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The best of Netflix's original films
Netflix

The best of Netflix's original films

We've all spent hours scrolling through Netflix looking for something to watch, and sometimes it can feel like you're hacking your way through a dense, overgrown jungle with no end in sight. Who knew there were so many terrible action movies? But there are also lots of great movies, many of them produced by the streaming service themselves. This list will give you a map on how to navigate that jungle — how to weed out the weeds and find luminous original titles on the platform.

 
1 of 25

Roma (2018)

Roma (2018)
Netflix

This magnificent, jaw-dropping movie is proof that streaming services can make content just as good as Hollywood studios. With Alfonso Cuaron at the helm, audiences were swept away by a childhood reminiscence about his nanny in Mexico City. In every scene, you get the feeling that you are watching something truly special, something that cannot be described in words.

 
2 of 25

Marriage Story (2019)

Marriage Story (2019)
Netflix

Get out those tissues! It's time for the most depressing movie on our list. When Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson get a divorce, you are hit with a barrage of emotional gut punches that never seem to let up.

 
3 of 25

The Irishman (2019)

The Irishman (2019)
Netflix

Artificial de-aging is usually not a good idea — just look up "plastic surgeries gone wrong" — but Martin Scorsese mostly makes it work, thanks to his incredible storytelling. He's right at home in this story of mobsters, which feels like his send-off to a genre that he helped create.

 
4 of 25

The Power of the Dog (2021)

The Power of the Dog (2021)
Netflix

A Western without shootouts? Saloons? Or heroes? Jane Campion made a Western unlike any other, following an abusive brother, a failing marriage, a twisted son and a lot of gay subtext. It's a journey worth saddling up for.

 
5 of 25

The Two Popes (2019)

The Two Popes (2019)
Netflix

One of the most fun movies of the decade is about... two popes? Somehow, this religious film turns out to be a really great time. Thanks to Anthony Hopkins' and Jonathan Pryce's performances, this dramedy is blessed with a warmth you don't often see in the genre.

 
6 of 25

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Netflix

Will Ferrell dresses up in wacky costumes and sings funny music. What more do you want from a comedy about singing contests?

 
7 of 25

Private Life (2018)

Private Life (2018)
Netflix

This is one of those gems that might not exist if it weren't for a studio like Netflix. Seriously, how many adult dramas do you see about everyday people going through realistic situations? When Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn decide to have a child, there's an authenticity, emotion and warmth that is not common in today's cinema.

 
8 of 25

Hustle (2022)

Hustle (2022)
Netflix

Remember when Adam Sandler went all serious in Uncut Gems? He did it again in Hustle, a story about an NBA scout who tries to find the next great hoops prospect. The tone is a lot more serious than Happy Gilmore, but Sandler is just as good when he needs to be dramatic.

 
9 of 25

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

My Octopus Teacher (2020)
Netflix

Meet one of the most tender, colorful characters on the streaming service: an octopus. The young cephalopod comes out of her shell to make friends with a human diver. It's a treat to spend time with her, to share her waters and watch her grow.

 
10 of 25

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
Netflix

Another documentary from Netflix. This one follows a summer camp for people with disabilities, many of whom went onto to become advocates for disability rights. It's a feel-good doc that made me cry multiple times, which is to say nothing of the humor that keeps things light.

 
11 of 25

Mank (2020)

Mank (2020)
Netflix

If you don't know what "Rosebud" is, don't even bother riding this sleigh down memory lane. There's no point in diving into the making of Citizen Kane if you haven't already seen it. Those who have will find lots to like in this artsy biopic from David Fincher.

 
12 of 25

Klaus (2019)

Klaus (2019)
Netflix

Klaus may not be the most well-known movie on Netflix, but those who discover it will feel like a kid on Christmas. A Santa Claus origin story, it's an animated adventure that people of all ages can enjoy. 

 
13 of 25

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Netflix

Oh, Charlie Kaufman. The man's brain must be like a washing machine filled with ideas instead of clothes, where weird thoughts bounce around until all that's left is a clean, jumbled mess. He's the man behind Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, as well as this Netflix original about a woman who's debating leaving her man. To say that things get bizarre would be an understatement.

 
14 of 25

Tick, Tick Boom (2021)

Tick, Tick Boom (2021)
Netflix

Jonathan Larson wasn't always known as the man who created Rent. At one point, he was an artist struggling to pay the rent, which is where Lin-Manuel Miranda's biopic picks up. Where it goes is a mix of musical numbers, artistic musings, magnificent set-pieces and show-stopping moments for Andrew Garfield.

 
15 of 25

Glass Onion (2022)

Glass Onion (2022)
Netflix

The whodunit is alive more than ever, thanks in large part to this entertaining mystery (the sequel to the 2019 hit Knives Outthat sees a billionaire invite his friends to a private island for a game of "Clue" that turns into an actual murder mystery. The cast is insane, which is to say nothing of the way director Rian Johnson milks the scenery for escapism. He makes this a place you want to visit, even if you wouldn't hang out with these characters in real life. 

 
16 of 25

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
Netflix

I never thought I'd say this, but Adam Sandler might be just as good as Dustin Hoffman in a movie. Not that it's a contest, since Sandler and Hoffman are both fantastic in this drama about a family dealing with their father's legacy. But Sandler is right there with Hoffman, adding an indelible layer of emotion to this already emotional film.  

 
17 of 25

13th (2016)

13th (2016)
Netflix

Speaking of emotional, this documentary is made almost entirely out of emotions. Following the cycle of incarceration in America, Ava DuVernay tracks the history of racism in our country dating back to slavery. It's not an easy watch, but that's kind of the point.

 
18 of 25

Atlantics (2019)

Atlantics (2019)
Netflix

You've never seen a movie quite like Atlanics. Even fans of African classics like Touki Bouki will have a hard time comparing this to anything else. It exists on a wavelength all its own, thanks to its mix of immigrant drama, ghost story, romance and surrealism. This tale of people disappearing in Africa is a genuine original.

 
19 of 25

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
Netflix

Not gonna lie, this movie is nowhere near groundbreaking. British dramas about World War II aren't exactly novel, even if they are centered on books. But it is well-acted and directed, ad its cozy vibe is worth the watch.

 
20 of 25

The Lost Daughter (2021)

The Lost Daughter (2021)
Netflix

Like an orange that reveals juicy secrets once it's peeled, Olivia Colman's character hides her tender insides with an outer shell. She lost her daughter decades ago and returns to the beach where it happened. It's not the smartest move in my opinion, but it does make for some fine drama.

 
21 of 25

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Netflix

Netflix is trying to keep the rom-com alive with titles like Always Be My Maybe, to mixed results. They don't always work, but when they do, audiences get a reminder of why they fell in love with the genre. With the story of childhood sweethearts reuniting, this is one of their most watched efforts.

 
22 of 25

Bird Box (2018)

Bird Box (2018)
Netflix

Remember when everyone was talking about Bird Box? It feels so long ago... Anyway, here's a reminder that Bird Box is still on Netflix.

 
23 of 25

Army of the Dead (2021)

Army of the Dead (2021)
Netflix

Zack Snyder is one of the most talked-about, polarizing directors thanks to his superhero movies, but honestly, his zombie movies are a lot better. Case in point: Army of the Dead. A fun genre flick about mercenaries hired to pull off a casino heist during the apocalypse, Dead combines different elements to create a blockbuster that has actual life. 

 
24 of 25

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Netflix

No, not the original. We're talking about the less-effective, yet incredibly tense remake that was a surprise hit for Netflix. Winning multiple Oscars, this war movie was seen by millions of people, a rare foreign-language worldwide hit.

 
25 of 25

The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
Netflix

Netflix saved this movie when Sony decided not to release it due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and thank goodness they did. The Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of the funniest, smartest, most colorful, whimsical, playful, lyrical and emotional films of the past decade. The family road trip is fun on its own, with the robot takeover being an extra dose of hilarity. It's a truly great film.

Asher Luberto is a film critic and entertainment writer for L.A. Weekly and The Village Voice. His writing has appeared in NBC, FOX, MSN, Yahoo, Purewow, The Playlist, The Wrap and Los Angeles Review of Books.

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