For someone who is swimming in options, I have to admit that I tend to rewatch classic favourites rather than branching out and trying something new.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of underrated movies to watch. Here you’ll find tried-and-true romcoms, indie cuts and documentaries that are worth your time.
Set It Up
Netflix romcoms get a bad rap, so let anti-girlboss movie Set It Up change your mind. Zoey Deutch and Lucy Liu are the two stellar female leads in this 2018 movie that sees two overworked assistants conspire to set their bosses up together.
Watch on: Netflix
Minari
Lee Isaac Chung’s retelling of the American dream makes for a groundbreaking watch that gives space to the Korean-American experience. This tender, heartfelt and sensitive film explores themes of intergenerational family and identity.
Watch on: NOW TV
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Honouring the legendary singer and activist Nina Simone, this biographical documentary film pulls together never-before-heard recordings and rare footage to document the life of Simone. A gut-wrenching but important watch.
Watch on: Netflix
Unpregnant
Starring Barbie Ferreira and Haley Lu Richardson, Unpregnant is a 2020 road-trip comedy drama that centres around the politics of abortion. Traipsing to Albuquerque, a 17-year-old girl and her friend have to face many challenges in their wake before they reach their destination, both physically and mentally.
Watch on: Binge
The Favourite
A dark humour take on the period drama genre, The Favourite boasts a sling of famous stars, like the likes of Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Loosely based on the story of Queen Anne, this female-led comedy is one for period lovers and sceptics alike.
Watch on: Disney+
Your Name
This anime is beautiful — both its animation and narrative will leave you in goosebumps. It follows two teenagers who magically swap bodies and embark on a quest to meet in real life.
Watch on: Netflix
The Lobster
Lean into the wacky and weird when you watch The Lobster. Here, we follow David who is transported to a hotel, where he is tasked with the mission of finding a partner in 45 days. If he doesn’t, he’ll turn into…wait for it…a lobster. This black comedy/dystopian film is hilarious, yet unsettlingly dark.
Watch on: Amazon Prime
I Care A Lot
Rosamund Pike is peak Rosamund Pike in I Care A Lot. The 2020 satirical black comedy thriller follows a conwoman who targets elderly people. But then she meets her match.
Watch on: Amazon Prime
Moxie
For lovers of Booksmart, Moxie is your next watch. This coming-of-age film is a feminist mood booster; a young teen is driven to create an anonymous zine that lifts the lid on sexism at her school.Watch on: Netflix
Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold
Joan Didion, acclaimed cultural thinker and writer, is commemorated in this 2017 documentary. Directed by her nephew, this film provides a glimpse into the personal life and career moves of Didion.
Watch on: Netflix
Always Be My Maybe
Move over Crazy Rich Asians, Always Be My Maybe is the relatable love story that happens to nail Asian representation too. Starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, this light-hearted and endearing romcom answers the ‘what if?’ question that looks over childhood sweethearts.
Watch on: Netflix
Tickled
The competitive world of tickling is no funny business, which is why New Zealand documentary maker David Farrier wanted to uncover the dark world. Sexuality and fetish culture are only the beginning.
Watch on: Netflix
Boyhood
It took 12 years of filming to make Boyhood the epic coming-of-age story it is known as today. At its surface, it is the story of a divorced couple who are raising their young son. Beneath that, it’s an intimate and wholehearted look at growing up.
Watch on: Netflix
The Dressmaker
The Dressmaker is a 2015 Australian film that’s bound to go down as one of our classics. Kate Winslet stars in this drama that fuses fashion and revenge in a small, rural Australian town.
Watch on: Stan
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