The 2010s might still feel like they were just yesterday, but with over six years since the decade’s end, the best movies of the 2010s have slowly begun to cement themselves as all-time greats. Enough time has passed to prove the ongoing impact of plenty of acclaimed masterpieces, but, for every beloved 2010 hit, there are countless forgotten gems that deserve so much more love.
Thankfully, some of the 2010s’ most overlooked flicks have slowly developed into cult classics today, even with such little time since their initial releases. Whether they’re dark comedies, terrifying thrillers, or action-packed epics, these 10 forgotten 2010s masterpieces are absolutely deserving of their cult classic status.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Is A Goofy and Vibrant Gem
Director Edgar Wright is well known for his over-the-top sensibilities, hilarious comedic gags, and kinetic camera work, and that has never been more on display than in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. An action-packed delight based on the graphic novel of the same name, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World didn’t wow audiences on release, but it has since become an essential film of its era.
Visually splendid, endlessly quotable, and more than deserving of its cult status, the joyously juvenile action comedy is one of the most criminally overlooked films of the 2010s. It has gone down in history as one of the finest non-superhero comic book movies ever made in the years since its release, and it can easily be called an all-time cult classic.
Green Room Is A Gnarly Horror Thriller
When a small-time punk rock band is inadvertently swept up into a world of horrific violence, terrifying neo-Nazis, and impossible odds of survival, things only continue to get worse in director Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room. A nasty and exciting horror crime thriller that features some of the most intense on-screen violence of the 2010s, Green Room isn’t for the faint of heart.
However, those who can withstand its brutality and non-stop tension are in for a treat. Green Room is a no-holds-barred masterclass in ratcheting violence, terrifying villains, and practical gore. Patrick Stewart shines as a nefarious neo-Nazi villain, a character that goes against the normal type of role he takes on. The punk flick is unlike anything else of its era, and it deserves all the cult love it has since received.
Logan Lucky Is A Delightfully Charming Heist Flick
Director Steven Soderbergh might be most known for redefining the heist genre forever with his masterpiece Oceans trilogy, but his 2017 comedy heist picture, Logan Lucky, is arguably just as much fun as any of the iconic Oceans movies. Packed with unforgettable characters, hilarious set pieces, and one of the finest central crimes in recent memory, Logan Lucky should’ve been so much bigger than it was.
A deep south tour de force, Logan Lucky features Hollywood legends like Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, and Adam Driver all at the tops of their game. It’s a hilarious, often genuinely emotional epic, and one that has cemented Steven Soderbergh as the all-time greatest heist movie director.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Is A Hilariously Silly Music Satire
Like This is Spinal Tap and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story before it, 2016’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is an unforgettable takedown of the music industry, music-related movies, and musicians themselves. Coming from the genius minds of the Lonely Island team, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is the best studio comedy in years.
Poking fun at empty pop songs, privileged musicians and music groups, and the industry as a whole, the foot tap-inducing pseudo-biopic deserved so much more love and attention at the time of its release, but never quite found its footing with audiences or critics. Andy Sandberg is excellent in the lead role, the entire supporting cast is fantastic, and the parody-like songs are hilarious, but Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping had to settle for simply becoming one of the 2010s’ greatest cult classics.
Sorry to Bother You Is A Fantasy Comedy Unlike Any Other
With director Boots Riley’s latest cinematic masterpiece, I Love Boosters, still currently in theaters around the country, there’s no better time than now for movie fans to come back to his 2018 epic, Sorry to Bother You. Starring LaKeith Stanfield in one of his finest roles, Sorry to Bother You is a genre-bending satire of epic proportions.
What starts as a somewhat simple piece of social commentary through the lens of surrealism becomes something else entirely by the end of its 112-minute runtime. A macabre and bizarre magical realism masterpiece, Sorry to Bother You has become one of the most quietly beloved indie releases of the last decade.
Dredd Is A Sci-Fi Action Tour de Force
Not to be confused with the supremely mediocre 1995 Judge Dredd film starring Sylvester Stallone, 2012’s Dredd is one of the most criminally underrated action films in decades. It’s the kind of film that should’ve kicked off an entire franchise, and the fact that it didn’t is an absolute crime.
Starring Karl Urban as the titular Judge Dredd, Dredd sees the dystopian police enforcer taking on a giant skyscraper full of violent criminals in an action bonanza that feels like a combination of Robocop and The Raid. With a script by the legendary Alex Garland, a lineup of spectacular performances, and some of the most inventive action of the 2010s, Dredd is an undisputed cult classic.
Under the Skin Is An Unnerving Sci-Fi Horror Thriller
Starring Scarlett Johansson in one of her most underrated roles, Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 sci-fi horror flick, Under the Skin, is one of the most beautiful and bizarre movies of the 21st century. A terrifically unsettling odyssey that follows a humanoid alien (Johansson) as she wanders across Scotland in search of human prey.
A grounded, low-fi masterpiece, Under the Skin is one of only four movies directed by the legendary Jonathan Glazer, and it might just be his most under-appreciated. It features Scarlett Johansson at the absolute top of her game, and its unsettling nature will leave viewers thinking about the film long after the credits have rolled.
Unstoppable Is The Final Masterpiece of A Legendary Director
Arguably one of the greatest action directors of the 21st century, Tony Scott never quite got the recognition or appreciation for his work that he rightfully deserved. Films like Man on Fire, Déjà vu, Crimson Tide, and Enemy of the State redefined modern action filmmaking forever, and Scott’s final film before his untimely death, 2010’s Unstoppable, might just be his magnum opus.
Featuring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine as two railroad workers who band together to stop a runaway train before it can derail and endanger countless people, Unstoppable is a pulse-pounding masterwork that must be seen to be believed. Practical stunts, incredible character work, and some of the most dazzling action cinematography of all time all make Unstoppable a must-watch masterpiece that has only gotten better with each passing year.
Suspiria Is One of The Greatest Remakes of All Time
Director Dario Argento’s 1977 giallo masterwork, Suspiria, will forever be one of the most important horror movies of all time, but its 2018 remake of the same name from director Luca Guadagnino might just be superior. A dark, brooding display of sheer horror mastery, Guadagnino’s Suspiria is nothing short of miraculous.
More character-focused, slow-moving, and introspective than its predecessor, 2018’s Suspiria also happens to include a number of the most truly terrifying sequences in modern movie history. It’s a bleak, politically charged epic that deserved so much more mainstream attention when it released, but which has since become an essential cult classic of the 2010s.
The Nice Guys Is An All-Time Crime Comedy Delight
When discussing movies from the 21st century that should’ve gotten a sequel, director Shane Black’s 2016 neo-noir crime comedy, The Nice Guys, is often at the center of that discussion. It’s a crime that the Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe led caper wasn’t as successful at the time of release as it has since become, because it’s the kind of film that easily could’ve kick-started a beloved and long-running franchise.
One of the best buddy cop pictures in decades, The Nice Guys is a hilarious and action-packed masterpiece that has since been reclaimed as an overlooked cult classic. While there’s still a tiny chance that a sequel could happen, fans are just happy that the 2016 masterpiece is a perfect viewing experience, even after countless rewatches.