Well, it's officially winter and the holidays are all over. Basically, what this means is that we are all going to spend the next few months wrapped in a blanket and glued to our televisions. No complaints over here! However, before we automatically just start re-watching the shows and movies we've already seen hundreds of times, we figured we would look into a few movies that maybe haven't been overwatched yet.
In this article, we will be counting down the top 20 Netflix original films. There is something for everyone here on this list, though picking any of these 20 is pretty much a guaranteed good time. Netflix has been pouring a ton of money into their originals and it has certainly been paying off. With huge stars and directors signing contracts with the streaming service and teams of exceedingly skilled writers, it's no wonder these films keep cleaning up at all the award shows!
20 To The Bone
To The Bone is a film about a 20-year-old girl suffering from anorexia. While it is definitely not the feel good film of the year, it does inform viewers on the very real struggles of eating disorders and how they affect more than just the high school skinny girls. Also, Keanu Reeves is in it, so number 20 it is!
19 Bird Box
Was Bird Box the best movie of 2018? No. Did Bird Box get perfect ratings across the board? No. However, Bird Box was the only thing the internet was talking about for weeks after its release, so it definitely earns a spot here. Watch Sandra Bullock guide herself and two children completely blind through a world filled with unknown horrors.
18 Set It Up
For a rom-com to pull rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, one does have to stop and take notice. The movie was well written and the plot wasn't totally in line with those we've seen used over and over again in this genre of film, so yes, the rating is merited. When two assistants decide they want a break, they go about setting up their bosses.
17 Private Life
This 2018 Netflix original will definitely pull at your heartstrings. Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn play a middle-aged couple struggling to have a child. Not only is this a very relevant topic, but the film does an excellent job at looking at the issue from every angle. They cover adoption, IVF, egg donors and obviously, the very real and steep price of all these things.
16 Gerald's Game
This one may not be for everyone, but if someone is in the mood for a thriller, Gerald's Game could be a good movie to check out. With a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie gets our 16th spot. When a married couple takes a trip to a secluded location in order to rekindle their flame, things go terribly wrong.
15 El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Since the Breaking Bad series was as popular as it was, it makes sense that not everyone was super stoked on this follow-up film. However, since the film was written and directed by the show's original creator, Vince Gilligan, it did a good job at staying true to the original story. In this Netflix original, we finally get to find out what happened to Jesse Pinkman.
14 The Incredible Jessica James
The Incredible Jessica James is the second rom-com to make our list. While Jessica Williams and Chris O'Dowd's performances are enough to recommend this movie, the fact that it doesn't follow like a typical rom-com is also a huge plus. Jessica James is healing from a breakup when she meets Boone, who happens to be recovering from a recent divorce.
13 Tallulah
Before anyone gets their hopes up... No, this is not sequel to Juno. However, Ellen Page does give an excellent performance in this one, much like she did in Juno. In this film, Ellen Page's Tallulah is homeless and getting by on stolen goods. After meeting an irresponsible mother, Tallulah takes the woman's baby and pretends as though it's her own.
12 The Fundamentals Of Caring
Paul Rudd has recently become a real Netflix MVP. In this movie, Rudd plays a retired writer working as caregiver for a disabled teen. While Rudd adds a touch of his natural comedy to this drama, he also proves that he can take on more serious scenes. The Fundamentals of Caring has a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
11 Always Be My Maybe
Standing strong in 11th place is Always Be My Maybe. While yes, this movie is very much a rom-com, it is also much more than that. From excellent writing, to casting and a killer soundtrack, there really isn't anything this movie is missing, except for maybe a cameo by Keanu Reeves...Oh wait! There is a cameo by Keanu Reeves!
10 See You Yesterday
The idea of making a movie about time travel seem fresh in anyway, seems like a challenge best left unaccepted. However, somehow Netflix managed to pull this off with their film See You Yesterday. Two exceedingly smart teens create time traveling backpacks, which they try to use to save one of their brothers from an accident.
9 Mudbound
Netflix's Mudbound has a near-perfect rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is set in 1946 and tells the story of a city-born wife raising her children on her husband's farm. In it, we also meet two men returning from war, one struggling with heavy PTSD and the other struggling with the unavoidable prejudice that came along with being a black man during this time.
8 Roma
This Oscar-winning film will hit you right in the feels, that is for sure. Forget about the beautiful storyline, but the movie itself is a beauty just to watch. Cleo is a pregnant domestic worker, who is helping Sofia raise her 4 children. When the family goes away on vacation, Cleo bonds with the children in away she never thought possible.
7 Okja
This one will be tough on anyone who already has issues with watching animals of any kind on the big-screen. Yes, we know this larger-than-life animal is not real, but the problems it faces throughout the movie are in fact very real and happening all over the world. That being said, the movie is very highly rated.
6 To All The Boys I've Loved Before
To All the Boys I've Loved Before is very much a teen romance, but a relatable, hilarious and heartwarming one. While Netflix has been spitting out sappy teen movies like it's nobody's business, this one does stand out amongst the rest. When all of Lara Jean's most personal letters get sent out, she's left to deal with the consequences of all her crushes learning the truth about her feelings.
5 The Other Side Of The Wind
Orson Welles' The Other Side of the Wind gets the #5 slot for a few reasons. For starters, the thing is an absolute masterpiece. For another, this movie was in production for more than 40 years, so we definitely have to give credit where credit's due. The hard work put in by many to make this film a reality, does not go unnoticed while watching.
4 Dolemite Is My Name
Seeing Eddie Murphy star in something so good and so successful, is actually a wonderful sight. This Netflix original scored a whopping 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's definitely one to check out. In this dramedy, Murphy plays a performer whose perfected the made up character of Dolemite. Dolomite is a huge success in the underground circuit, but the more attention he attracts, the more cautious he's got to be.
3 The Meyerowitz Stories
Let's be real for a minute. Adam Sandler's post-90s work hasn't been great and this is especially true when talking about his Netflix projects. However, The Meyerowitz Stories is an exception. While viewers may have originally tuned in for the stacked cast which includes Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Adam Driver, this movie's heartwarming message is what keeps everyone's attention by the end.
2 The Irishman
Before anyone says it, yes we agree that The Irishman could have been shortened down a bit. Any movie lasting for longer than 3 hours is tiresome, but also, it's on Netflix so how hard is it to pause and come back later? The Irishman stars huge names like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino. Not to mention, the thing is a Scorsese film. Needless to say, it's a must-watch.
1 Marriage Story
Netflix's Marriage Story is a drama about the very real struggles of divorce and keeping a family together through the trying process. The film hits on several emotional levels and the performances given by Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and Laura Dern deserve every mention they got at the 77th Golden Globes.