What are the best original movies to watch on Netflix? Now that the streaming service has become a legitimate awards season contender, subscribers are paying more attention to Netflix’s original content.

Until 2015, Netflix was just a popular destination for cord-cutters and streamers. And then everything changed, as Netflix began producing original films, marking a major shift in the film industry as high quality mid-budget movies became available to watch at home immediately upon release.

Not all Netflix Originals will be awards season contenders, but most are entertaining. It all depends on what you’re looking for. A romantic comedy? An art house film? How about a movie that’s representative of 2019 culture? Check out our list of 15 Netflix Originals that you need to watch ASAP.

  • This Page: Best Netflix Original Movies #15-13 Page 2: Best Netflix Original Movies #12-10 Page 3: Best Netflix Original Movies #9-7 Page 4: Best Netflix Original Movies #6-4 Page 5: Best Netflix Original Movies #3-1

15. Triple Frontier

As a throwback genre film, Triple Frontier checks all the boxes. For one, there’s an all-star cast led Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund, and Ben Affleck. In addition, director J.C. Chandor provides numerous ridiculously awesome sequences as the former Special Ops crew pulls off a heist in South America - moments that you’ll need to text somebody about. Most importantly, however, Triple Frontier doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

From a critical point of view, Triple Frontier can be easily picked apart. There are blatant plot holes, and many viewers will surely laugh at the heightened sense of male bravado. But that’s part of the fun, as Triple Frontier is all about embracing the action, and how the characters react. Chandor and co-screenwriter Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty) infuse the military aspects with authenticity, while the male leads anchor the film with their puffed-chest camaraderie. Triple Frontier is a wild ride from beginning to end; a film that’s worthy of multiple re-watches, if only for pure popcorn entertainment. 

14. Someone Great

Starring Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise, Someone Great is perfect for the late-twenties crowd. While many romantic comedies target younger millennials with trendy dialogue and pop culture references, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson takes a more mature approach with Someone Great. Each of the female protagonists seem to understand that passion alone won’t get them through life; they have to work, and work hard. 

More: Someone Great Review: Gina Rodriguez’s Rom-Com Is A Win For Netflix

Aesthetically, Someone Great looks beautiful with its warm color palette, tinged with pinks and blues. Plus, the music alone elevates many scenes, most notably when Lorde’s “Supercut" hits. And while Lakeith Stanfield doesn’t receive much screen time, it works to the film’s advantage, as the female leads are indeed the primary focus. There’s substance behind all the style, as Someone Great’s characters back up the talk and walk the walk, at least in terms of how they approach their wants and needs.  

13. The Kindergarten Teacher

Directed by Sara Colangelo, The Kindergarten Teacher is the story of a well-meaning educator who crosses the line. Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Lisa Spinelli, the titular character who recognizes that one of her young students, Jimmy, has a knack for poetry. Naturally, Lisa attempts to nurture Jimmy’s talent, though personal issues ultimately cloud her judgment. 

In The Kindergarten Teacher’s main role, Gyllenhaal delivers an unnerving performance as a woman who loses her sense of self. As a director, Colangelo keeps the audience off-guard, as the troubled Lisa manipulates the truth for self-serving reasons, only to progressively spiral out of control. The Kindergarten Teacher raises questions about mental health and emotional support, both in domestic and educational settings. And whereas some Netflix Originals invite the audience to contemplate different ways of life across the world, this particular film asks the viewer to look within, and to consider how feelings of inadequacy can affect one’s daily decisions.   

Page 2: Best Netflix Original Movies #12-10

12. Set It Up

When Set It Up released in June 2018, the fresh spin on romantic comedy tropes resonated with many viewers. Starring Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, Claire Scanlon’s film effectively highlights the gap between young professionals and older, more experienced individuals who seem painfully out of touch. Incidentally, character charisma is crucial for Set It Up’s premise, and Deutch impressively leads the way as the endearing yet awkward female lead. Supporting players like Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, Pete Davidson, and Meredith Hagner all have their moments, but Deutch is the most valuable scene-stealer.

More: Netflix Considering Set It Up Sequel as the Rom-Com’s Success Grows

For some viewers, Powell’s Set It Up character may be entirely unlikable, but that’s crucial to the dynamic with Deutch’s Harper Moore. They’re continuously at odds but invested in a mutual goal. In that sense, Set It Up presses hard on genre tropes, as there’s the usual hustle and bustle of big city life, and - surprise - Deutch’s character is an aspiring journalist (a major genre cliche), one who doesn’t seem to actually write much. As a whole, Set It Up works because it feels timely, fresh, and self-aware. For the collective characters, immediate happiness is more important than the next big promotion, and there’s value in appreciating the moment, along with the small, gradual changes that pave the way for a more mature outlook in life.

11. Shirkers

One one level, Shirkers is exhilarating for its depiction of three young women who make an indie film in Singapore. The production scenes offer insight into the Do-It-Yourself approach, along with all the compromises that must be made while executing a collective creative vision. However, Sandi Tan’s Shirkers isn’t focused on the absolute brilliance of the original “Shirkers,” but rather how a man named Georges Cardona took the production footage and never explained why.

Essentially, Shirkers is a dual character study about Cardona and Tan herself. Through interview footage, both subjects are presented as egotistical figures, in entirely different ways, with Cardona being the most enigmatic (and for a good reason). Whereas some film industry figures show no shame while taking advantage of others, Cardona’s documented behavior raises questions about his intent from the beginning. Above all, however, Shirkers celebrates the filmmaking process, and how moving pictures don’t necessarily need complementary audio to tell an effective story.

10. Gerald’s Game

Based on Stephen King’s 1992 novel, Gerald’s Game is a master class in suspense. Set mostly in a bedroom, the film’s narrative examines the plight of Jessie Burlingame (Carla Gugino), who is stuck handcuffed to a bed after her husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) dies from a heart attack after a sexual foreplay fail. Gerald’s Game succeeds for two big reasons: director Mike Flanagan’s ability to sustain a claustrophobic mood, thus immersing the audience into Jessie’s frame of mind; and Gugino’s rollercoaster performance. 

More: Gerald’s Game Ending Explained

By exploring Jessie’s worst fears in Gerald’s Game, Flanagan balances psychological horror with traditional gore. Gugino carries the load and sells the film with her facial expressions alone, however there’s nothing quite like a WTF moment to elevate a film to the next level. That comes when Jessie reaches the moment of truth, and must decide whether she’s going to die or live. Overall, Flanagan displays his virtuosity as a filmmaker via unnerving and apocalyptic images, thus foreshadowing the brilliance he would bring to the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House the following year. 

Page 3: Best Netflix Original Movies #9-7

9. The Meyerowitz Stories

Right from the start, Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories has that New York cinéma vérité feel. Dustin Hoffman portrays the Meyerowitz family patriarch, an artist who seems more concerned about his creative legacy than being a good father. Meanwhile, Ben Stiller plays the successful son, a man who genuinely cares about his loved ones but appears to be emotionally detached. With all that in place, Adam Sandler steals the show as Danny Meyerowitz, an umemployed, self-loathing father who just can’t find any peace of mind. Whereas most Sandler performances are over-the-top and adhere to a specific brand of comedy, this one is subdued and entirely moving.

Baumbach directed and co-wrote both Frances Ha and Mistress America with his partner Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), but he’s long been one of cinema’s most interesting indie auteurs. The Meyerowitz Stories represents another strong chapter in the filmmaker’s oeuvre, as he comments on NYC art culture and how posturing is so crucial to the game. Incidentally, Grace Van Patten’s performance as Danny’s daughter Eliza adds even more depth, as she’s a provocative young artist who hasn’t been through the wringer yet. However, the way that Eliza communicates with her father suggests that she may have the most emotional intelligence of the entire group.

8. Mudbound

Based on Hillary Jordan’s novel, Mudbound is heavy, challenging, and heart-warming. Set in the American south during World War II, the film explores the relationship between the McAllans (a white family) and the Jacksons (a black family). When Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell) return home from war, they discover that they have a lot in common, despite their obvious differences. These two central performances ground Mudbound with heart, as the world around the two war veterans is full of racism and resentment. 

More: 9 Movies That Helped Netflix Change the Hollywood Game

In Mudbound, Rachel Morrison’s cinematography represents the connective tissue. She uses a strong green-brown color palette throughout, whether it’s in rural Mississippi or during the World War II aerial scenes. There’s an incredible amount of subtext in the color contrasts alone, and Morrison’s symmetrical framing emphasizes the powerful bond between Ronsel and Jamie, along with the inherent segregation of the south. For Mudbound, Morrison become the first female cinematographer to earn an Oscar nomination, and her visuals add a spectacular amount of depth to an already effective film. 

7. Cam

From a 2019 perspective, Cam represents a new school of progressive filmmaking. Directed by Daniel Goldhaber and written by Isa Mazzei, the Blumhouse psychological horror stars Madeline Brewer as Alice Ackerman aka Lola_Lola, a camgirl looking for a larger following and more income. Based on the premise, one might expect Cam to be full of graphic nudity and questionable dialogue, however it’s less about the sexual aspects of the camgirl experience and more about the psychological manipulation that equates to big tips. Based on Mazzei’s personal experience as a camgirl, she’s undoubtedly familiar with basic strategies, which allows her to then manipulate the audience by infusing horror elements into the script.

After appearing in Black Mirror and The Handmaid’s Tale, Brewer delivers another jaw-dropping performance in Cam. And despite the film’s relatively modest budget, the production design enhances Brewer’s camgirl interpretation, which makes it easier to buy into the premise and keep watching. Meaning, if Cam didn’t look great, then it most likely wouldn’t be on Netflix. Ultimately, the filmmakers take a simple premise and then subvert expectations to raise even more questions about Lola_Lola. Cam is the way of the future.

Page 4: Best Netflix Original Movies #6-4

6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Directed by Susan Johnson, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before doesn’t fall into genre traps. The lead isn’t a quirky, insecure journalist, but rather a stylish teenager who writes in private. Lana Condor’s Lara Jean Covey doesn’t need a makeover, but rather a boyfriend who appreciates her as a woman. With its subtle nods to the cinematic past and understanding of modern culture, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’s narrative feels clever and progressive, but without feeling the need to shout it out loud. Condor’s character is a breath of fresh air, a diverse character who doesn’t seem interested in being The Cool Girl, The Manic Pixie Dream Girl, or a Mean Girl. She’s just Lara Jean.

More: To All the Boys Sequel Gets a New Director, Cast & Writer Returning

In contrast to Set It Up’s Charlie, Noah Centineo’s Peter is likable from the start in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Plus, he feels like a worthy boyfriend for Lara Jean, even if she can’t quite pinpoint his intentions. As a whole, the film’s use of social media is spot-on, and it seems to understand the day to day realities of high school life. Most teen romance films feel the need to overly explain cultural trends, but To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before understands its identity. And Condor’s natural charisma and star power will ultimately translate to various genres beyond this franchise.

5. Beasts of No Nation

Filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga set a high bar with Netflix’s first original film, Beasts of No Nation. Based on Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, the war drama is a relentless and fictional account of a young boy’s transformation into a child soldier. Early on, Abraham Attah’s Agu promotes an “imagination TV,” only to then be separated from his family and captured by a rebel group known as the NDF (Native Defense Forces). Not only did Fukunaga write and direct Beasts of No Nation, but he also shot the film, and it’s the frantic visual style that powerfully parallels the immediacy of the events unfolding. 

While Attah delivers a heartbreaking and education performance as Beasts of No Nation’s young rebel, Idris Elba is unforgettable as the unforgiving Commandant. In HBO’s iconic crime series The Wire, Elba’s Stringer Bell is both street smart and cognizant of the larger picture. Beasts of No Nation’s Commandant is similarly well-educated and dangerous, and he’s willing to figuratively make a scene in order to drive home a fundamental message about survival and politics. Overall, Beasts of No Nation will challenge viewers, and the experience isn’t always pleasant. However, the best films force audiences to consider alternate perspectives, and this Netflix Original gets the job done.  

4. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Directed by the Coen brothers, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and its unconventional narrative doesn’t necessarily align with the “Netflix and Chill” mantra. Still, it’s a wholly unique Netflix Original with universally relatable messages. Characters come and go in the six-chapter western anthology film, and patience is critical when processing the collective stories, and how they connect. Once again, the Coens introduce a new group of memorable characters, all of whom understand that death is around the corner. And it’s that dark comedy that speaks to what it means to be human, and to be flawed.

More: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: All 6 Endings Explained

Visually, each vignette in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs offers something different. Some chapters have a touch of surrealism, while others are steeped in western traditions. It’s that visual flair from cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel that not only sets up classic Coen brothers monologues, but also informs the audience about the characters’ hopes and fear. With The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the filmmakers show just how far they’ve come over the years, as they begin with an unforgettable, wise-talkin’ character but progressively tame down the wink-of-the-eye, in-your-face humor in favor of more traditional storytelling. And that’s what fans have come to love over the years: the Coens set the table with familiar faces and over-the-top moments, only to blaze a new trail and leave the answers blowin’ in the wind.

Page 5: Best Netflix Original Movies #3-1

3. The Other Side of the Wind

Recently, Netflix has made a splash in the film industry by enlisting major directors to helm original movies and television series. But none of them have the resume of the late Orson Welles, a Hollywood legend who passed away in 1985 without completing his last film, The Other Side of the Wind. Over the years, Welles’ friends worked together to complete the “New Hollywood” film, a Netflix Original whose turbulent production history is detailed in the complementary Netflix documentary They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead. As a piece of filmmaking, The Other Side of the Wind is provocative, innovative, and emblematic of Welles’ visionary mind.

Peter Bogdanovich and John Huston are the driving forces of The Other Side of the Wind. They didn’t necessarily know how the film would end, or even what it all meant, but they lended their talent anyways. Huston has all the bravado of a director whose seen it all, a man who maybe isn’t acting, per se. In a way, the same applies to Bogdanovich, a critic-turned-filmmaker who was relatively unknown when production began, but was quite accomplished and maybe a bit over-confident. At times, Welles appears to be trolling the performers during The Other Side of the Wind, all the while highlighting their best attributes. And the film’s meta-narrative allowed Welles to then shift gears by transitioning from a documentary-style approach to a commentary on the New Hollywood movement. The Other Side of the Wind will always be compared to Welles’ early classics, and that’s fair. Somehow, it feels relevant and edgy in 2019; quite the accomplishment for a respected filmmaker who struggled to get financial backing from Hollywood while he was alive.

2. Okja

In 2017, Bong Joon-ho’s Okja suggested that Netflix was on the verge of changing the film industry. Two years later, the film remains one of the best Netflix Originals, as it shifts from a family-friendly adventure movie to sociopolitical commentary about corporate greed. With a premise centered around a massive super pig, Okja is breathtaking in how Joon-ho films the outdoors sequences set in South Korea, along with the subsequent thriller scenes. In addition, both Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal provide a strange yet effective amount of comedic relief, as their characters’ personalities overshadow what lies beneath. 

More: Can Netflix Save Indie Filmmaking?

Just as social media can manipulate societal narratives and alter one’s sense of reality, Okja shows how well-meaning individuals can get caught up in a game they may not be ready to understand. The collective performances are superb across the board, and - at the time of release - Joon-ho’s inventive filmmaking teased what Netflix could accomplish with future productions. Okja will knock you down, lift you up, and leave you thinking about how the fictional narrative translates to the real world.

1. Roma

In the past, Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón directed films like Y Tu Mamá También, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Gravity - all of which paved the way for the passion project Roma. Of course, the aforementioned films look nothing like Cuarón’s 2018 Netflix Original, a film that ultimately landed 10 Oscar nominations and won three awards for Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography. But Roma isn’t a cryptic art house film that was made for snobs, it was made for audiences to feel viscerally, and to connect with. While the narrative is distinctly Mexican, Roma is fundamentally about family.

Much like Italian Neorealism films that emerged after World War II, Roma features a non-professional cast. And just like French New Wave films of the late ’50s and early ’60s, Roma has a unique visual style, most notably in how Cuarón stages the characters and frames the cityscapes. For Netflix, Roma’s success implies that even more acclaimed international auteurs will join forces with the streaming service in the future, while the pending acquisition of the world-famous Egyptian Theatre suggests that future Netflix Originals may indeed have theatrical screenings on a regular basis, at least in Hollywood. Whatever happens, Roma is Netflix’s crowning achievement thus far; a film that will hopefully inspire passion projects across various genres.

Next: Netflix In Talks To Buy Its First Brick & Mortar Movie Theater