Let’s face it—Hollywood tends to highlight the same parts and performances during awards season. But behind the red carpets and glitzy campaigns are the slept-on gems—the performances where A-listers went all-in, only to have the world shrug or just not see it.
If you enjoy finding off-the-radar brilliance or seeing your favorite stars do something completely out of left field, this list’s for you. From directorial breaches to genre-defying turns, here are 10 seriously underappreciated performances and endeavors by bigger-than-bign stars that are due for a second glance.
10. Rosewater – Jon Stewart’s Impressive Directorial Debut
Before becoming a constant in political commentary, Jon Stewart took everyone by surprise when he ventured into filmmaking with Rosewater. Gael García Bernal plays Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist jailed for doing his job. Stewart applies a pointed, human perspective to the narrative, making a reflective film that celebrates truth, journalism, and the actual price of speaking up.
9. Zach Galifianakis in Birdman
You likely think of Zach Galifianakis as offbeat humor—but in Birdman, he turns in a thoughtful, unexpectedly earthed turn. As the frazzled stage producer propping up a crazy play, he adds true substance to a movie full of big names. It’s a reminder that he’s more than capable of doing drama on a whole deeper level.
8. Michelle Rodriguez in Girlfight
Before she became a Fast & Furious franchise player, Michelle Rodriguez burst onto the scene in Girlfight. As a tough, emotionally fraught teen boxer, she gave an unforgettable debut performance. Gritty and realistic, her turn redefined what the female-led sports drama genre could be—and it’s still good today.
7. Blaze – An Ethan Hawke Passion Project
Ethan Hawke’s behind-the-scenes direction never receives enough accolades, and Blaze is evidence of what he can accomplish on the other side of the camera. This sleeper biopic is the story of country musician Blaze Foley, who didn’t receive the success he was due. It’s a heartfelt, slow-moving ode to musicians who write for love, not glory.
6. Michael Keaton in The Founder
Yes, Keaton has provided Batman and Beetlejuice, but in The Founder, he provides a compelling study of ambition corrupted. As Ray Kroc—the man who commodified McDonald’s into an international behemoth—Keaton provides a nuanced, charismatic performance that navigates the hazy divide between vision and exploitation. It’s one of his most nuanced roles—and one of the most underappreciated.
5. Motherless Brooklyn – Edward Norton’s Stylish Noir Throwback
Edward Norton plays many roles in Motherless Brooklyn—writing, directing, and starring in this brooding detective story. As a PI with Tourette’s who must catch a 1950s corruption scheme in New York, Norton heads a razor-sharp cast in a movie full of stylish noir atmospherics and emotional complexity. It’s a passion piece to classic noir that entirely missed the radar.
4. Robin Williams in One Hour Photo
Best loved for his wit and affability, Robin Williams went dark in One Hour Photo—and it’s terrifying in the best possible way. Playing a lonely photo tech with a creepy fixation, Williams is eerie, understated, and utterly compelling. It’s a performance that indicates just how broad his range was.
3. Rabbit Hole – An Emotional Gut Punch of a Film
Directed by John Carroll Lynch, Rabbit Hole is an understated, heartbreaking tale of loss and recovery. Nicole Kidman received an Oscar nomination, but so did Aaron Eckhart’s performance as a bereaved father. His depth and vulnerability help propel a film that deals with loss without sentimentality.
2. Penélope Cruz in Open Your Eyes
Before Vanilla Sky, there was Open Your Eyes, a Spanish thriller in which Penélope Cruz originated the role. In this intelligent, emotional mystery film, Cruz delivers a compelling, soulful performance that’s possibly superior to its Hollywood remake. If you haven’t caught the original, you’re missing one of her best performances.
1. Paul Newman in Nobody’s Fool
Paul Newman had established himself as a classic career player by the time he appeared in Nobody’s Fool, but this late-in-life performance may be his most underappreciated. Playing a small-town grump with estranged relatives and declining years, Newman brings a performance full of wit, warmth, and world-weariness. It’s a richly human performance that demonstrates his remarkable subtlety—and one that is hardly ever mentioned among his greatest works.
Not all stellar performances are accompanied by a trophy or box office hype. Some of the finest work from Tinseltown’s A-listers occurs in the shadows—movies and performances that won’t make headlines but stick with you. So the next time you’re scrolling, skip the blockbusters and check out one of these unsung classics. You’ll be glad you did.