Eight Great Films You May Have Never Heard Of

A film can get overlooked for any number of reasons and still be perfectly wonderful to watch.

Some movies don’t get the credit they deserve for various reasons, and because of that, hidden gems may get overshadowed by the big blockbuster films. Below are some films which may have been a hit with critics but never really found much of an audience.  They’ve been forgotten, neglected, overlooked by many…but that doesn’t mean they won’t WOW you if given the chance!

Take Shelter (2011)

Curtis (Michael Shannon) is a working-class husband and father questioning whether his terrifying dreams of an apocalyptic storm signal something real to come or the onset of an inherited mental illness.  He lives in a small town in Ohio with his wife, Samantha (Jessica Chastain), and daughter, Hannah, a six-year-old deaf girl. Curtis channels his anxiety into obsessively building a storm shelter in his backyard and mostly keeps his fears of what his dreams may signify to himself. This is a haunting tale of a character crumbling under the weight of real-life problems. Using suspense and atmosphere with chilling effect, Director Jeff Nichols creates a powerful psychological thriller that will stay on your mind long after the movie ends.

The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)

This film tells the true story of how Jan and Antonina Zabinski rescued hundreds of Polish Jews from the Germans by hiding them in their Warsaw zoo during World War II. The movie takes place in 1939, Poland, home to Antonina Zabinski (Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh). Jan is the caretaker at the Warsaw Zoo, which flourishes under his and his wife’s supervision. When the Nazis invade Poland, Jan and Antonina are forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck. The Zabinskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and take action to save the lives of hundreds from the Warsaw Ghetto.

Prelude to a Kiss (1992)

When you marry someone, you promise to love that person forever – no matter what! But no one could have expected what happened to Peter (Alec Baldwin) and Rita (Meg Ryan) in this quirky romantic comedy with a surprising twist. Youthful Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan are great in this strange, early ‘90s film that seemed to get lost somewhere along the way.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Casey Affleck leads an all-star cast – Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler – in this highly acclaimed and heartbreaking film about a private Boston janitor, Lee Chandler (Affleck), whose life is transformed when he learns his dead brother has made him the guardian of his 16-year-old nephew, Patrick. Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations, where he is forced to deal with his difficult past.

Wonder Boys (2000)

In this film, starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, and Robert Downey Jr., a college professor (Douglas) and award-winning novelist (Downey, Jr.) struggle during a single weekend to pull together a life that has suddenly spiraled out of control. Frances McDormand and Katie Holmes are also great as the female leads.

The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

When rising corporate star Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) meets wealthy and mysterious Jimmy Dell (Steve Martin) at a tropical resort, it sets off a series of events that leaves the audience shocked and amazed.  Dell initially offers to help Ross protect his new business invention, but everything is not as it seems. This story of corporate espionage will keep you guessing until the very end.

Elsewhere (2019)

Bruno (Aden Young) is still mourning the death of his wife and still very attached to the home they built together. When his in-laws evict him, he will go to almost any length to find a way back. Also starring Parker Posey.

Labor Day (2013)

Labor Day stars Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin as two strangers drawn together under impossible circumstances. What begins as an innocent encounter over a long holiday weekend soon becomes a second chance at love

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