August 5th saw the arrival of They/Them, a brand new horror film set at a conversion camp, on Peacock. It adds another movie to the streaming service's catalog and though they don't have a ton of original films, their back catalog is rather impressive. That's especially true when it comes to the 2010s.
Peacock has modern classics like 1917, Uncut Gems, and Train to Busan that will immediately jump out to subscribers but there are also some great hidden gems. These are the films that flew under the radar or have been forgotten but deserve another viewing opportunity. You might find a new favorite.
Detachment (2011)
One of the most acclaimed actors of his era is Adrien Brody, who has shined in nearly every role he's landed. In recent years, he has become more known for his TV parts including Peaky Blinders and Winning Time but when he shows up in a movie, he's still great.
2011 saw the release of the indie film Detachment, which focuses on Brody's Henry Barthes, a substitute teacher who makes a major impression on his students. Though not a big movie, it does have a strong cast as Brody is joined by Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Bryan Cranston, and more.
Knight Of Cups (2015)
It's hard to imagine a movie getting overlooked by most audience members when it has stars like Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Cate Blanchett involved. Yet, there's Knight of Cups, which has barely even been heard of by most people despite that cast.
The story is broken up into eight chapters, all following a screenwriter (Bale) as he travels through Los Angeles and Las Vegas, meeting colorful characters along the way. Although reviews weren't sparkling, the actors and Best Director Oscar nominee Terrence Malick are enough to make this worth a viewing.
The Villainess (2017)
The Villainess centers on Sook-hee, one in a long line of badass female assassins in movies. When you run into a film like this, you kind of know exactly what you're going to get and The Villainess delivers that pulse-pounding action in spades.
Inspired by La Femme Nikita, this South Korean flick made a splash at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and never looked back. Critics heaped praise onto the story, action sequences, and lead performance by Kim Ok-vin, while moviegoers also appreciated it.
The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)
Plenty of musicians have made the move over to acting but not many give writing and directing a shot. RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan decided to do all three and do them in The Man with the Iron Fists (co-written with Eli Roth).
The martial arts film pays homage to the history of the genre and tells the story of a group of warriors, including a blacksmith, who come together to defend their home from invaders. With strong fight scenes and a cast including Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung, David Bautista, and Russell Crowe, there's a lot to like here.
Coherence (2013)
Having a cast filled with actors who aren't all that well-known can actually help boost a film. Instead of seeing a star you recognize, you can stay in the world of the movie as everyone feels like their actual character instead of the person playing them. That's part of what makes Coherence work.
Without household names in the cast, viewers are totally immersed in the world of the film. The trippy story sees a woman deal with strange occurrences after a comet nearly hits the planet. Though barely seen, Coherence racked up impressive reviews and was praised for what it did with a small budget.
Stuck In Love (2012)
In most cases, romantic comedies are box office hits when they have notable performers involved. Stuck in Love has Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Greg Kinnear, Kristen Bell, Logan Lerman, and several other actors who most audience members recognize, yet it didn't even gross $1 million.
Despite the lackluster commercial performance and mixed reviews, Stuck in Love will still likely work for fans of the genre. It doesn't do anything new but the performances are top-notch and the chemistry between the cast makes it work better than expected.
Waves (2019)
He might be under 30 years of age but Kelvin Harrison Jr. has already carved out a niche by starring in some well-received indie films. There's It Comes at Night, Luce, and Waves, which can all be considered hidden gems, all coming in the back half of the 2010s.
Waves tells the tale of a young man whose career-ending sports injury changes everything for the future of his entire family. It's an intense drama that soars because of Harrison Jr., Sterling K. Brown, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Alexa Demie, and the rest of the standout cast.
You're Next (2011)
The slasher genre was a huge deal during the '80s and Scream brought it back to prominence during the '90s but it fell by the wayside in the 2000s. Things looked up for these films in 2011 thanks to big hits like Scream 4 and indie successes like You're Next.
The plot is simple as it sees an estranged family get attacked by a group of masked killers. That's the beauty of it though because slashers don't need to be much more complicated than that. The film received widespread acclaim for the way it blended dark humor with gore.
The Love Witch (2016)
It's always a treat when a movie pays respects to the eras that came before it. The Love Witch does just that by showing love for Technicolor films and horror from the '60s, which are aspects that critics seemed to love about it.
This horror comedy follows a witch who attempts to get men to fall in love with her by using speels only for it to go horribly wrong. The Love Witch is a hidden gem because not a lot of people have seen it but if they give it a chance, reviews suggest they'll have a fantastic time.
Short Term 12 (2013)
For an early look at the careers of some of Hollywood's most talented performers, Short Term 12 is the film to see. It's directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (who went on to helm Shang-Chi) and stars Brie Larson, Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek, Lakeith Stanfield, and Stephanie Beatriz, who all went on to have great decades.
This emotional drama is set at a group home for troubled teens, focusing on cases of abuse, abandonment, violence, and more. The film helped prove Larson's ability to be a leading actor, while also showcasing the skills of the incredible supporting cast.