The 50 Best Modern Movies You Might Have Missed
by Rob Fee
Jun 20, 2013


There's nothing worse than going to the theater, spending way too much money on tickets, popcorn, candy, and drinks, and then watching a movie that ends up being completely terrible. Over the last decade, however, there have been numerous movies that were the complete opposite of the over-hyped box office duds.

Some of the more fun and brilliant movies tend to slip through the cracks and go fairly unnoticed. No matter what your taste is, there is something in this list for everyone, so enjoy the 50 Best Modern Movies You Might Have Missed.









Payback (1999)


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The Premise: After being shot and left for dead by his best friend and his wife, an ex-marine seeks revenge and the $70,000 that was taken from him.


Why You Should See It: Yes, it's Mel Gibson, but this is one of the coolest revenge movies. The soundtrack is fantastic and it just feels cool.









The 13th Warrior (1999)


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The Premise: In the year 922, a group of warriors battle an ancient evil with the help of a foreigner who has been exiled from his homeland.


Why You Should See It: An action movie from the director of Die Hard and Predator that you haven't seen should be reason enough, right?









Knockaround Guys (2001)


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The Premise: The not-so-mobster sons of a group of crime lords try to prove themselves by running an errand for the boss. Unfortunately, things aren't as simple as they had anticipated.


Why You Should See It: This is the most badass role Vine Diesel has ever or will ever have. The speech he gives before pummeling a local tough guy is the best thing he's ever done.









Manic (2001)


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The Premise: Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays a young man who is committed to a mental institution where he comes in contact with patients and psychologists who may be nothing more than products of their society.


Why You Should See It: Before JGL became a full blown movie star, he had a series of powerful roles like this that deserve to be highlighted.









Mulholland Dr. (2001)


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The Premise: Naomi Watts is an actress who, after a violent car accident, gets amnesia and joins a young actress to try and discover who she really is.


Why You Should See It: It's hard to describe what exactly happens in this movie, but David Lynch has a way of taking the absurd and making it to where you simply can't look away.









About a Boy (2002)


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The Premise: Hugh Grant is a self-centered playboy who befriends a teenage outcast and realizes maybe he wants more out of life than just taking care of himself.


Why You Should See It: Toni Collette is simply brilliant as a depressed single mom and Hugh Grant is the least Hugh Grant-y he's ever been. You know what I mean.









Changing Lanes (2002)


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The Premise: Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson get in a minor car accident, but tempers build and it turns into a nightmare of a day that neither would have ever expected.


Why You Should See It: It's intense and suspenseful while providing an interesting commentary on ethical choices.









Death to Smoochy (2002)


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The Premise: Robin Williams stars as kids show hosts that will do anything to eliminate his replacement, played by Edward Norton.


Why You Should See It: Death to Smoochy is definitely the darkest comedy you'll see about children's television. It's not as great as it probably should be, but you'll find yourself filled with a dark pleasure from it.









Insomnia (2002)


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The Premise: One of two Christopher Nolan-directed movies on the list, Insomnia follows a pair of homicide detectives to Alaska to investigate a murder.


Why You Should See It: Did I mention that the sun doesn't set during that time of year in this Alaskan town? Add that to a particularly creepy Robin Williams performance and you've got a brilliant crime thriller.









Solaris (2002)


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The Premise: George Clooney is a psychologist who is sent to a space station to help treat a group of astronauts in this slow burn, written and directed by Steven Soderbergh.


Why You Should See It: It may not be for everyone, but it's so sophisticated you'll be shocked that a large Hollywood studio would take a chance on such a non-popcorn film.

25th Hour (2002)


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The Premise: Edward Norton stars in this Spike Lee joint about a drug dealer who reevaluates everything in his life as he prepares to serve seven years in jail.


Why You Should See It: A lot of people aren't fans of Spike Lee's movies, which I get. This one, however, should be your exception, as it is brilliantly acted and surprisingly fun considering the subject matter.









Open Water (2003)


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The Premise: The true story of a couple that go on a scuba trip only to be left behind by their tour boat in the middle of ocean. Also, there are sharks all around them.


Why You Should See It: Director Chris Kentis, who also did 2011's Silent House, has a way to make even the most open areas feel extremely claustrophobic.









The Machinist (2004)


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The Premise: Christian Bale got his weight down to a staggering 110lbs in order to play an industrial worker who hasn't slept in over a year. He slowly starts to lose touch with what is real and what is in his head.


Why You Should See It: No movie has felt more like a Hitchcock film since he himself was making movies. It's dark and perplexing with tons of surprises and notable performances.









Elizabethtown (2005)


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The Premise: Orlando Bloom returns to his hometown after the death of his father and ends up falling in love with a flight attendant.


Why You Should See It: The setting is so beautiful, you'll want to book your next vacation in Elizabethtown, KY. You probably shouldn't though.









Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)


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The Premise: Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer are a private investigator and a thief that are investigating a murder together in the most unlikely combination.


Why You Should See It: The coolness Robert Downey Jr. brought to Iron Man is in full force here, as he is sly and quick witted which compliments the fantastic script by Shane Black.









Zathura (2005)


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The Premise: Two brothers find an old board game that ends up transporting them to another galaxy and the only way to get back is to finish the game.


Why You Should See It: Imagine Jumanji, BUT IN SPACE! Plus, the kids are extremely likable and you'll want to hug someone after it's over.









Children of Men (2006)


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The Premise: The year is 2027 and mankind has lost the ability to procreate until a glimmer of hope is found in a young woman who is pregnant and may be the salvation of the world.


Why You Should See It: It's an emotional, action packed, futuristic tale that exceeds any preconceived expectations. The camerawork is brilliant and you will find it hard not to be engulfed in this futuristic, cautionary tale.









The Ex (2006)


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The Premise: Zach Braff & Amanda Peet are a couple expecting their first child which results in Braff having to work for her father and dealing with Jason Bateman, his wheelchair-bound nemesis.


Why You Should See It: Jason Bateman in one of his most underrated comedy roles ever, plus the rest of the cast (Mia Farrow, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Charles Grodin) is amazing.









The Fountain (2006)


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The Premise: Three parallel stories, past, present, and future, tell an intertwined story of love and loss in one of the most visually daring movies since The Matrix.


Why You Should See It: It's not like any other love story you've ever seen. The sci-fi and spiritual elements, along with the stunning visuals, may be off-putting to some, but it's ambitious enough to be appreciated nonetheless.









Inland Empire (2006)


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The Premise: In a surreal, trippy story that only David Lynch could create, an actress realizes she is becoming the character she portrays.


Why You Should See It: If you like other David Lynch movies, you will love Inland Empire. If more traditional movies are your thing, there's probably a reason you haven't seen this one.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)


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The Premise: Set in 1944, this Spanish tale follows a young girl who tries to get away from her military stepfather by traveling into a bizarre fantasy world.


Why You Should See It: Described by some as Alice in Wonderland for adults, Pan's Labyrinth is full of fascinating creatures, and some of the best storytelling Guillermo del Toro has ever done.









The Prestige (2006)


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The Premise: Two rival magicians spend their lives trying to outdo one another, putting their lives and loved ones in danger throughout the process.


Why You Should See It: Christopher Nolan, who you should probably know from his movies like Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy, put together this ridiculously good movie that you should be legally obligated to watch.

It's that good. Go watch it now.









The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)


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The Premise: This French film is the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor at Elle, as he learned to live his life after having a stroke that left him completely paralyzed except for the use of his left eye.


Why You Should See It: You won't find a more powerful and encouraging biography than this. It's also shot beautifully with some of the best cinematography you'll ever see.









Gone Baby Gone (2007)


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The Premise: A Boston private investigator is hired to search for a missing girl that has captivated the hearts of the entire city. What he uncovers is something more shocking than anything he had ever anticipated.


Why You Should See It: Ben Affleck, who we now know is an incredible director, made his directorial debut with this film from a screenplay he wrote. This is a movie you will immediately want to discuss with your friends as soon as the credits begin to roll.









Lars and the Real Girl (2007)


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The Premise: After a traumatic experience, a quiet guy starts a relationship with a sex doll he bought online.


Why You Should See It: As gross as that description sounds, it's a very emotional and sweet movie about family and loss in the most unconventional way possible.









The Lookout (2007)


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The Premise: A young man with a promising athletic career gets in a horrible accident and ends up becoming a janitor at a bank. He gets involved with the wrong crowd and quickly becomes entangled in a heist to rob the bank.


Why You Should See It: The cast, led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is fantastic in this thriller with depth and a feel of realism that's rare for movies like this.









Martian Child (2007)


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The Premise: A young boy who claims to be from Mars is temporarily adopted by a recently widowed writer, played by John Cusack.


Why You Should See It: I know it's probably designed to play on my emotions, but you'll find yourself caring so much mainly because of a great performance from John Cusack.









Michael Clayton (2007)


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The Premise: After one of their top attorneys breaks down while representing a massive company that may be involved in illegal activity, a law firm brings in George Clooney's character to fix things.


Why You Should See It: There aren't a ton of explosions and it doesn't insult the audience by spoon feeding us the story. It's smart and perfectly executed by director and writer Tony Gilroy.









Resurrecting the Champ (2007)


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The Premise: Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett star in this film about a young sports reporter who discovers that a homeless man may actually be a legendary boxer that everyone believed died years before.


Why You Should See It: Samuel L. Jackson is simply fantastic as the homeless boxing legend and, believe it or not, Josh Hartnett gives what was probably the best performance of his career.









Shoot 'Em Up (2007)


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The Premise: After delivering a woman's baby, a homeless assassin must protect the baby from hordes of gunmen led by Paul Giamatti.


Why You Should See It: It's completely over the top in a mix of James Bond and grunge rock. It's smart, sexy, and funny. Any fan of action movies needs to see it.

Sunshine (2007)


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The Premise: The sun is dying, so a group of scientists and astronauts are sent on a mission to re-ignite it after a failed attempt by another group seven years earlier.


Why You Should See It: Danny Boyle's criminally under-appreciated project, made between 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire, can hold its own against any sci-fi movie in recent memory.









Be Kind, Rewind (2008)


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The Premise: After accidentally erasing all of the tapes in a small video store, two store employees decide that in order to keep the business going, they will re-shoot every film with their camera themselves.


Why You Should See It: This came out at the peak of Jack Black's slapstick popularity, so fans were disappointed that he wasn't as over the top.

Nonetheless, it's a very sweet movie that you can't help but feel good after watching.









In Bruges (2008)


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The Premise: After an assassination gone wrong, two hitmen are sent to Bruges by their boss to hide out until the attention dies down.


Why You Should See It: This is probably the darkest movie that you won't be able to stop laughing during. The cast is brilliant and script is one of the most underrated of the last decade.









A Perfect Getaway (2009)


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The Premise: A couple goes on their honeymoon to Hawaii and become involved in a series of grisly murders.


Why You Should See It: Although it starts out slow, there are some really great twists and one of the most elaborate reveals you will ever see.









Brothers (2009)


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The Premise: After the government declares her husband a casualty of war, a woman begins to have feelings for his brother. Problems ensue when, it turns out, her husband survived and comes home to rejoin his family.


Why You Should See It: The story is good, but the performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Natalie Portman are absolutely top notch. The tension created by this trio is astounding.









Daybreakers (2009)


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The Premise: In the future, vampires are the predominant species and the nearly extinct humans are harvested for blood. But what happens when the blood runs out?


Why You Should See It: While it has its flaws, there are plenty of twists and it's a vampire movie that isn't for tweens! Wow!









(500) Days of Summer (2009)


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The Premise: A young man falls in love with a girl who says she doesn't believe in love. The story is told out of chronological order, with a style that resembles a music video.


Why You Should See It: One of the most stylized romantic comedy you'll ever see, (500) Days of Summer is something that everyone will enjoy on a date night.









Moon (2009)


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The Premise: An astronaut spends three years on the moon in a research project to help restore resources for a dying earth.


Why You Should See It: Sam Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors of our time and he proves it here more than anywhere else. It's unlike any other sci-fi movie you've ever seen.









Splice (2009)


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The Premise: Two scientists try to save their struggling department by splicing together the DNA of different animals and, eventually, using human DNA.


Why You Should See It: You think you know what's going to happen in this movie? No, you do not. I will go as far as to guarantee that you will be completely shocked.









Triangle (2009)


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The Premise: Melissa George stars as a passenger of a yacht that hits bizarre weather conditions, which forces her to jump to another ship. Once aboard things only get more dangerous as someone or something is trying to kill her.


Why You Should See It: It's impossible to really explain or categorize without giving a substantial amount of story away but that is kind of the appeal. These days it's rare to go into a movie without knowing almost the entire plot due to over-explained trailers.

Just know that it does not disappoint.

Buried (2010)


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The Premise: A man wakes up in a wooden coffin in Iraq with nothing but his lighter and his cell phone.


Why You Should See It: It's incredibly claustrophobic with insane amounts of drama for such a simple premise. The entire movie takes place within the coffin without cutting to other settings.

You'll want to sleep with the lights on after this.









The Switch (2010)


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The Premise: Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman star in this romantic comedy about a man who, seven years later, realizes he was the sperm donor for his best friend's baby.


Why You Should See It: It's hard not to love Jason Bateman, even in a very predictable storyline. Jeff Goldblum and Patrick Wilson are also great.









Hanna (2011)


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The Premise: A young girl is trained by her father to be an assassin and seek revenge on an intelligence agent in this change of pace film from the director of Atonement and Pride & Prejudice.


Why You Should See It: The action is slick and cool and the story is completely original. It's like if Jason Bourne were a tween girl.









Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)


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The Premise: An unemployed 30-year-old living in his mom's basement tries to figure out if there's something bigger intended for his life while he spends the day with his brother who suspects his wife is cheating on him.


Why You Should See It: The Duplass brothers wrote and directed this delightful movie about finding your place in the world. Jason Segel is so likeable you can't help but cheer for him.









Melancholia (2011)


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The Premise: Writer and director Lars von Trier creates an end of the world tale that focuses more on the relationships of the characters than the explosions and special effects.


Why You Should See It: It's beautiful and haunting, but more importantly highlights the best acting performance by Kirsten Dunst to date.









Warrior (2011)


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The Premise: Two brothers, one with a troubled past and the other a hard working family man, compete in a mixed martial arts tournament while dealing with their alcoholic, former boxing champion father.


Why You Should See It: You really wouldn't expect a movie about mixed martial arts to make you cry, but this one does exactly that. It's full of heart and characters you actually care about.









Chronicle (2012)


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The Premise: Three teenage friends come in contact with an alien artifact that gives them superpowers which quickly go from a blessing to completely destroying their lives.


Why You Should See It: The handheld camera aspect works incredibly well and the cast of relatively unknowns give tremendous performances.









Compliance (2012)


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The Premise: It's based on a true story of a man who prank called a fast food restaurant, posed as a cop, and claimed one of the employees was stealing. You will not believe what the manager is willing to comply with simply by being told that she is speaking with a cop without any sort of proof.


Why You Should See It: While it's difficult to watch, you honestly would think it was an absurd, ridiculous plot if it wasn't taken directly from newspaper headlines. Few movies truly shock viewers. This one will.









End of Watch (2012)


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The Premise: Two LA cops document their daily activity, which eventually leads to them going up against a group of criminals that are bigger than anything they've ever imagined.


Why You Should See It: While the concept isn't anything you haven't seen before, the performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are nothing short of fantastic. You'll quickly become emotionally involved in their journey.









Would You Rather (2012)


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The Premise: A group of strangers are brought together for a game that promises the winner will have all of their financial problems erased.


Why You Should See It: Wait until you see what insane things this game consists of. It's seriously like Saw around a dinner table. Also, Sasha Grey is there for some reason.

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