Hidden Gems: 5 Lesser-Known Films That Reddit Users Consider True Masterpieces

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Redditors have compiled a list of films that rarely make it into top rankings but become genuine discoveries for viewers. The collection includes a romantic drama with an unexpected twist, a Norwegian mockumentary, a coming-of-age drama about life on the edge, and others.

A user going by CherryTraditional229 started this discussion thread. In the comments, movie lovers shared five films that don't enjoy widespread popularity. Our editorial team added one more movie that you absolutely need to watch.

Secret (2007)

Cast: Jay Chou, Kwai Lun-mei

This Taiwanese drama follows high schooler Ye Xianglun, who falls for mysterious classmate Lu Xiaoyu. Music connects them, but it also brings a secret that will change their story forever.
A girl in gray clothing hugs a young man in gray clothing against a grass background
Frame from "Secret" (2007)
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The film starts as a melodrama but ends with an unexpected sci-fi twist.
For me, this isn't just good cinema—it's my favorite film out of more than 1,600 I've watched. It starts as a typical romantic story, but then delivers a genuinely unexpected and clever twist that changes the entire narrative.
Reddit user CherryTraditional229

Strange Days (1995)

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett

Lenny Nero is an ex-cop who deals in black market memory recordings. His business crumbles when he receives footage of an actual murder. This cyberpunk noir explores the line between reality and virtual experience — a '90s film that was way ahead of its time.
Two men stand in old-fashioned clothing and smile
Frame from "Strange Days"
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Reddit user GoodMorningBlackreef commented: "Sometimes I feel like I was born to recommend this movie to people."

The King of Comedy (1982)

Cast: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis

Rupert Pupkin dreams of stand-up comedy stardom, but no one will give him a shot. So he takes desperate measures to get on television. Martin Scorsese crafted a satire about obsessive fame-seeking that sounds even more relevant today than it did in the '80s.
"The King of Comedy" trailer
Philipp: "Creepily funny when the laughs come between the lines."

Troll Hunter (2010)

Starring: Otto Jespersen, Glenn Erland Tosterud

A group of students accidentally uncovers a government secret: trolls live in Norwegian forests, and the hunter they're tracking is actually doing dangerous work exterminating them.
A massive gray humanoid monster stands on a snow-covered road
Scene from "Troll Hunter"
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Shot in found footage style, it plays like a mix of horror and fantasy. Choice from redditor Chickenshit_outfit.

Eighth Grade (2018)

Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton

Kayla is a shy eighth-grader who runs a blog about self-esteem and confidence. The videos help her project assurance, but in real life she deals with anxiety, loneliness, and being misunderstood by her peers.
"Eighth Grade" trailer
kokoomusnuori69: "I didn't expect a movie made by a comedian to be so sincere."

Our recommendation — Moon (2009)

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey
"Moon" trailer
The story unfolds on a lunar base where Sam Bell works for a corporation mining rare resources for Earth. His three-year contract is almost up, and he's dreaming of going home. But just before his return, Sam encounters mysterious events and realizes he might not be alone on the base.

This is intimate filmmaking without unnecessary grandstanding, but with powerful drama and an unexpected twist. Perfect for anyone tired of loud blockbusters who wants thoughtful sci-fi with an atmosphere of isolation. Earlier on zoomboola.com we reported that Reddit viewers picked 6 worst movies that everyone somehow loves.