Most Underrated Movies of the 2010's (By Year): 2015

Honorable Mentions: Concussion, Match, Sleeping with Other People

Dope: Netflix really helped elevate Dope's profile a few years back after a lackluster theatrical run, but I still don't think it gets the amount of credit it deserves. Thanks to the clever, confident vision of writer/director Rick Famuyiwa  and a strong group of actors (Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Zoe Kravitz, Blake Anderson, Chanel Iman, A$AP Rocky, Roger Guenveur Smith) that all nail their respective roles, Dope succeeds as both a hilarious coming-of-age story and poignant drama that tackles the overlooked issue of the prejudiced systemic biases that are placed upon students from black communities while applying for colleges that prevent them from getting the same opportunities as their white counterparts.  

The Night Before: How many great comedies are also great holiday movies? It's basically just Bad Santa and this slept-on gem-which doesn't have the cult following of that wonderfully depraved, hilarious film from 2003. Combining the vulgar stoner humor and natural buddy rapport (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie play lifelong best friends who celebrate every Christmas Eve together for a very personal reason) that drives all of Rogen's best work with an overwhelmingly genuine warmth makes this a beautiful seasonal triumph.

Steve Jobs: The theatrical style of Steve Jobs has made it one of the more polarizing biopics of the past several years. Personally, I believe that narrative framing device is a huge reason why it's such a strong film. Choosing to tell Jobs' story through three of his product launch days provides an underlying intensity to the events that probably wouldn't have existed if they had been told in a more conventional way while also providing a raw forum to explore both the persistence, creative/marketing genius and slew of personal shortcomings (egomaniacal behavior, control problems, failure to properly acknowledge his daughter during the early years of her life) that defined him as a person.