Best Netflix Original Movies

13th (2016)

A great deal of social upheaval has taken place over the last year. And if you’re interested in learning more about the root of that unrest, just watch 13th from director Ava DuVernay. The film explores mass incarceration in the United States and how it disproportionately impacts Black Americans. It all can be traced back to the passage of the 13th Amendment, which most people learn in high school abolished slavery but actually just altered the definition. The 13th Amendment still allows for slavery except for punishment of a crime. It’s eye-opening, shocking, and will make you want to protest for a better tomorrow.

Disclosure provides fascinating insight into the transgender experience in modern America. And a big part of that experience involves seeing (often not-so-flattering) portrayals in the media. Featuring interviews with filmmakers like Lilly Wachowski and Susan Stryker, as well as actors, musicians, and producers, Disclosure sheds knowledge everyone needs to know and understand.

On its surface, Spotlight shouldn’t be as engaging as it is. It’s largely devoid of conflict and instead follows the journalists as they gradually piece together pieces of the story concerning abuse in the Catholic church. In fact, many of the scenes that didn’t actually happen concern authority figures warning the journalists to stay away from this story (i.e. the scenes that add conflict). However, Spotlight appropriately shines a light on a story that needs to be remembered so that no one forgets the sins of the past.

Da 5 Bloods may be Spike Lee’s latest effort, but filmmakers who want to see where it all began need to check out She’s Gotta Have It. His first film is one of his most revolutionary, particularly for how it portrays its Black female lead as such a ferociously sexual being. With a budget of $175,000 and a production schedule of 12 shooting days, Lee revolutionized American independent cinema.

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Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Breaking the fourth wall is typically done for comedic effect. However, Fiddler on the Roof does it for a much different reason. During those moments, Tevye discusses important concepts to the Jewish community. It gives the audience time to reflect on the musical’s themes before we get back into another number.

Helen Mirren so perfectly encapsulated the essence of Queen Elizabeth that crew members actually began to sit up straight any time she walked past. Mirren’s performance is must-watch material for actors who want to hone their craft. Everything from Queen Elizabeth’s facial expression to her delivery is wonderfully recreated and shows just how much Mirren studied her subject so that she could fully embody this multi-dimensional character.

How do you adapt one of the most famous English works of all time? For screenwriter Deborah Moggach, it consisted of being fairly faithful to the source material. The structure and dialogue from the novel remains largely intact, but when you have one of the greatest romances ever written at your disposal, you don’t exactly need to reinvent the wheel.

It’s easy to think police brutality is a recent issue. However, this problem has existed for decades. We’re only just now more aware of it due to more people having cameras. But back in 1992, video footage of the LAPD assaulting Rodney King made waves and resulted in several nights of unrest on the streets of Los Angeles. But this documentary delves further into issues of unrest, also showing footage from the 1965 Watts Riots and the shooting of Latasha Harlins. Martin Luther King, Jr. said riots were the “language of the unheard,” and it’s time for people to finally sit up and listen.

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Taxi Driver (1976)

Netflix isn’t particularly known for having a ton of older, classic movies. That’s why when a masterpiece like Taxi Driver gets on the service, you should watch it immediately. Before Martin Scorsese was directing Netflix originals, he made the film that would go on to define the 1970s. The story of a disaffected taxi driver who descends further into insanity is still sadly prescient in today’s world, and there’s a lot for film students to dissect from this film from a technical standpoint.

Twister wasn’t a kind shoot for its actors. Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton were blinded by bright lights in one scene and required eye drops for several days. They also needed to get hepatitis shots after filming a scene in a ditch. A good portion of the crew actually left several weeks into filming. While the film turned out great, it’s still an important reminder for directors to keep their cast and crew safe during production. People will give it their all, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll want to work with you again.

There have been numerous Star Wars parodies over the years. But none quite reach the heights of Spaceballs. The reason for this can likely be attributed to the fact that it’s clear Spaceballs has a loving reverence for the original material, and it creates its own mythos. The jokes work whether or not you’ve seen Star Wars, but if you have, then you’ll appreciate this satirical work.

Salma Hayek had to fight vigorously to get Frida made. She even sought out the administrator to the rights of Frida Kahlo’s works to secure paintings for the film. You can see that passion in every scene Hayek is in, making this a biopic that stands apart from many in its class.

Many films have tried to imitate what Stand and Deliver was able to accomplish. The story of a teacher reaching inner-city kids is well-worn territory at this point, but this film proves how with stirring speeches and an exceptional lead performance, your film can inspire.

Atlantics is one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of 2019. It almost feels as if the film created its own genre: Just when you think you know where its plot is headed, it changes direction on you.

That misdirection—that sense of gradual discovery with new narrative development—isn’t frustrating. It’s rewarding.

The Wicker Man proved to be a different kind of horror film from what else came out in its era. It didn’t focus so much on gore and monsters and instead created a disturbing atmosphere focused on old religion. Its influence can be seen on future horror films like Midsommar, and any filmmaker who wants to learn more about atmosphere definitely needs to give this a watch.

Total Recall is based on the Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.” However, the film takes many liberties from the source material, becoming more “Hollywood” in the process. Fortunately, with Paul Verhoeven at the helm, the film manages to maintain a unique aesthetic and tone that makes it stand out from being just another generic sci-fi action film.

By the time The Princess and the Frog was released in 2009, much of the industry had already moved to 3D animation. However, Disney returned to the traditional 2D aesthetic to make way for the first Black Disney princess. It gives the film a more timeless aesthetic that makes you nostalgic even though the movie only came out a decade ago.

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, many movies dealt with themes related to capitalism and greed. Killing Them Softly is a great example and turns the focus into the realm of small-time organized crime. The movie isn’t subtle with what it’s trying to say, but it’s entertaining and since it’s removed several years past 2008, it can turn a critical eye onto the events that transpired that year.

With such an unusual plot, a severed hand going on a quest to reunite with its body, this kind of story needs a similar inventive animation. The medium works remarkably well for this offbeat story, creating one of the most idiosyncratic works of 2019.

Amy Winehouse had one of the most powerful voices in all of music. For a few short years, she dominated award shows and the radio. And just as soon as she arrived on the scene, she was gone. Amy examines the life and death of the famous singer complete with never-before-seen footage. It’s an amazing portrayal of what fame and personal demons can do to a person so talented and so well-respected.

Adam Wingard’s previous effort, You’re Next, subverted expectations, becoming one of the most gruesomely delightful, and underrated, horror films in recent memory. He followed it up with The Guest, which also leaves you guessing as to what’s about to happen from one scene to the next. It’s best to go into the film knowing virtually nothing, so you can be completely struck with how insane the movie gets.

Teen comedies shouldn’t always have to focus on zingers and sex. They can deal with real trials and tribulations teens have to go through in high school. That’s where The Edge of Seventeen excels. Granted, it’s also very funny, but it’s not afraid to have real gravitas in a way that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to purposely manipulate your emotions. It’s one of the most honest films about the high school experience to come out in recent memory.

How do you go about making a movie where many of the most intriguing questions are left unanswered? Just like the real-life event that inspired it, Chappaquiddick remains shrouded in a bit of mystery. You’re left to put together some of the pieces yourself, and it’s one historical film that entices you to read up on the real story so that you can see how the movie adapted the events.

There’s a saying in screenwriting to write what you know. Gerwig exemplified that exquisitely well with Lady Bird, and she was quoted as saying, “Nothing in the movie literally happened in my life, but it has a core of truth that resonates with what I know.” It’s likely for this reason why the script was 350 pages long at one point. Fortunately, she cut the story of a girl wanting more than her small town life to a crisp 93 minutes that anyone who felt different in high school can relate to.

Many movies of late are obsessed with class warfare. From Parasite to Joker, many films explore the division between the upper and lower classes. The Platform follows in this tradition, serving as a political allegory. It takes place in a prison where food is lowered one level at a time until nothing is left for the prisoners at the bottom. Resources literally “trickle down,” so anyone who was a fan of Parasite will also find substance in this sci-fi flick.

Dramatizing the death of Stalin is one thing, but making a comical farce out of the event and the ensuing power struggle must have been a monumental task. The movie was banned in Russia, but anyone who wants to give it a chance will find a hilarious piece of art with timely parallels to our current political state. It’s a superb example of a dark comedy that balances out its varying tones with such expert precision.

A good portion of Air Force One’s crew got to tour the real Air Force One for reference before making the film. While they had a good idea of what was feasible inside the plane, they still managed to take some liberties, such as including an escape pod when the real Air Force One has no such pod. However, those liberties can make for more exciting action set pieces. Consider the result is one of the most critically-acclaimed action films of the 90s, the filmmakers likely made the right call.

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20th Century Women (2016)

There’s perhaps no movie genre filled with cliches like the musician biopic. Even by 2007, audiences were familiar with the trope-ridden story structure, making it the perfect time for Walk Hard to come out. Watching it today, it’s amazing how little screenwriters for biopics have learned as you can see many of the tropes made fun of in this film still pop up.

Referring to a movie as “slow” may seem like a bad thing (and in some cases it is). But Burning shows precisely how to do a slow burn (no pun intended) well. The characters are engaging, and it subverts your expectations at nearly every turn. It creeps up on you, and you remain at the edge of your seat until your patience is ultimately rewarded.

The Safdie Brothers are experts at craftins highly tense, anxiety-ridden films. Uncut Gems brought that aesthetic into the mainstream, but it all started with 2017’s Good Time, which has similar frenetic editing and fast-paced plot to put you in the protagonist’s shoes. Once the film’s over, you’ll finally feel like you can breathe.

For something to be Kafkaesque, it has to be nightmarishly illogical or complex. Enemy ticks off all those boxes with gusto. The film follows a quiet man who discovers he has an exact doppelganger in the form of a complete stranger. While there are many ways to interpret the film, no matter how you slice it you’re left feeling the same way afterward: unsettled.

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The Disaster Artist (2017)

Horror films tend to get overlooked around awards season. That’s why it’s so significant The Silence of the Lambs managed to win Best Picture, as well as a slew of other honors, at the Academy Awards. To this day, it’s still psychologically rich and deeply disturbing. It’s become such an influential film in the horror genre, and it’s a perfect showcase for how humans can be the most terrifying monsters of all.