Many people fondly look back at the 1950s as the golden age of cinema. There were many amazing films that are still considered classics to this day, including movies like “Vertigo,” “On The Waterfront,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and more. This was also the time when many of the most famous movie stars, like John Wayne, Marlon Brando, and Gary Cooper were at the top of their games. While there were plenty of popular films during the decade, there are also many that are considered to be the most underrated movies of the 50s, and that’s what we’re talking about today.
The underrated movies of the decade come in many different genres. The 50s were an amazing time for science fiction and creature features, and some of the hidden gems in that area are here, including classics like “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “Forbidden Planet,” and “It Came from Beneath the Sea.” This list also has a handful of scary films, like “The Night of the Hunter” and “Horror of Dracula.” There are also comedies, like “The Quiet Man,” romantic films, including “Hiroshima Mon Amour,” and disaster flicks, such as “A Night to Remember.” Basically, there’s a great forgotten film for just about everyone, and we hope you check out a few of these great movies.
To determine the most underrated movies of the 50s, 24/7 Tempo scoured the internet and referenced some of the most noteworthy movie websites. We reviewed the Internet Movie Database, Rotten Tomatoes, and Screen Rant. We also checked out some opinions on Reddit. (If you’re still hungry for more nostalgia from this amazing decade, then check out this list of the most relatable TV characters of the 50s.)
“The Blob”
- IMDb Score: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 52%
- Year Released: 1958
- Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., Russell S. Doughten Jr.
- Cast: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Irvine H. Millgate
One of the most underrated movies of the 50s and underrated science fiction movies in general is “The Blob.” As it sounds, the movie is about an alien blob that comes down to Earth and starts to consume everything in its path while getting larger and larger throughout the film. This was the debut of legendary actor Steve McQueen, and it has an all-star cast. It’s not super scary, so you can enjoy this one with the kids, and it’s worth the time.
“The Searchers”
- IMDb Score: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 88%
- Year Released: 1956
- Director: John Ford
- Cast: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles
Many critics consider “The Searchers” to be one of the best Westerns ever made even though it’s not mentioned often. It stars John Wayne as a Civil War vet who returns home only to find that members of his brother’s family have been kidnapped. He goes on a mission to save them, and the journey leads him into Indian territory. There’s a lot of action in this film but it also teaches us lessons about acceptance, retribution, and other heavy themes. There are also many gorgeous set pieces that fill the screen and it’s great to watch.
“Journey to the Center of the Earth”
- IMDb Score: 7.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 69%
- Year Released: 1959
- Director: Henry Levin
- Cast: James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl
Another of the most underrated movies of the 50s is the first adaptation of the classic book, “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” This was an incredible project with amazing visuals, especially for the time. You’ll see big lizards and monsters, crazy weather conditions, and everything we love today about big-time blockbusters. Sure, some parts are a little cheesy, but we bet you won’t be able to take your eyes off of the screen. Watch this one with friends, and you’ll have a blast, especially if you love the sci-fi genre.
“The Night of the Hunter”
- IMDb Score: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 90%
- Year Released: 1955
- Director: Charles Laughton
- Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish
“The Night of the Hunter” is one of the underrated movies of the 50s that most people have never seen, though it’s considered to be a horror masterpiece. This is a German film about a religious serial killer who stalks and attacks women. No, it’s not suitable for kids or people who don’t generally enjoy horror, but if you do then give it a watch because this movie was truly ahead of its time.
“The Quiet Man”
- IMDb Score: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 91%
- Year Released: 1952
- Director: John Ford
- Cast: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald
Most people remember actor John Wayne as an action star and the main character in famous Western films, but he did some other projects as well. One of them was this amazing rom-com about an Irish boxer who travels to buy his family’s farm. Along the way, he falls in love with a local, and they spark a wonderful romance. This movie was filmed in Technicolor, which was a marvel at the time and it really makes the colors pop. They certainly don’t make movies like this anymore, and it’s worth a viewing.
“Forbidden Planet”
- IMDb Score: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 85%
- Year Released: 1956
- Director: Fred M. Wilcox
- Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen
There were many science fiction and space movies back in the 1950s, as people dreamed of traveling to other planets. In this fantastic movie, a crew travels to a far-away planet to try and learn what happened to the scientists who went there before them. What they discover is a strange planet with mysteries and robots. There’s a big story in this movie so you’ll want to grab your popcorn and pay attention to every detail. This movie introduces many sci-fi elements that we often see today, so it’s fun to see how this amazing genre got started.
“Horror of Dracula”
- IMDb Score: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 81%
- Year Released: 1958
- Director: Terence Fisher
- Cast: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough
There were many monster/creature features around during this decade, but one of the lesser-known but easily underrated movies of the 50s is “Horror of Dracula.” This is a less scary version of Dracula that is more about love and biting people’s necks than the horror we see in many movies today. In this case, the famous monster is played by actor Christopher Lee, who went on to star in many movies until he passed away in 2015, but he’s often associated with this famous film.
“Paths of Glory”
- IMDb Score: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 95%
- Year Released: 1957
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Cast: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou
Stanley Kubrick directed many amazing films over his lifetime. One of his greatest is the often-forgotten “Paths of Glory.” In this film, a commanding officer fighting during World War I has a battle of ideas with his commanding officers when he refuses to send his men forward into a conflict that he believes is a suicide mission. The amazingly talented Kubrick was only 29 years old when he directed this epic, but it stands out as one of the greatest war films in history.
“It Came from Beneath the Sea”
- IMDb Score: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 39%
- Year Released: 1955
- Director: Robert Gordon
- Cast: Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis
While Godzilla was already on the scene by this time, this creature feature starring a huge octopus is easily one of the most underrated movies of the 50s. The film was truly ahead of its time. It has a unique documentary-style narrative that really caught the attention of audiences back then. Even without all of the special effects that we have today, it was still incredibly realistic, and it’s as fun to watch today as it was back then.
“Hiroshima Mon Amour”
- IMDb Score: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 89%
- Year Released: 1959
- Director: Alain Resnais
- Cast: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada, Stella Dassas
Most people likely have not seen this hyper-romantic film that was a co-production between France and Japan. In it, a French woman and a Japanese man fall in love in post-war Japan, where the fallout from the nuclear bomb is still very real. You’ll likely need to read subtitles during the film, but it’s worth it. Plus, there are some very steamy love scenes where you won’t have to read it all. Try it out if you like this genre.
“Umberto D.”
- IMDb Score: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 93%
- Year Released: 1952
- Director: Vittorio De Sica
- Cast: Carlo Battisti, Maria Pia Casilo, Lina Gennari
In this underrated film by Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica, an aging man in Rome tries to survive with his dog. It’s a noir film and it’s a great watch if you’re into that. When the movie was initially released in Italy, it was poorly received because of the war the people there had just survived. It was a case of poor timing. Still, this is a great film to watch in 2024 if you’re looking for a deep and interesting character study.
“The Hitch-Hiker”
- IMDb Score: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 62%
- Year Released: 1953
- Director: Ida Lupino
- Cast: Edmond O’Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman
This film is like a long version of an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” In it, two girls decide to pick up a hitchhiker, but they then end up being kidnapped by the very person they tried to help. This is a very haunting film with great acting and quite a bit of suspense. It was directed by Ida Lupino, who also happens to be the only woman to direct an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” This is worth a watch if you like dark noir dramas.
“A Night to Remember”
- IMDb Score: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 90%
- Year Released: 1958
- Director: Roy Ward Baker
- Cast: Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres
Many people consider James Cameron’s “Titanic” from 1997 to be the best movie about the famous disaster, but a large audience thinks “A Night to Remember” is the better film. The difference in this movie is that it really zooms in on many of the passengers on the ship, so you can’t help but feel terrible when the boat hits the iceberg. The movie is in black and white, but it’s very realistic and has great special effects. See it for yourself and compare it with the more recent film.
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”
- IMDb Score: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 85%
- Year Released: 1956
- Director: Don Siegel
- Cast: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates
This was the original version of the story of alien invaders who turn loved ones and neighbors against each other with horrifying results. No, the movie is not scary by today’s standards, but it’s still a thrilling romp full of twists and turns. Movie directors of the 1950s had to try harder back then because they had less to work with, but director Don Siegel really pulled off something amazing.
“12 Angry Men”
- IMDb Score: 9.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 97%
- Year Released: 1957
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J Cobb, Martin Balsam
While many people have heard of this film, it’s not as celebrated as it should be, which makes it one of the underrated movies of the 50s. In this incredible courtroom drama, 12 jurors are sent into a room to decide the fate of the person on trial. It’s not easy to make a movie about men arguing very exciting, but this film makes it happen. (If you want to see other films from this and other decades, check out this list of the 15 classic movies that will never get old.)