There have been plenty of great movies to release in the 2010s, but quite a few movies either went below the radar or have perhaps been unfairly criticized, thus leading to a wide range of underrated movies throughout the decade. Overall, the 2010s was a strong decade for film, from blockbusters (the explosion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) to indies (the rise of independent studios like A24).
Of course, the standard Oscar-bait fare was sprinkled throughout, with every year delivering something worth discussing in great detail. The 2010s also led to the rise of a new breed of actors and filmmakers, some of whom received worthy attention and while others are still waiting for their spotlight.
But in the end, a variety of movies hit the big screen over the past 10 years. However, not all of those movies got the praise and recognition they deserved. Whether those movies failed to make a splash at the box office or didn't strike the right chords with critics, there were plenty of hidden gems in the 2010s, films that were much better than their reputation.
15. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Dark Knight won Oscars and became a cultural phenomenon. Without the late Heath Ledger reprising his role as the Joker, some questioned what the third installment would have in store. Luckily, Tom Hardy was able to shoulder the load as Bane, adding another iconic villain to the lexicon. The film itself was thrilling, complex and visually stunning, and provided a satisfying conclusion for DC's premier film franchise.
14. Upgrade (2018)
Those who didn't see Insidious films) created a visually stunning sci-fi world, and orchestrated some truly thrilling action sequences. And if that's not enough, there's a brain - and some humor - behind all of the action.
13. The Voices (2014)
Ryan Reynolds plays a delusional, mentally unstable factory worker whose talking cat wants him to commit murder in The Voices. Even though the movie received mostly positive reviews and has an appealing cast (Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton, and Jacki Weaver co-star), director Marjane Satrapi's black comedy horror film made a microscopic $5,000 during its limited opening weekend release. Some may have been turned off by its bizarre premise and dark undertones, but Reynolds gives one of the best performances of his career, and the film is certainly unique in style, content, and execution. It might not be for everybody, but there is a lot to like.
12. Inherent Vice (2014)
Paul Thomas Anderson, the man responsible for films such as Inherent Vice. An adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel, the film follows Joaquin Phoenix as a pothead private detective who becomes embroiled in the criminal underworld after his ex-girlfriend disappears. It had all the elements of an awards season favorite, including a top-billing ing cast (Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro), but it wound up polarizing both critics and audiences, pulling in $6 million less than its budget. Despite the 2.5-hour length and the somewhat challenging narrative, Anderson's film is still funny, beautifully shot, and an ultimately rewarding experience that deserves to be mentioned among his better films.
11. Sleeping With Other People (2015)
Before writer/director Leslye Headland scored a hit with the Netflix show Sleeping With Other People. The rom-com stars Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie as a pair of romantically troubled New Yorkers who, having each lost their virginity to each other in college, meet years later and become best friends while struggling to ignore their attraction to each other. The film is consistently elevated by a sharp script and strong performances by the entire cast - not just the well-matched leads, but also notably Adam Scott as the film's smarmy villain and the typically-hysterical Jason Mantzoukas as Sudeikis' friend. It's believable, it tackles heavy subjects in a way many other rom-coms don't, and - most importantly - it's hilarious.
10. Interstellar (2014)
There was loads of hype behind Interstellar, a Christopher Nolan IMAX film released during Matthew McConaughey's career resurrection. And while it was a success with the box office and the Oscars (Best Visual Effects recipient), it didn't strike the same chord with every cinemagoer or critic. Some accused Nolan of biting off more than he could chew with the themes and intellectual reach, and reception for the film seems to have waned over time. But the criticism might have come from a combination of hype and Nolan simply setting too high of a standard for himself. He has released so many great movies that he is fundamentally judged through a different lens, but at its core, Interstellar is a thrilling, beautiful, envelope-pushing sci-fi epic – well worth its nearly three-hour runtime.
9. Locke (2013)
Locke is essentially a one-man show, featuring 85 minutes of Tom Hardy behind the wheel of a car talking to an assortment of other voices (including Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, and Tom Holland). It needed a phenomenal performance from Hardy to carry it, and luckily that's what it gets. Hardy is magnetic throughout the entire film, so much so that it's easy to forget that the whole thing is essentially one long shot. Considering the concept and the way it was filmed, it was never going to be a huge hit - it made only $5 million at the box office (against a budget of $2 million). But it's a unique story that challenges many preconceived notions of filmmaking, and it manages to entertain as the experiment comes to life.
8. It Comes At Night (2017)
Hereditary, this film is subtle, slowly-paced, and largely devoid of action, focusing on setting and character intrigue instead of pure scares. That's not to say it isn't scary, but its methodical nature sometimes leaves it out of the conversation when discussing independent horror hits.
7. Shutter Island (2010)
Taxi Driver. But the Leonardo DiCaprio-helmed psychological thriller is wildly entertaining in its own right, with loads of genre thrills. DiCaprio is a federal marshal assigned to investigate an asylum for the criminally insane, and plot twists emerge once he is inside its walls. It benefits from an astounding cast - including Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo - and has typically Scorsesean command of the screen throughout. It was also faithful enough to the book to please fans, and didn't lose its cinematic way through the adaptation.
6. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
One of the best films in a very good year for them, Denis Villeneuve's sequel to the sci-fi classic Blade Runner is both a strong continuation of the original and a stunning new story that doesn't require prior viewing. Ryan Gosling is a "blade runner," a man sent to capture rogue replicants who live in society as slaves, and Harrison Ford reprises his original role as Rick Deckard. Despite having positive reviews, a built-in audience and a highly marketable cast, the film was a box office disappointment, with estimated losses as high as $80 million. Audiences may have been turned off by the length (163 minutes), but this film is beautiful, thrilling, and thought-provoking all at once. The runtime isn't nearly as daunting when the content is this engaging.
