Underrated Movies Starring Actors From The 'Twilight' Franchise

Can't Hardly Wait is one of the best teen comedies of the ‘90s, although it doesn’t have the same esteemed reputation as Clueless or 10 Things I Hate About You. It takes place at a big high school party. Preston (Ethan Embry) is an artistic kid who hopes to confess his feelings to crush Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Elsewhere, bulling victim William (Charlie Korsmo) looks to get revenge against Mike Dexter, the egotistic jock who has tormented him for years. Peter Facinelli, the actor who portrays Carlisle Cullen in Twilight, takes on that role.

Several other subplots are woven in with those two. In each of them, Can't Hardly Wait tosses out shrewd, often hilarious observations about adolescent life and high school strife. The movie also boasts a cast of actors who went on to become stars, including Jason Segel, Lauren Ambrose, Seth Green, and Donald Faison. As Mike, Facinelli gets some of the biggest laughs. He makes the character a real meathead. You knew guys just like him in high school. It's a nicely observed turn, especially when Mike shockingly ends up showing some recognition of the hurt he's caused William. 

The Lost City of Z is based on the true story of British explorer Percival Fawcett, played by Charlie Hunnam. He believes a hidden city resides somewhere within the jungles of the Amazon and, further, it may have been home to an advanced civilization. Fawcett goes in search of that city, only to vanish, never to be heard from again. Robert Pattinson co-stars as Corporal Henry Costin, an expert on the rain forest who assists him in the quest.

Despite starring Hunnam, Pattinson, and MCU star Tom Holland, who portrays Fawcett's son Jack, The Lost City of Z didn't make much noise during its theatrical release. The distributor kept it in a relatively low number of theaters, preventing its ability to break out. Nevertheless, director James Gray generates a lot of suspense from the idea that the story's subject disappeared during his voyage. He captures the hardships faced by Fawcett along the way, so that the viewer feels the weight of what's at stake. All three main actors give strong performances, with Pattinson disappearing into character behind a mustache and beard. You forget you're watching him and just see Henry Costin. 

Ouija: Origin of Evil has no right to be as good as it is. First, it's based on a rather stupid toy. Second, it's the prequel to a very bad movie, simply called Ouija. Somehow, though, director Mike Flanagan made a terrific old-school fright flick that delivers both chills and substance. Elizabeth Reaser, who plays Esme in Twilight, is Alice, a widow with two young daughters. She runs a séance scam, convincing people she can communicate with their decreased loved ones. The girls help out. When one of them, Doris (Lulu Wilson), brings home a Ouija board and uses it to contact her late father, a demonic spirit comes through and possesses her.

What sets Ouija: Origin of Evil apart is that it uses its supernatural tale to explore the theme of grief. Doris really thinks she's helping her family by trying to contact her father. The demon takes advantage of that naivety. Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, Flanagan creates a mood that causes the viewer to pay rapt attention. In doing that, the scare scenes have way more impact. You aren't just jumping because there was a spontaneous loud noise on the soundtrack, but because the events have meaning. Reaser does a very good job portraying the mother who tries to hold everything together for her children while falling apart inside. 

Adventureland is set in 1987, and it follows the exploits of young people working at an amusement park. That may sound like the recipe for a good, old-fashioned raunchy comedy, but the movie is actually a poignant coming-of-age tale. Jesse Eisenberg plays James, a recent college grad forced to work at the park when his parents can't afford to send him on a long-awaited trip to Europe. Stewart is Emily, the coworker he falls in love with over the course of the summer. She's got more maturity than a lot of the folks employed at the park, but she's having an affair with a married man, played by Ryan Reynolds.

Although it's often funny, Adventureland has more heart than you might expect. It deals with a variety of themes that young people can relate to, from feeling aimless after college, to relationship issues, to the importance of learning responsibility on a job. The chemistry between Eisenberg and Stewart is excellent, with the two creating an authentic bond for their characters. The movie stalled out at $16 million domestically, possibly because the R rating made it less accessible to the audience it was aimed at. This is, however, a smart, charming story about the pains of transitioning into young adulthood that viewers from teenage years on up can appreciate. 

It's impossible to think of Edward Cullen while watching Good Time because Robert Pattinson transitions himself fully into a character who doesn't even remotely resemble the sparkly vampire. Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie of Uncut Gems fame, this electrifying thriller casts Pattinson as Connie Nikas, a bank robber whose intellectually disabled younger brother lands in jail after a heist goes terribly wrong. Connie is determined to bail his sibling out, but coming up with the cash proves difficult. To say much more would be to spoil some of the fun, but the character goes through a lot of anguish - and faces more than a little danger - in his efforts.

Good Time is a crime movie that moves like a rocket. You never have time to catch your breath because something is always happening. That relentless pace is matched by its visual style, which palpably creates the underworld Connie traverses through. In the lead role, Pattinson does outstanding work, making his character a desperate, paranoid mess. The actor shows how Connie's decision making becomes worse the more grave the situation becomes. He helps ensure that this stunning film holds you in its grasp for 101 minutes. 

Apostle has an irresistible premise. Set in the early 1900s, the film stars Dan Stevens as Thomas Richardson, a former missionary who returns home and discovers that his sister has been kidnapped by a religious cult. They're hiding her on a remote island and demanding ransom, so he makes his way there in an effort to save her. To do that, he must first infiltrate the group. What he discovers in the process is shocking. Michael Sheen plays Prophet Malcolm, the mercurial figure at the center.

Sheen, who previously played the villainous Aro in The Twilight Saga, is nothing less than terrifying as the cult leader. He captures that mix of malice and charisma that such people always have in real life. As Apostle goes on, the stakes for Thomas grow higher, and the perils he faces become more chilling. The finale gets quite violent, although that bloodshed is certainly earned because the plot sets everything up so well. Stevens does superb work as Thomas, making the audience feel the horror he experiences through this intense ordeal. Watching him square off against Sheen provides captivating drama.