Paramount+ ranks as one of our best streaming services thanks to its strong library of binge-worthy TV shows and blockbuster movies. It’s the latter category that really draws my attention as a dedicated movie buff, and recently I’ve been combing through the catalog for hidden gems.
Fortunately, I didn’t need to look very hard, because Paramount+ is home to a host of great movies that I believe to be a little underrated. Whether that be because of their critical scores, because they struggled to break even at the box office, or just because they lack the name recognition of Paramount+’s most popular titles. These five films deserve some love.
That’s why I’ve put together this roundup of underrated Paramount+ movies to shine a spotlight on a collection of high-quality movies that you might not have streamed already.
‘The Island’ (2005)
Perhaps defending a Michael Bay movie will cost me some credit with the movie buff crowd, but I don’t care. This 2005 sci-fi action movie Starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson is a total guilty pleasure watch. Bay leans on his trademark penchant for explosions in the second half, but the openning portion offers an intriguing dystopian story, and there’s an entertaining mystery at the movie’s core. On a Bay scale, it’s pretty great.
Set in a futuristic 2019 (this released in 2005), “The Island” takes place within a slick facility due to the outside world being contaminated by a pathogen. The residents live by a strict set of rules, and each week one is chosen by random lottery to leave and go live on a luxury island. However, this facility is hiding some dark secrets, and when Lincoln (McGregor) discovers the truth, he teams up with Sarah (Johansson) to escape.
Watch "The Island" on Paramount+ now
‘Better Man’ (2024)
Musical biopics are all the rage right now; look at the recent box office success of “Michael” as the latest proof. So, I found it more than a little frustrating that “Better Man,” a wildly inventive drama focused on the life and career of British singer Robbie Williams, didn’t just struggle but outright bombed, grossing $22 million against a $100m budget. This fantastic movie, stuffed with Robbie’s earworm tracks, deserved better.
Perhaps it was the fact that Robbie’s fame has never quite translated to the U.S. market (he’s a superstar in the U.K., not so much Stateside), or maybe it was the oddball decision to cast Robbie as a CGI chimpanzee in this big-screen biopic (The real Williams voices the computer-created protagonist). Yes, this was a strange choice, but trust me, it works in the final movie, and this movie explores the perils of fame supremely well.
Watch "Better Man" on Paramount+ now
‘Mean Creek’ (2004)
Movies about bullying can often feel like a patronizing PBS afterschool special, so kudos to the filmmakers behind 2004’s “Mean Creek” for avoiding this pitfall and instead delivering a psychological drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This movie builds anxiety. In the first act, you'll have an uneasy feeling that something is going to go wrong. It all leads to a very tragic incident that changes the lives of its young cast.
In a small Oregon town, shy school kid Sam (Rory) and his older brother, Rocky (Trevor Morgan), invite stand-offish bully George (Josh Peck) to accompany them on a boating trip. However, their goal isn’t to make friends with George. They plan to humiliate him as revenge for a physical altercation with Sam. It’s a cruel scheme, and it rapidly backfires, forcing the adolescent characters to face very grown-up consequences.
Watch "Mean Creek" on Paramount+ now
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)
Another example of a great movie struggling at the box office is “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” This fantasy heist movie is based on the popular tabletop role-playing game, and pays respect to its source material, while ensuring that newcomers aren’t left behind. It’s a real popcorn movie, boasting charming characters, some surprisingly strong humor and plenty of big-budget action. It deserved way more attention in theaters.
Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Hugh Grant, “Honor Among Thieves” spins a classic “Dungeons & Dragons” tale of an unlikely band of adventurers joining forces to embark on a dangerous mission to locate (and then steal) a lost relic. As all good D&D campaigns should, things don’t always go as planned, and watching the team adapt on the fly to each bump in the road is the real fun of this blockbuster.
Watch "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" on Paramount+ now
‘Mean Girls’ (2024)
2024’s “Mean Girls” never really got a fair shake. From its announcement, the necessity of a reimagining of Tina Fey’s classic 2004 teen comedy was questioned. But here’s the thing: This isn’t a cheap cash-in that just recycles the original. It’s actually an adaptation of the “Mean Girls” Broadway show. So, yes, it’s a full-blown musical. Packed with enjoyable show tunes and a great performance from Reneé Rapp as the iconic Regina George, we perhaps didn’t need a 2020s spin on “Mean Girls,” but I’m glad we got one. To borrow a phrase, it’s totally fetch.
The fundamental setup is the story you know. The formerly homeschooled Cady Heron (played by Angourie Rice) moves from Kenya to America, where she attends North Shore High School and discovers teenage social cliques are even more ruthless than the savanna plains. Invited to join the Plastics, a trio of the school’s most popular students, she gets a crash course in “Girl World” and hatches a plan to bring the Plastics down.
Watch "Mean Girls" on Paramount+ now
