15 Most Misunderstood Films of the Past 10 Years

Cinema history is filled with movies that audiences initially rejected or misunderstood, only to be recognized as masterpieces years later. The past decade has delivered several films that confused viewers, sparked heated debates, or simply flew under the radar despite their artistic merit. These movies challenged conventional storytelling, explored uncomfortable themes, or demanded more from their audiences than typical blockbusters.

What makes a film misunderstood goes beyond poor box office performance or mixed reviews. These are movies with deeper meanings that weren’t immediately apparent, complex narratives that required multiple viewings, or bold artistic choices that audiences weren’t ready to embrace. Time often reveals their true value as critics and viewers reassess their initial reactions.

15. The Card Counter (2021)

Paul Schrader’s meditation on guilt and redemption follows a professional gambler haunted by his past as a military interrogator. Oscar Isaac delivers a restrained performance as William Tell, a man trying to atone for war crimes through the discipline of card counting. Many viewers expected a typical gambling thriller but found themselves watching a slow-burn character study about trauma and moral responsibility.

The film’s deliberate pacing and philosophical themes confused audiences looking for excitement at the poker table. Schrader crafted a deeply personal story about finding redemption in routine and structure. The movie works as both a critique of American military involvement and a spiritual journey toward forgiveness, themes that weren’t immediately obvious to casual viewers.

14. Saint Maud (2019)

Rose Glass directed this psychological horror about a devoutly religious nurse who becomes obsessed with saving her patient’s soul. Morfydd Clark gives an unsettling performance as Maud, whose spiritual devotion gradually reveals itself as dangerous delusion. Many horror fans expected traditional scares but encountered a disturbing portrait of religious extremism and mental illness.

The film blends psychological realism with supernatural ambiguity, leaving viewers uncertain about what’s real and what’s in Maud’s mind. Critics praised its subtle approach to horror, but audiences often found it too slow or confusing. The movie requires careful attention to understand how faith can transform into fanaticism, making it a challenging watch for those seeking straightforward entertainment.

13. The Northman (2022)

Robert Eggers brought his meticulous historical approach to this Viking revenge epic starring Alexander Skarsgård. The film stays true to the brutal reality of 10th-century Scandinavian culture, complete with ritualistic violence and pagan mysticism. Audiences expecting a mainstream action adventure like ‘Gladiator’ instead encountered an art film disguised as a blockbuster.

The movie’s commitment to historical authenticity extended to its dialogue, customs, and worldview, creating barriers for modern viewers. Eggers refused to compromise his vision for broader appeal, resulting in a film that feels genuinely ancient rather than Hollywood-friendly. The unconventional narrative structure and extreme violence alienated many viewers who weren’t prepared for such an uncompromising approach to the revenge story.

12. Annihilation (2018)

Alex Garland adapted Jeff VanderMeer’s novel into a mind-bending science fiction thriller about a team of scientists exploring a mysterious zone called Area X. Natalie Portman leads the expedition into a place where the laws of nature seem to break down. The film’s abstract concepts and ambiguous ending left many viewers frustrated and confused.

The movie operates more like a fever dream than traditional sci-fi, using body horror and psychological terror to explore themes of self-destruction and transformation. Garland deliberately avoided explaining the phenomenon, instead focusing on how the characters respond to incomprehensible forces. This approach divided audiences between those who appreciated the mystery and those who wanted clear answers about what was happening.

11. First Reformed (2017)

Paul Schrader returned to his spiritual themes with this story of a Protestant minister facing a crisis of faith. Ethan Hawke plays Reverend Toller, whose encounters with environmental activism and personal tragedy lead him toward potential violence. The film’s slow pace and heavy theological discussions proved challenging for audiences expecting traditional drama.

Schrader crafted the movie as a modern update of his earlier work on ‘Taxi Driver’, exploring how isolation and despair can drive someone to extremism. The film’s meditation on climate change, religious doubt, and moral responsibility created a complex viewing experience. Many viewers struggled with the protagonist’s increasingly disturbed behavior and the movie’s refusal to provide easy answers to difficult questions.

10. The Witch (2015)

Robert Eggers’ period horror film about a Puritan family terrorized by supernatural forces divided audiences from its release. The movie uses authentic 17th-century dialogue and focuses on psychological terror rather than jump scares. Many horror fans expected conventional frights but encountered a slow-burn study of religious paranoia and family dysfunction.

The film’s commitment to historical accuracy extended to its language, with characters speaking in period-appropriate dialect that some viewers found difficult to follow. Eggers built tension through atmosphere and suggestion rather than explicit horror, creating a movie that rewards patient viewing. The ambiguous ending sparked debates about whether the supernatural elements were real or products of the family’s religious extremism.

9. The Last Jedi (2017)

Rian Johnson’s entry in the Star Wars saga became one of the most divisive blockbusters ever made. The film subverted fan expectations by deconstructing beloved characters and challenging the mythology of the Force. Luke Skywalker’s portrayal as a disillusioned hermit shocked audiences who expected their childhood hero to remain unchanged.

Johnson deliberately broke from traditional Star Wars storytelling, emphasizing failure and sacrifice over heroic triumph. The movie’s themes about letting go of the past and learning from mistakes proved controversial among fans invested in the franchise’s mythology. Critical acclaim couldn’t bridge the gap between the director’s artistic intentions and fan expectations, creating a lasting divide in the Star Wars community.

8. Ad Astra (2019)

James Gray’s space drama starring Brad Pitt was marketed as a sci-fi adventure but delivered a contemplative father-son story set among the stars. Pitt plays an astronaut searching for his missing father while grappling with emotional isolation. Audiences expecting action sequences instead found a meditative journey through space and the human psyche.

The film uses its space setting to explore themes of masculinity, abandonment, and the cost of exploration. Gray crafted beautiful visuals and realistic space travel while focusing on internal character development. The contrast between the epic setting and intimate storytelling confused viewers who wanted either hard science fiction or pure spectacle rather than psychological drama.

7. Uncut Gems (2019)

The Safdie Brothers created an anxiety-inducing thriller about a jewelry dealer whose gambling addiction spirals out of control. Adam Sandler delivers a career-best performance as Howard Ratner, a man whose constant scheming leads to inevitable destruction. The film’s relentless pace and morally compromised protagonist made for uncomfortable viewing.

The movie deliberately avoids giving audiences a character to root for, instead presenting a realistic portrait of addiction and self-destruction. The Safdies built every scene around tension and conflict, creating a viewing experience that many found exhausting. Critics praised the film’s energy and Sandler’s performance, but general audiences often struggled with the protagonist’s unlikeable behavior and the story’s lack of redemption.

6. The Green Knight (2021)

David Lowery adapted the medieval poem ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ into a dreamlike fantasy starring Dev Patel. The film follows Gawain’s quest to fulfill an oath to a supernatural being, but the journey becomes a meditation on honor, mortality, and manhood. Audiences expecting a straightforward adventure found themselves watching an art film about medieval philosophy.

Lowery’s approach emphasizes atmosphere and symbolism over plot clarity, creating a movie that feels more like a vision than a narrative. The film’s slow pacing and abstract storytelling confused viewers looking for typical fantasy adventure. The ending’s ambiguity and the protagonist’s moral struggles require active interpretation, making this a challenging watch for those seeking easy entertainment.

5. Midsommar (2019)

Ari Aster followed up ‘Hereditary’ with this folk horror about an American couple attending a Swedish festival that turns deadly. Florence Pugh delivers a powerful performance as Dani, who finds twisted comfort in the cult’s rituals after personal tragedy. The film’s bright, cheerful visuals contrasted sharply with its disturbing content, creating cognitive dissonance for viewers.

Aster crafted the movie as a breakup story disguised as horror, using the cult’s ceremonies to explore themes of grief, codependency, and toxic relationships. The film’s extreme violence and sexual content shocked audiences, but its deeper themes about finding belonging and processing trauma were often overlooked. Many viewers focused on the shocking imagery rather than the emotional journey underneath the horror.

4. The Lighthouse (2019)

Robert Eggers reunited Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe for this black-and-white psychological thriller about two lighthouse keepers descending into madness. The film’s 4:3 aspect ratio, period dialogue, and ambiguous narrative created an experimental viewing experience. Audiences expecting conventional horror found themselves watching an art film about isolation and masculine rivalry.

The movie blends psychological realism with mythological elements, leaving viewers uncertain about what actually happens versus what the characters imagine. Eggers used the confined setting to explore themes of power, sexuality, and sanity through increasingly surreal encounters. The film’s ending provides no clear resolution, instead offering multiple interpretations that require viewers to actively engage with the material.

3. Mother! (2017)

Darren Aronofsky created one of the most divisive films of the decade with this allegorical thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence. The movie presents itself as a home invasion story but reveals itself as a biblical allegory about creation, destruction, and humanity’s relationship with Earth. Audiences were blindsided by the film’s symbolic nature and extreme violence.

Aronofsky designed the movie to provoke strong reactions, using horror elements to deliver environmental and religious commentary. The film’s shift from domestic drama to apocalyptic chaos confused viewers who weren’t prepared for its metaphorical approach. Critics were divided between those who appreciated its ambitious symbolism and those who found it pretentious, while general audiences largely rejected its confrontational style.

2. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to the sci-fi classic expanded the original’s themes while delivering stunning visuals and complex storytelling. Ryan Gosling plays a replicant blade runner who discovers a secret that could change the world. Despite critical acclaim, the film failed to connect with mainstream audiences who found it too slow and philosophical.

The movie demands patience from viewers as it explores questions about identity, consciousness, and what makes us human. Villeneuve prioritized atmosphere and character development over action, creating a meditative experience that some found boring. The film’s nearly three-hour runtime and deliberate pacing alienated audiences expecting the excitement of typical blockbusters, despite its artistic achievements.

1. Nope (2022)

Jordan Peele’s sci-fi horror spectacle follows siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) as they uncover a mysterious entity haunting their family’s horse ranch. Marketed as a straightforward alien invasion thriller, the film instead weaves a layered commentary on spectacle, exploitation, and humanity’s obsession with capturing the unknown. Audiences expecting a conventional UFO horror were met with a genre-defying blend of Western, horror, and social satire that left many puzzled by its unconventional pacing and cryptic subtext.

Peele’s bold exploration of how we commodify trauma and nature, paired with stunning visuals and a refusal to spoon-feed answers, alienated viewers seeking clear-cut thrills. The film’s deeper themes—about the cost of chasing fame and the ethics of taming the untamable—required reflection that casual audiences weren’t prepared for. Over time, its ambitious blend of genres and sharp critique of Hollywood’s gaze have cemented its status as a misunderstood gem, rewarding those who revisit its haunting imagery and intricate storytelling.

Which of these misunderstood films do you think deserves more recognition, or did I miss a movie that audiences completely got wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments!