Five underrated films to check out on New Year's Day

2024 was a landmark year in many ways, and the extra day of the leap year didn't make things any easier. Luckily, you can start 2025 off right by staying home to check out a few films that went unnoticed upon their initial release and throughout their digital lives.

Our pick of the five underrated films to watch on New Year's Day is undeniably action-oriented. However, it also includes a superhero parody, a thrilling crime thriller, and a gripping horror film to add some variety to those choices.

The Northman (2022)

With the dazzling success of Nosferatu in theaters, it is wise to dive back into Robert Eggers' previous work, The Northman. This story is strongly inspired by Hamletbased on the legend of Amleth which inspired William Shakespeare's play. Alexander Skarsgård plays the vengeful Viking prince Amleth, but this man is far more given to violence than Hamlet ever was.

When Amleth was young, his father, King Aurvandill War-Raven (Ethan Hawke), was killed by his uncle, Fjölnir the Brotherless Brother (Claes Bang), who fled with Amleth's mother, Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). When Amleth's fate brings him back to them, waste and chaos ensue. However, even a warrior like Amleth cannot take this path without suffering consequences.

Look The Northman on Peacock.

The Town (2010)

Ben Affleck co-wrote, directed and starred in The Towna crime drama centered around four longtime friends who decide to rob banks together. Doug MacRay (Affleck), James “Jem” Coughlin (The Mayor of Kingstown's Jeremy Renner), Albert “Gloansy” MacGloan (Slaine) and Desmond “Dez” Elden (Owen Burke) succeed, but things get complicated when they kidnap bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), before releasing her.

To understand what Claire knows about them, Doug engages in a romance with her. As the robbers wore masks, she does not recognize him. However, Claire remembers a detail that could land Doug and his accomplices behind bars. And if Jem finds out about Doug's activities, it could get him a lot worse than prison.

Look The Town on Hulu.

Colombian (2011)

If the rights of Leon: The Professional had not been complicated, Colombian could have been the result. Instead, the film offers Cataleya's original story (Emilia Perez's Zoe Saldaña), daughter of drug cartel member Fabio (Jesse Borrego), who tried to leave the drug cartel for her family. As a result, Don Luis (Beto Benites) ordered the execution of Fabio and his entire family, leaving only Cataleya alive.

Fifteen years later, Cataleya, now a hitwoman, seeks revenge on Don Luis and the man who shot her family, Marco (Jordi Mollà). Over the years, Don Luis has made a deal with the CIA and is now better protected than ever. However, nothing will stop Cataleya in her quest for revenge, even if it costs her her life.

Look Colombian sur Netflix.

Mystery Men (1999)

Mystery Men introduced the world to the title All Star by Smash Mouth two years before Shrekwhile engaging in parody of the superhero films that dominate the 21st century. Based on the comics by Bob Burden, this film features characters such as Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), The Shoveler (William H. Macy), The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), Spleen ( Paul Rubens) and Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) who are not exactly traditional superheroes, but who are still the best defenders of Champion City.

Champion City's problem is that their previous hero, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear), let his ego drive him to free his old nemesis, Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), just to have an opponent. Casanova has turned the tables on Captain Amazing, and now this group of second-rate superheroes is all that stands between him and total victory.

Look Mystery Men sur Prime Video.

Final Destination (2000)

Final Destination: Bloodlines is coming to theaters soon, and will once again feature the late Tony Todd as William Bludworth, the medical examiner with a unique insight into death's plans. However, the Final Destination original remains an often underestimated horror classic. This is a horror film where the real killer is death itself, as evidenced by the tragic events that befall a group of young people.

Somehow, this is all Alex Browning's (Devon Sawa) fault. He had a premonition of his plane exploding, and some of his classmates, including Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), Carter Horton (Kerr Smith), and Billy Hitchcock (Seann William Scott), were evacuated with him. When the plane actually explodes, Death redoubles its efforts to catch up with those who tried to escape their fate. And Alex and his friends seem desperate in their fight to prevent this.

Look Final Destination on Paramount+.

Good to know

• Each film in this selection addresses varied themes ranging from revenge to parody, thus showing the richness of cinematographic genres.
• The directors of these works exploit unique atmospheres that can appeal to different types of viewers.
• These films invite reflection on the motivations of the characters and the consequences of their actions, thus inviting viewers to establish a connection with the characters on screen.

Cinema is a powerful vector of reflection and emotion. Each film, through its story and its characters, raises questions about human nature, morality and society. Reflecting on characters' choices can invite us to reflect on our own decisions, thereby opening up space for debate about the meaning of our actions.