Angelique JacksonĪlice Wu took 15 years to follow up her debut feature “Saving Face,” and while it was worth the wait, one hopes it won’t take that long to see the next from this unique talent. But what makes the writer-director-star’s movie distinct (in addition to its hip-hop heartbeat) is its perspective - turning the camera on the city’s Black and brown population and reminding the audience that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, as long as you believe in the power of your own voice.

Shot on film and in black and white, Radha Blank’s charmer was inspired by the films that’ve captured her hometown of New York. So if you’re seeking something a bit more eclectic than the usual “best of the year” lists, look no further than these under-the-radar gems. Given the state of distribution this year, most of these movies went straight to streaming - and all can be found there now. It’s a wide-ranging list with recommendations that run the gamut from Netflix comfort food (“The Half of It”) to a documentary that dares you to spend less time in front of your devices (“Screened Out”). That’s why the Variety team put their heads together to identify the movies that might have escaped your notice in 2020. But 2020 wasn’t like other years for reasons you’re probably tired of reading about, and while smaller movies generally have a harder time breaking through under normal circumstances, pretty much anything that wasn’t spelled T-E-N-E-T forward and backward failed to make much of a blip on the public consciousness. In most years, the film industry manages to stir up a fair amount of noise for its wares, buying billboards and Super Bowl spots, trotting out movie stars on talk shows and using glitzy red-carpet premieres to put the latest movies on audiences’ radar.

The Charmer by Riley Hart