Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (December 2020)

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.

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.  

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.

Fargo is the Coen Brothers’ masterpiece. Starring Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, and William H. Macy, the dark comedy follows a pregnant police chief attempting to solve a slew of murders taking place in her quiet town.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

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)

List of Must Watch Movies on Netflix 

An Education (2009)

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.

Must Watch Movies on Netflix for Cinephiles

Casino Royale (2006)

Must Watch Movies on Netflix at This Moment

Midnight Special (2016)

Two stoners find themselves in the middle of a gang war in this hilarious comedy. Seth Rogen and James Franco team up for the buddy comedy that’s perfect for anyone wanting drug references coming at lightspeed.

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.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a denser film than what may appear on the surface. The story of a woman wanting to break up with her boyfriend of six weeks is intercut with various scenes that don’t make a lot of sense at first. You have to be willing to roll with the absurdity and Charlie Kaufman’s patented disjointing. But the performances bolster this film to something that warrants Academy consideration.

The Founder follows a person responsible for changing society as we know it. And the person pulling the strings isn’t some kind-hearted, gentle soul. Ray Kroc takes advantage of the true founders of McDonald’s, never giving them the money they were owed. It’s fascinating watching a global behemoth emerge in front of your eyes on screen.

Classic Movies on Netflix Now

West Side Story (1961)

Survival stories have a primal quality to them. After all, one of the earliest types of stories ever told is “man vs. nature.” That’s precisely what Adrift presents with a young couple heading out to sail on the open sea. Of course, things don’t go as planned when they encounter harsh storms. It’s becomes a fight for survival with a twist to keep you hooked the entire time. 

The book and screenplay for The Girl With All the Gifts were written at the same time. This undoubtedly helped give the book more of a cinematic quality while helping keep the focus on the characters for the movie. In either case, the result is a thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure where a virus spreads throughout humanity, turning people into zombies. 

Best Films of All Time on Netflix

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

If there’s one thing Sleepy Hollow is noteworthy for, it’s the art direction. Everything from the costumes to the sets perfectly brings you into this haunting world. It’s often overlooked as a Tim Burton film, but it’s glorious to behold. 

Nightcrawler is a unique story in that its protagonist, Lou Bloom, has no character arc. He’s an unethical person at the beginning and remains that way throughout the film. He doesn’t learn any lessons by seeing the dark sides of capitalism and consumer demand. Instead, he embodies the worst components of those ideas. He shows what kind of person you have to become the make it in the world, and the answer is a sociopath.

Best Horror Movies on Netflix

Poltergeist (1982)

Seabiscuit has a classic sports movie formula. It centers on Seabiscuit, an overlooked and undersized race horse who goes on to great success. There are plenty of underdog sports movies, but Seabiscuit manages to be a step above by focusing on a sport not often seen in film. The racing sequences are truly wondrous to behold, and they surely paid a role in the film being nominated for seven Academy Awards.

New Netflix Original Movies

The Half of It (2020)

There are some films you watch and wonder why no one has ever made it before. The Half of It takes a cue from Cyrano de Bergerac when a friendless high school student writes love letters for a jock to the popular girl, whom she also has a crush on. It goes to show the true power in taking familiar premises and finding a way to tell them in a relevant way to modern audiences.

Romantic Movies on Netflix

The Notebook (2004)

Plenty of films like The Notebook have come out over the years. So why have none of them really had the same level of success? We think it really comes down to casting. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is unparalleled. And the dynamic between those two is what has helped keep the film a cult classic.