13 Unforgettable Films: The Most Unique Movies of the Past

1. Gisaengchung 2019，IMDB Rating: 8.5, IMDB Votes: 980459, ID: 6751668
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Gisaengchung (Parasite) tells the story of the impoverished Kim family’s attempts to escape poverty by gradually infiltrating the wealthy Park family through clever schemes. As they conceal their identities and step by step take over the lives of the Park family, it gradually reveals the deep cracks in the class gap. With a tight narrative and tense plot, director Bong Joon-ho reveals social injustice and human complexity through a progressive drama that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
2. Nomadland 2020，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 185712, ID: 9770150
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Nomadland tells the story of Vern (played by Frances McDormand), a middle-aged woman who, with the loss of her husband and her job, chooses to live a nomadic life with an RV as her home. She travels through the American West, subsisting on temporary jobs, befriending other wanderers and forming a unique community. The movie, directed skillfully by Chloé Zhao, presents the themes of loss and reconstruction, freedom and loneliness, revealing the survival of marginalized people in modern society.
3. The Irishman 2019，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 435978, ID: 1302006
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The Irishman follows World War II veteran Frank Sheeran (played by Robert De Niro) as he looks back on his years as a gang banger and aide to union leader Jimmy Hoffa (played by Al Pacino). As he gradually descends into the world of gangs, the film shows the decades of crime and eventual betrayal and loneliness through Frank’s perspective.
4. Minari 2020，IMDB Rating: 7.4, IMDB Votes: 98986, ID: 10633456
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Minari follows a family of Korean immigrants who move to rural Arkansas and try to pursue the American dream by growing Korean vegetables. With father Jacob (played by Steven Yeun) insisting on starting his own business and mother Monica worried about her life, the two face difficult choices in their new environment. The arrival of the grandmother (played by Youn Yuh-jung) brings new conflict and warmth to the family.
5. The Power of the Dog 2021，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 195636, ID: 10293406
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The Power of the Dog follows the complex relationship between ruthless rancher Phil Burbank (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his brother’s family. Phil is hostile to his brother’s new wife and stepson, gradually unleashing psychological manipulation and oppression. Based in the American West, the film explores the complexities of masculinity, repressed emotions and human nature through a delicate narrative and strong psychological tension.
6. Licorice Pizza 2021，IMDB Rating: 7.1, IMDB Votes: 141907, ID: 11271038
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Licorice Pizza tells the story of youth in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s, revolving around the emotions and adventures between teenager Gary (played by Cooper Hoffman) and older Alana (played by Alana Haim). Gary develops strong feelings for Alana , and the couple goes through a number of funny and confusing events. The film depicts the confusion and growth of adolescence through their interactions, presenting a nostalgic atmosphere of the era.
7. Marriage Story 2019，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 350064, ID: 7653254
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Marriage Story is about the emotional ups and downs of a couple going through the breakdown of their marriage and the realities of divorce. The story focuses on the conflict between pursuing personal aspirations and handling family responsibilities, and shows the legal battles they face during the divorce process, the challenges of co-parenting, and the reawakening of their feelings for each other. The movie shows that divorce is not just about separation, but a complex journey of understanding and redefining their relationship.
8. Promising Young Woman 2020，IMDB Rating: 7.5, IMDB Votes: 214864, ID: 9620292
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Promising Young Woman follows Cassie, a woman with a bright future who is determined to get revenge on her own terms after her best friend is sexually assaulted and commits suicide. She seduces potential perpetrators by disguising herself as a drunken woman, exposing them for what they really are and inching closer to the culprits of her past. The film explores the complexities of sexual assault culture, social indifference and revenge through Cassie’s actions, showing her struggle between justice and self-destruction.
9. Captain Fantastic 2016，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 237277, ID: 3553976
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Captain Fantastic is the story of a father, Ben (played by Viggo Mortensen), who lives a life isolated from modern society with his six children in a remote forest. He trains his children to think independently and be self-sufficient through rigorous physical training and ideological education. However, the death of his wife forces them to return to mainstream society and face the conflict of lifestyles and values that are very different from theirs.
10. Les frères Sisters 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 71163, ID: 4971344
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Les frères Sisters tells the story of two brothers – Eli (played by John C. Reilly) and Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix) – who work as professional killers in the American West in pursuit of a gold prospector. The brothers face not only external enemies, but also deal with each other and their own personal struggles during the hunt. The film explores the complexity of family relationships, moral choices and human nature through a narrative that is both humorous and violent, injecting a fresh perspective on the traditional Western.
11. The Florida Project 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.6, IMDB Votes: 130542, ID: 5649144
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The Florida Project tells the story of a six-year-old girl, Mooney (played by Brooklynn Prince), who lives with her young mother in an inexpensive motel close to Disneyland. Although living in poverty, Mooney and her friends spend their childhood around the motel full of adventure and fun. The film shows the innocence and imagination of childhood through Mooney’s point of view, yet her mother’s struggles and the harshness of reality add to the tragedy of the story.
12. Dope 2015，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 89649, ID: 3850214
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Dope is a story of Malcolm (played by Shameik Moore), a nerdy teenager living in Inglewood, Los Angeles, who struggles to escape the influence of his surroundings and pursue his dream of becoming a Harvard student. Malcolm and his friends accidentally get involved in a drug deal, forcing them to find a way out of a neighbourhood where violence and drugs are prevalent. The movie blends elements of 90’s nostalgia with contemporary social issues, showcasing the confusion of adolescence and the struggle for self-identity through humour and tense drama.
13. Spontaneous 2020，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 17580, ID: 5774062
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Spontaneous concerns a group of high school students who suddenly begin to inexplicably and spontaneously explode. Protagonist Marla (played by Katherine Langford) and her classmates deal not only with the fear of death, but also ponder the meaning of life in the face of this unexplained catastrophe. As those around her pass away one by one, Marla develops an unexpected romance with her boyfriend and searches for the meaning of being alive amidst the chaos.