As great as Netflix is, finding good movies you haven’t yet seen can be a chore. You may have even started believing that you’ve already seen them all. Rest assured, there is very little chance you have. A Good Movie to Watch suggests movies you haven’t seen, but you should. To do this, we only recommend movies that have received a 6.7 rating on IMDB and a 60% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. This means that these movies have been appreciated by both critics and viewers, so you can trust that they’re awesome. We also try to specialize in movies that didn’t make a huge splash at the box office or which didn’t get the attention they deserved, so there is little chance you have already seen them. Below we count down our most favorite movies among those available to stream on Netflix Instant USA. For all the little-known, highly-rated movies ready to stream on Netflix, click here.
Best Movies On Netflix You Haven’t Yet Seen
Moon is a sci-fi movie that doesn’t care that it’s a sci-fi movie. It’s not about space exploration or aliens. It’s about a man struggling to understand what and who he is and the dehumanizing effect of industrialization. Moon leaves you with a pit in your stomach and an incredible feeling of melancholy. It is perfectly acted by Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey. Moon keeps you guessing and deeply enthralled. A true masterpiece I would recommend to anyone, whether they are sci-fi nerds or just movie lovers.
A documentary that is immediate and plays out like a thriller. Beautifully shot in Virunga National Park in the Eastern Congo, the story focuses on the struggles between Park Rangers and a list of adversaries including poachers, oil company goons, and an Islamic revolutionary army. The stories of the endangered gorillas and the people who struggle to protect them will break your heart and at the same time give you hope in humanity. On top of this, the editing is superb and gives the film an intensity that rivals any recent thriller.
In Bruges is a dark comedy about two Irish assassins in a ‘boring’ continental European city. The dark crimes that haunt them and their ineffably vulgar manner of speech contrast gloriously with the quiet beauty of the Flemish architecture and order, like a knife fight in a dollhouse. More endearingly, the relationship between the two killers constantly swings between endearment and distaste. If you liked Four lions or dark comedies in general, then you will love In Bruges.
What our users say: great movie where the town of Bruges plays a key role. The 2 actors have great chemistry together and the script is fresh and has a great ending. (by wnaughton13)More
From Selma director Ava DuVernay, 13th addresses the second clause of the 13th amendment: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” A clause that was immediately exploited and for which the consequences and interpretations explain a significant part of the current American societal landscape. What also unfolds is a highly instructive and thought-provoking film that deals with the idea of progress, and justly pays tribute to the horrifying number of lives mass criminalization ruined.
What our users say: An incredible eye opening, jaw dropping movie/documentary. It completely uncovers one (JUST ONE) of the US' extreme hidden secrets and malfunctions. The US is completely screwed up right now and this movie pretty much covers the very first chapter of why it's so screwed up at the moment.Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the National Anthem in protest of Civil Rights for minorities and in particular black Americans. We get that. But President Trump has hijacked his protest and made it about the National Anthem and disrespecting the Flag and the Nation. (Note to Trump....IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THAT!) It's about the first amendment of the constitution....Freedom of Speech (among other points)This movie show exactly why Colin Kaepernick is protesting. And to be fair and honest, coming from a Caucasian....he is incredibly correct. There will forever be division in race and that is horribly sad.Watch the young girl at a Trump Rally towards the end of this movie. That is completely disturbing and appalling. Something is incredibly wrong with the US and it's citizens (in general) and this movie places the blame squarely on the shoulders of where it belongs...on the Government.TIP: Watch this movie with ANYONE and spread the word about this movie. I would give it 6 stars, but that's not an option.WATCH THIS MOVIE! (by The 345 Critic)More
Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay both won Berlinale Best Actress and Best Actor for this movie. They play a couple who are only a few days away from their 45th marriage anniversary when they learn that the remains of the husband’s first lover have been found. He then starts obsessing about his previous relationship, to the extent that when the day of the anniversary comes, there might not be a marriage left to celebrate. This is a very ‘adult’ movie – it’s quiet, sometimes slow, very well-executed, and overall a fascinating look at marriage.
Icarus starts with director Bryan Fogel deciding to inject himself with doping substances and participate in a biking race undetected. By accident, he ends up in contact with a Russian scientist. This man transforms the movie from a personal experiment to a highly relevant political thriller. Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the scientist is at the center of accusations in Russia of a virtually impossible state-sponsored doping scheme. With links to the Russian president Putin himself, the movie keeps getting more and more interesting as the relationship between Fogel and Rodchenkov develops. Aside from all the madness that unfolds, Rodchenkov’s likeable personality makes the story more relatable and humane, and gives an insight into the pressures of working in the regulatory body in a country like Russia. You will be astonished by how much material this movie has. A must-watch.
What our users say: Great movie. Glad i didn't read what the movie was about because that would probably have made me stray away from the movie. It really made the subject interesting and attention-catching. (by C4113)More
An exploration of the complex and loving relationship between a mother and her son that will take you through a variety of extremely perceived emotions: it’s uplifting, disturbing, provocative, sad, and hopeful among many other things. We don’t get many of these middle-class-budget films anymore, and this one might be its category’s best. A kidnapped girl (Brie Larson) has a son (Jacob Tremblay in an electrifying performance) with her abductor and tries to provide a “normal” environment for the kid in the room where they’re being held captive, until they attempt to escape. Brie Larson won an Oscar for Best Actress in Room, so make sure to also check out Short Term 12, an equally impressive performance by her in an equally amazing movie.
A striking and revelatory documentary focused on the behaviour of captive Orcas and their treatment within SeaWorld and other theme parks around the world. At the center of the story is Tilikum, a bull Orca that has been responsible for the death of three individuals, and the legal and ethical challenges that have arisen from apparent cover-ups by officials. What happened to Tilikum to make him adopt such behavior? First-hand accounts by former whale trainers and experts deliver fascinating truths about Tilikum and the species as whole, with particular attention on their remarkable intelligence and advanced social behaviors. Blackfish will undoubtedly change your perspective on whale captivity indefinitely. It’s certainly not to be missed by anyone who appreciates top-notch documentary film-making as honest historical record.
What our users say: Excellent. Riveting. I spent three of my teenage years on San Juan Island. After a while, you feel like you know the orca personally. My mom died in 1995. I'm glad she can't see what's happening to them now. (by Erica)More
It’s been acclaimed as one the best Kung Fu movies ever made. You are probably wondering why this contemporary movie made that short list when its genre had its peak decades ago: it is visually striking and at the same time surprisingly story-oriented. As you would expect of course, there is quite a fair amount of action scenes, but the characters are also brilliant which is very uncommon in this type of movie. It is an exciting movie, and worthy of any compliment or good rating it may get.
What our users say: This movie has been given a lot of praise, and it deserves it all. What really makes it stand out to me from the Kung Fu movies, is its story and the raw emotions we see from Donnie Yen. I almost shed a tear at one point! The action scenes are well done, not too many changes in camera angle and the scenes are fluent enough to keep track off what is happening on screen. Not to mention the scenery, culture and such is fascinating and very well done. This movie really caught me by surprise, both the drama and the story did. The fact this is all based on a true story makes it that much more exciting to me. I highly recommend this movie if you're a martial arts movie fan, drama fan or like good storytelling! (by William2669)More
Death is a weird and scary concept. Ironically, the only way movies have been successful in covering it is through humor (Sunshine Cleaning and Beginners are other great examples). Departures gives this trend a new home, Japan. This film almost never saw the light of day, since at first many distributors refused to release it given the taboos against people who deal with death. Eventually, it received the credit it was due, including an Academy Award. It’s one of those rare movies that will take you on a journey through all of your emotions: it will move from making you laugh, to making you cry, then happy, and finally highly engaged in its subject matter. It’s a beautiful, funny, and compelling movie.
What our users say: My husband and I stumbled on to this treasure--love, life and death treated with care and subtle humor. An absolute surprise and one of our favorite foreign films. (by Sharron)More
It’s disaster movie true to the guidelines of the genre, and yet with a little Korean twist it manages to be refreshingly thrilling. While a father tries to take his daughter from Seoul to Busan, the second largest city in Korea, a zombie virus breaks out. Together with other passengers they try to survive until Busan, with news coming in that it’s a safe zone untouched by the virus. The acting is spot on, the set pieces are well choreographed, and most importantly it makes you care about the characters through the father’s struggle to keep the governing principles of humanity in the bleakest of scenarios.
What our users say: this is by far the best Zombie movie I have seen after 28 days later! (by Naj90)More
Full of twists on classic horror themes, this hilarious and gory comedy will have your sides aching, and still you’ll want more. The plot centers on two rednecks who are trying to have a good time while fixing up a summer home. True to horror movie form, a group of college kids set up camp nearby, and naturally evil begins to happen. This well-written, entertaining story even has some heart to it.
What our users say: A MUST WATCH!! Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time! It's the reason why I have to write this review. This movie didn't hit a home run in the box office but it has a huge cult following now. The ratings on IMDB were horrible about a year after the movie came out. Now it's a little short of where it belongs @ 7.6.Tucker & Dale vs Evil is a classic. It's a movie that can easily be watched over and over and over again, shown to your friends and even memorized. The more you watch it, the more you you'll pick up what you missed in previous viewings. The one-liners in this movie are absolutely spot on, perfect timing and funny as hell.From the scene where Dale get's his shirt stuck in the truck, if you don't think that is the funniest, just stop watching right there. Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk have the purest screen chemistry. They both said they would love to do a sequel but the scripts put in front of them so far weren't up to the standards their characters have set. It's a shame but it preserves what they created. Pure perfection.There really isn't anything bad to say about this movie at all. Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD! It's a movie you can watch anytime you want a good laugh no matter how many times you've seen it. (by The 345 Critic)More
The story of one of the most influential musicians of recent history, George Harrison, told through the eyes of one of the most prominent filmmakers, Martin Scorsese. Director and producer, Scorsese offers one of the most complete documentaries on any artist – ever. And what an artist he was – successful and talented, yes, but also incredibly inspired and spiritual. Through interviews, home movies, and concert footage, this long and intimate film will allow you to travel through the world of The Beatles, and explore the incredible mind of George Harrison. A heartfelt documentary.
What our users say: I watched this as “part 1” and “part 2”. I could have watched it in 5 parts and it would have still been amazing. So don’t be deterred by its long runtime. It’s probably the best portrayal in a documentary of any artist…ever. (by peter.heaton)More
As the value of ivory appreciated by the Chinese middle-class, the demand for it has skyrocketed. This brought elephants to a dire outlook: extinction in as early as the next 15 years. “Traders in ivory actually want extension in elephants, the less elephants there are the more the price rises” as one of the commentators in the film says. To bring awareness to this threat, filmmakers went undercover for 16 months and followed the ivory from where it was stolen to where it hits the shelves of Hong Kong. The result is a genuine thriller, far more gripping than you’d expect from a documentary. It portrays the brave and hopeful men and women trying to combat these atrocities, the battle they may be losing, and all the obstacles they face. An extremely important watch.
An inspiring documentary about famed artist Ai Weiwei who has been the source of arguably the biggest public confrontation with the Chinese government by any artist. His straightforward attitude is made to provoke and to defend the people of China against the totalitarian regime. The film portrays Weiwei’s very visible struggle for redemption and invoke a sense of accountability from the government. The documentary is also about him as a person, his intimate relationships and his interactions with his family as he prepares for a big exhibition. A rare insight into a fascinating mind.
A stylish and whimsical yet delicate look at breakups in particular and relationships in general. It stars Jim Carrey as Joel Barish and Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski. Instead of going to work one morning, Joel takes an unlikely route and that’s when he meets Clementine, together they realize they share a special connection without really knowing how that connection came to be. A tale of memory and regret, love and loss, it’s such a beautiful movie and a beautiful journey. You can’t miss it. If you’ve watched it when it came out you should watch it again – you’ll see the film differently. And if you haven’t watched yet, well, I envy you.
What our users say: A spectacular performance by Jim Carry and Kate Winslet. Loved the non linear flow of the movie. It reflects no matter what we do the love for each other cannot be erased. The world makes sure that what is meant to happen will happen. (by sujanthereaper)More
On Body and Soul is the impeccably crafted winner of the 2017 Berlin Film Festival. Two strangers have the same dream every night, they meet as deer in a forest and eventually fall in love. When they run into each other in real life and search for the love they experience once unconscious, their introverted personalities as well as their surroundings add variables that make it hard to establish that same connection. This unconventional love story is beautifully and passionately made by Hungary’s best director, who had taken an 18-year break from making movies. When you watch it you will realize that her break was probably the only way someone could so creatively and tenderly make something like On Body and Soul.
Five orphaned sister are put under house arrest by their uncle and grandmother after they are seen horsing around with local boys from school. While their actions were purely innocent, their behaviour is viewed as scandalous and shameful by the conservative elders in their small Turkish village. After this incident, their grandmother turns her attention towards marrying off her granddaughters. Each of the five sisters rebel in their own way, but it is the youngest and rowdiest sister, Lale, who is the central protagonist of the film. She watches helplessly as each of her older sisters are married off with an increasing sense of dread and desperation. While this may sound hopelessly depressing, the movie is equal parts beautiful and tragic, and floats across the screen in a dreamlike manner. Not all of the sisters escape their oppressive surroundings or their assigned fate, but the message is clear: it’s crucial to try.