The 2020s have already proven to be a rich era for cinema, with countless films making waves on the big screen and streaming platforms alike. But beyond the blockbusters and award darlings, there exists a treasure trove of lesser-known movies—hidden gems that showcase remarkable storytelling, inventive filmmaking, and unforgettable performances. These films may have flown under the radar, but they’re brimming with creativity and deserve a spot on your watchlist. Here’s a curated selection of hidden cinematic treasures from the 2020s that are waiting to be discovered.
These are the 50 Greatest Hidden Gems of the 2020s (So Far).
20. The Truffle Hunters (2020)
The Truffle Hunters is a visually stunning and deeply humane documentary that transports viewers to the forests of Northern Italy. It offers an intimate look into the lives of elderly men who have dedicated themselves to the ancient tradition of hunting white Alba truffles—a rare and highly prized delicacy. Every frame feels like a carefully composed painting, with lush forest scenes, cozy interiors, and rustic Italian villages that immerse you in the truffle hunters’ world. The filmmakers employ a fly-on-the-wall approach, capturing moments of quiet beauty and humor without intrusive narration. This isn’t your typical talking heads doc— the use of long, static shots allows the audience to fully absorb the subjects’ environment, creating a meditative viewing experience.
The documentary focuses on a small group of aging truffle hunters, each with a distinct personality and approach to their craft. Their relationships with their dogs are deeply moving, revealing an unspoken bond that underscores the heart of their work. A standout technique is the inclusion of footage from the perspective of the dogs, providing a unique angle that deepens our connection to the truffle hunters’ faithful companions. The Truffle Hunters is a tender and poetic exploration of a niche world, offering both humor and depth. It’s a celebration ofy passion, craftsmanship, and the quiet joys of life, while also subtly critiquing the forces that threaten to erode this tradition.
19. Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (2020)
Blurring the line between what is real and what is the truth, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets presents itself as a documentary but it’s entirely fictitious. The bar the patrons are all inhabiting isn’t closing in 24 hours, the city it takes place in isn’t Las Vegas and there’s clearly some deliberate staging going on but the patrons are all actual barflies and everything they say is improvised. The reality is fabricated but the emotions are real, which makes this far more interesting than a simple documentary. Much like how Herzog uses little lies to get to bigger truths in his docs (in one of his films, he has a subject touch the doorknob to his house three times before entering even though he didn’t have OCD to signify that even though he escaped a POW camp, he can’t escape the prison of his mind), this film does the same thing except it’s fictional. It might be the greatest example of cinéma-vérité in existence. You could remake this shot for shot with the finest actors and it wouldn’t be any more captivating and you could make an actual documentary about these barflies and it wouldn’t be any more revealing. If alcohol brings out the real truth in people and the camera never lies, this might be the most honest film in the history of cinema.
18. Venus (2022)
Loosely inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dreams in the Witch House, Venus follows Lucía (Ester Expósito), a go-go dancer who steals a bag of designer drugs from her nightclub employers. Seeking refuge, she hides in her sister’s apartment in Edificio Venus, a decrepit building on the outskirts of Madrid, only to encounter sinister supernatural forces. It’s a crime that cosmic horror begins and ends Stuart Gordon. He seems to be the only director that knows how to properly adapt Lovecraft. There are a couple of directors over the years that have nailed the aesthetics and ambiance like Carpenter and the cats who made the Void but they’re few and far between. Jaume Balagueró might be the best since Gordon to do it. He just had to mash a few random genre elements together to do it. It has crime elements, buckets of blood, high octane thrills and a kick ass heroine. What more do you want?
17. Wendy (2020)
Wendy is a reimagining of the Peter Pan mythos that offers a visually stunning but narratively uneven exploration of childhood, freedom, and the fear of growing up. Known for his work on Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin brings his signature style to this film, crafting a dreamlike world filled with raw emotion and striking imagery. The cinematography is breathtaking, with lush, vibrant landscapes that feel otherworldly yet grounded. The kids all feel real and authentic, as if the director rounded up a handful of street urchins and mini street rats and filmed them playing pretend. While ambitious, the story often feels meandering and underdeveloped. The narrative struggles to balance its abstract, poetic moments with a coherent plot but since this is a fantasy invoking the essence of J. M. Barrie, that’s more of a feature, not a bug. It captures the feeling of whimsical adventure better than Disney ever did.
16. Nine Days (2020)
Nine Days is a deeply introspective and original drama that examines what it means to live a meaningful life. The premise is both unique and universal—souls auditioning for the chance to be born is a creative and thought-provoking way to explore existential themes. Winston Duke delivers a career-defining performance as Will, a soul selector haunted by his past decisions. Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, and the rest of the ensemble cast bring depth and humanity to their roles, creating a mosaic of different perspectives on life. Edson Oda’s debut feature is remarkably assured, balancing profound philosophical questions with intimate, character-driven moments. The dialogue is poetic without feeling forced. The film’s minimalist yet evocative production design, paired with Wyatt Garfield’s cinematography, creates a hauntingly beautiful liminal space where the story unfolds. The score by Antonio Pinto enhances the emotional weight of the narrative. It feels like a tone poem turned into a minimalist play directed by the ghost who haunts the Criterion closet.
15. Introduction (2021)
Introduction is a contemplative, minimalist drama told in three sections, each feeling like a self contained story. The first section follows Yeongho (Shin Seok-ho), a young man going to the hospital to visit his father. In the second, he heads to Germany to meet his girlfriend and in the last section, he meets a friend of his mother’s who gives him life advice. If the structure sounds like pretentious film school bullshit, this film will be your kryptonite. It is a methodically paced meditative exploration on human relationships, unspoken emotions, and the fleeting nature of connections.
True to Hong’s signature style, the film is understated yet quietly poignant, relying on subtle dialogue, static camerawork, and understated performances to convey its themes. Hong Sang-soo’s sparse yet meticulous direction allows the film’s emotional undercurrents to emerge naturally. His use of long takes and understated framing immerses the audience in the characters’ lives. Image Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell at literally 1/3rd the length and you’re in the right ballpark. It’s not a movie for everyone, as its subtlety and ambiguity require active engagement, but fans of his work will find much to appreciate. The film’s brevity and understated storytelling create a poetic exploration of life’s quieter moments.
14. Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway (2020)
This is a film that dares you to find two comparative things to merge to try and succinctly describe it. I don’t think there’s a single high-concept sci-fi film or insane piece of oddball cinema you can combine to equal this film. Inception by way of the Beastie Boys? World on a Wire crossed with Adult Swim? Philip K. Dick meets a bag of edibles and acid? The plot is similar to about a million other stories but the execution is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. The film is about two secret agents who use a VR simulation to take down the Soviet Union, which is easier said than done.
While inside the simulation, the agents wear paper cut-out masks of celebrities (one is Robert Redford and the other is Richard Pryor) and every action is stutter-like stop-motion animation. The visuals outside of the simulation are more conventional but are still hyper-stylized. Everything from the sets to the costumes to the actors themselves is offbeat and strange. Every inch of this film is designed to make you question your sanity. Nothing makes sense and the longer it goes on, the crazier it gets. It’s clearly aiming to be a meme or cult classic and while I do think it’s trying too hard to be a new WTF staple, it does get points for going after that title harder than anything else released within the last five years. I’m not even sure I liked it but I know I’ll never forget it.
13. Bull (2021)
Bull is a grim and unflinching revenge thriller that blends brutal violence with an intense character study. Set in the seedy underbelly of British crime, the film is both a harrowing exploration of vengeance and a chilling meditation on the cyclical nature of violence. Neil Maskell delivers a hauntingly raw performance as Bull, a relentless enforcer seeking justice and retribution. His controlled rage and quiet menace anchor the film. Director Paul Andrew Williams crafts a visceral and claustrophobic world that feels as dangerous as it is bleak. The gritty cinematography and tight pacing amplify the tension. The film leans heavily into its dark and nihilistic tone, pulling no punches in its portrayal of brutality and betrayal. Its non-linear story effectively builds suspense, revealing layers of betrayal and loss as the narrative unfolds. Bull is a brutal examination of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of vengeance. It delves into the dehumanizing effects of violence, blurring the lines between justice and cruelty, while its morally ambiguous characters add depth to the narrative. It’s the best of its ilk since Blue Ruin.
12. Nitram (2021)
Nitram is a harrowing and meticulously crafted psychological drama that delves into the life of a deeply disturbed individual, culminating in the events leading to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania. The film is a sobering exploration of alienation, mental illness, and the devastating consequences of unchecked warning signs. Caleb Landry Jones delivers an astounding performance as the titular character, portraying Nitram (Martin spelled backward, as the film avoids using the perpetrator’s real name) with a chilling blend of vulnerability and menace. His portrayal earned him the Best Actor award at Cannes. Essie Davis, Judy Davis, and Anthony LaPaglia provide equally compelling performances as the people in Nitram’s orbit, adding emotional depth and complexity. Justin Kurzel’s restrained yet powerful direction avoids sensationalizing or exploiting the tragedy. He crafts a tense, foreboding atmosphere that draws viewers into Nitram’s unsettling world without glorifying his actions. If you’ve seen his previous film Snowtown, you know exactly what to expect. A harrowing dive into the worst aspects of humanity anchored by amazing performances.
11. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
After the film ended and I was reading through the credits, I laughed out loud because of course the director’s name is Eliza Hittman because only an emotional assassin could’ve made this film. After she discovers she’s pregnant, a teenage girl (Sidney Flanigan), along with her cousin (Talia Ryder), travels from rural Pennsylvania to New York City in order to get an abortion. There’s much more plot than the premise but it’s the little things that makes this film riveting. The attention to detail paints a larger world than what we’re seeing. Even after the film’s big emotional scene (which is where the title of the film comes from), the film still makes you piece together the implications of her answers.
It conveys emotion through a single tear and uses silence, not monologues, to give you everything you need to know. I still have my own theories as to what exactly happened but whether I’m right or not is irrelevant, what matters is that I feel for her in that moment, and not only do I, I see past that moment to a lifetime of hardships both past and in the future. Her entire life was summed up with a handful of words and I understood it completely. It’s a fully realized performance in a masterfully directed scene that unlocks the entire film. Out of everything I saw in 2020, that scene is what has stayed with me in the years since.
30-21 | 10-1
What are some underrated, overlooked, or hidden gems from the first half of the 2020s that you enjoy? Maybe they’ll show up later in the list!
