Seriously, discovering an under-the-radar movie or series is almost like hitting the jackpot. While mega blockbuster hits and critics’ darlings are getting all the attention, there’s a whole lot of stuff that is just chilling in the dark, waiting for someone to find them. Those are the stories that might have been overlooked but definitely deserve a lot more. In case you are tired of the same recommendations over and over again, these are 11 lesser-known movies and TV shows that you should definitely see right away, with the ones that are the most impressive at the end of the list.
11. Wendell & Wild
If stop-motion enchantment is your cup of tea, Wendell & Wild is for you. From director Henry Selick (Coraline), this Netflix original combines gothic style with modern themes, delivering us a dark, wildly imaginative story about teenagers battling both metaphorical and literal demons. With voice talents from Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, and legends such as Angela Bassett, the film is filled with imagination, even if it’s a bit disorganized at times. It’s daring, creative, and not like anything else in the animation universe currently.
10. Men
Alex Garland isn’t afraid to get creepy, and Men is the evidence. This mood horror movie, featuring Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear, goes big into grief, terror, and trauma with imagery as gorgeous as it is grotesque. It’s not so much a “fun popcorn movie” as it is deliberate, with a vibe of tension that simmers constantly. If you enjoy your horrors coated in depth (and just a pinch of nightmare sauce), then this delivers.
9. Strange: The Al Yankovic Story
Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al? Absolutely, as great as that sounds. This biopic-parody isn’t your average musician bio; it’s a laugh-out-loud spoof complete with preposterous plot twists, hallucinatory gags, and an endless string of cameos. Featuring turns by Rainn Wilson and Evan Rachel Wood (as Madonna herself, no less), with a surprise cameo from the actual Weird Al, this film goes all-in on the mayhem and refuses to release. Unadulterated, sidesplitting fun.
8. Save the Cinema
This delightful British dramedy chronicles the battle to save a small-town cinema, and ends with a premiere screening of Jurassic Park. Samantha Morton and Adeel Akhtar are great in warm performances, and the tale is told with humor and a sincere love letter to cinema and community. It’s a film that makes you stand up and root for the underdogs.
7. The Sea Beast
An animated adventure that is unfairly overlooked, The Sea Beast is one of Netflix’s greatest hidden gems. Tracing the journey of Maisie, a young girl who wants to become a legendary monster hunter, the movie turns the script on its head by unleashing the reality of the so-called “beasts.” With stunning visuals and stories of courage and compassion, it’s on the same level as the likes of How to Train Your Dragon.
6. Brian and Charles
Ever looked at a washing machine and thought, “I bet I could build a robot out of that.” You will now. Brian and Charles is an offbeat comedy about an isolated inventor who makes Charles, a wonderfully eccentric robot best friend. Filmed in a pseudo-documentary style, the movie is half-laughing, half-tear-jerking, and occasionally bizarrely endearing. It’s a paean to friendship, imagination, and discovering common ground where you least expect to find it.
5. Murina
Against the Croatian sun-kissed coast, Murina is a softly powerful coming-of-age drama. It tracks Julija, a teen suffocated beneath her father’s grip, as a visiting family friend compels her to consider a life outside her island. The stunning cinematography and subtle narrative make it one of the most impactful indie movies in recent memory.
4. A Bunch of Amateurs
If you enjoy films about film enthusiasts, this one’s for you. This documentary centers on Bradford Movie Makers, a group of retired movie enthusiasts who continue to pursue their on-screen dreams. Seeing them try to remake musicals and action sequences is bot-side-splitting and heartbreaking. It’s evidence that storytelling passion doesn’t diminish with age, and it could be the most lovable documentary you’ll watch this year.
3. Vesper
Ditch shiny CGI spectacle, Vesper makes its sci-fi more realistic. Tracking a young girl through a grimy, swampy future with her sick father, the movie employs practical effects and unsettling imagery to establish its dystopian environment. It’s visionary, raw, and a testament to the power of atmosphere in storytelling.
2. It’s What’s Inside
This Netflix thriller is a twisty ride worth so much more attention. A group of friends reunite at college, only for a cryptic suitcase to trigger a surreal game of body-swapping. What begins as party tricks morphs into paranoia, secrets, and a twist that you won’t see coming. It’s clever, offbeat, and totally rewatchable.
1. Operation Finale
First on the list is Operation Finale, an intense historical drama with Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley. Set during the actual Mossad operation to apprehend Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, the movie is a thrilling combination of espionage and moral accounting. The deliberate pace creates unbelievable tension, and the acting brings the history home in sheer humanity. It’s both a thriller and an ode to justice.
Big-budget blockbusters may get all the hype, but it’s the hidden gems that stick with you. Whether you’re in the mood for animated adventures, indie dramas, or twisty thrillers, this list has something fresh for your watchlist. So grab your popcorn, queue one up, and thank yourself later, you just leveled up your streaming game.