The 2020s have been a fantastic era for movies, so far. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the theatrical releases of countless films, there have been numerous major cinematic successes with audiences since 2020. For every huge hit that audiences adore, however, there are so many masterpieces that get completely forgotten or ignored by general audiences.
Movies like Sinners, Top Gun: Maverick, Oppenheimer, and Dune might have enthralled and impacted audiences around the world in the 2020s, but there are so many more masterpieces that didn’t get the same level of attention. These seven near-perfect movies from the 2020s have been tragically forgotten, and it’s time for movie fans to rediscover them.
Ambulance Is a Return To Form For An Action Icon
Michael Bay is one of the most divisive filmmakers of the modern age. His Transformers franchise is one of the most controversial action sagas in cinematic history, and his overall work has often been considered juvenile and simplistic. While it’s true that most of his films are more focused on spectacle and action than character work, that doesn’t necessarily make Michael Bay a bad director.
In fact, 2022’s Ambulance, a back-to-basics chase thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as two brothers who get in over their heads after hijacking an ambulance after a botched bank heist, is the perfect proof of Bay’s expertise. The film is a simple, effective ode to the action crime thrillers of old, and it features some of the finest action of the decade, so far, making it an absolute must-watch that could truly redeem him in the eyes of many viewers.
The Mastermind Is a Cozy Heist Drama
The words “cozy” and “heist” don’t often go together when describing a film, but that’s exactly what director Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind is. Telling the story of a discontent family man in 1970s Massachusetts who hatches a seemingly foolproof art heist, The Mastermind is a slow-burning masterclass in tone and mood.
The genre-bending crime flick brings a real sense of emotional weight to its small-scale story, and the ensuing fallout from the heist is full of superb character work, hilarious dramatic irony, and some of the most subtle and expressive acting from the supremely talented Josh O’Connor. The Mastermind is a forgotten gem that deserves far more attention than it got.
A Different Man Is a Twisted And Insightful Dark Comedy
Sebastian Stan is one of the most underrated actors working in Hollywood today. Most notable for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Bucky Barnes actor has actually quietly cemented himself as one of the boldest and most creatively daring performers in modern cinema. No film displays that more than A Different Man, a bizarre crime comedy about identity, jealousy, and creative intent.
Aaron Schimberg’s 2024 opus sees Stan as a man who undergoes a radical medical procedure to appear more “normal”, before being immediately subverted by a charismatic and charming man with the exact same condition that he worked so hard to conceal and change. It’s a biting piece of social commentary, an incredible display of acting talent, and one of the very best movies of the 2020s, so far.
Eephus Is a Bittersweet Tale of Friendship And Connection
One of the single greatest baseball movies of the last thirty years, director Carson Lund’s Eephus is an emotionally raw exploration of masculinity, aging, and the importance of connection, friendship, and shared experiences. Taking place over the course of one last baseball game on a soon-to-be-demolished small-town field, Eephus is as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
The cast is utterly charming from top to bottom, the writing is subtle and sincere, and the narrative of time coming to an end and individuals having to face an uncertain future is supremely emotionally stirring. Eephus isn’t just a great film for people who love baseball, it’s an incredible achievement in cinematic storytelling that anyone and everyone should seek out.
The Beast Is a Terrifyingly Insightful Sci-Fi Masterwork
French director Bertrand Bonello might have crafted the single most important piece of commentary on the modern world with his 2023 masterpiece, The Beast. Starring Léa Seydoux and George MacKay as a two souls whose fates seem to have been inextricably linked throughout human history, The Beast explores ideas of human connection in the face of technological evolution, the slow decay of emotional nuance, and the horrors of contemporary isolation.
The Beast spans numerous timelines, narratives, and characters, and it perfectly crafts a sci-fi tapestry unlike anything else seen in the 2020s. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with its viewers long after it has ended, and it is one of the most desperately underrated movies of the last ten years.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Deserves As Much Love As Its Predecessor
Unfortunately, legendary director George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the follow-up to his iconic 2015 masterpiece, Mad Max: Fury Road, did not have the same staying power or impact of its predecessor. However, the 2024 prequel is nearly just as good as Fury Road in every way, and it is so unfortunate that mainstream audiences didn’t seem to agree.
The sun-soaked dystopian epic is the kind of blockbuster that audiences so rarely see today, and its visual style, quiet-yet-effective character work, and jaw-dropping action sequences make it truly unforgettable. That’s why it is so strange that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga didn’t seem to work with most audiences. It has a compelling hero, an all-time great villain, and some of the best action in years, but it still never received the attention it so rightfully deserves.
Pig Is a Tremendous Nicolas Cage Masterpiece
Nicolas Cage is one of the strangest actors working in Hollywood today, but he is also one of the most beloved. His wacky antics, over-the-top acting choices, and zany lineup of films that he has appeared in have given most audiences the impression that that is all he is. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When he wants to be, Nicolas Cage is one of the finest performers of the modern age, and 2021’s Pig is the ultimate proof of that.
A mystery thriller that never quite resorts to the typical trappings of either genre, Pig sees Nicolas Cage as a truffle hunter whose beloved foraging pig is suddenly kidnapped from his small cabin in the woods. The kidnapping sends Cage on an odyssey back into a world he left behind, a world of fine dining, underground fight rings, and emotional introspection. Nicolas Cage has called Pig his finest film, and that might just be true.