Whether you’re trying to decide if Netflix is worth paying for or looking to make the most of your existing subscription, you should start by checking out the top-rated Netflix original movies on the platform.
Not only are these some of the best movies available on Netflix—and to have released in recent years—but you may’t watch them anywhere else. So verify youadd them to your watchlistand enjoy them before you ditch Netflix for any other service.
This list comprises the top-rated Netflix exclusive movies with at least 100k ratings on IMDb.
7.8/10
2023
Runtime
2 hours 24 minutes
Society of the Snowdepicts the true story of a 1972 Uruguayan rugby team’s plane crash in the Andes mountain range in South America. Completely isolated and under constant threat from the elements, the young men were forced to make a series of impossible choices in search of food and rescue.
Thanks to impressive effects and direction from J A Bayona—ofJurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom—alongside grounded performances from a cast of largely unknown Uruguayan and Argentinian actors, I found this film to be intensely gripping and difficult to forget.
2022
2 hours 28 minutes
All Quiet on the Western Frontfollows a young German soldier, who enlisted to fight alongside his friends in the first World War. However, his heroic daydreams soon shatter against the terrifying, bleak, and traumatic reality of this devastating conflict.
This marks the third adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, and it released to enormous critical acclaim, receiving nominations for nine Academy Awards and taking home four of them.
2019
3 hours 29 minutes
Unfolding over three-and-a-half hours,The Irishmantells the real life story of Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran who transitioned from life as a truck driver to a trusted mob hitman and enforcer for the infamous labor leader Jimmy Hoffa. The tale spans multiple decades, from the 50s onwards, making heavy use of visual effects to age and de-age the actors accordingly—with varying degrees of success.
After initial difficulties, Martin Scorsese was finally able to bring this epic together with an all-star cast featuring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and many more talented actors.
7.9/10
2 hours 17 minutes
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson star inMarriage Story, an emotional and character-driven drama about the end of a marriage. The escalating divorce proceedings are further complicated by their demanding careers—he’s a theater director and she’s an actress—and, more importantly, the contested custody of their eight-year-old son.
Writer-director Noah Baumbach created a heartfelt and truthful exploration of relationships inMarriage Story, which shows how the good and the bad can become so enmeshed it’s just as difficult to part ways as it is to stay together.
8.2/10
1 hour 36 minutes
This stunning animation gives a wonderful origin story to Santa Claus—the eponymousKlaus—by portraying him as a widowed, toy-making recluse on a jagged and violent island in Norway. It’s when a selfish young postman seeks to use Klaus for his personal gains that they discover the magic of gift-giving together.
Klaushas quickly become one ofmy favorite Christmas moviesthanks toits gorgeous animation—combining 3D models with traditional animation for its unique effect—dark humor, and heartwarming story. I highly recommend it!
If You LikeKlaus, Check Out These:
If you’ve got a Netflix subscription, you really should check out the films we’ve listed above. They might not all be to your fancy, but with a range from epic war dramas to family animations, you’re bound to find something you get on with.
They’re not only some of the best original films on the service—that you won’t find streaming elsewhere—but they’re some of the best films released in recent years. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and enjoy!
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
