Budget: $30M 

Box Office: $42M 

Why It's Great: Ridley Scott's cyberpunk classic might have gone under-appreciated by critics and audiences during its first run, but it went on to influence scores of filmmakers, musicians, and artists with its futuristics visuals and neo-noir storytelling devices. Based on a novella by Phillip K. Dick, the dark tale of blade runner Rick Deckard set in the "future" of 2019 Los Angeles is a film whose cultural influence is still felt today. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "Everyone in the future is miserable with a great coat." - fran hoepfner

Budget: $63–65M 

Box Office: $101M 

Why It's Great: The film that every wannabe cinephile first cuts their teeth upon, David Fincher transformed Chuck Palahniuk's scathing satire on American consumerism and male machismo culture into a cult classic that still manages to shock viewers with its twist ending and brutality. Performances from Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter continue to enthrall, though many missed them the first go-round as the film failed to attract filmgoers. This later caught this pic on home release where it caught fire and became a beacon for “Bro” culture. But don’t let that deter you. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "First watch: Fight Club is the best movie ever made. 

Second watch: Fight Club is a deep commentary on the dangers of consumerism. 

Third watch: Fight Club is a disgusting cesspool of toxic masculinity and it’s not as deep as its fanboys think it is. 

Fourth watch: Fight Club is a critique of toxic masculinity and it’s deeper than its fanboys think it is. 

Fifth watch: Fight Club is the best satirical gay romcom ever made." - gal pacino

Budget: $2.4M 

Box Office: $495,303 

Why It's Great: "Idiocracy was supposed to be a comedy, not a documentary" is a phrase that came up often after 2016, and for good reason. Featuring a reality star-turned-world leader, along with a portrayal of a future filled with increasingly dumb reality shows involving humiliation and pain, monstrously huge restaurant portions, an influx of ads on every surface available, and more terrifying news coverage than ever, Idiocracy shifted from satirical comedy to cinematic Nostradamus thanks to visionary director, Mike Judge. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "There is real genius and foresight in this movie, and it’s terrifying." - Nick Sr.

Budget: $50M 

Box Office: $31M 

Why It's Great: If one ever needs to take down an entire army of invaders, forcing it to its knees by use of an emotional gutpunch, the best weapon for this job is a copy of The Iron Giant. Just show that film on any big screen and men the size of beasts will fall where they stand and sob. The Brad Bird-directed animated effort can elicit emotions from almost anyone thanks to a well-written script with a heartfelt message and tremendous voice cast, including Vin Diesel as the titular Iron Giant. The film flopped when released, but the toon has since found an ardent following, including Stephen Spielberg, who felt the need to include the kind hearted Giant in Ready Player One.  

Choice Letterboxd Review: "A gorgeous, deeply felt children's fable on American xenophobia and militarism, also I am crying now." - Josh Lewis

Budget: $3.18M 

Box Office: $3.3M 

Why It's Great: The wonderful life of George Bailey and the story of how one man can impact an entire town was almost lost if it was not for the greedinesses of others. Thank goodness. Frank Capra's holiday classic was saved from obscurity thanks to a lapse in copyright and the fact that Turner Broadcasting System enjoys saving moolah…

Though It's A Wonderful Life failed in the theaters when it was released, the Jimmy Stewart Christmas charmer found its audiences decades later when it ran practically nonstop on television after it entered the public domain in 1974. For the next decade, once the holidays rolled around, the American public could not escape It's A Wonderful Life. Through constant replays, it finally found its audience and earned the appreciation it rightly deserved. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "Nobody likes getting the most out of a vowel quite like James Stewart." - Karsten

Budget: $22–39M 

Box Office: $14M 

Why It's Great: A scathing satire on corporate consumerism and corruption of the music industry disguised as a kiddie movie, the genius of Josie and the Pussycats might not have been appreciated when it was released, but goodness, is it celebrated by every single millennial since then. Do not let that cat ears and bangin' soundtrack fool you. This is a darkly-tinged spoof that targets capitalism while making a statement about the pitfalls of the entertainment industry. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "This movie had 8-year-old me distrusting consumerism and criticizing pop culture at the same time I was popping the soundtrack CD into my boombox... The power that has, The intelligence that has..." - Lucy

Budget: $10M 

Box Office: $12.2M 

Why It's Great: Mike Judge's contemporary fairy tale of urban revenge centered on a cubicle jockey who breaks free of the shackles of office culture is considered one of the best send-ups of corporate American NOW, but at the time, it barely registered as a blip at the box office. After its discovery by working stiffs on home video and generous viewings on Comedy Central, Office Space became embedded into pop culture. Now no one likes to talk about their flair. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "The printer smashing scene changed my life." - Matthew

Budget: $60–85M 

Box Office: $51.7M 

Why It's Great: Edgar Wright's meticulously detailed and uproariously funny adaptation of the graphic novel series from Bryan Lee O'Malley. Starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza, the romantic action comedy is a bonanza of millennial references from old school video games, movies, and music that was overlooked in theaters, but is the gift that keeps on giving on streaming.

Infinitely quotable, highly debatable regarding the quality of Scott’s character (or lack thereof), and charming due to an overwhelming number of manic pixie dream people who litter the cast, Scott Pilgrim is a film that continues to remain in the conversation. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "I'm in lesbians with this movie." - Wesley

Budget: $25M 

Box Office: $16M on initial release 

Why It's Great: It is strange that what is now considered one of the most heralded films ever made was criminally overlooked and dismissed by audiences when it was first released. Perhaps it was the long runtime or the lack of A-list superstars to lure in moviegoers. Regardless, Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's jailhouse tearjerker earned its reputation as a top-tier filmmaking when it was discovered on home video and cable a few years later. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the story about friendship and perseverance remains a standard in storytelling. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "Maybe IMDb was right all along." - Sophie

Budget: $15 million 

Box Office: $19.9 million 

Why It's Great: John Carpenter's remake of The Thing from Another World received a chilly reception upon release from critics who deemed it too gory, too dark, and too scary. Opening the same year as E.T., the film was criticized for being too "nihilistic" in its messaging and unfairly compared to the family-friendly alien romp. Now, the film is viewed as ahead of its time while its practical effects hailed as revolutionary. The Thing is not only considered one of Carpenter's best films, it is often hailed as one of the best body horror films ever made – as well as one of the best scary movies ever made – and a jewel of the genre. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "100% pure horror. 100% complete paranoia. 100% practical effects. 100% proof that horror doesn't need CGI. 100% inimitable. 100% Carpenter 100% timeless. (It's 38 years old!!) 100% terrifying. Still. 100% visual masterpiece. 100% mold breaking. 1000% One of my favorite horror films ever made. 

P.S. Math was never my strong point." - DirkH

Budget: $140M 

Box Office: $110M 

Why It's Great: A psuedo-cyberpunk cartoon retelling of the Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island, the treasure-hunting tale of Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver was an ambitious endeavor from Walt Disney Studios back when they still released 2D efforts. Featuring the voice talent of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short, and Brian Murray, the ambitious endeavor had the unfortunate luck of opening against a boy wizard named Harry. Now considered a adventurous fare from Disney, Planet is hailed for its animation and graphics, as well as out-of-the-box take on classic characters. 

Choice Letterboxd Review: "But sir, that's my emotional support space cyborg dad." - Maria