Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (January 2021)

While Jon Favreau is mostly known for blockbuster entertainment these days (directing the likes of Iron Man and The Lion King), he returned to his indie roots for the 2014 passion project Chef. The personal film follows a chef who loses his cool while dealing with a troublesome critic. He has to find his passion for cooking again by getting into the food truck business. In addition to Favreau in the lead role, the film also stars Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, and Scarlett Johansson.

Inclusive Short Films on Netflix

Canvas (2020)

Canvas is one of the best short films you can find on Netflix. The nine-minute film follows a grandfather who has suffered a terrible loss, but he manages to discover the passion to paint once again. This emotional, lovely story is sure to pull at your heartstrings.

What Movies Are on Netflix This Month?

The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)

Radha is a New York-based playwright. She’s desperate for a breakthrough before she reaches the age of 40, so she decides to reinvent herself as a rapper. This comedy that explores aging and success stars Radha Blank and Peter Kim.

Based on the (still timely) true story of how a group of anti-Vietnam protestors were unjustly charged with inciting riots, this film has all the impressive dialogue one has come to expect out of an Aaron Sorkin film. It also boasts an outstanding cast consisting of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Mark Rylance among many others. Sacha Baron Cohen is perfectly cast as political activist Abbie Hoffman.

Indie Movies on Netflix

Yes, God, Yes (2020)

Alice is a sexually-inexperienced girl at Catholic school who can’t help but be curious. Her faith and temptations are put to the test when she goes on a weekend retreat with her classmates. This coming-of-age dramedy offers a unique perspective into growing up Catholic and features a stellar lead performance from Natalia Dyer, whom viewers may recognize from Stranger Things.

Movies to Watch on Netflix for Film Enthusiasts

Super Dark Times (2017)

Two teenage friends share what seems like an unbreakable bond, but an accident threatens to drive a wedge between what they have. This psychological thriller offers more than what it seems on the surface with performances from Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, and Elizabeth Cappuccino.  

Best Netflix Original Movies

To the Bone (2017)

20-year-old Ellen suffers from anorexia nervosa. She goes through a harrowing journey to overcome her illness in a tale that’s sometimes dark and sometimes humorous. This Netflix original stars Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves. 

Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (2020)

Mank (2020)

Mank is essential viewing for any cinephile. It follows the journey of Herman J. Mankiewicz as he writes Citizen Kane. But that story is intercut with scenes from Herman’s life where we get a glimpse into the societal and political structure of 1930s Hollywood through his eyes. The film features incredible performances from the likes of Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Charles Dance.

Funniest Movies to Wtach on Netflix

Easy A (2010)

Easy A is a classic teen comedy that helped launch Emma Stone’s career. Taking a cue from the novel The Scarlet Letter, a high schooler allows boys to lie about sleeping with her to boast both of their reputations. The cast also includes the likes of Stanley Tucci, Lisa Kudrow, and Thomas Haden Church. It also has Amanda Bynes’ last acting role as of this writing.  

Loving follows the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who want to marry. But in 1958 in Virginia, interracial marriage is outlawed, so they take their case to the Supreme Court to fully express their love. The thoughtful, understated film stars Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga as the couple with knockout performances.

Amazing Original Netflix Movies

His House (2020)

His House is an original horror film from Remi Weekes. It follows a refugee couple as they settle in their new house in a predominantly white English town. In addition to adjusting to this new life, they must also contend with an evil lurking in the abode. Starring Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and Matt Smith, this is one horror flick that gets under your skin and stays there.  

Netflix Original Short Films

If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)

Netflix seems to be investing more in incredible short films from talented filmmakers on the rise. One of its most recent, If Anything Happens I Love You, details parents struggling with the loss of their daughter, who was killed in a school shooting. It’s a film that hits close to home but instills a message of hope about moving on after tragedy.

Important Movies to Watch on Netflix

I Am Not Your Negro (2017)

I Am Not Your Negro is a visual essay based on James Baldwin’s influential book. The film chronicles various stories of racism concerning figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Samuel L. Jackson narrates this memoir.

Popular Movies on Netflix to View

Free State of Jones (2016)

Matthew McConaughey leads this film about a farmer who brings together a group of escaped slaves and Civil War deserters to lead a rebellion against the Confederacy. The film also stars Mahershala Ali, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Keri Russell. 

A duo of small-time singers finally get their big chance at stardom when they have an opportunity to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Hilarious hijinks ensue, but the songs are actually incredibly catchy, standing on their own as great tunes to listen to in your own time. This comedy stars Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, and Pierce Brosnan. 

Director John Singleton’s magnum opus sees Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) be sent to live with his father in South Central Los Angeles. As such, he comes of age in the neighborhood’s ever-increasing gang culture. The film’s been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, so future generations can enjoy the acting talents of Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and Nia Long.

Ryan Coogler, who’d go on to direct Black Panther, made his feature-length directorial debut with Fruitvale Station. It chronicles the true-life story of Oscar Grant III, played by Michael B Jordan, on the last day of his life before he was unjustly murdered by a BART police officer. The socially-relevant film won Best First Film at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

A single event connects four groups of people across three continents. The psychological drama, directed by Academy Award-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu, follows an American couple, a deaf Japanese teen, a Mexican nanny, and two young Moroccans as their lives are forever changed. The poignant film stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Gael García Bernal.

After you’ve binge-watched all of The Queen’s Gambit, you can dive further into the world of chess with this biographical film. It follows chess prodigy Bobby Fischer, starting when he’s a child discovering he has a proclivity for playing chess. His father hires a tutor to teach him how to play the game like a champion. The movie stars Max Pomeranc and Joe Mantegna. 

In this gory horror film, a father-and-son duo of coroners come across an unidentified corpse. As they study the body further, they discover it holds a horrifying secret. Watch this film with the lights on as you take in performances from Emile Hirsche and Brian Cox. 

A gamer finds himself trapped in his family’s flat when the zombie apocalypse breaks out around him. He forms a connection with a woman across the way, and the two work together to survive. The film stars Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-hye, and Lee Hyun-wook.

Best Netflix Original Movies Ever

Platoon (1986)

Oliver Stone made a career for himself directing politically-charged films, and that’s on full display with Platoon. The movie follows a volunteer in the U.S. Army who travels to Vietnam and becomes embroiled in an inner conflict over the morality of the war. Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Tom Berenger star in what’s arguably Stone’s best work. 

This touching love story follows a married woman who begins having a forbidden romance with a photographer. They must keep the affair hidden or risk having their lives changed forever. It’s one of the best films to come out in 2015 and features stunning performances from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. 

Blue Jay focuses on a story that may be all too familiar to some. It depicts two high school sweethearts who meet back up in their hometown and discover a bond is still there. Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass deliver fantastic performances in this warm, underrated film. 

Jessica is a struggling playwright still vying for her big break. On top of that, she’s dealing with a nasty breakup all while striking up an unlikely friendship with a divorced app designer. This quirky rom-com features a star-making performance from Jessica Williams as well as great turns from Chris O’Dowd and Lakeith Stanfield. 

In the mood for an erotic thriller? Then check out Swimming Pool, a film about a British crime novelist who goes away to a summer home to work on her next book. However, the arrival of her publisher’s daughter brings complications. Starring Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier, this film had to be edited extensively to avoid an NC-17 rating, so definitely don’t watch it with the kids. 

Popular Movies on Netflix for Filmmakers

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Best 2020 Netflix Originals

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Underrated Films on Netflix

The Hummingbird Project (2018)

Considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest follows a group of misfits trapped at an Oregon psychiatric hospital under the tyrannical rule of Nurse Ratched. With an award-winning cast consisting of Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Brad Dourif, the film is must-watch viewing for anyone who loves the Netflix original series Ratched.

This documentary follows several teenagers as they try to navigate the social hierarchy in the 21st century. The film highlights the way kids these days are bullied like never before, and it sometimes leads to tragic consequences. It stars a slew of children all playing themselves and being heartbreakingly honest in their portrayal of what it’s truly like to grow up these days.

A father figure and his stepson end up as part of a manhunt after venturing into the New Zealand bush. Taiki Waititi’s film stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as the primary duo in this understated comedy.

You know Sherlock Holmes, now see what his sister is capable of. Millie Bobby Brown plays the titular character who finds herself in a mischievous plot to locate her mother. Also starring Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter, the film was originally planned for a theatrical release but ended up on Netflix for all to see.

Popular Movies on Netflix Right Now

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in this absurdist comedy. Ferrell plays an IRS agent trapped in an author’s novel. The only problem is that she plans on killing him off.

Aardman Animations brings another delightful stop motion animated romp to your television screen. Featuring the voice acting talents of Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, and David Tennant, the film follows a sorry crew of amateur pirates doing everything they can to win the coveted Pirate of the Year award.

This docudrama follows the rise of social media. It shows the dark side of Facebook, Twitter, and other sites and how they’ve brought about an increase in conspiracy theories. You’ll learn how all these mega-companies are actually using your data, and you may not like the answer.

The Squid and the Whale follows a simple story of two kids dealing with their parents’ divorce. Starring Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, and Jesse Eisenberg, the film takes an unflinching look at what it’s like to grow up in such toxicity.

Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson star in the romantic film about a man with the ability to travel back in time to correct the mistakes of the past. Ultimately, the film’s about learning to love the life you have and the people you share it with.

Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass star in this captivating thriller. They play a married couple who have a surreal experience while on vacation, and the less that’s said about it before watching it the better.