As of today, Netflix’s catalog includes over 1,000 original films (Netflix doesn’t provide an exact number). The diverse mix of films produced by Netflix means that there is something for everyone. For every action blockbuster with an A-list cast, there is a modestly budgeted foreign art film. That means some great films don’t get noticed, and often, themost-watched Netflix Original Moviesof all time aren’t the best films they have produced. Below, we’ve ranked the best Netflix Original Movies that are available to watch right now.
After making full-fledged features for over a decade, the Coen Brothers decided to do things differently and deliver six tales of the Old West set in post-Civil War America.The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, as an anthology, centers around various characters and their contrasting stories – like a cheerful cowboy, an aspiring bank robber spewing stories until he lands his first big loot, a group of stagecoach passengers on their lonesome way, and more – but they all give a similar glimpse into the shaky ground of the frontier era.
A United Anthology
Only the Coen Brothers could turn this Western anthology into one that tells contrasting stories but still finds a whimsical common ground. The idea of dividing a Western into parts has remained untapped so far, withthis movie paving the way for endless potential. The gorgeous cinematography and haunting score set the tone of this strange scenario, and actors like Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, James Franco, and Tim Blake Nelson lend their talents to make the film splendid. Each chapter contains dark humor and vivid storytelling, with their effectiveness and world-building being felt all along.
49Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Starring Viola Davis in the lead role with Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo,Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomis an award-winning drama about an iconic blues singer in 1920s Chicago. The legendary pioneer of blues music, Ma Rainey, and her band gather at a recording studio in the city for a tense session in the film. Ma, with her immense talent and poise, asserts her power while conflicts between her producer and her players rise. We also see the prejudice faced by Black artists during the period.
A Powerful Movie About a Powerful Figure
No matter what role she’s playing,Viola Davis always delivers a powerhouse performanceand carries her film with her searing persona and unmatched energy. The film is an adaptation of a stage play, and in chronicling some of Black history’s most seminal moments, it also renders complex characters and brilliant storytelling. Under the sublime direction of George C. Wolfe, the movie showcases how musicians were wrestling America and its artistic constraints at a time when the country wasn’t ready to hear their truths. In a way, it honors the titular character as well as the unsung souls of music history.
48The Gray Man (2022)
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Sierra Six, or the titular Gray Manportrayed by Ryan Gosling, was once a skilled CIA operative but is now known as the agency’s most wanted rogue asset. Backing up a bit, Six was on a mission for the agency when he happened to uncover its secrets and landed with information that could destroy the CIA. When Six refuses to hand it over, a former colleague and psychopathic agent hunts him across the globe and stops at nothing to take him down.
Exciting and Engaging Action Fare
The Gray Manis directed by the Russo brothers, and it is their first project after the critically acclaimed and fan-favorite Avengers movies. Bringing the same blockbuster fun and big-budget spectacle to the small screen, this action thriller is a rollercoaster of entertainment from start to finish. Gosling is perfectly cast as the strong and silent Gray Man, with Chris Evans as the ideal villain and Ana de Armas as the smoldering ally. The vast set pieces, epic action sequences, hand-to-hand combat scenes, and lavish production make this movie great enough to be turned into a franchise.
47The White Tiger (2021)
Based on the 2008 novel of the same name written by Aravind Adiga,The White Tigeris a Hindi-language comedy-drama that takes you to the poverty-stricken areas of India, where a young and ambitious Balram Halway lands a job at a wealthy household as a driver. After using his wits and betraying those around him, he gains the trust of his employers, especially Pinky, who was raised in America. After mastering how the rich live and learning how to climb the ladder toward success, Balram ventures on his own and becomes an entrepreneur. But at what cost?
A Successful Blend of Genres
Despite being branded as a comedy-drama,The White Tigeractually takes you to the darkest corners of corruption and crime by tearing off the veneer of accumulated wealth and flashy success. The story looks like it was taken straight from newspaper headlines because of its unflinching portrayal of class divides. Adarsh Gourav is brilliant as the conflicted anti-hero who simply wants to break free. The movie also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao, tworenowned Bollywood actors. Plus, the direction by Ramin Bahrani makes this adaptation more harrowing and insightful.
46May December (2023)
May December
Directed by Todd Hayes,May Decemberis a film that expertly walks the line between dark humor and intense drama. The story revolves around Gracie Atherton-Yoo, a woman who was involved in a tabloid romance with 13-year-old Joe Yoo and was sent to prison. After her sentence, she gave birth to his child and they got married. Now, 23 years later, a Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Berry, arrives in the small town of Savannah to closely examine Gracie’s life because she will be playing her in an independent film.
Stunning, Uncomfortable Performances
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are two of the industry’s most versatile actresses. Their ability to disappear into the roles they play is beyond appreciation. They pour the same dedication and intensity into the roles of Elizabeth and Gracie, two vulnerable and manipulative women who can make you feel deeply uncomfortable by just being in the room. Charles Melton also deserves great applause for his heartbreaking performance and for adding a jarring physicality to Joe. Moreover, Haynes’ direction sheds a glaring yet subtle light on the film’s narrative, making it worth a watch.
45Hustle (2022)
There haven’t been a lot of sports dramas in the current decade, but when we count down the best ones so far,Hustledefinitely deserves a spot on the list. It centers around a hapless basketball scout who may be reputable in the profession but has had a rough run scouting players for the U.S. and getting approval from the board. Now that a rugged but inexperienced once-in-a-lifetime player from Spain has emerged, will Stanley pave his path to the NBA?
A Surprising Sports Role From Sandler
Adam Sandler leaves his comedic comfort zone behind to deliver an exceptional performance in the movie. Apart from the superb basketball sequences and that iconic training montage, Hustle also ponders on more important themes like racism and work-family balance by diving deep into its characters’ backstories.Like any sports genre film, this one also has just the right amount of drama and intrigue to add to its appeal.
44Passing (2021)
Adapted by Rebecca Hall from a story written by Nella Larsen,Passingis a movie that follows two light-skinned Black women named Claire and Irene, who can easily “pass” as white but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line. The decade is the 1920s and Harlem isn’t exactly an inclusive place yet. So, when the lives of these two women collide, Clare’s presence in Irene’s life threatens her identity and marriage.
Unforgivably Underrated and Under-Seen
Passingis a film thatstays in your mind after you’ve finished consumingit. Hall directs it with a sensitive attitude towards race, identity, and repressing of the era. As for the performances, Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are truly outstanding as two women who are not only competitive and dissatisfied but also harbor secrets and desires of their own. Intimate, influential, and simply gorgeous, Passing is a must-watch for all.
Best Netflix Thrillers to Watch Right Now, Ranked
The epic streaming giant Netflix is no stranger to exciting and cutting-edge content, and these great thriller movies are no exception.
43The Lost Daughter (2021)
The Lost Daughter
InThe Lost Daughter, Leda is an unsuspicious middle-aged woman on a solo beach vacation, trying to have a good time. But when she becomes intrigued (or obsessed) with a young woman tending to her little daughter on the same vacation, she soon finds herself deep down, in a lake ofmemories from her own early motherhood. The spiral sends her into fear and leads her into committing an act that may disrupt Nina’s peace and her daughter’s safety.
An Unflinching Exploration of Motherhood
The Lost Daughteris directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who adapts it from Elena Ferrante’s beautiful novel. Because of the serene backdrop and soft score, the film manages to exquisitely submerge its viewers into Leda’s psyche. Olivia Colman is undoubtedly brilliant as the lead, leaving the audience torn between supporting her intentions or justifying her acts. The film explores womanhood and parenting in a way we haven’t seen before.
42Someone Great (2019)
On a much lighter note, we haveSomeone Great.The movie stars Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young, a music journalist who has recently been dumped by her long-term boyfriend right before her cross-country move to San Francisco. After moping for a bit, she and her two best friends decide to go on one last, unapologetic, and outrageous adventure in New York City to make her last night memorable.
A Joyful Ode to the Power of Friendship
Someone Greatis Kaytin Robinson’s directorial debut, and suffice it to say, we cannot wait to see more rom-coms andfemale-led dramafrom the director. Apart from Rodriguez, the film also stars DeWanda Wise and Brittany Snow, whose funny and heartfelt performances are an ode to female friendships. The authentic detailing, subjects of building your self-worth, and valuing sisterhood above all else is what makes this modern film a cult status.
Army of the Dead
A functional marriage between the zombie and heist genre,Zack Snyder’s filmfinds Dave Bautista and his oddball team of crooks undertaking a suicide mission through a Vegas casino that’s overrun with zombies.
The Snyder Take on Zombies
Despite having an ensemble of some Hollywood heavyweights, the real stars of Snyder’s film are the undead villains, who’ve managed to attain some form of decorum and are ruled by a zombie king and his queen (a reanimated zombie tiger). Packed with Synder’s staple sense of cheesy dialogues and over-the-top action sequences,Army of the Deadis a fast-paced action film with a fresh take on the conventional zombie genre.
