Everyone’s list of the most underrated movies of all time is probably going to look quite different. After all, the very term indicates a significant degree of subjectivity, as there are very few quantifiable ways to measure whether or not a film qualifies as being “underrated.” As such, we realize that a fair number of the films on the list below probably won’t be considered underrated by some. However, in our opinion, the following 15 films are all undervalued to some degree, whether it be from not earning enough money to turn a profit, being written off by critics, or just generally being overlooked or even forgotten about by the average movie fan.
That being said, we hope this list will spark some conversation and even if you don’t agree with these picks, let us know which movies you think people don’t give a fair shake.
15. The Rundown (2003)
If you’re heading to the multiplex to watch a new action movie these days, there’s a good chance the movie you’re seeing stars Dwayne Johnson, as the former professional wrestler has become one of the most prolific, bankable action stars in the business. However, for as much fun as Jumanji and Rampage are, it’s easy to forget that The Rock has been doing the whole action star thing for nearly two decades and one of his best films came from early on in his acting career.
Peter Berg’s 2003 action romp The Rundown sees The Rock playing a “retrieval specialist” sent to the Brazilian rain forest to bring back his boss’s insubordinate son (Seann William Scott), who’s down there looking for lost treasure. While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre in any way, The Rundown is the best kind of fun action romp in that it features incredible chemistry between its two leads (seriously, it’s a shame we haven’t seen Johnson and Scott work together again), some great action set pieces, and Christopher Walken stealing the show as a scenery-chewing villain. Anyone who’s a fan of The Rock’s more recent work owes it to themselves to check out this underappreciated early 2000s action-adventure, as The Rundown is still one of the actor’s best efforts to date.
Universal Pictures