5 criminally underrated movies that deserve a second chance

Opinion
By published

These movies deserved so much better

Kristen Stewart in "Underwater" movie (2020)
(Image credit: 20th Century / Chernin Entertainment / TSG / TCD / Prod.DB / Alamy)

With so many new movies released every year in theaters and on streaming, it’s inevitable that some titles get overlooked, and opinions on them will naturally vary. But every now and then, a movie comes along that just doesn’t get its moment, either because it flopped at the box office, got slammed by critics (and audiences), or simply got overshadowed when a bigger release dominated the big screen.

As someone who’s spent more than a few late nights rewatching overlooked flicks, I’ve found that some of the most rewarding movie experiences come from the ones everyone else dismissed.

So, here are five criminally underrated movies worth watching again, because they certainly deserved better the first time around. And yes, most of these fall into the horror/thriller category, simply because it’s my favorite.

‘Overlord’ (2018)

OVERLORD (2018)- Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures - YouTube OVERLORD (2018)- Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures - YouTube
Watch On

I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve recommended "Overlord" to family and friends. In fact, it’s probably my most recommended title, simply because it’s one of the best horror‑action movies ever made. Sadly, even though it earned some decent ratings, it massively underperformed at the box office back in 2018 (and it still pains me). “Overlord” is a bloody genre mash‑up of war drama and creature horror, elevated by compelling performances that make it a truly thrilling ride. I only wish this movie had been given another chance to shine on the big screen.

“Overlord” follows a squad of American paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines on the eve of D‑Day. After their plane is shot down, Private Edward Boyce (Jovan Adepo), Corporal Lewis Ford (Wyatt Russell), sniper Lyle Tibbet (John Magaro), and photographer Morton Chase (Iain De Caestecker) find themselves in occupied France with a mission to destroy a German radio tower. They team up with local villager Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier) and her young brother, only to discover that the Nazi-occupied town isn’t what they expected. Their simple military operation quickly goes awry when a sinister experiment unleashes hell.

Stream on Prime Video

‘Underwater’ (2020)

Underwater | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX - YouTube Underwater | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX - YouTube
Watch On

A movie that got low scores and flopped at the box office is “Underwater,” and it’s a shame this sci‑fi thriller was so misunderstood. Starring Kristen Stewart, this intense flick delivers everything you need for pure popcorn entertainment. Despite some familiar genre tropes, it does almost everything right to keep you invested. The set pieces are stunning, the cast brings interesting dynamics, and I found myself literally holding my breath every time the characters were submerged. This is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t always read the reviews beforehand.

“Underwater” follows a crew of workers stationed on the deep‑sea drilling rig Kepler 822 at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. When a massive earthquake devastates the rig, mechanical engineer Norah Price (Stewart) and a handful of survivors discover that the facility is flooding and there are no escape pods left. Their only chance is to don heavy diving suits and walk across the ocean floor to reach another station with evacuation pods. As they make their perilous journey in crushing pressure and darkness, they soon realize they are not alone.

Stream on Hulu

‘Presence’ (2025)

Presence Trailer #1 (2025) - YouTube Presence Trailer #1 (2025) - YouTube
Watch On

Last year saw the release of several overlooked flicks, but the most noteworthy is “Presence,” a unique horror movie that completely took me by surprise. I unfortunately missed it during its theatrical run earlier in 2025, but when I caught it on streaming, I quickly realized this isn’t your typical haunted house story. Told entirely from the perspective of an unseen spirit, the movie feels very intimate and claustrophobic as you watch a fractured family slowly unravel under the gaze of something they can’t see but can somehow sense. Sadly, it was pulled into January’s infamous “dump month” rotation.

“Presence” follows the Payne family — Rebekah (Lucy Liu), Chris (Chris Sullivan), and their teenage children Chloe (Callina Liang) and Tyler (Eddy Maday) — as they move into a spacious suburban home. Shortly after arriving, Chloe begins to sense an unseen presence within the house that the rest of the family dismisses at first. As odd occurrences escalate, the family becomes increasingly aware that something else is sharing their space. The story is uniquely presented from the viewpoint of the unseen entity itself, quietly observing the family’s daily life.

Stream on Hulu

‘The Host’ (2013)

The Host Official Trailer #2 (2013) - Saoirse Ronan Movie HD - YouTube The Host Official Trailer #2 (2013) - Saoirse Ronan Movie HD - YouTube
Watch On

This might be a serious hot take for some, but “The Host” is a deeply nostalgic gem for me and one of the first movies I ever saw that combined romance, sci‑fi, action, and thriller vibes all at once. We’re in the era of “yearning” right now, a cultural buzzword for a deep sense of longing or unfulfilled desire. I’d argue that “The Host” has plenty of that, and with Saoirse Ronan’s charming performance and an infamous love triangle, you really can’t go wrong. Rewatching it now definitely accentuates its glaring flaws, but that 10% score on Rotten Tomatoes is way too harsh.

“The Host” is set in a future where parasitic alien “Souls” have taken over nearly all of humanity by inhabiting their bodies. When Melanie Stryder (Ronan), a member of the remaining human resistance, is captured, she is implanted with a Soul called Wanderer. Instead of losing Melanie’s consciousness, Wanderer finds her mind still present and struggles with her orders to reveal the location of hidden humans. Melanie and Wanderer form an uneasy bond and together seek out Melanie’s brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury), her boyfriend Jared (Max Irons), and other survivors in a desert hideout.

Stream on Netflix

‘Wolf Man’ (2025)

Wolf Man | Official Trailer - YouTube Wolf Man | Official Trailer - YouTube
Watch On

We’re ending with another potentially controversial pick, but I’ll continue to defend “Wolf Man” because this 2025 movie did not deserve the level of criticism it received. Director Leigh Whannell has earned a solid reputation in the horror-thriller world with movies like “The Invisible Man” and “Upgrade,” so expectations were naturally high. While “Wolf Man” may not reach the same heights, it’s still a compelling watch and a promising step toward modernizing Universal’s classic monsters. It delivers a tense, atmospheric horror experience and presents a fresh take on the werewolf transformation.

“Wolf Man” follows Blake (Christopher Abbott), a husband and father who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his father goes missing and is presumed dead. Blake persuades his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their young daughter to leave the city and stay at the property, but as they arrive late at night, an unseen animal attacks them. The family takes shelter in the house, but as the night wears on, Blake begins acting strangely and eventually starts transforming into something dangerous and unrecognizable.

Stream on Prime Video

Google News

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

Alix Blackburn
Alix Blackburn
Senior Streaming Writer (UK)

Alix is a Senior Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. It’s a dream job for someone who’s been obsessed with storytelling since she first figured out how to work a remote. 


Before joining Tom’s Guide, Alix honed her skills as a staff writer with outlets like Screen Rant and Bough Digital, where she discovered her love for the entertainment industry. 


She heads to the cinema every week as a tradition, no matter what’s showing. For her, movies aren’t just entertainment — they’re a ritual, a comfort, and a constant source of inspiration. When she’s not at her desk or at the cinema, you’ll probably find her deep into a horror video game on her PC.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.