19 Movies You Probably Haven't Seen

Hello all, I hope you are doing well and staying safe- if you're following the guidelines of the CDC and have chosen to stay inside for the next several weeks it's safe to assume there will be a time when you find yourself bored beyond all belief longing for the next thing to do. Don't worry, here is a list of 19 movies you probably haven't seen but should. 

When I decided to make a list of movies people can watch to survive the quarantine, I decided I wanted to do movies I felt like most individuals hadn't seen before. I could tell you to go watch The Birds of Prey or Joker... but the chances are you've already done that or you're planning on it in the near future. While I still recommend seeing those movies, if you're looking for something fresh this list is for you. 

A few things to know about this list. I have omitted the "horror" genre as I wanted you to actually watch these movies and I know most people don't really enjoy that genre of movie. Despite how good they can be. I attempted to choose movies that didn't have wide theater releases and stayed out of a lot of smaller towns. Also, to help myself be able to narrow it down I am doing my best to keep it movies from the last decade. If I were to open the flood gates back to the 80s I would just be making my life a lot harder. Should this post gain traction, I might consider doing one from each decade. 

20. Safety Not Guaranteed- 

 

Safety Not Guaranteed was one of the original "Netflix gems" that I would regularly revisit due to the movie's quirky and humorous nature. Safety Not Guaranteed is the perfect example of how to do "low budget" filmmaking. Despite all the financial obstacles, Safety Not Guaranteed shows spectacular camera work, direction, and some surprisingly good special effects. 

19. You Were Never Really Here- 

 

If you're a fan of Juaquin Pheonix's performance in the Joker, this is the movie for you. You Were Never Really Here is a slow-burning drama that captivates its audience from the opening shots. With its unapologetic action and jaw-dropping performances, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat.  You Were Never Really Here is a movie I truly believe a lot more individuals need to watch. 

18. Ruby Sparks- 

 

Ruby Sparks is a movie that a friend of mine introduced to me some years ago that I instantly fell in love with. Ruby Sparks is a unique take on the romantic comedy genre and boasts a captivating discussion of someone's free will. Ruby Sparks is the perfect way to spend a few hours as you can easily get lost in the movie's interesting but somewhat delightful story. Ruby Sparks is proof that romantic comedies can be more than just stopping planes and grand soliloquies. 

17. The Way Way Back-  

 

Not to be confused with the 2020s The Way Back starring, Ben Affleck, The Way Way Back is a dramedy (comedy-drama) that is a blast from start to finish. This coming-of-age story realistically depicts the struggle of a teenage boy and doesn't fall victim to many of the clichés that plague this genre. Oh yeah, and it has Steve Carrell in it- so there's that. 

16. Cell Block 99-  

 

If you're a fan of action movies and are eagerly waiting for John Wick 4, this movie can hopefully fill that void. Starring, Vince Vaughn, Cell Block 99 is a riot of an action movie that has most audiences wincing and cheering for more. With an extremely solid story, amazing cast, and dark tone Cell Block 99 is one of the best action movies over the last few years. I am not kidding though if you're squeamish when it comes to action- this one might not be for you. 

15. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl-  

 

Based on the novel of the same name Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a heartfelt story that outshines many of the other movies in its genres. For a movie about a girl suffering from a terminal illness director, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, manages to navigate the complexities of the situation with grace and humor. 

14. Kubo and the Two Strings- 

 

I know a lot of people out there who are a fan of movies like Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride for their animation style and darker tone. For some reason, people love stop motion-styled animation and I am with you. If you thought the animation was impressive in stop motion before, think again. Watch this movie. You will not be disappointed, the best part, for those of you with kids in the home this movie is 100% safe to show them. 

13. The Peanut Butter Falcon- 

 

 I debated putting this one on this list as it did get some attraction last year but for the most part, I found a lot of people skipped over this movie. I think that you're missing out.  if you are one of these people. Peanut Butter Falcon is a true return to form for Shia Lebeouf, while he's getting a lot of praise for his work in Honey Boy, I personally think he outdid himself here. Shia is a force to be reckoned with on-screen and builds up every co-star he has. Peanut Butter Falcon is one of those movies that break the suspension of disbelief easily but is so heartfelt you won't even care about any of its absurdities. 

12. 50/50-  

 

 Another movie I debated putting on this list, however, I went for it. Once again, a lot of you might have seen this, but definitely not enough. 50/50 is one of those movies that manages to find the perfect balance between tragedy and comedy. Starring Joseph-Gordon Levitt as a man diagnosed with rare cancer, we follow his life as he attempts to juggle his life, work, relationships, and terminal illness. Director Jonathan Levine showed that he has a genuine understanding of framing an emotional story that and his work here had me campaigning for him to make more movies. Thankfully he did and he'll continue to.  

11. Warm Bodies- 

 

 Surprise! It's another Jonathan Levine movie. This one isn't about a terminally ill man, however, it's entirely about Zombies. Mainly posing the question, can they love anyone. When I first heard about the concept of Warm Bodies, I scoffed at it and just moved on. Then I saw who directed it. I went out and saw it almost immediately. I was not disappointed. Warm Bodies is the perfect spin on a romance story as it dives into some aspects of horror. 

10. Whiplash- 

If you are someone who sings the praise of La La Land, then might I suggest you go back to the movie that kicked off the career of director, Damien Chazelle. Whiplash managed to make drumming in a jazz band one of the most intense and thrilling actions I have seen. Starring quite possibly my favorite actor in J.K. Simmons, Whiplash has one of the best modern-day villains in virtually any movie of the last 10 years. The "not my tempo" sequence is easily one of the tensest sequences I have ever seen. 

9.  Leave No Trace- 

Ahh... it is finally time for a Ben Foster movie to hit this list. If you know me, you know I am a gigantic fan of really anything he does. Leave No Trace is as unique as they come. Showcasing a truly heartbreaking story of individual suffering severely from PTSD, Leave No Trace is a quiet and real depiction of the struggles many people face if their adjustment back into society. If you are one for ratings, Leave No Trace currently sits at 100% fresh on rotten tomatoes. 

8. Hunt for the Wilderpeople- 

Easily the funniest movie on the list Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of the best movies to come out of 2017. Directed by Taika Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a riot from start to finish. With a unique sense of humor, which Taika described as "polite humor" you'll spend the entire run time laughing hard at virtually every sequence. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a smart yet charming coming-of-age film that shows the struggles of growing up and attempting to find where you belong. 

7. Wind River-

 When it comes to Wind River, all I can say is "wow". Directed by Taylor Sheridan, Wind River, follows the life of a big game hunter charged with the task of helping the feds solve the murder of a young Native American girl. Sheridan's direction of this movie is second to none. Wind River has riveting tension and is filled to the brim with breathtaking wide shots and is a real masterclass in cinematography. This movie also has the best ending sequence I have seen in a long time. 

6. Moonrise Kingdom-

 The same friend who introduced me to Ruby Sparks showed me Moonrise Kingdom a while back and this movie blew my mind it was so good. Surprisingly it was the first Wes Anderson movie I had ever seen and sparked a mini obsession with his work. Moonrise Kingdom is an absolute blast of a film with some amazing work by child actors. I have nothing even remotely bad to say about Moonrise Kingdom. 

5. Nightcrawler- 

Night Crawler is one of those movies you just have to see to understand why it deserves to be in the top five of this list. Jake Gyllenhaal gives the performance of his career as the sleazy and downright creepy Lou Bloom, a freelance cameraman who makes his money videotaping major crimes such as murders. It doesn't sound exciting- I know. But it is definitely worth watching. 

4. Klaus- 

Okay, I know it's March, but that should stop anyone from watching what I believe to be one of the best animated movies to be made. I can thank my wife for introducing me to this movie as she ranted and raved about it for about a week. I watched this movie in awe of both the animation and the story. Very few movies make me cry, but Klaus managed to get me to shed a few tears. It is a guarantee we will watch this movie every year for Christmas. 

2. What We Do in the Shadows- 

This is the perfect "mockumentary" as it follows the lives of vampires attempting to survive in today's society. Starring both Taika Watiti and Jemaine Clement this movie is a tour de force when it comes to comedy. Again, playing on that "polite humor" of Watiti's style, What We Do in the Shadows rivals some of the funniest episodes of the office. 

1. Tucker and Dale VS Evil-

We made it. We are at the number 1 spot and I must say this is easily one of my favorite movies of all time. My favorite genre of movie is horror-comedy and this is one of the best ones. I remember a long time ago my brother told me about this movie and so we decided to watch it one random Sunday afternoon. I will forever be thankful for that afternoon. Tucker and Dale will always hold a very special place in my heart as it's essentially the perfect movie. I have yet to meet anyone who thought this movie was a waste of time. 

For those of you who have either seen some of these or actually watch all of them and are looking for a few more here is a quick list of my honorable mentions: 

JoJo Rabbit 

American Animals 

Hell or High Water 

Dark Waters 

Spotlight 

Boy 

Overlord 

For those of you who are looking to enjoy short films because of time restraints here is a quick list of some of my favorite short films over the last few years *All shorts can be found on YouTube*: 

The Gunfighter 

Spring 

Agent 327 

Borrowed Time 

Bar Brawl (Film Riot) 

Pizza Time