From the beginning of cinematic history until now, we've seen brilliant films created by visionary filmmakers that end up in the deepest recesses of both critics' and moviegoers' minds, only to be unearthed years later at the bottom of some Wal-Mart bargain bin. It's sad. It's unfair. But this video from video essayist Darren Foley of Must See Films attempts to remind us of 54 films that are notoriously underrated, under appreciated, and sometimes even completely forgotten.


To be fair, with so many films being made year after year, it's impossible to give each one the recognition they deserve. Great films slip through the cracks all the time—they don't get nominated for Oscars, don't have much of a following, or simply fade away into the blackness of our memories.

But, it's kind of romantic, don't you think? I mean, if someone asks you what you think the greatest horror film of all time is and instead of saying The Exorcist or Suspiria you say Wake in Fright, don't you kind of love the expression on their face? Wake in Fright is one of those gems that should never have been lost, especially in a warehouse in Pittsburg for 25 years, but it gives cinephiles moments of pure joy, like the one I'm having right now, to reopen the vaults, poke through the mess, and revive the memories of great films that have been discounted, disregarded, and left behind.

Lars-and-the-real-girl_0'Lars and the Real Girl' (2007)

Here's the list from the video's description:

  1. The Legend of Kasper Hauser
  2. A Scanner Darkly
  3. Straight Time
  4. What Dreams May Come
  5. Two Lovers
  6. After Hours
  7. The Last Detail
  8. Buffalo 66
  9. Ed Wood
  10. Synecdoche, New York
  11. Wristcutters
  12. Martha Marcy May Marlene
  13. Enemy
  14. Pi
  15. Man on the Moon
  16. The Fisher King
  17. The Hill
  18. A Fish Called Wanda
  19. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
  20. Bringing Out the Dead
  21. In Bruges
  22. Bottle Rocket
  23. Glengarry Glen Ross
  24. Joe
  25. Dead Man
  26. The Assassination of Jesse James
  27. Ikiru
  28. Brick
  29. The King of Comedy
  30. Fearless
  31. Out of Sight
  32. Punch-Drunk Love
  33. One Hour Photo
  34. Blow Out
  35. Under the Skin
  36. The Great Beauty
  37. Rope
  38. Lars and the Real Girl
  39. Hit me
  40. Klute
  41. Barry Lyndon
  42. The Hunt
  43. 25th Hour
  44. Candy
  45. Hesher
  46. The Colour of Money
  47. Mysterious Skin
  48. Springbreakers
  49. All is Lost
  50. The Fountain
  51. Vanilla Sky (Bonus)
  52. Frances Ha (Bonus)
  53. Amelie (Bonus)
  54. Holy Motors (Bonus)

What are your favorite underrated, under appreciated, and forgotten films? (Yo! Welcome to the Dollhouse.) Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Must See Films