The year 2025 is almost ending and the film calendar has been generous and crowded. Big releases grabbed headlines, but several smaller movies quietly delivered remarkable work that slipped past mass attention. These are the five underrated films of 2024 and 2025 that deserved far more love than they received, and each of them is worth discovering before the year ends.
Homebound
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound is a quiet, human drama about two friends from a small North Indian village who dream of joining the police for respect and a better future. Their long friendship is tested by the pressures of exams, social expectations, and the weight of local prejudices. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, and is written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. The movie was released in 2025 and has been talked about because of its sensitive approach to caste and class and excellent central performances.
Homebound arrived at a time when attention was on festival favorites and star-driven blockbusters. Its strength lies in small, truthful scenes rather than big set pieces, which makes it feel underrated for audiences used to louder dramas. Moreover, social issues that are explored in a subtle manner may fail at the box office despite the positive reviews of the acting and directing. It is worth watching if you enjoy character-based movies and authentic depictions of friendship and ambition.
Stolen
Stolen is a tense thriller about two urban brothers who become trapped in a nightmare after a baby is kidnapped at a railway station. The story spirals into chaos when the brothers are suspected of wrongdoing and must fight to clear their names and survive a desperate situation. The movie stars Abhishek Banerjee as the protagonist and was directed by Karan Tejpal. It blends road movie energy with social commentary and keeps the stakes high for its runtime.
Stolen is a film with tight scenes and strong acting that was put out with dozens of other thrillers and mid-budget films and as such, it did not feature widely. The movie’s tension and moral gray areas may not be for viewers seeking clear-cut heroes and villains, which can limit mainstream attention. To people who love tight, character driven thrillers, this film is a hidden gem.
Mrs.
Mrs. is an adaptation of the Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen and tells the story of a newly married woman who has to grapple with backward domestic customs and rediscover herself. Directed by Arati Kadav and led by Sanya Malhotra, the film examines patriarchy, domestic work, and the emotional cost of enforced roles. It premiered at festivals and later arrived on streaming, where viewers and critics noted Sanya Malhotra’s committed performance.
Films that critique deep seated social norms often find stronger appreciation among critics and niche viewers than in mass markets. Since Mrs is a remake of a famous Malayalam classic, some audiences might have ignored it as they might assume they knew the story. But this version stands on its own through performance and sensitivity, and deserves wider discussion among viewers who care about gender and social themes.
Superboys of Malegaon
Superboys of Malegaon is a warm, coming of age drama inspired by real events and the 2008 documentary about the amateur filmmakers of Malegaon. Directed by Reema Kagti and written by Varun Grover, the film tells the story of Nasir and his friends who want to create films in a small town out of passion and do it yourself attitude. The cast includes Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora and others. The movie premiered at international festivals and won praise for its heart and authenticity.
A heartfelt tale about everyday dreamers can be easy to miss when audiences chase high concept or glossy productions. It did not capture a mass cultural moment, even despite the positive reviews and festival buzz, as the film had a soft tone and an emphasis on the underdog story. If you love films about filmmaking, friendship, and small town grit, this one will stay with you.
The Mehta Boys
Boman Irani’s The Mehta Boys is a family drama about a strained father son relationship that slowly finds a way back to tenderness and understanding. Boman Irani directs and acts in the film alongside Avinash Tiwary and Shreya Chaudhry. The movie was released on a streaming platform in early 2025 and earned warm reviews for its emotional core and performances. Critics remarked on how Directorial voice of Irani and the main chemistry uplifts a family story.
The film’s earnest, modest tone works against viral attention. Audiences looking for novelty can miss films that are quietly well told and rely on lived in performances rather than shocks or spectacle. The Mehta Boys is a treat to audiences that seek a warm family story with soul and style.
Final note
These five films show that strong cinema can arrive in many formats: theatrical release, festival runs or straight to streaming. They may not have dominated box office charts, but they carry memorable performances, thoughtful direction, and stories rooted in real human struggles. When you are fond of movies that will stay in your memory even after the movie ends, these will be worth including in your list of films to watch.
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