Every Terrence Malick Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Knight of Cups is Malick's most underrated film, and due to its complex execution and daunting themes is probably best tackled once you've acquired a better understanding of how the director works. Dreamlike and lyrical, it's purposefully complicated but mostly wonderfully achieved.

A movie in eight chapters, the drama follows a listless screenwriter (Christian Bale) as he travels through L.A trying to find purpose in his life. Aided by a brilliant ensemble - including Natalie Portman, Cate Blancett, and Antonio Banderas - Bale and Malick offer serene and moving insight into one man's quest for belonging.

There are some big downsides to the movie, though, the most obvious of which are the way it fails to create any layered characters outside of the lead (despite the best efforts of the cast), and Malick's repetitive script and emotionally distant conclusion, but in the end the philosophical and dreamy tone keeps it afloat just enough.