2016 has been a tremendous year of success for the film industry overall, creating many blockbuster milestones worldwide. However, there is a difference between financial success and pop-culture significance, and where films such as "Rogue One" and "Fantastic Beasts" are fresh on everyone's minds right now time will tell if they will be as well remembered a year from now. In fact, often some films well beloved by the film industry and audiences alike do not find their audience until home release or even years later. That being said, here are a handful of films released in 2016 you may have forgotten or even never heard of, but are well-worth your time.

"Swiss Army Man"

The would-be indie hit of the summer, Swiss Army Man is a film most have heard about, but very little actually went out to see. This oddball and charmingly freaky dark comedy starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe as a talking flatulent corpse proved to have a story with depth that is both surprisingly profound and even unsettling. As if Michel Gondry made a film with the team behind "Rick and Morty" the film is certainly for a nitch crowd, but if you find yourself within it, you should be in for a ride. For a more in-depth review, click here.

"Hunt for the Wilderpeople"

Expect to hear the name Taika Waititi a lot over the next few years, as this charming indie release has made him a major player in Hollywood. Following the misguided but sweet minded 15-year-old Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), after being forced back into the child services the boy fakes his own death resulting in a chase through the New Zealand wilderness with his disgruntled foster-father Uncle Hec (Sam Neill). Mixing brutal violence, dark humor, and quirkiness thoroughly Waititi takes after Wes Anderson in his approach to filmmaking, yet his voice is all his own and does not fall into imitation of Anderson like other filmmakers do. It's hilarious and exciting buddy film that is overpouring in heart, making it one of the most satisfying films this year.

"Kubo and the Two Strings"

Laika Studios has always been a game changer for stop-motion animation with films such as Coraline and Paranorman, yet their narratives have always felt a little mundane but with Kubo, the style meets the substance. A gorgeously crafted film not just in its jaw-dropping visuals but also in its soulful hero's journey folklore that is both nuanced and heartfelt. It's an animated film that is not afraid to deal with heavy themes such as mental health, the futility of memory, and death without sugar coating it, offering scenes of silent meditation and character interaction. It is perhaps not the big box-office powerhouse of this year's Disney and Illumination Efforts, but it still deserves recognition as one of the best-animated films this year, and one of the best films overall.

"The Edge of Seventeen"

It's been awhile since the silver-screen has seen a great true-to-life teen film to evoke John Hughes, but "The Edge of Seventeen" might just be the closest effort towards recapturing that magic. Following an appropriately neurotic Hailee Steinfeld, the film navigates the awkward high school years of a teenage girl from irrational insecurities and overreactions that may annoy some audiences, but speak volumes to others. It's main character both delights and tests the patience of the viewer, and yet, it feels authentic to dealing with an individual at that age with the film serving as a portrait for those who identify with its plights. It is also just a great showcase of Steinfeld's talent, reminding the public there was a reason she was nominated at the age of 13 for her role in the Coen's "True Grit."

There are plenty of other films not included on this list that are certainly worth your time. David Lowery's remakes "Pete's Dragon" is a solid family picture while Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special" is a divisive yet beautiful tribute to 80s sci-fi. Shane Black's "The Nice Guys" was criminally overlooked, and even Ducan Jones' "Warcraft" is worth a watch for those who admire the director or the video game series. Also, the long-awaited American release of Studio Ghibli's "Only Yesterday" is a must watch for any fan of the beloved animation studio.

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