By Will Kastner

Imagine this scenario. You and your group of friends are conversing over the best movies you watched this summer. Big titles, such as Guardians of the Galaxy and 22 Jump Street are mentioned.

When the time comes, you reveal your favorite movie of the summer is the sequel to Sin City. Suddenly, everyone in the group looks at you like you’ve just spoken in a foreign language. After a few seconds of blank stares, your good friend speaks up saying they’ve never heard of it, and you spend the next few minutes reeling in defense of your movie tastes. If you watch a large amount of movies, you may consider this a common occurrence. However, just because your friends haven’t heard of the movies you watch, doesn’t diminish the quality of these movies. Hollywood is constantly producing movies that never gain the attention of the public even when their content deserves it. The following five movies fit this mold. Though these films are highly entertaining in their own way, none of them managed to gain enough attention to be considered elite movies. Nonetheless, each of these movies has earned a spot on my list of favorite movies, and they deserve a chance to be on yours.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

This film follows the life of Daniel Plainview, a silver miner turned oil prospector, and his rise to power in a small town in California. His hard work is commendable, but his business tactics are ruthless and his manipulation of others is endless. He promises wealth to the town in the form of schools, roads, and commerce, but refuses to deliver. Tensions build, and men die. There Will Be Blood is a gritty drama that leaves you shocked, but satisfied.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Based on Homer’s Odyssey, this loose adaption of the classic Greek epic takes place in Mississippi in the early 20th Century. It follows the story of three convicts who escape from a chain gang and embark on a journey across the state to recover buried treasure from a bank heist. On their travels, they meet many strange characters which disrupt their quest in various ways.

Drive (2011)

Drive centers on an unnamed man, The Driver, with a shady past. He works as a garage mechanic on the side, but gets his money as a getaway driver. Early in the story, he falls in love with his next-door neighbor whose husband is in prison. Things get complicated when her husband comes home and finds himself in financial trouble. The Driver agrees to help this man by pulling off a heist with him, but the heist goes terribly wrong. This movie is riveting and unique, and it is undoubtedly one of the best crime movies I have seen.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Visiting they’re newly purchased cabin it the backwoods, Tucker and Dale are two hicks trying to kick back for a relaxing weekend. However, when they rescue a college girl from drowning in the lake, an angry posse of college kids mistakes them for serial killers, and an unfortunate series of events unfolds. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is original, hilarious and disturbing. If you’re looking for a unique comedy, look no further.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

Scott Pilgrim is a young adult with no job, a high-school girlfriend and nothing going for him. Given that, he doesn’t seem to mind. One night, he goes to a party where he meets Ramona Flowers. They begin to date, but soon after, Scoot discovers in order to keep Ramona he must defeat her seven evil ex-partners in a fight to the death. With the most fantastic stylized violence and endless humor, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a must see.