15 Underrated Films by Samuel L. Jackson You Must See

Samuel L. Jackson has built one of the most wide ranging careers in modern cinema, appearing in everything from intimate dramas to globe spanning adventures. Beyond the roles that made him a household name, he has a deep catalog of projects where he took on surprising characters and grounded them with specific detail and craft. These lesser talked about films reveal how consistently he brings definition to a story, whether he is the lead or part of an ensemble.

This list spotlights titles that show different corners of his filmography. You will find literary adaptations, international productions, character driven thrillers, and music centered stories. Each entry includes the essentials on the role he plays, the creative team behind the film, and the key elements that make the project stand out in his body of work.

‘Eve’s Bayou’ (1997)

Set in Louisiana, ‘Eve’s Bayou’ follows the Batiste family through a story told from a daughter’s perspective, with Jackson playing Louis Batiste, a respected doctor whose choices disrupt the household. The film explores Creole culture, memory, and family dynamics through a narrative that moves between observation and confession.

Kasi Lemmons wrote and directed the film and Jackson served as a producer. The cast includes Jurnee Smollett, Lynn Whitfield, and Debbi Morgan, and the production features location work that emphasizes bayou life and community rituals while using voiceover and nonlinear storytelling.

‘One Eight Seven’ (1997)

In ‘One Eight Seven’, Jackson portrays Trevor Garfield, a high school teacher who returns to the classroom after surviving a brutal attack and finds himself confronting violence and apathy inside a new school. The title references the California penal code for homicide and the film frames its classroom scenes around that stark reality.

The script was written by former educator Scott Yagemann and the film explores school policy, strained resources, and the mechanics of campus security. It places Jackson opposite students played by Clifton Collins Jr. and Method Man, and uses Los Angeles neighborhoods to underline the story’s focus on institutional stress.

‘The Caveman’s Valentine’ (2001)

Jackson stars as Romulus Ledbetter in ‘The Caveman’s Valentine’, a once celebrated pianist who lives in a New York park and battles mental illness while investigating a suspicious death. The character’s musical training and acute observational skills become crucial tools as he tracks clues through the city.

Kasi Lemmons directs this adaptation of the George Dawes Green novel and brings in composer Terence Blanchard to weave music into the narrative design. The film features cinematography that shifts with Romulus’s perception and includes strong supporting turns from Ann Magnuson and Colm Feore.

‘The 51st State’ (2001)

‘The 51st State’, also released as ‘Formula 51’, casts Jackson as Elmo McElroy, a chemist who travels to the United Kingdom to sell a synthetic drug formula. The plot moves through Liverpool and Manchester as rival outfits attempt to control the deal and McElroy uses careful planning to stay a step ahead.

Ronny Yu directs with a cast that includes Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, and Rhys Ifans. The film blends British crime elements with fish out of water comedy, features football terrace backdrops and nightclubs, and uses wardrobe choices, including kilts and bold coats, as running character markers.

‘Unthinkable’ (2010)

In ‘Unthinkable’, Jackson plays a government contractor known as H, brought in to interrogate a suspect who claims to have planted nuclear devices on American soil. The story confines much of its action to a secure facility where legal teams and military staff debate methods while the clock runs.

The film is directed by Gregor Jordan and co stars Michael Sheen and Carrie Anne Moss. It examines jurisdictional lines between agencies and shows how chain of command affects tactical decisions, and it became widely seen through home video and streaming releases after a limited theatrical rollout.

‘Cleaner’ (2007)

‘Cleaner’ follows Tom Cutler, a former police officer turned specialist who cleans crime scenes for hire, played by Jackson with an emphasis on routine and process. A high profile job draws him into a missing persons case and forces contact with his old department.

Renny Harlin directs from a script by Matthew Aldrich, whose later credits include ‘Coco’. The ensemble features Eva Mendes and Ed Harris, and the film uses procedural detail about contamination control, evidence preservation, and contractor workflows to drive the mystery forward.

‘Resurrecting the Champ’ (2007)

Jackson appears as a homeless man who may be a once renowned boxer in ‘Resurrecting the Champ’, which centers on a Denver sports reporter chasing a career making story. As the journalist investigates, questions of identity, authorship, and verification become the core of the narrative.

Rod Lurie directs and builds the film around a magazine article by J. R. Moehringer. Josh Hartnett co stars, with Alan Alda and Teri Hatcher in supporting roles, and the production focuses on newsroom practice, source reliability, and the ethics of correction and retraction when facts conflict.

‘Black Snake Moan’ (2006)

‘Black Snake Moan’ casts Jackson as Lazarus, a farmer and blues musician who takes in a young woman in crisis and attempts to guide her toward stability. Music functions as both character backstory and emotional release, with scenes that show rehearsal, performance, and lyric driven storytelling.

Craig Brewer writes and directs, and Jackson learned guitar parts and recorded vocals for the soundtrack. The film also stars Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake, and it foregrounds Southern gospel and blues traditions while examining community responses to trauma and recovery.

‘The Red Violin’ (1998)

Jackson plays Charles Morritz in ‘The Red Violin’, an appraiser who uncovers the history of a rare instrument coming to auction. The film traces the violin’s journey across continents and owners as Morritz pieces together how it survived and who should claim it.

Directed by François Girard, the production features a score by John Corigliano that received the Academy Award for Best Original Score. The narrative moves through Italy, Austria, England, China, and Canada, and integrates performance sequences with historical shifts in instrument making and preservation.

‘No Good Deed’ (2002)

In ‘No Good Deed’, also known as ‘The House on Turk Street’, Jackson plays detective Jack Friar, who stumbles into a robbery crew while searching for a missing person. Captured and held inside a suburban home, Friar navigates shifting alliances among the criminals.

The film is directed by Bob Rafelson and is based on a story by Dashiell Hammett. Milla Jovovich and Stellan Skarsgård co star, and the production focuses on close quarters staging, practical effects, and the mechanics of a planned heist that relies on timing and misdirection.

‘Meeting Evil’ (2012)

‘Meeting Evil’ pairs Jackson with Luke Wilson as a mysterious stranger named Richie leads a stressed family man on a violent road trip. The plot structures its tension around a series of stops where Richie pushes his companion into deeper trouble with the law.

Chris Fisher directs this adaptation of the Thomas Berger novel and keeps the action on highways, convenience stores, and rural backroads to sustain momentum. The film leans on dialogue between the two leads, using phone records, witness accounts, and police reports as core plot devices.

‘Reasonable Doubt’ (2014)

Jackson plays Clinton Davis in ‘Reasonable Doubt’, a man charged after a hit and run incident that entangles a young prosecutor. The case spirals as evidence appears to implicate multiple parties and the film examines how plea deals, lab reports, and surveillance footage influence outcomes.

Directed by Peter Howitt, the production stars Dominic Cooper with Gloria Reuben in a key supporting role. The film was shot in Canada to double for a Midwestern city and it puts grand jury procedure and prosecutorial discretion at the center of its legal strategy scenes.

‘Big Game’ (2014)

In ‘Big Game’, Jackson steps into the role of a United States president who ejects from Air Force One over a Scandinavian wilderness and teams up with a local teenager. The two move through forests and mountains while an extraction team and hostile forces converge on their position.

Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander directs, with Onni Tommila as the young hunter and a cast that includes Ray Stevenson, Jim Broadbent, and Victor Garber. The production blends English and Finnish dialogue, uses large scale location work, and stages practical stunts alongside digital effects.

‘The Banker’ (2020)

‘The Banker’ follows entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris as they build a real estate and banking portfolio by navigating discriminatory lending rules. Jackson plays Joe Morris, whose business acumen and public facing persona help the partners secure deals that would otherwise be blocked.

George Nolfi directs and the film stars Anthony Mackie as Bernard Garrett, with Nicholas Hoult and Nia Long in supporting roles. The production was released through Apple TV Plus and draws on documented case files and congressional testimony to outline the tactics the men used to expand access to credit.

‘Home of the Brave’ (2006)

‘Home of the Brave’ centers on soldiers who return from combat and face the realities of reintegration. Jackson portrays Dr. William Marsh, a physician and reservist who struggles with the transition from deployment to civilian life while treating patients in his hometown.

Directed by Irwin Winkler, the film features Jessica Biel, Brian Presley, and Curtis Jackson in major roles. The production addresses clinical treatment protocols for post traumatic stress injury, the role of peer support groups, and the impact of deployment on family systems.

Share your own picks for overlooked Samuel L. Jackson performances in the comments so everyone can compare watchlists.