Today, I am sharing some hidden gem movies. These are indie films, under-the-radar gems, and movies from across the pond.
What makes a movie a hidden gem? These movies didn't win big awards or break box office records. Yet, they are enjoyable, memorable films that I am excited to spread the word about. Many have extraordinary scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hidden Gem Movies
Heart Beats Loud
Starring Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons, Heart Beats Loud centers on a father and daughter who bond over their love of music. Ted Danson, Toni Collette, and Blythe Danner round out the cast. It has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch on Amazon
The History of Future Folk
This is a sweet indie flick about aliens who come to Earth to destroy the planet but fall in love with music and form a band instead. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister makes an appearance. It is a super low-budget movie with so much creativity and heart. It has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch on YouTube (free)
Robot & Frank
Frank Langella leads this sci-fi comedy/drama about Frank, an aging man who is given a caregiving robot. Things get interesting when Frank, a former jewel thief, recruits the robot to assist with some criminal activity. The cast features Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, and Jeremy Strong.
Rent on Amazon
Begin Again
Like Hearts Beat Loud, this film focuses on musicians working on an album. The cast includes Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, and James Corden. It was directed by John Carney, a former member of the Irish band The Frames, and the writer/director of Once. It has an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and when I used Instagram to ask for people's favorite hidden gem movies, three people picked this movie.
Watch on Amazon
Greenfingers
Clive Owen and Helen Mirren star in this British film about prisoners who take up gardening. It is a heartwarming and fun film to watch.
Watch on Peacock or Amazon
Death at a Funeral
There are British and American versions of this comedy centered around a family that has gathered at a funeral. The deceased's secret lover is revealed, drugs are accidentally taken, and nothing goes as planned.
Watch on Amazon
The Big Sick
Written by comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his wife, Emily Gordon, this movie tells the story of the early days of their relationship. Somehow, they manage to turn a story about a coma into a laugh-out-loud funny film. The cast is excellent, with Nanjiani playing himself, Zoe Kazan playing Emily, and Holly Hunter and Ray Romano playing her parents. The Big Sick boasts a very impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch on Amazon
Safety Not Guaranteed
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, and Jake Johnson star in this time-travel comedy about magazine reporters who interview a man who placed a classified ad for a time-travel companion and discover that there is some truth to the eccentric man's claims.
Rent on Amazon
Pirate Radio (also called The Boat the Rocked)
This Richard Curtis film, set in 1966, tells the story of radio DJs broadcasting from boats anchored outside British waters to combat the fact that BBC Radio was playing less than an hour of pop music each day. Bill Nighy and Philip Seymour Hoffman star.
Rent on Amazon
The Commitments
An Irish flick from 1991 about the formation of a fictional R&B group in Dublin. Music from the 1950s and 60s is at the heart of this film. The Commitments has a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rent on Amazon
About Time
A Rachel McAdams time-travel romantic comedy set in London. The premise starts off simple: a goofy Brit falls for McAdam's character and uses his time-travel abilities to win her over. What begins as a sweet but predictable rom-com takes unexpected turns as the main character faces the limits of his time travel gift. One of many reasons I love this film is that it was filmed in London and captures the spirit of the city wonderfully.
Watch on Netflix
The Biggest Little Farm
Warning: This compelling documentary will make you want to leave everything to buy a farm. It follows a couple and their dog as they seek to transform their lives by moving from Los Angeles to a sustainable farm.
Rent on Amazon
Love Potion No. 9
This 1992 movie starring Sandra Bullock is about a pair of lonely scientists who get their hands on a potion that makes people fall in love with them.
Rent on Amazon
Yesterday
After a freak incident, a struggling musician discovers he is the only person who remembers The Beatles. This movie takes its audience on a entertaining ride that pays tribute to the music of The Beatles.
Rent on Amazon
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
A Ben Stiller movie about a man who develops photos at Life Magazine and dreams of going on adventures. When the opportunity for travel and adventure comes his way, he sets off on a remarkable journey to remote corners of the world. The cinematography will feed your wanderlust. The soundtrack is equally memorable.
Watch on Amazon