5 Best Hidden Gems and Underrated Movies to Watch on Netflix

After months of lockdown, most of us have all but finished Netflix. By now, you know all too well the feeling of thumbing through your watchlist and saying “I’ve seen that” over and over again. But, just because you’ve watched everything you’ve earmarked doesn’t mean there aren’t some hidden gems lurking in the depths of the Netflix movie catalogue. We’ve put together a list of best, most underrated movies on Netflix you probably haven’t seen yet.

This list will reveal some of those overlooked films that didn’t hit big when they were initially released, but are well worth watching now.

1. Sleepy Hollow

Director: Tim Burton | Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, and Christopher Walken

In this film, Johnny Depp portrays police constable Ichabod Crane who is dispatched to the titular tiny town of Sleepy Hollow in 1799 to investigate a series of beheadings. An evocative adaptation of a classic horror story, Sleepy Hollow is both chilling and a little goofy, giving you something to laugh at while feeling all sorts of creeped out.

The thing with Tim Burton films is; you either love them or hate them. Unsurprisingly, Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is an exception to this rule and is a cult classic hit amongst almost everyone who has seen it. It is arguably one of Burton‘s best films, and it doesn’t get near the credit it deserves. The great thing about this film, even for those who aren’t usually fans of Burton’s films is that the darkness of the story takes a commanding lead over some of the more cartoony overtones that Burton relishes in his later films.

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2. The Town

Director: Ben Affleck | Writers: Ben Affleck, Peter Craig, and Aaron Stockard

Cast: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Casey Affleck, Chris Cooper, Pete Postlethwaite, and Blake Lively

Ben Affleck had a career-defining moment with his 2007 directorial début Gone Baby Gone, and then subsequently proved he wasn’t a one-trick pony with his excellent 2010 crime thriller Town. It’s a really compelling and effective thriller that is well worth a watch.

The film follows four lifelong Boston friends who rob a bank, only for everything to go downhill from there. It sounds like yet another heist movie but Affleck’s ability to inject a deep humanity into each of the characters is what elevates this seemingly traditional heist film to an empathetic saga. A scene-stealing performance from Jeremy Renner (he was nominated for an Oscar for his work) adds yet another compelling reason to watch this film.

3. Creep 2

Director: Patrick Brice | Writers: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice

Cast: Mark Duplass, Desiree Akhavan, Karan Soni

This follow up to horror-comedy Creep is a must-watch for fans of the first film, and of course, newbies horror fans who had no idea it existed. The found-footage horror is bested only by its sequel, a true horror masterpiece for anyone who loves blood, gore, and a good fright.

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This follow-up film sees Mark Duplass return as the identity-hopping serial killer, keen on documenting his crimes. This time around, he’s joined by Desiree Akhavan, who plays a filmmaker interested in documenting odd folks with odd requests. Fans can expect more queasy moments of suspense and dark humour than ever before.

4. High Flying Bird

Director: Steven Soderbergh | Writer: Tarell Alvin McCraney

Cast: Andre Holland, Zazie Beets, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan, and Bill Duke

Featuring an A-list cast, this brilliant film by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is a definite must-see. A thrilling, delightful drama, High Flying Bird is set in the world of sports and takes place over the course of a 48-hour period. The film follows a sports agent (Holland) as he attempts to find a way to end a basketball lockout that has himself (and many players) financially hurting.

The film is mostly made up of scenes of people talking in rooms, but the dialogue and performances are so good they’ll have you on the edge of your seat for the full 90-minute run.

5. Drive

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn | Writer: Hossein Amini

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaacs, and Albert Brooks

Another one for thriller and horror fans, Drive is as exciting as it is thought-provoking. The film puts a wonderful spin on the thriller genre and leaves you reeling from start to finish. You’ll get it all with this movie; suspense, action thrills, and even a dash of romance.

Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver. His life gets complicated when he strikes up a relationship with his neighbour, played by Carey Mulligan.