{"id":13083,"date":"2023-05-01T10:08:10","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T10:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/?p=13083"},"modified":"2023-05-01T10:08:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T10:08:10","slug":"best-netflix-movies-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/?p=13083","title":{"rendered":"The 30 absolute best Netflix original movies ever"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are two things Netflix has done especially well in building up its ever-growing catalog of original movies over the past eight years, and that\u2019s working with some of the most talented art house and indie filmmakers in the business, and also giving a platform to budding newcomers. That definitely isn\u2019t to say all Netflix originals are wins \u2014 if anything, it takes meticulous scrubbing through the streamer to find the gems among the excess of straight-up bad, formulaic movies the studio continues to churn out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those gems include thought-provoking work from master filmmakers Jane Campion and Charlie Kaufman, dynamic horror films surging with sharp social commentary, small emotional indies, a delightfully sweet rom-com, powerful must-see documentaries, and more. We can only hope Netflix continues to greenlight more films like the ones below. If not, at least we\u2019ll have these.<\/p>\n

Here are the 30 best Netflix original films now streaming. <\/p>\n

1. The Power of the Dog <\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil in \"The Power of the Dog\" looks off into the distance.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Witness the undoing of toxic masculinity, with incredible acting from Benedict Cumberbatch.<\/span>
\n Credit: Kirsty Griffin \/ Netflix \u00a9 2021<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Benedict Cumberbatch\u2019s Phil Burbank is every classic masculine trope you can imagine, especially in the Western genre. A hardened cowboy who shows little emotion, Phil terrorizes his brother\u2019s (Jesse Plemons) new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst), mocks her son Peter\u2019s (Kodi Smit-McPhee) sweet tenderness, and relishes in being the dirty, tough son of his wealthy, elite rancher family. But throughout The Power of the Dog<\/em><\/a>,<\/a> a slow-burn psycho-drama from New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion, something begins to crack open in Phil, revealing what lies beneath that toxic masculine facade.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that you won\u2019t find a more masterfully made original film on Netflix than Campion\u2019s latest, and most notably, it\u2019s also the film that won her a long-overdue Best Directing Oscar. A movie about repressed sexuality and the undoing of a masculine psyche, told so rarely from a female perspective, it also features both Cumberbatch and Dunst\u2019s best work to date, and an all-timer score from Jonny Greenwood. \u2014 Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> The Power of the Dog<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

2. I\u2019m Thinking of Ending Things<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

A young woman (Jessie Buckley) is on a road trip with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents for dinner. She keeps getting a strange phone call from an unknown man. Jake\u2019s parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) somehow grow younger, then older. Their dog won\u2019t stop shaking. Everything they say about Jake changes, contradicting and folding in on itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a constant, almost suffocating air of dread and confusion blanketing Charlie Kaufman\u2019s latest surreal mind-bender, I’m Thinking of Ending Things<\/em><\/a>.<\/a> Nothing is reliable, not even reality itself, whatever that is. But if you can manage to let go of explanation and go along for a very Kaufman-esque ride (one on a similar psychological wavelength as his Synecdoche, New York<\/em>), you\u2019ll be in for one of the most riveting and perplexing cinematic treats in recent years. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> I\u2019m Thinking of Ending Things<\/u><\/a><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/p>\n

3. Disclosure<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Laverne Cox speaks to the camera in \"Disclosure.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Laverne Cox discusses how transness has been represented on screen in this beautiful and devastating work.<\/span>
\n Credit: Ava Benjamin Shorr \/ Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

One can\u2019t stress enough the significance of Sam Feder\u2019s 2020 documentary, a film that, for the first time ever, reflects on the long history of how transgender people have been depicted in Hollywood. Disclosure<\/em> digs deep into cinema\u2019s archives to show the earliest images of transness in the silent era; the villainous and monstrous stereotypes trans people have been painted as in everything from Dressed To Kill<\/em> to Ace Ventura<\/em>; the racism entangled with transphobia; and the near omission of transmasculine characters in American film.<\/p>\n

Analyzed by an all-trans talking heads cast of actors, filmmakers, and historians (and also notably made by an all-trans crew), these figures not only highlight the painful and inaccurate ways transness has been represented on screen, but further contextualize how those narratives have directly informed how society views and treats the trans community in the real world. It\u2019s a beautiful and devastating work of nonfiction filmmaking that, in many ways, can be a healing experience for trans audiences to watch, and is even more brutally necessary for cis audiences to watch and educate themselves with. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Disclosure <\/u><\/em>is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

4. I Don\u2019t Feel at Home in This World Anymore<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The title pretty much sums up the angst at the core of Macon Blair\u2019s directorial debut \u2014 to wander through life with an ever-growing agitation and a stewing existential depression over the disappointing world around you. In I Don\u2019t Feel at Home in This World Anymore<\/em>, Melanie Lynskey is a nursing assistant named Ruth who goes on a wild goose chase after her laptop and family silverware gets stolen. But it\u2019s not so much the belongings she wants back. She just wants people to stop being such assholes all the time.<\/p>\n

A twisted mix of absurdist comedy and startling violence, I Don\u2019t Feel at Home<\/em> remains one of the best undersung Netflix original gems. It\u2019s a special film partly for Lynskey\u2019s ferocious give-no-fucks performance as Ruth; partly for Elijah Wood\u2019s oddball neighbor who becomes her partner in crime; and also for Blair\u2019s knack at evoking a relatable, festering melancholy through humor and danger. Fans of Jeremy Saulnier\u2019s films (Green Room, Blue Ruin<\/em>), which Blair also acted in, will find much to enjoy here. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> I Don\u2019t Feel at Home in This World Anymore<\/u><\/a><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/p>\n

5. His House<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Trauma has long been used as a metaphor in the horror genre \u2014 to a laughable degree<\/u><\/a> of late \u2014 but few films have so acutely explored the way the unresolved terrors of our past haunt us as His House <\/em>does. Filmmaker Remi Weekes\u2019 feature debut finds Sudanese refugees Rial and Bol (Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu in equally fantastic performances) arriving in London to a run-down house with peeling wallpaper and stained ceilings. While this new home might be an improvement from their life back in war-torn South Sudan, painful remnants of their past begin to, quite literally, seep from the walls.<\/p>\n

His House<\/em> is both one of the spookiest and most emotionally poignant horror films in recent years. Weekes\u2019 visuals are enough to make even horror buffs wince, from freakish jump scares to witchy beings lurking in the shadows. Yet what makes His House<\/em> stand out from other films of its ilk is how it powerfully evokes that the most terrifying ghosts are the ones living within us that we\u2019ve yet to face. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>His House<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

6. Private Life<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti talk to Kayli Carter in \"Private Life.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti explore the boundaries between public and private.<\/span>
\n Credit: Jojo Whilden \/ Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Both Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) and Richard (Paul Giamatti), an artsy New York couple in their 40s, keep desperately trying and failing to have a child. When their niece Sadie (Kayli Carter) comes to stay with them, the possibility arises that Sadie could be their egg donor, setting the trio down a messy path of anxious hope.<\/p>\n

Tamara Jenkins\u2019 Private Life<\/em> is a film about the brutal trials of a middle-aged couple trying to have a baby, but it\u2019s also one that crackles with levity and humor. It finds the comedy in having an incredibly intimate argument in the middle of a Manhattan street, or the way your niece drags your professional failures to honor the plight of the struggling artist to her college friends. It\u2019s a reminder that even the most serious material is often best approached with empathy and a good laugh. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Private Life<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

7. The Forty-Year-Old Version<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Radha Blank rides a bus and sips a drink from a straw in \"The Forty-Year-Old Version.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Give us more Radha Blank.<\/span>
\n Credit: Jeong Park \/ Netflix \u00a9 2020<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Forty-Year-Old Version <\/em>isn\u2019t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who\u2019s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank\u2019s autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.<\/p>\n

A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays \u2014 only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version <\/em>may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it\u2019s a shame we\u2019ve yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>The Forty-Year-Old Version<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

8. Cam<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

We first meet camgirl Alice (Madeline Brewer) during one of her live shows where, after dancing sensually and chatting with her followers, she pulls off a stunt to boost her ranking: committing a fake suicide live on camera. It works, and skyrockets her up the Top 50. But soon Alice discovers she\u2019s been locked out of her account and a new camgirl is raking in the viral views. Most disturbing: that girl looks and acts exactly like Alice.<\/p>\n

The film from director Daniel Goldhaber and co-writer Isa Mazzei (herself a former camgirl), is a fascinating exploration of identity, sexual desire, and the uncontrollable ways our online personas can manifest in the age of digital culture. This feminist and pro-sex work tale, told through the lens of psychological horror, is as as thrilling as it is reluctant to provide easy answers.\u00a0\u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch<\/strong>: Cam <\/u><\/em>is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

9. The Meyerowitz Stories<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Grace Van Patten and Adam Sandler sit next to each other playing the piano in \"The Meyerowitz Stories.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n The man can act.<\/span>
\n Credit: Atsushi Nishijima<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

When people praise Adam Sandler\u2019s dramatic acting abilities, they often cite Punch Drunk Love<\/em> and Uncut Gems<\/em>, and rightfully so. But might I add The Meyerowitz Stories<\/em> to that mix, particularly the moment when Danny, the unemployed single father played by Sandler, screams his head off at another driver who steals his New York City parking spot. It\u2019s a small, passing moment in a story about a dysfunctional family, but one that at once captures the actor\u2019s duality: an unrestrained humor so intrinsic to early Sandler as well as a deep pain wallowing beneath Danny\u2019s surface. It also perfectly speaks to the mix of bursting comedy and repressed family suffering at the center of Noah Baumbach\u2019s film.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The dramedy follows three adult siblings, Danny, Jean (an excellent Elizabeth Marvel), and Matthew (Ben Stiller), and their relationship with their father, Dustin Hoffman\u2019s self-absorbed sculptor Harold. Explosive fights, tense arguments, and painful breakdowns emerge in Baumbach\u2019s look at a fractured family of artists that delicately balances dry humor with emotional revelations. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch<\/strong>: The Meyerowitz Stories <\/u><\/em>is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

10. The Hand of God<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino is most known for his 2013 Oscar-winning film The Great Beauty,<\/em> a rapturous ode to Rome and Fellini\u2019s La Dolce Vita<\/em>. <\/em>With The Hand of God<\/em>, Sorrentino tells a much more personal story about youth, grief, and the cities that shape who we become.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Based on his own life growing up in 1980s Naples, The Hand of God <\/em>follows the young Fabietto (Filippo Scotti) who experiences a profound family tragedy that shapes the rest of his life. Sorrentino charts Fabietto\u2019s grief and coming-of-age across seaside boat trips, an introduction to cinema (and real-life meeting with Fellini himself), early sexual encounters, and a love and devotion toward football icon Maradona. Sorrentino\u2019s latest is full of introspection and wonder, and it’s one of the filmmaker\u2019s most moving films to date. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch<\/strong>: The Hand of God<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

11. Strong Island <\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Strong Island <\/em>is not an easy watch, but like most true crime documentaries, it shouldn\u2019t be. Director Yance Ford\u2019s Oscar-nominated film chronicles the murder of his 24-year-old brother William by Mark Reilly, a white mechanic, and the ways the devastating event shaped his family\u2019s life in startling, intimate detail.<\/p>\n

Ford\u2019s approach to revisiting his brother\u2019s murder and the court case that followed mixes straight-to-camera style confessionals, family photographs, and diary readings. It\u2019s something poetic, but not the kind that uses flowery language to symbolize or romanticize pain. Ford offers a raw, gutting poetry that lays that pain bare for the viewer to feel themselves. The filmmaker shares his rage and heartbreak directly with you through the camera, condemning the police that dismissed his mother\u2019s questions, the all-white jury that acquitted Reilly, and this country\u2019s deep legacy of anti-Black violence and trauma. It\u2019s a stirring work that commands your full attention. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch<\/strong>: Strong Island<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

12. Set It Up<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell stand next to each other on a path in \"Set It Up.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n “Set It Up” isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s just a totally enjoyable rom-com ride.<\/span>
\n Credit: K C Bailey \/ Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

If there\u2019s a single Netflix rom-com I find myself recommending to friends the most, it\u2019s Set It Up.<\/em> On the surface, there\u2019s nothing particularly novel about the story \u2014 two assistants set their workaholic bosses up on a date, and in turn, plenty of romance and hijinks follow. But what makes Claire Scanlon\u2019s movie such a delight is that it isn’t trying to reinvent the formula; it just does it well.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a bouncy charm between Zoey Deutch\u2019s Harper and Glen Powell\u2019s Charlie, who together plot to get their bosses, Kirsten (Lucy Lui) and Rick (Taye Diggs), to fall in love \u2014 and thus allow each of them a life outside of work. Of course, as Harper and Charlie spend time getting their bosses together, the two begin to develop a connection themselves. Set It Up<\/em> is an ode to the many playful meet-cutes we\u2019ve watched unfold in rom-coms, and it\u2019s charming and sweet in all the ways you want a rom-com to be. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Set It Up<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

13. The Mitchells vs. the Machines<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

A forced family road trip, a robot apocalypse, global wi-fi suddenly going out, a pack of giant villainous Furbies… In some ways, The Mitchells vs. the Machines <\/em><\/a>is a horror movie. But this animated adventure comedy simply uses our relationship to technology, and our many growing anxieties around it, to tell a charming story about family.<\/p>\n

While the Mitchells are driving across the country to drop off the eldest, Katie (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), to film school, a Silicon Valley tech giant launches a new line of Alexa-esque robot assistants. Unfortunately, that pisses off the old version, a sentient assistant named PAL (voiced by a perfectly wicked Olivia Colman), who decides to take over the world with the current robots. Much entertaining and hilarious chaos ensues, from evil dishwashers to action-packed fights between Linda Mitchell (Maya Rudolph), her purse, and ultra-smart robots. The movie, from the producers behind The LEGO Movie<\/em>, is ripe with relatable cultural humor and goofy, animated action. \u2014 O.W.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>The Mitchells vs. the Machines<\/u><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

14. Beasts of No Nation<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Closeup of an adult man in military fatigues and a small child; still from \"Beasts of No Nation.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n The OG of Netflix originals.<\/span>
\n Credit: Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Netflix’s very first original film seemed like a reckless gamble, but debuted to strong reviews and eventual awards. Abraham Attah stars as Agu, a Ghanaian child forced to become a soldier and join a battalion led by the formidable Commandant (Idris Elba). The young soldiers suffer losses in battle as well as abuse from the Commandant, and Agu fears he has become a monster in a life that never let him choose. \u2014 Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Beasts of No Nation<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

15. 13th<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ava DuVernay’s chilling documentary<\/a> explores a sinister loophole in the U.S. Constitution’s 13th amendment, which abolished slavery except as a punishment for crimes. This clause laid the foundation for the country’s now-notorious and interminable problem of mass incarceration, a problem which has taken a toll on Black men more than any other demographic. \u2014 P.K.<\/em> <\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>13th<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

16. Icarus<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

A rare documentary with a big twist, Icarus<\/em> starts as filmmaker Bryan Fogel dipping his toes into sports doping and trying it out for himself for an amateur bike race. In his research, he stumbles upon an international doping conspiracy involving a bizarrely open and knowledgeable participant: Grigory Rodchenkov, head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory. Rodchenkov started as a simple source of information on performance enhancers but had a lot more to share, spurring this documentary in a new, infinitely more interesting direction thanks to his whistleblowing, resulting in a huge scandal, criminal investigations, and very legitimate threats to peoples\u2019 lives. \u2014 Kellen Beck, Entertainment Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Icarus<\/a><\/em> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

17. Okja<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n A young Korean girl nuzzling a gigantic pig; still from \"Okja.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Mija (Ahn Seo-Hyun) and Okja in Bong Joon-Ho’s surprisingly silly yet thought-provoking “Okja.”<\/span>
\n Credit: netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Before he won an Oscar<\/a> for suggesting we eat the rich, Bong Joon Ho’s most recent film was about a little girl and her genetically modified superpig, Okja. Ahn Seo-Hyun plays wide-eyed Mija, who cannot bear the separation when times come for Okja to be taken away and ostensibly killed for mass consumption. Mija flees to Seoul to rescue her best friend and expose the slimy Mirando Corporation which began the superpig program. Okja <\/em>boasts a wholesome and streamlined story, but Bong’s stamp is in the delectably weird performances from Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, and more \u2014 and in the fleeting Easter eggs<\/a> the director put in there just for fun. \u2014 P.K.<\/em> <\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Okja<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

18. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Netflix\u2019s rom-com revival kicked off in 2017, a year whose slate included this criminally charming movie based on the novel by Jenny Han. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is a hopeless romantic in the habit of writing letters to her most epic crushes \u2014 writing, not sending. When the letters leak, she starts pretending to date Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) to divert attention from her real crush on her sister\u2019s boyfriend. With a bouncy pop soundtrack and visual style that is the envy of your entire Instagram feed, To All the Boys<\/em><\/a> is the kind of movie you can return to again and again, a comfort watch as cozy as Lara Jean\u2019s baked goods. Will we ever tire of watching fictional characters fake love until it becomes real? If they\u2019re even half as adorable as these two, the answer is no. \u2014 P.K.<\/em> <\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

19. Roma<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Alfonso Cuar\u00f3n’s Oscar-winning drama follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a housekeeper working for a wealthy family in Mexico City. Thanks to Cuar\u00f3n’s writing, direction, and cinematography (each of which garnered its own respective Oscar), the film is remarkably immersive, enveloping us in Cleo’s world in a way most movies strive for and can never even touch. We feel the comfort in her mundane day-to-day, the sting of her boyfriend’s betrayal, and blinding panic and trauma in the film’s final act. It’s a stunning piece of cinema that should be talked about for decades to come. \u2014 P.K.<\/em> <\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Roma<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

20. Homecoming: A Film by Beyonc\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Beyonc\u00e9<\/p><\/div>\n
\n “Homecoming” goes behind the scenes of Beyonc\u00e9’s 2018 Coachella set.<\/span>
\n Credit: Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Homecoming<\/em><\/a> is a documentary film<\/a> that is mainly footage from Beyonc\u00e9’s two-night headlining gig at Coachella in 2018 (which was dubbed Beychella for her outstanding performance). On its face, the documentary is a reiteration of Beyonc\u00e9’s unparalleled talent uniquely set on a backdrop of the celebratory culture of sporting events and gatherings on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Homecoming<\/em> is also especially personal because it serves as a closer look into Beyonc\u00e9’s mindset as she nervously anticipated her return to the stage while living in a postpartum body that felt foreign to her. The entire film is triumphantly affecting and genuinely awesome.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The choreography, vocals, remixes of Beyonc\u00e9’s repertoire, costume changes, and special guest stars make Homecoming<\/em>, which is over two hours long, totally worth the viewing journey.* \u2014 Tricia Crimmins, Entertainment Fellow<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Homecoming: A Film by Beyonc\u00e9<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

21. Dolemite Is My Name<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore \u2014 also known as Dolemite \u2014 this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing. Dolemite Is My Name<\/em><\/a> is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many fictional comedies. Sensational, aspirational, and electric, you’ll love it.* \u2014 Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/em><\/strong>Dolemite Is My Name<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

22. Klaus<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Few modern Christmas films are as totally enchanting as director Sergio Pablos\u2019 Klaus. <\/em>Nominated for Best Animated Film at the 2020 Academy Awards, this Santa Claus origin story follows Jesper Johansson (Jason Schwartzman), a disappointing heir to a postal empire, as he takes up a new post in a remote village. Narratively touching and visually stunning, Klaus <\/em>captures Yuletide magic in a way that\u2019s fresh but still cozy. \u2014 A.F.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Klaus<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

23. Marriage Story<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n A man and woman at opposite ends of a New York City subway car; still from \"Marriage Story.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Insert joke about how it should be called “Divorce Story” here.<\/span>
\n Credit: Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Writer\/director Noah Baumbach’s Divorce Film<\/a> is many things: a strong drama about family, a sad tale of love lost, maybe even a tentatively hopeful piece about next chapters. Mostly, though, it’s just a damn great movie with two best-of-the-year performances in Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple going through an acrimonious split. The two \u2014 plus a stellar supporting cast that includes Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta \u2014 make you feel every emotional beat in the 137 minutes; every scream, sob and painful glance dives straight to your heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s not easy viewing, but it’s a genuinely moving experience that will have you thinking about the nature of love long after you wipe your eyes and finish the movie. \u2014 Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Marriage Story<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

24. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Crip Camp<\/u><\/em><\/a> is a vital documentary that tells the story of the generation of disability activists who first learned to organize while attending the now defunct Camp Jened. Camp Jened was a summer program for children and teens with a wide range of disabilities, and the documentary uses archival footage from the camp\u2019s heyday in the 1960s to show the impact its progressive and accessible space had on its campers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some of the same people shown as children in the camp footage went on to lead life-changing demonstrations that improved the social status of people with disabilities in the United States, but Crip Camp<\/em>\u2019s greatest strength as a film is in showing how early access to inclusive spaces gives marginalized community members the opportunity to dream of and create a better world.*<\/em> \u2014 Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Crip Camp<\/u><\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

25. Tigertail<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Alan Yang\u2019s feature film directorial debut tells the heartwarming story of Pin-Jui and Yuan, who met in Taiwan as children and young adults but eventually lose touch. In his later years, Pin-Jui finds himself distant from his daughter, their relationship strained by his reluctance to open up over the years. Flashbacks continue to reveal the tender love between Pin-Jui and Yuan until he abruptly marries someone else, and the grown Pin-Jui is compelled to find his old love and return to his roots.* \u2014 P.K.<\/em> <\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Tigertail<\/u><\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

26. Da 5 Bloods<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Five men standing in a clearing, one of them kneeling in the center holding a rifle; still from \"Da 5 Bloods.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n In “Da 5 Bloods,” four friends visit Vietnam to recover what they lost during the war.<\/span>
\n Credit: Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Spike Lee did what Spike Lee does in Da 5 Bloods<\/u><\/em><\/a>: He delivered a work of cinema that’s both timely and timeless, marked by stellar performances and a camera lens that tells a story even if you ignore the script.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The film follows four Black Vietnam vets as they return to the former war zone in search of their dead squad leader’s remains…and the millions in CIA gold they plundered and buried before their tour ended. Political differences between the men foster mistrust and complicate their journey, leading to a powerful finale that’s not-so-strangely resonant \u2014 this is<\/em>\u00a0Spike Lee \u2014 for our current moment in history.* \u2014 Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Da 5 Bloods<\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

27. The Old Guard<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/em> Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn’t particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested. Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Van Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.*<\/em> \u2014 A.F.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> The Old Guard<\/u><\/em><\/a> is now streaming on Netflix<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

28. Dick Johnson is Dead<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

That death comes for us all doesn\u2019t make it any easier to bear when it\u2019s coming for someone you love. But rather than turn away from this tragic reality, filmmaker Kirsten Johnson stares it right in the face. In Dick Johnson Is Dead<\/em> she kills off her own aging father over and over again, in a series of staged deaths ranging from the mundane (a trip down the stairs) to the shocking (a falling air conditioner). Sometimes she follows him to his funeral, and in other scenes all the way up to heaven. In between, she reflects on their bond, mourns his inevitable demise, and simply shows him for the sweet charmer he is. By turns absurd, hilarious, and utterly heart-wrenching, Dick Johnson Is Dead<\/em> dares to imagine the unimaginable \u2014 and in grappling with death, finds a way to celebrate life.\u00a0\u2014 Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:<\/strong> Dick Johnson is Dead <\/em><\/a>is now streaming on<\/a> <\/em><\/a>Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

29. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n Forest Whitaker and Hugh Bonneville look off camera in \"Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.\"<\/p><\/div>\n
\n When they’re this good, you really can watch Christmas movies any old time of year.<\/span>
\n Credit: Gareth Gatrell \/ Netflix<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Shut up and embrace the magic of Christmas with Jingle Jangle<\/em><\/a>, a delightful original musical about family, toys, and inheritable mechanical ingenuity. Forest Whitaker stars as Jeronicus Jangle, a formerly genius toymaker who thinks he\u2019s lost everything, but his daughter Jessica (literal Disney princess Anika Noni Rose) and granddaughter Journey (newcomer Madalen Mills) come back into his life to reignite the spark that makes their family special. Ricky Martin, Phylicia Rashad, and Keegan Michael Key also star in unforgettable roles that play together to make Jingle Jangle<\/em> an instant holiday classic. \u2014 A.N.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch: <\/strong>Jingle Jangle is now streaming on <\/em><\/a>Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

30. The\u00a0Fear Street<\/em>\u00a0trilogy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director Leigh Janiak pulls off a small movie miracle in her\u00a0Fear Street\u00a0<\/em>trilogy, delivering consistently fun and fright-filled sequels that just keep getting better. Start your journey off with\u00a0Fear Street Part One: 1994<\/em><\/a>, in which we meet the cursed teens of a town named Shadyside. For years, the suburban haven has been terrorized by mass murderers \u2014 all of them normal townspeople who seemingly “snapped” over nothing.<\/p>\n

Across\u00a0Fear Street Part Two: 1978<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fear Street Part Three: 1666<\/a> you’ll get to the bottom of the mystery behind these killings and their connection to the legendary Shadyside Witch. Based on the\u00a0Fear Street\u00a0<\/em>books by R.L. Stine, this is a punchy slasher with enough gore and goofs to fuel a straight-through binge. \u2014 A.F.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to watch:\u00a0<\/strong>Fear Street\u00a0<\/em><\/a>is now streaming on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

*denotes that this blurb has appeared on a Mashable previous list. <\/em><\/p>\n

\n UPDATE: Apr. 26, 2023, 1:27 p.m. EDT <\/strong>This story was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to reflect Netflix’s current selection. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are two things Netflix has done especially well in building up its ever-growing catalog of original movies over the past eight years, and that\u2019s working with some of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13084,"comment_status":"registered_only","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gustavopineda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/images-203.fill_.size_2000x1119.v1682626808.jpg?fit=2000%2C1119&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13083\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gustavopineda.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}