12 Underrated Netflix Movies You’ll Wish You Discovered Sooner

12 Underrated Netflix Movies You’ll Wish You Discovered Sooner

Netflix has thousands of movies, but some of the best get buried beneath big-budget blockbusters and trending titles. While everyone talks about the same few hits, there’s a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to surprise you. These underrated films deliver sharp storytelling, unforgettable characters, and fresh ideas — proof that great cinema doesn’t always make the front page.

1. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

Ruth just wants people to be decent human beings, but after getting robbed and watching everyone act selfishly, she’s had enough. She teams up with her oddball neighbor Tony, who has nunchucks and zero common sense, to track down her stolen belongings.

What starts as a quest for justice spirals into something far more dangerous and darkly hilarious. Director Macon Blair balances quirky humor with genuine tension, creating characters that feel wonderfully weird yet completely believable.

Melanie Lynskey delivers a perfectly frustrated performance as someone finally standing up to life’s rudeness. This Sundance winner deserved way more mainstream attention than it received.

2. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

Ben, a retired writer dealing with his own grief, takes a job as a caregiver for Trevor, a sarcastic 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy who hasn’t left his house in years.

Their cross-country road trip to see roadside attractions becomes so much more than sightseeing. Paul Rudd and Craig Roberts have incredible chemistry, trading sharp jokes while slowly revealing deeper emotional wounds.

The film never treats Trevor’s disability as inspiration material—instead, it focuses on two broken people helping each other heal. Funny, touching, and surprisingly hopeful, this movie understands that sometimes the best therapy is a weird adventure with the right companion.

3. Calibre (2018)

Lifelong friends Marcus and Vaughn head to the Scottish Highlands for a hunting weekend, but one tragic accident turns their trip into a moral nightmare. What would you do if a split-second mistake threatened to destroy everything you’ve built?

This slow-burning thriller doesn’t rely on jump scares or action sequences. Instead, it creates suffocating tension through realistic choices and the hostile reactions of the tight-knit village community.

Director Matt Palmer crafts something genuinely unsettling, where every decision feels wrong but understandable. The bleak landscape mirrors the characters’ deteriorating situation perfectly. It’s the kind of thriller that stays with you long after the credits roll, making you question what you’d do.

4. The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Jessica James doesn’t do heartbreak quietly. After a tough breakup, this aspiring playwright channels her energy into her career, her students, and reluctantly, a new romance with a recently divorced app designer.

Jessica Williams absolutely owns this role with unapologetic confidence and vulnerability. Her character feels refreshingly real—ambitious, messy, funny, and completely herself without apologizing for it.

Director Jim Strouse creates a rom-com that breaks the usual formula. Instead of watching someone find completeness through romance, we see someone already complete figuring out if there’s room for love. Witty dialogue and genuine charm make this a standout in Netflix’s comedy collection.

5. The Half of It (2020)

When a shy, brainy student agrees to write love letters for a jock, she never expects to fall for the same girl he’s chasing. This isn’t your average teen romance—it tackles friendship, identity, and what love really means in ways that feel honest and refreshing.

Writer-director Alice Wu creates a story inspired by classic literature but set in small-town America with characters you’ll genuinely care about.

The performances feel raw and real, especially as the main character navigates her own feelings while helping someone else express theirs. Smart without being preachy, emotional without being melodramatic, this film proves coming-of-age stories can still surprise us.

6. The Endless (2017)

Brothers Justin and Aaron escaped from what they believed was a dangerous UFO death cult years ago. When they receive a mysterious videotape, they decide to visit for closure—but nothing about Camp Arcadia is what they remembered.

Time behaves strangely here. Loops repeat, memories conflict, and reality bends in ways that feel genuinely eerie rather than gimmicky. Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (who also star) craft an ambitious indie that punches way above its budget.

The film rewards careful attention with mind-bending revelations about fate, free will, and whether escaping your past is ever truly possible. Atmospheric and thought-provoking, it’s sci-fi storytelling at its most creative.

7. Set It Up (2018)

Harper and Charlie are exhausted assistants to demanding bosses who control every minute of their lives. Their solution? Set up their bosses with each other to get some breathing room. Of course, playing matchmaker leads to unexpected complications.

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell have the kind of sparkling chemistry that classic rom-coms are built on. Their banter feels natural, their timing is perfect, and you’ll root for them from the first scene.

Director Claire Scanlon delivers a movie that understands what made old-school romantic comedies work—likable characters, witty dialogue, and genuine warmth. It’s breezy, funny, and exactly what you need when you want feel-good entertainment.

8. Win It All (2017)

Eddie Garrett is a small-time gambler who can’t seem to catch a break or make smart choices. When a friend asks him to hold onto a duffel bag while serving jail time, Eddie promises not to look inside. Naturally, he looks inside.

Jake Johnson brings incredible depth to a character who could’ve been just another lovable loser. Instead, Eddie feels painfully real—someone genuinely trying to change but constantly sabotaging himself.

Director Joe Swanberg crafts a grounded story about addiction and redemption without melodrama. It’s funny when it needs to be, heartbreaking when it counts, and ultimately hopeful about second chances, even for people who keep messing up.

9. Tramps (2016)

Danny needs quick cash and agrees to do a simple briefcase exchange. Ruth gets dragged along to help. When the swap goes wrong, these two awkward strangers end up on an impulsive adventure across the city, and something unexpected starts to bloom.

This isn’t a movie about grand gestures or dramatic declarations. It’s about two people genuinely connecting through small moments—shared jokes, honest conversations, and the thrill of doing something completely unplanned.

Director Adam Leon keeps everything understated and charming. Callum Turner and Grace Van Patten have sweet, believable chemistry that makes you believe in instant connections. It’s a low-key gem perfect for anyone who loves romance without the usual formula.

10. Shimmer Lake (2017)

A bank heist goes horribly wrong in a small town, and the sheriff investigating happens to be the brother of one of the suspects. But here’s the twist—the entire story unfolds backward, day by day, revealing new information that changes everything you thought you understood.

This reverse structure isn’t just a gimmick. It genuinely enhances the mystery, making you rethink every scene as motivations and relationships become clearer.

Writer-director Oren Uziel fills the film with dark humor and sharp dialogue while maintaining genuine suspense. The talented cast, including Rainn Wilson and Benjamin Walker, clearly enjoys playing against type in this clever crime thriller.

11. Paddleton (2019)

Michael and Andy are neighbors and best friends who’ve built a comfortable routine around their made-up game, pizza nights, and terrible kung-fu movies. When Michael receives a terminal diagnosis, he asks Andy to help him end his life on his own terms.

Mark Duplass and Ray Romano deliver career-best performances in this quietly devastating story. Their friendship feels lived-in and real, making every moment together both precious and heartbreaking.

Director Alex Lehmann never exploits the heavy subject matter for easy tears. Instead, he finds humor, beauty, and profound love in the everyday moments between two people facing the unthinkable. Tissues are absolutely required for this one.

12. Unknown Origins (2020)

When murders in Madrid start mirroring superhero origin stories, veteran detective David must partner with Jorge, an enthusiastic comic book expert, to decode the killer’s pattern. Their investigation blends classic detective noir with vibrant comic book mythology in unexpected ways.

This Spanish thriller brings fresh energy to the detective genre by genuinely respecting comic book culture rather than mocking it. The visuals pop with stylish flair, and the mystery keeps you guessing.

Directors David Galán Galindo and Ignacio Tatay create something that works both as a smart thriller and a love letter to superhero storytelling. It’s clever, visually striking, and proof that genre-blending can produce something truly original.