6 Amazing Hidden Gems to Cure Your Streaming Slump
"Beyond the Algorithm”: Bold voices. Unforgettable stories. All off the beaten path.
Movie watching has always been a beloved escape. For many, the magic began with Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park or George Lucas’ Star Wars, films that lit up our imaginations and made the screen feel larger than life. These cinematic legends taught us that watching a movie should be a thrilling adventure. But choosing what to watch? That shouldn’t be the hard part.
While Spielberg and Lucas set the gold standard for blockbuster success, today’s emerging filmmakers aim to move audiences in more intimate, personal ways. The recently wrapped Cannes Film Festival celebrated this indie spirit, spotlighting global auteurs who are reshaping cinematic storytelling on the world’s biggest stage.
But what about the filmmakers without big budgets, or a Cannes invite? Even without studio muscle or red carpet buzz, their stories are just as powerful and just as deserving of an audience.
Widening the Lens was born from a simple belief: that great stories shouldn’t be buried beneath algorithms. That’s why we’re proud to present “Beyond the Algorithm”, a curated series that brings hidden cinematic gems into the spotlight. Every installment will feature six unique voices introducing either innovative reinterpretations of classic genres or completely original stories that defy expectations.
Our lineup starts with lesser known movies on cathartic healing in the face of life’s tumultuous adversities. Fairy tale endings aren’t promised, but these intimate character studies uncover hope through resilience; leaving a lasting impact.
Beat streaming fatigue with six powerful films that celebrate the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.
Bob Trevino Likes It (2024)
Bob Treviño Likes It is a delightful American comedy that explores radical forgiveness and the bonds of a chosen family. In this true story, writer-director Tracie Laymon recounts her personal journey to mend a fractured relationship with her estranged father, leading to an unexpected and deeply moving revelation. Featuring Barbie Ferreira in a star-making turn and John Leguizamo delivering another outstanding performance, this heartwarming tale about the power of connection to overcome grief and adversity is a triumph. Bob Treviño Likes It is a crowd-pleasing indie gem, the kind studios don’t make anymore, but we wish they did.
Director: Tracie Laymon
Writer: Tracie Laymon
Cinematographer: John Rosario
Editor: Anisha Acharya
Cast: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Rachel Bay Jones, Ted Welch, Lolo Spencer
Where to Stream: VOD
Superboys of Malegaon (2024)
Reema Kagti directs and produces Superboys of Malegaon, an Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age dramedy based on Nasir Shaikh’s inspirational true story. An aspiring filmmaker convinces his friends to shoot a film in their remote, impoverished village, far from Mumbai’s bustling film industry. Kagti’s poignant film, adapted from the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon, showcases how community filmmaking fosters collaboration and cinematic passion. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, Superboys of Malegaon is an uplifting tribute to classic movies and enduring friendships, highlighting cinema’s universal appeal.
Director: Reema Kagti
Writer: Varun Grover
Cinematographer: Swapnil S. Sonawane
Editor: Anand Subaya
Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Anuj Singh Duhan, Riddhi Kumar, Saqib Ayub, Gyanendra Tripathi, Muskkaan Jaferi, Anmol Kajani, Manjiri Pupala, Pallav Singh, Abhinav Grover
Where to Stream: Prime Video
The Girl with the Needle (2024)
Filmmaker Magnus von Horn’s award-winning Danish period drama The Girl with the Needle isn’t for the squeamish. Set in post–World War I Copenhagen, a pregnant young woman becomes a wet nurse for the mysterious owner of a secretive adoption agency. This gothic anti–fairy tale showcases unwavering strength in the face of unimaginable evil. Beautiful black-and-white cinematography and a mesmerizing score accentuate von Horn’s bleak story about one person's isolated search for humanity and compassion in an unforgiving world. Though difficult to watch, Denmark’s 97th Academy Awards submission for Best International Feature Film is one of last year’s finest.
Director: Magnus von Horn
Writers: Magnus von Horn, Line Langebek
Cinematographer: Michał Dymek
Editor: Agnieszka Glinska
Cast: Vic Carmen Sonne, Trine Dyrholm, Besir Zeciri, Joachim Fjelstrup, Tessa Hoder, Avo Knox Martin
Where to Stream: MUBI
Nickel Boys (2024)
What else is there to say about RaMell Ross’s groundbreaking American drama that hasn’t already been discussed? Told from a first-person perspective, Nickel Boys follows two Black boys unjustly sent to a brutal reform school in 1962 Jim Crow–era Florida, based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson give standout performances as two young, naïve men from different backgrounds, forced to survive among inhumane monsters. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor turns in another exceptional performance as a grandmother determined to set things right. Some may find Ross’s radical approach unsettling; however, it transforms the camera into the ultimate empathy machine, immersing viewers in a promising, yet tragic, life. Nickel Boys isn’t just one of the best films of 2024; it’s easily a top contender for the best of the decade.
Director: RaMell Ross
Writers: RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes
Cinematographer: Jomo Fray
Editor: Nicholas Monsour
Cast: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, Jimmie Fails, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Where to Stream: MGM+
Emma Mae (a.k.a. Black Sister’s Revenge) (1976)
Occasionally, you stumble upon an unexpected hidden gem that thrills, captivates, and enlightens. Filmmaker Jamaa Fanaka’s 1976 American melodrama, also titled Black Sister’s Revenge, is one such film. A trusting Mississippi girl moves to Compton, meets a nefarious boy who’s arrested, and becomes involved in trying to help him break free. Fanaka, a UCLA film school student and key member of the L.A. Rebellion, created this Master’s thesis film, which is both potent and unpredictable. His reflections on violence and women mirror the tumultuous period following the Watts riots and the Khmer Rouge’s takeover of Cambodia. To categorize Fanaka’s film as blaxploitation ignores its kitchen-sink realism, which depicts the multifaceted struggles of Black life, a depth and grit Hollywood only afforded white characters at the time. Emma Mae is a fantastic and valuable addition to the Black cinema canon.
Director: Jamaa Fanaka
Writer: Jamaa Fanaka
Cinematographer: Stephen Posey
Editor: Robert A. Fitzgerald
Cast: Jerri Hayes, Ernest Williams II, Charles David Brooks III, Leopoldo Mandeville, Malik Carter, Eddie Allen, Gammy Burdett, Teri Taylor, Synthia Saint James, Eddy C. Dyer, Laetitia Burdett, Robert Slaughter
Where to Stream: YouTube
Dandelion (2024)
Nicole Riegel’s contemporary American drama Dandelion offers a fresh take on music-infused romance. In Riegel’s stirring film, Dandelion (Kiki Layne), a struggling singer-songwriter, takes a last-chance gig in South Dakota, where she meets Casey (Thomas Doherty), a charming and magnetic guitarist. Doomed from the start, these two kindred spirits begin a synergistic collaboration and whirlwind affair. Riegel artfully chronicles the couple’s seductive love story as it progresses from infatuation to fleeting passion, and finally to volatility. Layne and Doherty’s palpable chemistry bolsters Riegel’s touching indie character study, giving it considerable emotional weight. A sentimental and honest look at women artists on the verge of success, Dandelion reveals the sobering realities of their path to stardom.
Director: Nicole Riegel
Writer: Nicole Riegel
Cinematographer: Lauren Guiteras
Editor: Milena Z. Petrovic
Cast: KiKi Layne, Thomas Doherty, Melanie Nicholls-King, Brady Stablein, Jack Stablein, Grace Kaiser
Where to Stream: Hulu, AMC+
All films are available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms.
What’s at the top of your watchlist? Drop your must-see picks in the comments!