Discover the hidden gems of cinema in 2024! From pulse-pounding action to thought-provoking dramas, we're counting down the year's most overlooked films. These underappreciated masterpieces showcase emerging talents and established stars pushing boundaries. Join us as we explore the movies that deserve a second chance to shine.
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00:00I'm trying to think if I've seen you in anything.
00:05Not, not likely.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking over 2024's hidden cinematic gems.
00:12We're including films that premiered at festivals in 2023,
00:16but received a general release this year.
00:19I don't know why, but obscenity and motorcycles travel hand in hand.
00:25Number 10.
00:26Monkey Man.
00:28Much like how the main character endures hell,
00:30Dev Patel faced numerous obstacles in bringing his directorial debut to the big screen.
00:36Don't look at me like that.
00:37You chose the name.
00:38You're like those little monkeys, you know, in the marketplace, a little
00:42with a little pink skirt.
00:44That's you.
00:44Put on a show, get the money.
00:46Patel's labors paid off in one of the year's most pulse-pounding,
00:50atmospheric, and beautifully shot action movies.
00:54In what could have been a straightforward revenge story,
00:56Patel infuses Monkey Man with culture, mythology, and political commentary,
01:02while never overshadowing the hard-hitting fight choreography.
01:14Speaking of which, Patel firmly establishes himself as an action star,
01:19going full beast mode.
01:20The fact that he accomplished all of this on a $10 million budget
01:24may be his most superhuman achievement.
01:27Like the original John Wick, Monkey Man might not have been huge upon release,
01:32but we're looking at an instant action classic bound to develop a wider audience.
01:47Number 9.
01:48Blink Twice.
01:49Another underappreciated directorial debut,
01:53Zoe Kravitz touches upon the Me Too movement through a unique lens in Blink Twice.
01:58I just don't understand why you keep going back.
02:01I guess I'm just scared of being alone.
02:04Oh, you're not alone.
02:06You have me.
02:08Yes.
02:08Don't forget the smile, ladies.
02:10Channing Tatum effortlessly switches between charming and diabolical,
02:14although the film belongs to Naomi Ackie in a career best performance.
02:19What starts a dream vacation to a fantasy island
02:22slowly but surely begins to feel more like Jeffrey Epstein's island.
02:27There's nothing wrong with what was about to happen.
02:32What?
02:35Our days are good.
02:38That's when the bad stuff happens.
02:40To survive, Ackie's character must force a smile while crying out on the inside,
02:45a sentiment too many women can relate to.
02:48The film may take some time to establish its mood and themes.
02:52The final act delivers, though, in jaw-dropping, hysterical, and incredibly satisfying ways.
02:59If you were among the many who miss it in theaters,
03:02give Blink Twice a second life at home.
03:05I'm having a great time here.
03:06But I also have this feeling that I'm, like, not.
03:22Does that make sense?
03:23Yes.
03:24Number 8.
03:25My Old Ass
03:26We'd hardly call Aubrey Plaza old, although we were surprised to realize
03:31that she was pushing 40 when this little comedy entered production.
03:35I'm 39 years old, that's not middle-aged.
03:37No, that is middle-aged.
03:38No, it's not.
03:40I am a very young adult.
03:42Really?
03:42Yes.
03:43I'm kind of getting Milfey vibes.
03:45Time flies by, a lesson that Plaza's character imparts to her younger self,
03:50played by Maisie Stella in a breakthrough lead performance.
03:53Revolving around time travel, My Old Ass raises heavy-handed questions.
03:59Namely, should you fall in love knowing the outcome will be painful?
04:03Hello?
04:05No more boat rides for Chad.
04:07Promise?
04:09Dude, are you okay?
04:12You should get some sleep.
04:13It's late.
04:16Despite the high concept and moral dilemmas, My Old Ass is a sweet coming-of-age story that'll
04:22leave you savoring the moments we often take for granted.
04:25Megan Park, another actor-turned-director, is a name to watch out for.
04:30The future seems bright for everyone involved in My Old Ass,
04:34a film sure to grow its following with time.
04:37I was fine leaving.
04:38I was really excited to leave, but I just always thought it was going to be here to come back to.
04:45So it feels really different now.
04:47Number 7.
04:48Kinds of Kindness
04:50Mainstream is the wrong word to describe poor things,
04:53but that box office hit did introduce a broader audience to Yorgos Lanthimos.
04:58We're not shocked that Kinds of Kindness wasn't as warmly embraced.
05:02I spoke with Sarah an hour ago, and yes, she did say she liked the gift very much.
05:09Yes, she said it was the nicest thing you've ever given her.
05:13This anthology is purposely frustrating at times,
05:16with three loosely tied-together stories that don't spell out their meaning,
05:20if there is one at all.
05:21While not for everyone, true fans of Lanthimos will relish in its absurd humor,
05:27layered symbolism, and unpredictable twists that will continue to catch you off guard
05:32even after the credits start rolling.
05:34But he knows I'm here, right?
05:37He's well aware of all the appointments he has today.
05:40It's another winning collaboration between Lanthimos and Emma Stone,
05:44who will hopefully never lower her freak flag.
05:47Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, and Jesse Plemons
05:50round out an ensemble that deserves all kinds of praise.
05:54Vivian, didn't I tell you that this young man here would not disappoint me?
06:03You sure did, Raymond.
06:05Number six, Love Lies Bleeding.
06:08Love Lies Bleeding might be the year's most stressful watch.
06:12So yeah, it was never going to be a crowd-pleaser.
06:15When you smoke a cigarette, you inhale a drug called nicotine.
06:20You could replace the word drug with poison.
06:25Like anything that is not built on solid foundations,
06:28the brainwashing is as fragile as a house of cards.
06:33Anyone looking for an adrenaline rush will be on edge throughout, however.
06:37Kristen Stewart continues to push her career in bolder directions
06:41as a gym manager who falls for a female bodybuilder.
06:44Katie O'Brien is a force of nature in a performance that explodes with raw intensity,
06:49sometimes literally.
06:51And then we do our first pose to the double front bicep.
06:55Super strong and confident.
06:58Relaxed.
07:00Love Lies Bleeding warrants comparison to another criminally underrated thriller,
07:05the Wachowskis' Bound.
07:07In both films, a passionate romance takes a dark turn
07:10that continues to snowball out of control.
07:13Even at its most chaotic,
07:14the chemistry between the leads gives the film a beating heart
07:17that keeps us hooked every step of the way.
07:20Are you sure?
07:25Trust me.
07:26Number 5.
07:27Rebel Ridge
07:28Rebel Ridge is a bit like a modern First Blood.
07:31I lost some buddies.
07:33Served in Iraq.
07:35Yeah, so did I.
07:36Both center on veterans who return home
07:38only to enter another war against corrupt law enforcement.
07:42Writer-director Jeremy Saulnier adds several new elements,
07:46commentating on racial profiling and the failures of bureaucracy.
07:50Don't exactly have visiting hours around here,
07:52but if you come back here at 9am on Monday morning,
07:56you can see your cousin and we'll put this to bed.
08:01Aaron Pierre's Terry tries playing it by the book,
08:04but pages keep getting torn out as the authorities rewrite the rules.
08:08We feel Terry's frustration as he hits nothing but roadblocks,
08:12forcing this civilian to awaken his inner soldier.
08:16In addition to Rambo,
08:17Rebel Ridge has the essence of a neo-western
08:20as a lone hero stands against a gang of outlaws parading as lawmen.
08:24Just as our veterans shouldn't be cast aside,
08:27Rebel Ridge deserves to be part of a larger conversation.
08:31Right now you gotta choose between a bag full of money
08:35and our deepest sympathies.
08:38Or 30 years minimum.
08:40Or worse, if you can't stay in control.
08:44Number 4.
08:45Transformers 1.
08:46Why is it that the best Transformers movies
08:49are usually the ones that underperform financially?
08:51Don't you want to choose your own path, do whatever you want?
08:54We're miners, we mine, that's all.
08:56Oh, there's gotta be something more I can do.
09:00I can feel it.
09:01Maybe because some of the live-action movies
09:03gave the franchise a bad reputation.
09:05If this animated film is any indication though,
09:08Transformers is far from past its prime.
09:11This is a surprisingly dramatic, even tragic story of brotherhood,
09:16exploring how best friends Orion Pax and V-16
09:19became arch-enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.
09:23How long do you think we'll be here?
09:25I'm not talking to you.
09:32You know what, I can't believe you made me do that.
09:34We are so screwed!
09:35Thought you weren't talking to me.
09:36While not without light-hearted moments,
09:38there's a gravitas to Transformers 1 some weren't prepared for.
09:43We dare even say it's the most adult Transformers movie
09:46since the 1986 animated feature,
09:49which was also underappreciated upon release.
09:52To anyone who wrote Transformers 1 as kid stuff,
09:56we guarantee it's more than meets the eye.
09:58I saw the truth with my own eyes.
10:01Come, I will show you.
10:04Number 3.
10:05A Different Man
10:07We can understand why some audiences might have been apprehensive
10:10about watching A Different Man.
10:12Look, God, all unhappiness in life comes from not accepting what is.
10:18The subject matter sounds difficult as a man with a facial disfigurement
10:21struggles to fit in with society.
10:23The film goes in a few unexpected directions as the plot unfolds, however.
10:28Reflecting the protagonist's changes,
10:30what starts as a melancholy drama evolves into a comedy with a dark edge.
10:35That's the guy that lives here?
10:37That is art.
10:40Like a mask?
10:41Like a bust.
10:47Pretty weird stuff.
10:48This shift doesn't feel inconsistent,
10:51as the film preserves its central theme of self-acceptance.
10:54For some, this comes naturally,
10:56no matter how people perceive their appearance.
10:59Others can completely change who they are on the outside,
11:02yet still feel unfulfilled on the inside.
11:05The performances from Sebastian Stan, Renat Reinsvee, and Adam Pearson
11:11find humor in the tragedy.
11:12With you, I...
11:13Would you like to stay and watch?
11:15Oh, I'm developing somewhat of a reputation of intruding,
11:18where I'm not wanted.
11:19No, not at all!
11:21Number 2.
11:21The Bike Riders
11:23Jeff Nichols' latest film captures a turning point in biker culture.
11:27You wanna come live with me?
11:29What about me? You wanna go out?
11:30No, thank you.
11:34Oh, I have a date.
11:35A date?
11:36Yeah, 12 o'clock. I have to get home.
11:38Austin Butler's Benny looks cool enough to be James Dean
11:41or Marlon Brando back in the day.
11:43By modern standards, though,
11:45the rebels Dean and Brando played may be tame.
11:48As the 60s turn into the 70s,
11:51Benny and his biker buddies realize they're a dying breed,
11:54being replaced by a more lethal generation.
11:57Well, in the club, it's split.
11:59It's split between the old guys and the new guys,
12:01between the beer drinkers and the pot smokers.
12:06In those rules, it's just a bunch of made-up stuff,
12:09but these new guys really believe them.
12:11Will Benny ride off into the sunset
12:13or settle down with the woman he loves?
12:15Much of the story is told from the perspective
12:18of Jodi Comer's Kathy,
12:19who gives the bike riders a sense of humor and a heart.
12:22Although the film is a reminder that we live in less innocent times,
12:26Comer's performance is a constant ray of sincerity.
12:30What do you want me to do?
12:32I want you to quit riding.
12:33I want you to quit the club.
12:36Don't ask that.
12:37Before we unveil our top pick,
12:39here are a few honorable mentions.
12:42Problemista, a surreal comedy
12:44that'll speak to every starving artist.
12:46Now I'm looking for a new job.
12:49Oh, you are?
12:49That will maybe sponsor me.
12:51Oh, well, I'm not sure I could offer anything formal,
12:57but maybe freelance?
12:59Abigail, Alicia Weir deserves every young performer award under the sun.
13:05Are you gonna hurt me?
13:07No.
13:09If you behave and do as we say,
13:12and if your dad gives us money, you'll be fine.
13:14In the meantime, I'm here to keep you safe and comfortable.
13:20Can you promise me
13:22you're not gonna let anybody hurt me?
13:24Thelma, June Squibb only gets better with age.
13:28I am so embarrassed.
13:29Don't be, you're home, you're safe.
13:31It's all that matters.
13:33But I sent the money.
13:37Oh.
13:37I saw the TV glow.
13:39Imagine if David Lynch adapted Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
13:43Do you remember a TV show we used to watch together?
13:45It was called The Pink Opaque.
13:54The First Omen.
13:56The best Omen movie in 48 years.
13:59I'm so sorry.
14:00Sorry, Margaret, what for?
14:03You wouldn't be the first to faint witnessing the birth of a child.
14:06Frankly, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.
14:09The miracle of life can be a messy business.
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14:28Number 1.
14:29His Three Daughters
14:31Netflix sometimes has an embarrassment of riches.
14:34His Three Daughters being one of the movies lost in the shuffle.
14:37I'm not trying to be cold, but it's a matter of being there for him.
14:40Being here.
14:41Things from the past don't matter, not right now.
14:43If there are things to work out, they can wait.
14:45I really hope you agree.
14:47It isn't too late to give Azizel Jacobs' profoundly emotional film its due, however.
14:53In a perfect world, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, and Carrie Coon would all receive Oscar
14:59nominations for three very different performances that perfectly complement each other.
15:03This doesn't make any sense.
15:05Christina, can you explain what this is all about?
15:07I'm not sure.
15:08The titular three daughters have one thing in common, a dying father.
15:12As they grapple with grief, they try to learn what it means to be sisters.
15:16The film is an authentic portrait of how loss can drive people apart,
15:20yet also bring them closer together.
15:23His Three Daughters certainly has the power to bring families together.
15:26All they have to do is seek the film out.
15:29I want you all to try when I'm gone.
15:31I know that a better relationship is possible.
15:35You will be connected after I'm gone.
15:38What are your picks for the most underrated movies of 2024?
15:42Let us know in the comments.
15:44Dude, I'm you.
15:47Well, I'm 39 year old you.
15:53What?
15:54What's up?
15:55Did you enjoy this video?
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