Unwatchable Movies

Updated May 1, 2024

Ever watched these Unwatchable Movies? We guarantee you'll find some new films. Here are 25 of our favorites.

Oldboy (2003)

★★★★

3.4 out of 4 stars

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Rated R

Oldboy is a South Korean neo-noir action thriller film. It tells the story of Oh Dae-su, a man who is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned in a hotel-like cell for 15 years. With help from an unlikely ally, he is released and begins a quest for revenge against the powerful man responsible for his imprisonment. Along the way, he discovers the truth about his captivity and the identity of his captor. Oldboy is a thrilling and violent journey of revenge, betrayal and unexpected redemption.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Rated R

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and based on Hubert Selby Jr.'s novel of the same name. The film follows the parallel stories of four characters in Brooklyn whose lives become intertwined over the course of one year. Sara Goldfarb, an elderly widow, and her son, Harry, become dependent on a diet of television and amphetamines, respectively. Harry's girlfriend Marion begins dealing drugs for her boyfriend and his friend Tyrone. Each of the characters embark on a journey of self-destruction in pursuit of their own version of the American Dream. As their lives spiral out of control, the characters endure devastating consequences such as addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Ultimately, Requiem for a Dream is a cautionary tale about the dangers of wishful thinking and the pursuit of unattainable dreams.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Rated R

A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian crime film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The film follows the violent exploits of a teenage gang leader named Alex (Malcolm McDowell) as he and his gang commit various acts of "ultra-violence" and robbery. When Alex is eventually caught, he is sentenced to undergo an experimental form of aversion therapy, intended to reprogram him to reject violence. However, it soon becomes apparent that the process has left him a hollow shell of his former self, and the State, realizing this, decides to release him back into society. The film is an exploration of the psychological and philosophical implications of free will versus determinism.

The Exorcist (1973)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 horror film directed by William Friedkin, based on the novel by William Peter Blatty. The film tells the story of a 12-year-old girl, Regan MacNeil, who is possessed by a demonic entity. Two priests, Father Damien Karras and Father Lankester Merrin, are called in to attempt to perform an exorcism on her. As the priests battle with the demonic forces, they must confront their own inner demons and faith in order to save the girl. The Exorcist is widely considered to be one of the scariest horror films ever made, and has become a classic of the genre. Its terrifying special effects and intense performances continue to shock and entertain viewers.

I Saw the Devil (2010)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Ho-jin Chun
Rated Not Rated

"I Saw the Devil" is a 2010 South Korean horror-thriller film directed by Jee-woon Kim. The film follows a secret agent, Kim Soo-hyeon (Byung-hun Lee), as he goes after a brutal serial killer and master of disguise, Jang Kyung-chul (Min-sik Choi). After Kyung-chul murders Soo-hyeon's fiancée, the agent embarks on a relentless and violent journey of vengeance. He pursues Kyung-chul, toying with him and exacting his own form of justice. As the pursuit continues, the line between hunter and hunted blurs as Soo-hyeon becomes consumed by revenge. The film is filled with intense violence and psychological horror, culminating in a shocking final confrontation between the two foes.

Happiness (1998)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Todd Solondz, starring Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker
Rated NC-17

Happiness is a black comedy film directed and written by Todd Solondz. It follows the lives of three sisters, Joy, Trish and Helen, who are in various stages of unhappiness and are trying to find their own paths to achieving some form of contentment and fulfillment. Each of the sisters deals with their own personal issues, from Joy's struggle to find true love, to Trish's loveless marriage, to Helen's struggle with her own sexuality. The film explores themes of loneliness, alienation, conformity, and family dynamics, as each of the sisters encounter ups and downs on their roads to finding fulfillment. Despite its dark subject matter, Happiness is an often humorous and ultimately uplifting film, filled with quirky characters and unique perspectives.

Mysterious Skin (2004)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is an American drama-thriller film directed by Gregg Araki and released in 2004. Based on Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name, it follows two pre-adolescent boys in small-town Kansas who are profoundly affected by their shared experience of a sexually motivated incident when they were eight years old. The film follows one of the boys, Neil McCormick, as he grows up and confronts his past, while the other boy, Brian Lackey, attempts to uncover the mystery of his lost childhood. As the two boys approach their late teens, the film deals with themes of pedophilia, sexual abuse, and homosexuality. At the same time, it explores how these issues shape and affect the lives of the characters, as well as the relationships between them and their loved ones.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Pedro Almodóvar, starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet, Marisa Paredes
Rated R

The Skin I Live In is a psychological thriller directed by Pedro Almodóvar that follows Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a plastic surgeon, who is on a quest to create synthetic skin that can withstand burns and other injuries. Ledgard has been obsessed with this goal since his wife was burned in a car accident. In his search, he has kidnapped a young woman named Vera (Elena Anaya) and kept her captive in his home, where he has been conducting experiments on her. As the story unfolds, secrets about Robert's past are revealed, as well as the truth about Vera's identity, leading to a shocking conclusion. The film explores themes of obsession, revenge, and compassion, and is a powerful look at the consequences of one man's misguided pursuit of perfection.

Funny Games (1997)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Michael Haneke, starring Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering
Rated Not Rated

Funny Games is a 1997 German-language psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael Haneke. It follows two sociopathic young men who hold a family hostage and torture them with sadistic games. The film is about the power dynamics between the two perpetrators, the family, and the audience. It is a commentary on violence in media and its effect on society. The film's themes of manipulation, powerlessness, and victimization are explored in a realistic and unsettling way, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.