful experiences on screen are the ones waiting quietly to be discovered.