What are the best original Netflix movies to stream right now?
The first company that comes to mind when the term Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVOD) is Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX). Although several other streaming services exist, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the industry leader and has become even more prominent due to its exceptional performance in the year 2020. The coronavirus pandemic massively inflated the number of subscribers as well as the revenue of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), with the streaming service gaining 8 million people new subscribers in only 9 months during the pandemic lockdown. The company reportedly crossed 209 million subscribers worldwide and witnessed an astonishing increase of 49% in its stock price in the first six months of 2020. However, when the coronavirus restrictions were eased by the end of 2020, a decrease in growth was witnessed in the subscriber base of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX).
Although the company reported slow yet continuous growth in the years prior to the pandemic and has been the pioneer and the leader of the SVOD industry worldwide since its inception, financial analysts are skeptical about the post-pandemic and long-term prospects of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX). In 2021, with the pandemic lockdowns being lifted and workplaces gradually opening all around the world, the performance of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) has been falling considerably.
Nevertheless, Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney declared the second quarter of 2021 a “clearing event,” setting the stage for a rebound in fundamentals and shares. He declares that year-over-year comparisons with the Covid period will ease, production challenges will fade, the content slate will get richer in the second half, and subscriber growth should accelerate. He believes that the stock “should surge” from here.
The forecasted number of new subscribers by Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) in the first quarter of 2021 was 6 million; however, the company reported that only 4 million new customers signed up for the streaming service in the 3 months. Consequently, after the company reported the inconsistencies in the two figures, the shares of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) fell by 10% the same day. Although the company is presently experiencing a decrease in growth, its profit on revenue has exceeded stakeholder expectations. While the forecasted profit and revenue for the first quarter of 2021 were $1.3 billion and $7.1, the reported amounts were $1.7 billion and $7.16 billion respectively.
Notably, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is attempting to stay ahead of its competition by being more than a streaming service. In addition to acquiring exclusive distribution rights, the company produces movies and series in-house or as a joint effort with other production companies. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) ventured into the production industry in the year 2013. However, its competitors followed suit not long after. The closest competitor of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is Disney+ by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), followed by Amazon Prime Video by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Hulu developed by Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), HBO Max provided by both AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA), and AppleTV+ by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).
Issues have also arisen on the production side of the company’s operations. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX)’s share of global audience demand of digital original series has dropped to 53% for the first time since the company began producing shows. The statistic was 59.8% in 2019; however, the company’s close competitors such as Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA) have begun to establish themselves in the market. Accordingly, Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL) and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA)’s shares of global audience demand of digital original series have gained 3.6%, 3.9%, and 3.6% respectively in 2021. Even so, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) original movies and series have been popular with subscribers.
alin-surdu-j5GCqQM3eYA-unsplash (1)
Our Methodology
As Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) securely guards its viewership data, we have scoured internet forums and checked ratings for each movie while compiling the list. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) itself has released the partial viewership data of some movies, which has also been used. In addition, the Google Audience Ratings by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), and the ratings provided by Rotten Tomatoes have been used to put together this list of the 25 best Netflix original movies. The two percentage ratings were combined to rank the 25 movies on our list.
With this context and industry outlook in mind, let’s now discuss our list of the 25 best Netflix original movies (see also 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time).
25 Best Netflix Original Movies
25. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 52%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
Charlie Kaufman’s latest film I’m Thinking of Ending Things tells the story of a young woman traveling with her boyfriend to meet his parents on their secluded farm; however, this visit is anything but ordinary. The movie is a great thriller that would keep the audience glued to their screen till the end; therefore, it is 25th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies. The movie has a 52% rating on Google Audience and 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.
24. Army of the Dead (2021)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 70%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 68%
When a group of mercenaries enters Las Vegas to steal cash from a zombie-ridden city before it is nuked, they find themselves up against the undead variety with rapid movements and strength. The horror/action thriller also features scenes with zombies riding their tigers between scenes. Army of the Dead is a highly recommended fun and action-packed package suitable for all ages. According to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), the number of first-month views for the movie was 75 million. Horror movies usually gain much popularity on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
23. Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 81%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 57%
John David Washington and Zendaya star in the movie which follows a director and his partner’s relationship that is tested on Malcolm’s latest movie premiere night. Production for HBO series Euphoria stopped with COVID-19, which led to Levinson making this brilliant show instead, after discussing it with Zendaya. The movie will definitely entertain its audience. Malcolm and Marie are therefore ranked at 23rd place on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
22. The Devil All the Time (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 81%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 64%
Netflix’s The Devil All the Time, starring Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Pattinson, led by director Antonio Campos, is nothing like other mainstream comic-book fare. The movie takes an unsuspecting young audience into a rollercoaster ride of its own by attracting, and then traumatizing, the young generation. Movies such as The Devil All the Time that focus on violence are popular on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
21. Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 78%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 75%
You may know Vanessa Kirby from her portrayal of Princess Margaret on The Crown. In this latest Netflix production, she is equally brilliant (if not more so), giving a stunning performance as a woman struggling with the trauma and grief of losing her newborn baby. Not one to be taken lightly, especially with a 30-minute long, single-take birth scene, Kirby consistently gives an extraordinary performance throughout which has earned her nomination for the Academy Awards. The movie is ranked 21st on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
20. The Other Side of the Wind (2018)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 70%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84%
The movie features a version of the aging Hollywood director, Jake Hannaford, filming his latest work. The movie-within-a-movie sends up both experimental filmmaking and Golden Age Hollywood in the late ’60s. The Other Side of the Wind was enjoyed by 70% of the audiences on Google and has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 84%. The movie is 20th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
19. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 71%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
Fear Street is an R-rated adaptation of the popular ‘90s novels by horror master R. L. Stine and a nostalgic throwback to Saturday night slasher flicks. The movies contain some silly moments as well, from stalking couples in bed to more lighthearted scenes involving teenage sleepovers and first-date jitters. Those looking for something scary yet fun should look no further; not only was Fear Street enjoyable viewing, but its two sequels were just as good. Horror movies usually gain much popularity on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
18. Mank (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 73%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
Mank is a biographical drama about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, which has been long overdue. His father, Jack, wrote the movie script in the 1990s, but it wasn’t fruitful until last year. The movie offers ups and downs, a mellow blend of twists and turns that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Mank is 18th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
17. Private Life (2018)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 62%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti play a married couple out of time for having children. They try various means of assisted reproduction, only to find their best option came in the form of college dropout Sadie (played by Elizabeth Olsen). The movie is an existential comedy-drama about life in New York, which covers societal issues brilliantly and leaves its audience spellbound. Films that fall in the genre of comedy are generally popular on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
16. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 73%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Gerald’s Game is ranked 16th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies. Claustrophobic suspenseful movies may be hit-or-miss, but this one counts as a winner. The film would have been entirely led by Clara Gugino’s astounding performance if Bruce Greenwood wasn’t such an amazing actor; both the lead actors created a movie that the viewers will definitely love and cherish.
15. Uncut Gems (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 73%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
If the names ‘Oscar snub’ and ‘Adam Sandler’ appear next to each other, there is a reason for it. Sandler delivers a career-defining performance as the oil salesman, while the high-pumping pacing of much of the movie will leave anyone as a frazzled, exhilarated mess by the time final credits roll in.
14. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 72%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
Elizabeth Marvel, Ben Stiller, and Adam Sandler star in this movie directed by Noah Baumbach. The movie is a comedy-drama about three siblings (Marvel, Stiller, and Sandler) who try to sort life out under the shadow of their father (Hoffman). The storyline captures the attention of the viewers and holds it safe until ending credits start rolling in. The movie is 14th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
13. The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 69%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
This show follows a family of four as the youngest girl, 16-year-old Katie, leaves for her first year at film school. Her father turns the trip into a journey to reconnect with his daughter by driving cross-country from home in California to Boston where she’ll be attending college. The movie has all of the features that made Spider-Verse and 21 Jump Street so successful: humor, a unique visual style, and originality. According to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), the number of first-month views for the movie was 53 million.
12. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 77%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Spike Lee’s new film Da 5 Bloods is a great movie that supports the movement “Black Lives Matter”. This masterpiece is Lee’s first feature film for Netflix and depicts a controversial subject with excellence and creativity to deliver the thought-provoking idea among the masses very effectively. It is, hence, no wonder that Da 5 Bloods has landed 12th place on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies. Netflix has revealed that the movie was viewed 27 million times within the first month of its release. Movies that touch upon sensitive topics such as racism are usually popular on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
11. Atlantics (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 74%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
A strange ghost story for which critics have had a difficult time categorizing the film. The movie is not conventionally scary; instead, it contains many elements of romanticism and political comment on underprivileged living and working conditions in Senegal. The attention to the details will certainly grasp the focus of viewers. Movies that have both horror and drama become popular to watch on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 85%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs consists of six short films, each with its own tale from the American West, which have all been wrapped up into one movie. Similar to other productions from Coen, it is a high-quality feature. According to its Google Audience and Rotten Tomatoes rankings, the movie is 10th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
9. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 85%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
As the name suggests, this movie is a sequel to the popular television series Breaking Bad. Additionally, it acts as an epilogue to the series. As with the series, El Camino is a crime thriller that follows Jesse Pinkman and Walter White as they manufacture and sell crystal meth. Within the first week of its release, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was viewed 25.7 million times on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX).
8. His House (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 79%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100%
This is an excellent horror movie that can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s best to watch on Halloween. The main plot follows immigrants who flee from their war-torn country in search of a better life in England. They reach their new home only to understand that it is invaded by a certain presence. The movie is best for teenagers and adults who are interested in horror thrillers. The movie is sure to send chills down the spines of its viewers; it is, therefore, the 8th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies. Horror movies are usually popular on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
7. Mudbound (2017)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
Set at the tail end of World War II, Mudbound follows a group of African Americans and white people in Mississippi who are still coping with the long-lasting consequences of slavery. The movie shows about the war deeply impacting the lives of the people and interaction within the society, even in the South where racism was prevalent, which makes it a masterpiece. Movies that touch upon sensitive topics such as racism become a popular watch on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Disney+ (NYSE: DIS), Apple TV+ (NASDAQ: AAPL), and HBO Max (NYSE: T) (NASDAQ: DISCA).
6. Marriage Story (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 87%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
The story tells about a divorced couple seeking to bring their divorce proceedings to a conclusion. They are both prominent in the theatre circuit and continue to resent each other, with only one connection: their son, Lucas. The movie has the potential to become an all-time favorite of its viewers due to its wonderful depiction of common issues prevailing in society. According to its Google Audience and Rotten Tomatoes ratings, Marriage Story is 6th on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies.
In this article, we will list the 5 best Netflix original movies. If you want to read our detailed analysis of Netflix and its performance both as an SVOD service provider and production company, go directly to the 25 Best Netflix Original Movies.
5. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 92%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Seven members were charged in September 1969 for conspiracy related to anti-Vietnam War and counter-cultural protests during the Democratic National Convention 1968. Bobby Seale, the eighth defendant (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), was added on Nixon’s orders by Attorney General Mitchell. For all the people with a keen interest in history, this movie is recommended.
Pixabay/Public Domain
4. The Irishman (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 87%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
The Irishman is undoubtedly a long movie but, for the most part, viewers are well informed of how Al Pacino’s character and the other main characters in the film wear their loneliness on their sleeves. The dreams of characters became lost at some point when they get too distracted by greediness. The movie’s CGI de-aging techniques would leave anyone speechless. The Irishman is the fourth on our list of 25 best Netflix original movies and was viewed 26.4 million times within the first two weeks after its release.
Copyright: lculig / 123RF Stock Photo
3. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 84%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom manages to explore the tension that rises between a woman with ambition against her manager and producer, while exploring Boseman’s character, Levee, as he has some ambitious plans of his own. This melodrama will definitely appeal to the emotions deeply enough to melt everyone’s heart.
scyther5 / Shutterstock.com
2. Enola Holmes (2020)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 92%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Millie Bobby Brown stars as the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes in a more contemporary take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s classics. Enola Holmes is a delightful mystery that will be perfect for everyone at home during leisure time. The movie reached 76 million views in the first month after its release, according to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), and is ranked as the second of the 25 best Netflix original movies.
1. Dolemite is My Name (2019)
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Audience Rating: 91%
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
The movie is a biographical comedy and follows the famous actor, singer, and film producer Rudolph Frank Moore, commonly known as Rudy Ray Moore. Eddie Murphy played the part of Rudy Ray Moore and has been highly commended for his acting in the movie.
You can also take a peek at 25 Best War Movies on Netflix and 30 Best Movies on Netflix.
