The 25 Best Weird Movies on Netflix

The 25 Best Weird Movies on Netflix

November 21, 2024

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Weirdness is subjective: after all, what’s downright absurd to one viewer may be “weird lite” for the next. But there are a few films that most moviegoers can agree are a little more far-out than usual, whether because of their bizarre plots, unsettling humor, surreal scenography, or uncanny characters. But the truth is, the “weirdness” factor doesn’t always translate into cinematic merit. Indeed, although strange films are usually unforgettable, it can be tricky to assess whether the odd and outlandish are worth the full watch. To help you navigate the world of weird, we’ve rounded up the top films that are both highly unusual and definitely worth your time.

11. Swiss Army Man (2016)

7.7

Country

Sweden, United States of America

Director

Dan Kwan, Daniel Kwan

Actors

Aaron Marshall, Andy Hull, Antonia Ribero, Daniel Radcliffe

Moods

Funny, Mind-blowing, Sunday

Probably the weirdest film you’ll ever see. Paul Dano plays a borderline suicidal man who befriends a farting corpse that washed up from the sea as played by Daniel Radcliffe. It’s an adventurous, witty and hilarious film yet it is filled with discreet and very deep lessons about society and norms. The soundtrack is so charmingly unique as well, it’s a definite must-watch for anyone looking for a refreshing comedy.

12. Burning (2018)

7.7

Country

Japan, Korea, South Korea

Director

Chang-dong Lee, Lee Chang-dong

Actors

Ah-in Yoo, Ban Hye-ra, Cha Mi-Kyung, ChoI Seung-ho

Moods

Character-driven, Dark, Intense

Vague statement alert: Burning is not a movie that you “get”; it’s a movie you experience.

Based on a short story by Murakami, it’s dark and bleak in a way that comes out more in the atmosphere of the movie rather than what happens in the story.

Working in the capital Seoul, a young guy from a poor town near the North Korean border runs into a girl from his village. As he starts falling for her, she makes an unlikely acquaintance with one of Seoul’s wealthy youth (played by Korean-American actor Steven Yeun, pictured above.)

This new character is mysterious in a way that’s all-too-common in South Korea: young people who have access to money no one knows where it came from, and who are difficult to predict or go against.

Two worlds clash, poor and rich, in a movie that’s really three movies combined into one – a character-study, a romance, and a revenge thriller.

13. A Serious Man (2009)

7.6

Country

France, UK, United Kingdom

Director

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Actors

Aaron Wolff, Adam Arkin, Alan Mandell, Allen Lewis Rickman

Moods

Dark, Grown-up Comedy, Thought-provoking

This is an inexplicably and philosophically dark comedy.

Its protagonist, Larry, is a lackluster professor at a dull university. Then his life starts to unravel: his wife decides to leave him for one of his more successful colleagues; his unemployed brother moves in to stay on his couch.

So Larry ventures on a quest for meaning and clarity within his Jewish community.

All Cohen Brothers fans will appreciate the movie’s aesthetics and comedic strength. The protagonist’s struggle will resonate with anyone who has had a religious upbringing: guilt is a big theme here.

I felt like I had to rewatch it to understand it. But I also enjoyed that weird sense of not understanding everything that’s going on. Much like life itself.

The film rightfully earned itself two nominations for the Oscars, including Best Picture.

14. The One I Love (2014)

7.5

Country

United States of America

Director

Charlie McDowell

Actors

Charlie McDowell, Elisabeth Moss, Jennifer Spriggs, Kiana Cason

Moods

Mind-blowing, Thought-provoking, Weird

Elisabeth Moss is in it. Calling The One I Love a romantic-comedy, looking it up, or trusting anyone else about it — especially my review, will ruin this film for you. Just watch it. If one’s penchant is typically opposed to titles with ‘love’ in them, then it’s for you. Just hit ‘play’, or ‘start’, or whatever. The initial wtf-ness that attracted me to it is compelled further by excellent acting. And Elisabeth Moss is in it.

15. The Wailing (2016)

7.5

Country

Korea, South Korea, United States of America

Director

Hong-jin Na, Na Hong-jin

Actors

Bae Yong-geun, Cho Han-cheul, Chun Woo-hee, Do-won Kwak

Moods

Discussion-sparking, Dramatic, Mind-blowing

In rural Korea a policeman starts to investigate peculiar and violent events that most of the people in his village attribute to the arrival of a new Japanese resident. As the occurrences keep multiplying, and different perspectives in the film are shown, you start to lose touch with reality in the face of what can only be described as genius film-making. As critic Jada Yuan puts it, the film operates on a level “that makes most American cinema seem clunky and unimaginative”. For this reason, and while The Wailing is a true horror flick with a great premise, it’s also more than just that: it boosts a mind-boggling, interesting plot that will have you thinking about it long after the credits roll. Protip: grab the person next to you and make them watch this movie with you so you can have someone to discuss it with after!

16. Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees (2024)

7.5

Country

United States of America

Director

Female director, Natasha Lyonne

Actors

Jacqueline Novak

Moods

Discussion-sparking, Funny, Grown-up Comedy

We’re familiar with dick jokes from stand-up comedians, especially male stand-up, but Jacqueline Novak’s 90-minute show about the blow job feels completely new. Get on Your Knees feels like casual storytelling from someone experienced yet distant enough to be a cool authority on it (say, your best friend’s older sister’s best friend), but funnier. It’s like a gossip session about a first experience, except the breathless, dizzying stream of thought is peppered with philosophical thought and points out the absurdity around the language and common attitudes about sex. And as she does so, and as she talks about self-conscious fumbling and unanswered questions, she strides back and forth, in an easy, self-assured way, the way we’d like to feel going into the act.

17. Emilia Pérez (2024)

7.5

Country

Belgium, France, United States of America

Director

Jacques Audiard

Actors

Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Karla Sofía Gascón, Mark Ivanir

Moods

A-list actors, Action-packed, Dramatic

The journey of transitioning can be tough, but it’s not likely to be as wild as the journey undertaken by the titular rich mob boss of the crime thriller romance musical Emilia Pérez. It’s pretty surprising, with the incredibly stylish and totally unpredictable ways the plot unfolds, all made possible by the ridiculous all-or-nothing methods and means of a Mexican mob, and it’s a delight to see Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez feel at home in their respective Spanish-speaking roles. There are certain moments where the film bites off more than it can chew, but the visuals are stunning, the story is daring, and there’s really nothing like Emilia Pérez right now.

18. Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023)

7.2

Country

India

Director

Lijo Jose Pellissery

Actors

'Poo' Ram, Ashokan, Ashwanth Ashokkumar, G. M. Kumar

Moods

Challenging, Quirky, Slice-of-Life

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam might not immediately make sense to audiences new to director Lijo Jose Pellissery, but it’s still an interesting film that depicts Tamil culture. Also known as Like an Afternoon Dream, the contemplative bilingual film is centered around a prejudiced Malayali tour guide who wakes up as another man, specifically someone fluent in Tamil, and walks into the nearby village. Through vignettes focused on the village inhabitants, the film slowly unravels the dynamics between each of the villagers, flitting back to the tour bus on occasion to see how they’re faring. While some of the comedy goes over viewer’s heads, especially for people unfamiliar with the state, the slow-paced film feels like a fond memory from Pellissery. The film doesn’t explain anything at all, in the same way strange dreams refuse to do.

19. Copenhagen (2014)

7.0

Country

Canada, Denmark, United States of America

Director

Mark Raso

Actors

Asbjørn Krogh Nissen, Baard Owe, Christian Brandt, Frederikke Dahl Hansen

Moods

Original, Romantic, Weird

Though it starts off somewhat slow, I was delightfully surprised at how much I loved this movie. A 28-year-old man ventures through Europe with a buddy, ending in Copenhagen, where he hopes to contact the last of his family. There he enlists a local girl to help him. An interesting relationship unfolds as they take a captivating journey through Copenhagen in search of William’s grandfather. The tag line of the movie is “When the girl of your dreams is half your age, it’s time to grow up” and William really does have to grow up when he’s faced with his own personal tumult.
The girl is played by Frederikke Dahl Hansen, who gives an exceptional natural performance, which adds even more to the abundance of charm in this film.

20. Galaxy Quest (1999)

7.0

Country

Turkey, United States of America

Director

Dean Parisot

Actors

Alan Rickman, Corbin Bleu, Daryl Mitchell, Dian Bachar

Moods

A-list actors, Funny, Gripping

Galaxy Quest may be a parody of the sci-fi franchise, but it’s also a huge fan of it. It forgoes cynical takes for smart odes to the genre, all while retaining an endearing sense of humor about it. It’s silly and self-aware, and it has a lot of fun letting us know that they’re in on the joke. You can watch for the interesting premise, but you’ll stay for the laughs and the promise of a genuine thrill ride. Everyone is a blast to watch, but Sigourney Weaver and Sam Rockwell deserve special praise for being outright hilarious, elevating Galaxy Quest from B-movie to camp classic status. 

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