9. Cinderella Man
This Ron Howard drama is, strangely, an overlooked gem spanning a couple of genres. It is a riveting sports picture and a personally affecting drama taking place during The Depression. Russell Crowe plays real-life boxer James Braddock, on top of the boxing world - and the financial world - the days leading up to the Market crash of 1929. When the bottom falls out, Braddock loses everything and must now fight to keep his family alive. All the while, Braddock is working on a comeback in the ring, and his inspirational story becomes a lightning rod for the country. The biggest mistake of Cinderella Man was being released in June of 2005 rather than the Holiday/Awards season. It may have found the audience it deserved on Christmas Day.