The Most Underrated Movies Of 2024

Release Date: March 22, 2024

A horror mockumentary that meshes The Exorcist with The Larry Sanders Show, Late Night With the Devil follows a middling late night show titled Night Owls whose host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) gets increasingly desperate for good ratings. On Halloween night, he decides to invite a controversial guest to his panel: parapsychologist June Ross-Mitchell, whose latest patient, a teen girl named Lilly, was the lone survivor of a satanic cult and is thought to be possessed by a demon.

Inspired by horror outings such as WNUF Halloween Special and Ghostwatch, Late Night With the Devil was praised by critics (dancing very close to a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes) as vastly entertaining, but didn't travel far outside horror circles.

The Reason To See It: Dastmalchian steals the show here as a desperate TV host who plays the part of a grieving widow for a ratings boost but actually hides a few dark secrets of his own. Seemingly bereaved when he needs to be, Jack Delroy can turn from heartbreaking to slimy on a moment's notice, especially once viewers get the chance to know him. 

Release Date: May 3, 2024

Based on the '80s TV show of the same name and starring red hot Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt fresh off of Oscars noms, the intensely funny, well-written mystery-comedy action pic The Fall Guy just didn't have the Kenergy to attract the audiences like it should have. The story of stuntman Colt Seavers trying to prove his innocence after he is framed for murder underperformed at the box office despite rave reviews, a solid summer release date, and great word of mouth from those who saw it. Sadly, The Fall Guy just wasn't one of those recognizable and beloved '80s IPs that made Gen-Xers flock to the theaters for a daily dose of nostalgia.

The Reason To See It: Forget that it is certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and that it is a funny, clever pic that never slows down with great chemistry between its leads. Steven Spielberg, the director behind your entire childhood, loved it. As Gosling told Variety:

I saw Steven Spielberg walking in my direction. I don’t know Steven Spielberg. I thought there’s no way he’s coming to talk to me. And yet he kept getting closer, and then I thought I know what’s going to happen. I’m going to point to him, and he’s going to go, ‘Not you, behind you,’ so I’m not going to do that. Finally I said, ‘Me?’ and he goes, “Yeah you.’ I go, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t think you were coming to talk to me.’ And I stood up and he gave me a hug and said, ‘I just saw Fall Guy and I loved it.’

Release Date: May 24, 2024

At the beginning of summer 2024, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga came raging into theaters with all the might and mayhem one might expect from a George Miller Mad Max picture. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and an almost unrecognizable Chris Hemsworth, the prequel to the hit film Mad Mad: Fury Road was beloved by critics and those who saw it.

But sadly, those who saw it were few. Though the film revved up the fanbase, it didn't get much further than that and faltered by the second week of release. Several factors were blamed for its mediocre performance at the box office and general lack of interest, including the long runtime, a lack of brand recognition for the franchise, and general indifference about the Furiosa character after so much time has passed since her initial introduction.

The Reason To See It: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the perfect blend of the early Road Warrior outings, in which the world building is still fresh and new, and the later Mad Max adrenaline rush, in which the fumes of petrol practically leak from the screen. Furiosa is a great installment in the Mad Max franchise and worthy of the Mad Max name.

Also, Hemsworth just looks like he's having the time of his life. He's carried a hammer for almost a decade. He deserves to devour scenery as a big bad every now and then. 

Release Date: July 19, 2024

A twisted tale featuring murder, revenge, and creepy mannequins, the story of a clairvoyant blind woman (Carolyn Bracken) looking to avenge the possible murder of her twin sister using cursed antiques from her haunted oddity shop is both unique and effective. Written and directed by Damian Mc Carthy, the Irish thriller opened up stateside during an unusual abundance of horror movies, including MaXXXine and Longlegs, so the film was easily overlooked despite its outstanding Rotten Tomatoes score.

The Reason To See It: Eerie and atmospheric, Oddity makes good use of its singular location and the house's dark spaces, creating unsettling visuals that do their best to fuel the ongoing nightmare. From creepy masks to a life-size wooden figure that looks like it is screaming out in agony, the originality of the film and its imagery makes Oddity a singular horror experience .  

Release Date: June 21, 2024

Featuring an A-list cast that includes Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, and Norman Reedus, this period drama follows the exploits of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, a fictional version of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, one of the oldest outlaw bikers clubs in the world. Inspired by the book by Danny Lyon, the film follows the club and their leader Benny through the years as they grow from a local gang to a national empire.

Though the performances and story are solid, The Bikeriders got buried by other summertime offerings, including Inside Out and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

The Reason To See It: The film boasts top-tier acting from a charismatic cast known for giving great performances. But in addition to the great turns offered by Butler, Hardy, and Comer, the film offers a look at the biker lifestyle not often explored by cinema.

Release Date: April 5, 2024

Directed by and starring Dev Patel and produced by Jordan Peele, this Wick-sploitation film follows a young man hellbent on getting revenge for the annihilation of his forest village in India and the murder of his mother. Intent on going after Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande), a faux religious guru who uses law enforcement to orchestrate massacre for his own benefit, the young man plots his bloody vengeance, destroying Baba's entire criminal organization until he can finally get to him.

The action-packed revenge pic follows the John Wick template to perfection, from having a loyal pup to meeting a group of disenfranchised outliers who help with his agenda. And while the film did well at the box office, it came and went with little fanfare.

The Reason To See It: There is a scene in which the hero stabs a man slowly using a knife held between his teeth, using his rage and gritted teeth to bring down the blade to end a man's life. Not since Saving Private Ryan has a stabbing been so slow and deliberate. But this one is infinitely easier and far more enjoyable to watch.