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Not content to merely kill Blockbuster by purchasing the rights to pre-existing films, the company began producing its own original movies. Today, hundreds of these productions are available in Netflix’s library. While some of these original films turned out horrible (like, say,The Ridiculous 6), others have gone on to receive Academy Awards. Below are the ten highest-rated by Rotten Tomatoes, and you can celebrate Netflix turning 25 years young by popping on one of these terrific films.
‘Calibre’ (2018) - 95%
A more low-key production compared to the million-dollar movies with A-list casts Netflix is known for,Calibreis a British thriller that follows two old friends on a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands. A shocking act of violence causes the two men to frantically search for a way out of the area before their lives are ruined forever.
Calibrewill appeal to anyone who enjoys their thrillers lean and mean, full of shady characters and tense situations where escape feels impossible. In that regard, it calls to mind other thrillers such asA Simple PlanandFargo, albeit with a Scottish twist.
‘Klaus’ (2019) - 95%
One area where Netflix excels is its animation department. The company struck gold withKlaus, a Christmas tale about Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), a selfish and lazy postman who is sent to an isolated village in the snow by his postmaster father. While there, he befriends a reclusive toy maker named Klaus (JK Simmons), and together the pair bring joy to the dreary town.
Equally moving as it is funny,Klausis a sweet tale that will make you feel all the feels and is one of thebest animated movies to add to your annual Christmas watch list.
‘The Irishman’ (2019) - 95%
Don’t tell the Marvel fans, butMartin Scorsese’s latest,The Irishman, is one of the best-reviewed films on Netflix. A throwback to the gangster movies that made him famous, the film follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a truck driver who becomes a hitman for the mob. The plot spans numerous decades as it follows Frank’s life up to retirement.
Joining De Niro is a fantastic cast that includes screen legendsAl PacinoandJoe Pesci. An epic crime saga that proves Scorsese is still the king of the genre, the film is a success despite its massive runtime and questionable de-aging effects.
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‘Tramps’ (2016) - 96%
An offbeat romantic comedy,Trampsfollows two young criminals in New York City who come crashing into each other’s lives when they are both hired for a shady deal. When the job predictably goes wrong, the newly met pair are forced to rectify it while growing closer. Nothing like some criminal activity to set up a meet-cute.
Trampsavoids the common pitfalls of rom-com movies by swerving away from the clichés and tropes that plague the genre. Despite the premise revolving around crime, both Danny and Ellie feel like believable characters rather than larger-than-life caricatures. This causes the romance that blossoms between them to feel genuine.
‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ (2018) - 96%
From one splendid romance to another,To All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforeproved to be a smash hit for Netflix and spawned two sequels. The original film follows shy teen Lara Jean who writes unsent letters to her crushes as a way to process her feelings. When the letters are accidentally sent, Lara must deal with the romantic repercussions.
While the film fits within the clichéd realm of teenage romances, its talented cast and relatable characters carry it to the top of the rom-com pile. The casting of Vietnamese-born actressLana Condorin the lead role also helps to differentiate the movie in a genre that is dominated by white actors.
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‘Roma’ (2018) - 96%
A more subdued film fromAlfonso Cuaron, director ofGravityandHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,Romais centered around a housekeeper in Mexico. Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) is a live-in maid for a wealthy family in 1970, and the film follows a year in her life as she grows closer to her employer.
Romawas universally acclaimed at release, and is one of the best-reviewed films of the 2010s. It went on to receive ten Academy Award nominations, winning three for Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography. It was also the first Netflix original to be nominated for Best Picture.
‘Dolemite is My Name’ (2019) - 97%
A comeback vehicle forEddie Murphy,Dolemite is My Nameis a biopic based on the life ofRudy Ray Moore, a comedian who played the character of Dolemite in his stand-up routines and filmography. Murphy portrays Moore as the film charts the highs and lows of his career.
Murphy is fantastic in the lead role, exuding the trademark charisma and humor that made him a star in the 1980s. It is potentially the best performance of his career, and he received a Golden Globe nomination for his work. He followed it up with the disappointingComing 2 America, the sequel to one of his best films.
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‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ (2020) - 97%
A dramatization based on the life of influential blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis),Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomfollows a difficult recording session held by Rainey, her backing band, and various support staff and executives.Chadwick Bosemanco-stars as Levee Green, a cocky but talented trumpet player.
While the film is centered around one recording session in 1927, it tackles issues such as race and class in ways that are still felt today. Davis and Boseman are tremendous, both electrifying as they light up the screen. The pair received Academy Awards nominations, with Boseman’s loss toAnthony HopkinsforThe Fatherbeing one of thebiggest upsets in Oscars history.
‘The Forty-Year-Old Version’ (2020) - 99%
A semi-autobiographical film,The Forty-Year-Old Versionis based on the life of writer, director, and starRadha Blank. A struggling playwright and teacher, Radha pivots into the world of rap, using the medium to express herself in ways she never thought possible.
A personal tale,The Forty-Year-Old Versionis a touching vision of the life of a struggling artist. A black woman, Blank often encounters resistance in her work as a playwright as potential producers ask her to add white characters to her scripts, and the film shines a light on this all too common issue that plagues the creative industries.
‘His House’ (2020) - 100%
The only non-documentary film from Netflix to receive a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes,His Housefollows Rial and Bol, a refugee couple who have fled war-torn Sudan. Arriving in England, they are given a ramshackle house by the government as they try to make a living in their new home. However, something evil lurks in the surrounding walls.
WhileHis Housefeatures plenty of supernatural scares, its focus on the mistreatment of refugees proves to be more harrowing. Rial and Bol experience racist abuse from their new neighbors, and the film showcases the real-world torment inflicted on those who are simply trying to start a better life for themselves.
