10 Essential Movies You Probably Missed In The Last 2 Years

Based on the play written by Henrik Ibsen, Hedda tells the story of Hedda Gabler, a woman deeply dissatisfied with her life. She’s stuck in a marriage that lacks passion, and the expectations of society weigh heavily on her. Then, her world turns upside down when her former lover, Dr. Eileen Lovborg, attends a party she’s at.

Hedda marks new territory for lead Tessa Thompson. In this, she gets to be self-centered, manipulative, and sometimes someone you cheer against. Also, with Eileen being genderbent, we see Thompson’s continued support of being part of LGBTQ+ projects, which is always a win. Truly, this movie is for fans who loved Thompson’s flirtatious energy with other women as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and wished for more.

My Fault: London is the English-language adaptation of Mercedes Ron's best-selling series. It tells the story of Noah, an 18-year-old young woman who moves from America to London to be with her mother and her new (and wealthy) stepfather. When she meets her stepbrother Nick, an attraction sparks despite their efforts. 

This steamy romance feels a bit more slow-burn, especially when it comes to the spicy scenes, when compared to the Spanish adaptation. However, the chemistry between leads Asha Banks and Matthew Broome feels less toxic and more grounded. But if you really want to test out which trilogy adapts the films best, then you have to watch the English sequel Your Fault: London (2026) and the Spanish adaptations Culpa mía (2023), Culpa tuya (2024), and Culpa nuestra (2025).

My Fault: London is perfect for fans of romantic dramas like Dímelo bajito (2025) and Sigue mi voz (2025).

Priyanka Chopra is on her way to becoming a certified action hero in the swashbuckler action movie The Bluff. It tells the story of Ercell, a woman living a peaceful life on an island. But when pirates invade her island, her dark past comes knocking. Wanting to protect her family, she stops hiding and fights back with a viciousness none on the island (including her family) expected. 

The Bluff sees Chopra knocking down bad guys left and right just like she did in Heads of State (2025) or Citadel (2023). But honestly, it feels like the spiritual successor of everything we loved about the Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) movies. You’ve got swashbuckling fights, cool outfits, beautiful locations, and love that makes us think about Will and Elizabeth. 

That last part, in particular, is why this is an essential movie to watch, especially if you miss the kind of grand love Will and Elizabeth had. You see that in Ercell and her loving husband, Bodden.

Dust Bunny is Bryan Fuller’s directorial feature debut, and it’s a delightfully weird one. It tells the story of Aurora, a foster kid whose foster parents are eaten by a bedroom-dwelling beast. Feeling like she’s out of options, she hires her reclusive neighbor, a professional assassin, to hunt it down.

If you’re a fan of Mads Mikkelsen, with whom Fuller previously worked with on Hannibal (2013), this is a slam dunk for you. Mikkelsen gets to be mysterious, aloof, but somehow charming all over again, but on a different wavelength. On top of that, this film is beautifully shot, knows what it is and doesn’t apologize for it, and has the coolest character design. 

If you’re a fan of Léon the Professional (1994), this is an essential movie to watch if you’ve missed it in the past two years. But also, if you like found family relationships where a grumpy dad adopts a precocious child in the style of The Last of Us (2023), this is also for you.

Eternity is a feel-good romance with an ending that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but that is also so satisfying. It tells the story of three people in the afterlife: Joan, Larry, and Luke. In this afterlife, you can choose who you spend eternity with. The problem is, Joan has to decide between the husband who waited for her in the afterlife after he died young or the husband she spent decades with and had a family with.

This film really had my emotions going because both guys are great, but also Joan deserves her own peace, and the guys do, too. Things get even more complicated when the two guys get along. So, basically, it’s a story about memory and people wanting the best for each other. And it’s perfect for people who liked the world-building of The Good Place (2016) when it comes to the afterlife, but don’t have time to watch four seasons.

Twinless is further proof that Dylan O’Brien is one of the most talented actors of his generation. It tells the story of Roman, a young man grieving the loss of his twin brother and the support group he joins for “twinless twins.” While there, he meets Dennis, another young man claiming to have also lost his twin. But things aren’t what they seem because Dennis doesn’t have a twin, and he knew Roman’s twin, Rocky, before he died. 

This movie is an intense emotional journey that allows O’Brien to show his vast acting range. Not only do we see him grieving his brother’s loss, but we also see the anger that comes from it, and the healing that follows. O’Brien gives his all to this role to the point where everything else fades away, and you forget you’re watching a movie. Also, there’s the duality that comes with also playing Rocky in the few scenes we get of him. 

Twinless is an essential movie to watch if you’ve been on the Dylan O’Brien train since his Teen Wolf (2011) days. But it’s also for fans of complicated relationships where you can love someone but also hate them a little bit because of what they’ve done, like in Leviticus (2026).

Like Twinless, Rental Family is a special treat for fans of a beloved actor. This time around, it just so happens to be Brendan Fraser. He plays Phillip, an American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency where he plays stand-in roles for strangers. 

Rental Family is, without a doubt, part of the Brendan Fraser renaissance. Because it shows A) how much range he has, B) how good he is at pulling your heartstrings, and C) that he has always been that “it” actor in Hollywood. The movie is also a fresh concept that makes you stop and think about what family really means, but also where you fit into this world. 

If I were to compare this essential movie for any Brendan Fraser fan to the rest of his filmography, it’s in line with the characters struggling with who they are and where they belong in Blast from the Past (1999) or Bedazzled (2000).

Based on a real story, Roofman isn’t your typical heist movie. Instead, it’s a comedy wrapped in a romance, and somehow Channing Tatum’s best performance yet. 

In Roofman, Tatum plays charismatic criminal Jeffrey. He got his name because he would cut holes in the roofs of businesses when doing his heists. While on the run from the police, he hides in a hidden space in a toy store, and he ends up being charmed by one of the employees, starting a relationship and becoming part of her family. 

When I say that this might be Tatum’s best role, I mean it. Because on the surface, a lot of people write him off as just that guy from 21 Jump Street (2012) or Magic Mike (2012). But he’s got the range, emotions, and ability to deliver a performance that feels powerful and also heartbreaking. It reminds me of when comedians do dramas and absolutely kill it, like when Jim Carrey did Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) or when Adam Sandler did Punch-Drunk Love (2002).

Out of all the movies on this list of essential films you probably missed in the last two years, The Great Flood is the most heartbreaking. It tells the story of a disastrous great flood that sweeps the planet. And on what may be the last day on Earth, a mother desperately fights to save her child from a flooding apartment. 

This one is the most heartbreaking movie because once you realize what’s happening, it’s a gut punch. And it’s a prime example of how sci-fi movies are actually the best at telling stories about humanity, connection, and what it means to be alive. Trust me, go into this one without looking up anything about the movie and then afterward watch the behind-the-scenes on how they did the water scenes. 

The Great Flood is for fans who were traumatized but moved by a parent’s love for their child in Train to Busan (2016). 

Like Hedda and Twinless, 100 Nights of Hero is another LGBTQ+ movie that you might’ve missed in the last two years. But this time around, it’s more of a period drama wrapped in a fantasy romance. It tells the story of Hero, a charming house guest who arrives at a remote castle and falls in love with the innocent bride, Cherry.

100 Nights of Hero is super stylish when it comes to its world-building. The costumes are unique, but so are the legends or stories that Hero recounts in the vein of Scheherazade in One Thousand and One Nights. There’s this warmth and rebellion in Hero’s story that enchants Cherry and the viewer. Truly, this one feels like a fairy tale romance told through the lens of how our stories are a rebellion in themselves. 

If I were to compare this movie to other fantasy romances, then 100 Nights of Hero would be for fans of The Princess Bride (1987) and Stardust (2007).