Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Movies

 › 

50 Brilliant But Little-Known Movies

50 Brilliant But Little-Known Movies

Published: by

When it comes to movies, there is no accounting for taste. Everyone has their own opinions. Fans of Westerns may hate romantic comedies and avid horror fans may not take to the latest action thriller. Plot, characters, settings, and cinematography all work together to produce scenes that you love – or hate! Here’s a list of the best Westerns you probably haven’t seen if you are looking for some inspiration.

To fulfill the insatiable appetite of audiences across the world, the motion picture industry produces hundreds of major movies and thousands of lesser-known movies each year.

To determine the 50 best movies you’ve probably never seen, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early October 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with between 10,000 and 50,000 audience reviews on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. Directorial credits are from IMDb.

Among the motion pictures on our list are 13 films that have earned a perfect 100 score on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. These films run the gamut — horror, comedy, Westerns, drama, and even animation

Scroll down for a list of the 50 best movies you’ve probably never seen.

50. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (10,517 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (3,235 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 89% (28 reviews)

49. Europa Europa (1991)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.6/10 (17,028 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (6,942 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (21 reviews)

48. Withnail & I (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Cineplex Odeon Films

Source: Courtesy of Cineplex Odeon Films
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.6/10 (44,055 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (25,000 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (37 reviews)

47. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features

Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (34,486 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (49,745 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (117 reviews)

46. Marty (1955)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (23,015 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (6,787 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (42 reviews)

45. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (20,596 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (5,853 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (31 reviews)

44. Weathering with You (2019)

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.5/10 (30,999 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (247 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (95 reviews)

43. One Cut of the Dead (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Shudder

Source: Courtesy of Shudder
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.6/10 (24,132 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (500 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (95 reviews)

42. El Dorado (1966)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.6/10 (25,687 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (12,709 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (23 reviews)

41. Farewell My Concubine (1993)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (31,292 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (16,135 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (42 reviews)

40. How to Steal a Million (1966)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.6/10 (26,278 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (10,961 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (8 reviews)

39. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Faces International

Source: Courtesy of Faces International
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.2/10 (23,726 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (8,243 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (31 reviews)

38. Fail Safe (1964)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (21,121 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (7,162 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (27 reviews)

37. Zelig (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (41,114 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (18,465 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (27 reviews)

36. Kolya (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Video Sound

Source: Courtesy of Video Sound
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (15,962 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (6,718 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (25 reviews)

35. The Color of Paradise (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (17,842 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (5,794 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (31 reviews)

34. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (28,840 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (9,478 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (42 reviews)

33. Inherit the Wind (1960)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (30,791 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (9,656 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (26 reviews)

32. A Face in the Crowd (1957)

Source: Courtesy Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy Warner Bros.
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.2/10 (14,899 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (5,039 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (33 reviews)

31. Wait Until Dark (1967)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.8/10 (29,189 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (17,112 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (23 reviews)

30. The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Source: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.8/10 (47,055 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (16,059 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (31 reviews)

29. Auntie Mame (1958)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (10,859 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (8,245 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (15 reviews)

28. Ernest & Celestine (2012)

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (19,580 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (7,731 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (81 reviews)

27. Ace in the Hole (1951)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (33,886 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (6,223 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (38 reviews)

26. The Miracle Worker (1962)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (19,187 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (8,844 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (25 reviews)

25. My Life as a Zucchini (2016)

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.8/10 (23,440 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 89% (6,575 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 99% (137 reviews)

24. Babette’s Feast (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.8/10 (20,191 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (5,000 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (34 reviews)

23. A Taxi Driver (2017)

Source: Well Go USA Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (28,194 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (1,652 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (28 reviews)

22. Opening Night (1977)

Source: Courtesy of Faces Distribution

Source: Courtesy of Faces Distribution
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (10,093 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (4,369 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (27 reviews)

21. Love and Death (1975)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.7/10 (37,440 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (19,082 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (21 reviews)

20. Once Were Warriors (1995)

Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features

Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (35,833 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (29,728 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (46 reviews)

19. Sleuth (1972)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (46,421 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (9,451 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (25 reviews)

18. Secrets & Lies (1996)

Source: Courtesy of October Films

Source: Courtesy of October Films
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (45,526 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (11,346 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 96% (45 reviews)

17. The Killer (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Circle Films

Source: Courtesy of Circle Films
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.8/10 (48,969 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (25,000 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (41 reviews)

16. Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (12,179 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 89% (2,569 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (14 reviews)

15. Limelight (1952)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (19,395 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (7,303 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (35 reviews)

14. Paper Moon (1973)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (44,587 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (11,421 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (41 reviews)

13. Z (1969)

Source: Courtesy of Cinema V

Source: Courtesy of Cinema V
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.2/10 (30,319 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (6,578 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (50 reviews)

12. The Big Country (1958)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (16,962 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (5,532 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (11 reviews)

11. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (47,356 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (4,853 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (37 reviews)

10. Central Station (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (41,163 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (13,643 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (50 reviews)

9. Yi Yi: A One and a Two (2000)

Source: Courtesy of WinStar Cinema

Source: Courtesy of WinStar Cinema
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (26,769 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (7,700 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (87 reviews)

8. The Court Jester (1955)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (12,327 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (9,213 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (30 reviews)

7. The Big Heat (1953)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (25,267 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (5,985 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (32 reviews)

6. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (30,043 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (6,974 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 98% (53 reviews)

5. The Last Picture Show (1971)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (45,056 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (14,197 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (58 reviews)

4. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS

Source: Courtesy of GKIDS
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.0/10 (42,434 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (14,047 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (96 reviews)

3. Tampopo (1985)

Source: Courtesy of New Yorker Films

Source: Courtesy of New Yorker Films
  • User rating (IMDb): 7.9/10 (19,034 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 93% (5,000 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (56 reviews)

2. Raise the Red Lantern (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics

Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.1/10 (34,222 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (22,285 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 97% (29 reviews)

1. It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Cinemad Presents

Source: Courtesy of Cinemad Presents
  • User rating (IMDb): 8.3/10 (12,509 reviews)
  • Audience score (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (1,442 reviews)
  • Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (32 reviews)
To top