9 Netflix original films you need to watch: from Okja to Mudbound

Beasts of No Nation, Jim & Andy, 13th... the streaming service has distributed some incredible films

As many Netflix subscribers will know, the streaming service’s cinematic output has been at times disappointing. Science fiction blockbusters Mute, The Cloverfield Paradox, and Bright have all received negative reviews, as have the three Adam Sandler-directed films.

However, that’s not to say Netflix has not produced some exquisite films — quite the opposite. For every miss, there’s been a huge success story (and even some Oscar nominations).

So, what are the films only on Netflix that you should be watching? Here are some of the best in alphabetical order.

13th

Ava DuVernay’s incredible Oscar-nominated documentary analyses America’s history with racism and slavery to make hard-hitting points about police brutality and the prison system. Told meticulously by the acclaimed director, there are few documentaries that have had the same impact and shone such a damning light as 13th. An absolute essential.

Beasts of No Nation

The first great fictional film released by Netflix. Beasts of No Nation saw the streaming service become an awards contender, Idris Elba and Abraham Attah giving astonishing performances as a crazed warlord and young militia member. The adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala’s book of the same name has been praised by critics and set the bar very high for Netflix movies to come.

First They Killed My Father

Directed by Angelina Jolie, First They Killed My Father is based on Loung Ung’s memoir — a Cambodian author who lived through the devastating Pol Pot regime. Sreymoch Sareum plays the seven-year-old Ung to perfection. The movie was chosen as Cambodia’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars (but unfortunately was not nominated).

Gerald’s Game

There have been many, many Stephen King adaptations released over the last few years and Gerald’s Game ranks among the best. Primarily based inside one bedroom, the horror sees Mike Flanagan direct an incredibly creepy film, with a great central performance by Carla Gugino who remains chained to a bed for most of the film. For horror fans, it’s a must-watch.

Into the Inferno

Werner Herzog has produced some incredible documentaries and Into the Inferno marks one of the most visually stunning thanks to the subject matter: active volcanoes in Indonesia, Iceland, North Korea and Ethiopia. What makes Inferno so special is Herzog’s choice not to look just at the volcanoes themselves, but the communities around them and belief systems that have sprung up thanks to these monstrous mountains.

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

Perhaps the most bizarre and original documentary available on Netflix, Jim & Andy centres on an interview with Jim Carrey regarding working on the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon. Using behind-the-scenes footage, we are offered an incredible look at the method to Carrey’s madness. Asking questions about when a joke goes “too far” and when the art should end, the Spike Jonze-produced doc makes for fascinating watching.

Mudbound

Multiple Netflix documentaries have been nominated and won Oscars, but Mudbound marks their first fictional film to be nominated for four Oscars — including best adapted screenplay, original song, cinematography, and supporting actress for Mary J. Blige. Directed by Dee Rees and telling the tale of two families suffering from men heading out to war, the film marks the pinnacle of Netflix movies and has astounded viewers around the world.

Okja

Debuting at Cannes Film Festival, Bong Joon-ho’s timely tale about an oversized pig who becomes friends with a young girl won rave reviews all around. Tilda Swinton plays a fascinating high-powered maniac, while Jake Gyllenhaal brings a certain craziness to proceedings. With various messages about looking after our planet, genetically modified foods, and vegetarianism, the Jon Ronson-penned movie makes for some highly entertaining viewing.

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Adam Sandler’s Netflix movies have been almost unanimously hated by critics, The Ridiculous 6 holding a rare 0 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Meyerowitz Stories marks an almost unanimous high for the actor. Directed by Noah Baumbach — and featuring a hugely talented cast, including Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel, and Emma Thompson — the movie tells the tale of one family and their struggles with each other and the death of a loved one.