10 Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (Nov. 2019)

Best Movies on Netflix

1. Hell or High Water

People may say the Western is dead, but Hell or High Water (2016) proves it’s possible to bring this genre into the 21st century in thrilling fashion. Chris Pine and Ben Foster play brothers who rob banks to save the only piece of land left their family owns.

The characters are incredibly developed. The story is well-paced. And it tackles themes relevant to a decaying America. It’s an entirely entertaining film that will leave you with a lot to ruminate on long after the credits roll.

Movies to Watch on Netflix

2. The Stanford Prison Experiment

Nearly 50 years ago, 24 male students assumed the roles of prison guards and prisoners in an experiment that would push the boundaries of decency. The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) is based on a true story and is still just as relevant today as it was in 1971.

The cinematography is a standout in this film, and the audience feels just as claustrophobic as the prisoners. It engrosses you, and while it’s not a pleasant film to watch, it raises fascinating insights into the nature of the human psyche.

Best on Netflix

3. XX

Halloween may be over, but if you still need a horror fix, then check out XX (2017). It’s a horror anthology consisting of four films directed by women and focused on female protagonists.

All of the movies have their strengths, but the highlight of the collection is the first film, The Box. It’s suitably creepy as a young boy gradually starves himself. If you like other horror anthologies like V/H/S or The ABCs of Death, then you need to play XX next.

Top Netflix Movies

4. Candyman

Another horror film you can watch any time of year is the excellent Candyman (1992). It has all the gore and mayhem you expect out of a slasher film, but there’s so much more under the surface. It tackles race relations and the power of urban legends to the societal consciousness.

It’s a great time to revisit this gem because Jordan Peele wrote and produced a remake that will be released in June 2020.

Netflix Movies

5. Room

Room (2015) is a devastatingly impactful film. It follows a woman and her son trapped in a room by their abductor as they plot an escape to finally see the outside world, a world her son has never seen before. The star-making performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay elevate the film to heartbreaking levels.

Even when you think you know where the film is heading, it throws you for a loop. There’s no weak point in the story, and it’s a great watch for filmmakers to show just what you can do with limited settings.

Netflix Movies List

6. The Game

The Game (1997) may not come into the zeitgeist as often as Fight Club or The Social Network, but it’s still essential viewing for die-hard David Fincher fans. The film toys with many of the same ideas you see in much of Fincher’s work, including isolation from the rest of humanity.

The protagonist’s life is turned upside down when he partakes in a game that blurs the lines between reality and make-believe. It’s a tightly-written thriller that demands your attention for the full 128 minutes.

Good Movies on Netflix

7. Winter’s Bone

Winter’s Bone (2010) is bleak and unforgiving, and yet, at the end of the movie,  you’ll find yourself oddly hopeful. Ree, played magnificently by Jennifer Lawrence, goes on the hunt for her meth-making father while being the only force keeping her family intact.

The film takes great care with developing all of the Ozark characters Ree comes into contact with, showing the plight of everyone who lives there in a unique light. Every character has a shred of humanity, preventing anyone from falling into caricature. Everyone feels real, and that’s perhaps the most frightening part of all.

New Movies on Netflix

8. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

A lot of fans were skeptical when they heard Breaking Bad would be renewed for a movie. Those fears were instantly assuaged by just how amazing El Camino (2019) ended up being. It picks up where the series left off with Jesse Pinkman breaking out of his cage.

He evades cops while searching for enough money to start a new life. It’s much more than just nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It provides closure while offering one more wild ride for fans.

Great Netflix Movies

9. The Little Hours

The Little Hours (2017) follows three horny nuns and how their lives are thrown out of whack when a handsome gardener, on the run from the king, starts working for the convent. It’s not the kind of film to watch with your parents, but it makes for a raucous good time. 

The most impressive part of the film is how it takes a one-note joke and actually builds upon it. “Nuns Gone Wild” is funny enough, but director Jeff Baena adds on the absurdity in increasingly delightful ways.

New Netflix Movies

10. Dolemite Is My Name

Dolemite Is My Name (2019) tells the real life story of Rudy Ray Moore, who adopted the persona of a pimp and starred in one of the defining Blaxploitation films of the 70s. It’s a hell of a film that will have you rolling with laughter, but it still has plenty to say about race and cultural appropriation in the modern era.

More than anything else, watch it for the career-best performance from Eddie Murphy, who hopefully stars in many more films like this.

Up Next

Best Book-to-Film Adaptations

Are you in the mood for some more film recommendations? Check out our list of some amazing film adaptations of famous novels of the last few years. With all these suggestions, you have plenty of homework ahead of you for the holiday season. 

Up Next: Book-to-Film Adaptations →