Another big thumbs up for Something the Lord Made. Mos Def was outstanding.
Several good ones in this thread. I’ll add:
Cockneys vs Zombies. ZomRomCom just a slight step below Shaun of the Dead. Michelle Ryan was on Doctor Who for a spell.
The Naked Prey. Cornel Wilde is chased across the African landscape. Probably problematic in this day and age but well done for its time.
The Quiet Earth was a sci fi film produced in New Zealand in 1985 about a man called Zac Hobson who awakes one morning to discover that it appears he’s the only human left on earth. Bruno Lawrence gave a credible performance portraying the various psychological and emotional stages Zac undergoes as the realization sinks in that he’s alone on the planet, and ultimately how he begins to adapt.
Son of Rambow. Saw it at TIFF in 2008 and it was instantly a new favorite. It’s about a kid raised in a reclusive religious community in England in the early 80s who somehow winds up making a fan film recreation of First Blood. It’s beautiful. It’s by Hammer & Tongs, the directing team that went on to do the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie.
“Little known” only because it’s a Chinese film, but The Road Home was directed by Zhang Yimou, who IMO has never produced a bad movie, and stars Zhang Ziyi of Crouching Tiger fame. A slow-moving drama with a simple plot about a son returning his late father’s remains to his village, and the story of his parent’s meeting and courtship (that’s not really a spoiler; it’s a film more about a journey than a destination, so to speak).
The Last of Sheila – don’t know how well-known this is. Certainly several people on this Board know about it, and I’ve brought it up before. It’s my all-time favorite mystery, with a beautifully twisted plot. It’s also the illegitimate half-brother of Sleuth. Both feature a sadistic game=-loving games player who invites people over for intense mind games with possibly lethal consequences. Both are supposed to be based on Stephen Sondheim’s games-filled apartment and the labyrinthine games he and actor Anthony Perkins came up with for the amusement of friends. Sondheim and Perkins wrote the screenplay. The film stars James Coburn (as the games master), Dyan Cannon, Richard Benjamin, James Mason, Raquel Welch, Joan Hackett, and Ian McShane. There are mysteries within mysteries, and I seriously doubt that you’ll get the final solution.
The Favor, The Watch And The Very Big Fish-
Bob Hoskins plays a photographer who makes his living shooting Biblical scenes. Jeff Goldblum plays the man hired to be Christ- and who becomes convinced he is in fact Jesus.
See post 50. 
(and, you failed to mention Marc Anthony. Small part, but he’s good!)
Ju Duo is my favorite Zhang Yimou film. Saw it in the theater when it was released circa 1990.
I think To Live would be mine.
It has its charms. Kay Kyser’s music and comedy are not for everyone, however there’s lots to enjoy in this horror-comedy, and the production values are off the charts. Definitely something to “see”, literally.
The Last Of Sheila is excellent fun, and agreat mystery story, too. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet it’s not a wholly jokey film, either. Lots of tense, dark moments along the way, and an all-star cast for those who like good, gifted players; also plenty of eye candy on board. I love this “little” movie. In its way it’s as good as Sleuth. There’s a lot more action in it; and it’s not so “talky”. People move around a lot, and it’s beautiful to look at.
Before I read what’s already posted:
The Grey Fox
Kenny
Strangers In Good Company
Baghdad Cafe
I read the book before seeing the film, and, on first viewing, found the movie not quite as hilarious. I’ve seen it several times since, however, and as memories of the book fade, I find the movie more and more hilarious. I even like Johnny Knoxville in it.
I never read the book but really like the dry humor of the movie.
October Sky
Based on the autobiographical “Rocket Boys” by ex-NASA engineer Homer Hickam, It’s a wonderful story of some young boys growing up in a coal mining town where they’re expected to gradute high school and go to work in the mines, but they have ambitions to become something more. They decide to design and build their own rockets and try to earn scholarships to college, with pretty much everyone except their teacher opposed to the idea.
Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern. It’s touching and sincere.
Now that I’ve read the rest of the thread:
Lone Star (one of my Top 5 all time favorites) and Midnight Run would’ve made my list except I wouldn’t call either of them “little-known.” Picky, picky, picky. Great films though.
I love both of these! Also, thumbs up for Thnderheart, too. I love when Val Kilmer finds out what Washi means.
I liked this one a lot, too. Starts out cutesy, draws you in, and sucker punches you at the end.
I’d forgotten about this one. Good one to add. A friend recommended it to me, but I’ve never seen it mentioned before.
Note also that “October Sky” is an anagram of “Rocket Boys”