In a world of instant gratification, Netflix has become a household necessity. Gone are the days of waiting for next week's episode. Gone are the days of waiting for a film to come to DVD. When a Netflix original comes out, you can watch it right away. Many are also released in select theaters, but who needs a select theater when you have your couch?
Five years ago, Netflix was somewhat of a mixed bag. They were just starting to produce originals, and their quality was hit or miss. Today, though, they churn out so many Academy Award-worthy films that it can be hard to keep up. Because of this, great movies can often go unnoticed or misunderstood by both audiences and critics. So, here are the ten most underrated Netflix original movies from the past five years.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
A young boy's father is murdered and he is forced to enlist as a child soldier during a West African civil war. Idris Elba stars as the unit's sadistic leader, and he proves, once again, to be one of the most compelling actors of our generation. Beasts of No Nation was Netflix's first original film, so it took a while to gain traction.
It is a powerful story about the human cost of war, with a setting that often gets neglected in modern cinema. If you haven't seen it, it should be at the top of your list. Just be ready for its weight.
Gerald's Game (2017)
Stephen King has no shortage of film adaptations, and while they can be dodgy at times, Gerald's Game is a smart thriller with enough character and suspense to keep you glued to the screen.
A woman is left tied to the headboard after a dangerous sex game leaves her husband dead. She is left to try and escape from her restraints while fighting panic, paranoia, and other demons. It is an original concept, features a great cast, and has a great balance of suspense, terror, and emotional impact.
The Little Prince (2016)
A little girl forced into the world of adult responsibilities by her overbearing mother. She has a life schedule that she must adhere to. When the little girl meets an eccentric, old pilot that lives next door, though, she realizes that there is more to life and discovers a wonderful world where anything is possible.
This feel-good animated film features a creative animation style, a relatable and emotionally moving story, and a huge roster voice talent that includes Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, Benecio Del Toro, and many more. Netflix proves, once again, that they can handle family-friendly films just as well as the mature material.
Wheelman (2017)
With the recent explosion of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars movies, the action genre has gotten some particular attention in recent years. Opting for a more compact, character-driven story, Wheelman follows a getaway driver who is double-crossed and forced to drive for his life while trying to uncover the truth.
Frank Grillo serves the gritty action hero role well, and the story takes some typical action genre beats and executes them smoothly. Fans of violent thrillers like Drive and Baby Driver will find plenty of entertainment here.
Imperial Dreams (2016)
A young father comes home from prison with hopes of caring for his son and turning his life around, but a broken criminal justice system and the systemic cycle of poverty pressure him to fall back into his old ways.
Having been released the year after Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Boyega was starting to gain some mainstream attention when this gritty drama came out, and through it, he proved to be more than just a ragtag stormtrooper-turned-rebel. He proved that his acting can carry significant emotional weight and impact, and he proved to be a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (2019)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the incredible and uplifting true story of a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi, Africa who invents a wind-powered generator and saves his family and village from famine.
Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor (who also co-stars), this dramatic adaptation of the William Kamkwamba memoir tells a beautiful story about a suffering village and a boy determined to make something of himself and help those around him.
Mercury 13 (2018)
During the space race of the 1960s, America quickly tried to get people trained to become astronauts. This push began with 'Project Mercury,' which resulted in a group of men that were referred to as Mercury 7, who were deemed of able body and mind to become astronauts. Behind closed doors, however, a group of thirteen women was also screened and deemed just as, if not more so, able to become astronauts.
However, when NASA was thrown into the media spotlight for the preposterous idea of women becoming astronauts, the project was scrapped. Mercury 13 is a documentary about this incredible group of women and the sacrifices they made for a country that wasn't willing to give them the same respect.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
High school sweethearts lose touch and don't speak for fifteen years. Then, when they run into each other, they reconnect. Ali Wong plays a self-indulgent celebrity chef and Randall Park is a struggling musician who still lives at home.
What starts out as a fairly typical clashing of worlds romantic comedy premise evolves into an extremely charming and surprisingly fresh story about two people reconnecting after taking vastly different paths in life. Plus, Always Be My Maybe features a cameo by the universally-loved Keanu Reeves, which nobody is complaining about.
Paddleton (2019)
When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he decides that he wants to go out his own way. In the meantime, he befriends his neighbor and the two develop a deep-rooted friendship as he nears his inevitable demise.
Mark Duplass and Ray Romano star in this moving, emotional adventure. The tone is balanced beautifully between comedy and drama, and the two men are cast perfectly, providing audiences with believable chemistry.
Klaus (2019)
Considering the time of year, it would have been impossible to not include at least one holiday-centric film on the list. Klaus is about an incompetent postman who is stationed on an island North of the Arctic Circle. As his faith slowly deteriorates, he meets a local teacher and a strange carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys.
This beautifully hand-drawn film tells a surprisingly human story that serves as folklore to the Christmas traditions that many celebrate today. Rashida Jones, Jason Schwartzman, and J. K. Simmons provide fantastic voiceovers to a trio of unforgettable characters.