21 Movies You Haven’t Watched Yet On Netflix (But Should)

Christian TotoApril 15, 2022

You don’t need a film critic to tell you to watch “The Exorcist” or “The Shawshank Redemption” on Netflix. Both are beloved movies that have stood the test of time. You’d be hard-pressed to find folks who haven’t seen one or both.

The following films, while maybe lacking big stars, fancy budgets or muscular word of mouth, are well worth your time and deserving of a play next time you’ve got decision paralysis scrolling through Netflix’s endless selection.

Hush (2016)

This 2016 gem offers an ingenious spin on the home invasion thriller. What if the person being stalked couldn’t hear the intruder’s entrance? Kate Siegel stars as a deaf author fending off a killer attempting to enter her home. The can’t-miss concept lands a bullseye, thanks to Siegel’s determined turn and crisp direction by horror maestro Mike Flanagan (“The Haunting of Hill House,” “Doctor Sleep”).

Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020)

Who doesn’t love Polish slasher films? This ‘80s homage delivered relentless thrills for those who crave gore and more. A gaggle of teens, forced to camp without their smart phones, runs into a pair of mutated killers. It’s a genre treat of the first order, but make sure to skip the uninspired sequel.

Get On Up (2014)

It’s still a mystery why the late Chadwick Boseman got snubbed for an Oscar for his Godfather of Soul impersonation. “Get on Up” is a stunner, taking some liberties with the biopic format but always making sure Boseman’s James Brown is front and center. The actor may ultimately be best remembered for bringing Black Panther to the screen, but this stands as his finest screen performance.

King of Thieves (2018)

This 2018 heist film isn’t a classic. It’s flawed, no doubt, and the tension doesn’t erupt like it should in the third act. But it still gives us a chance to savor another Michael Caine performance. He plays the leader of an elderly gang eager for one last score. Their safe cracking doesn’t go as planned, and the old timers swiftly turn on each other. Honor among thieves? Not this bunch. Their salty dialogue is the best part of this fact-based tale.

Rust Creek (2018)

A college senior heads to the nation’s capital for an important job interview. She never arrives at her destination. Instead, she’s stalked by a pair of murderous brothers, forcing her to survive with few resources, save her wits. This indie thriller keeps our attention from start to finish, thanks in part to a strong lead turn by Hermione Corfield.

Hall Pass (2011)

Bro-comedies like “Step Brothers,” “Old School” and “American Pie” became instant classics, but this solid entry gets overlooked. Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis play married men given a “hall pass” for one week – they can woo any woman they want without marital repercussions. You’ll get some big laughs, no doubt, but it’s also a farcical look into the mind of a married man.

Wind River (2017)

The visionary behind “Yellowstone” uncorked this 2017 gem to less fanfare than his TV smash. Taylor Sheridan wrote and directed this tale of a missing Native American teen and the selfless heroes (Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olson) scrambling for the truth. Cultural sensitivities collide with cold realities in this underrated gem.

Creep, Creep 2 (2014, 2017)

The Found Footage genre is dead and buried and thank goodness for that. This double-shot from the genre, though, is the rare case where that no-frills approach amplifies the terror. The affable Mark Duplass plays against type as a mystery man who hires a videographer to capture his remaining days on earth.

The sequel may start with us knowing too much about Duplass’ character, but a new figure in his life ratchets up the intrigue.

The Trip (2021)

This bleak tale starts as a withering look at a marriage beyond all hope of redemption, but the second act introduces a bold new element. The couple in question plan a getaway where they can divorce themselves from each other… permanently. Those plans get pushed aside when some intruders crash their murder party. It’s dark, occasionally sweet and wildly original.

Tread (2019)

This is unlike any other documentary. The 2019 feature follows a small Colorado town overrun by a man pushed to the edge, and he has the tools to make his revenge … spectacular. The film’s storytelling technique is never less than masterful, and the true story is so strange no screenwriter could have cooked it up.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

This sweet-natured film pairs a troubled lad with an adoptive parent (Sam Neill) lacking that paternal spark. A shocking death in the family sends the boy out into the wilderness, coaxing his “Uncle” to come find him. What follows is a tender tale of opposites coming together and some hard lessons about the real world. “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi brings a generous heart to a story that might have been twee in lesser hands.

Begin Again (2013)

The director of “Once,” John Carney, strikes again, but this time the quasi-romance is complicated to the core. A burned-out music producer (Mark Ruffalo) discovers a singing sensation (Keira Knightley), but the lass is burdened by a broken heart and wobbly ambitions.

The two collaborate on some killer songs, and before long they’re wondering if they might make beautiful music outside the studio. Or are they? It’s unlike most modern romances, and the strong supporting cast (Catherine Keener, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld) enhances the, “will they or won’t they” third act.

Margin Call (2011)

Even those who can’t tell the difference between a bull and bear market will be mesmerized by this financial drama. An ensemble cast, including Jeremy Irons and Kevin Spacey, power this peek into the 2008 financial crisis’ origins. What’s mercifully missing? The preachy tone found in Adam McKay’s “The Big Short.”

Five Feet Apart (2019)

Hollywood often sexualizes young adults on screen, but this soulful romance does just the opposite. Two teens suffering from cystic fibrosis fall in love during an extended hospitalization. The catch? Their conditions force them to stay five feet apart or they could infect each other with a life-threatening illness. So they improvise, using creative ways to illustrate their growing bond.

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

Look past that unwieldy title. Melanie Lynskey stars as a woman who snaps after two-bit thieves ransack her home. She enlists an oddball neighbor (Elijah Wood, Jr.) to get her stuff back, and what follows is a darkly comic look at suburbia, loneliness and wounded hearts.

The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

Paul Rudd stars as a writer who ditches Microsoft Word for a career as a caregiver. His first assignment is a doozy, watching after a teen struggling with muscular dystrophy and the lack of a father figure in his life. The two struggle to find common ground, but that changes when they hit the road for an eventful road trip. Smart, sly and sophisticated, “Caring” offers a healthy twist on a shopworn genre.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

Teen dramas come and go, but this 2016 keeper can stand tall next to John Hughes’ body of work. Hailee Steinfeld anchors a story that hits all the teen angst beats without feeling inauthentic or stale. Add a poignant turn by Woody Harrelson as a curious teacher/confidante, and you have a film future teens will embrace as their own.

Cargo (2017)

Not another zombie movie. No, it isn’t. Martin Freeman stars as a widower trying to keep his baby daughter alive during an undead apocalypse. The focus isn’t on gore or shocks, although both make an appearance. It’s about a parent doing whatever it takes to protect his child, and there’s something beautiful about that amidst the standard horror movie tropes.

Blood Red Sky (2021)

Genre films can get away with sizable flaws under two conditions. They’re exhilarating and fresh. This unlikely thriller checks both boxes with a Sharpie pen. Terrorists overrun a commercial flight, putting a sickly mother and son at risk. The twist? This mom has a secret, one the terrorists will wish they knew prior to boarding the plane.

Once again, a parent sacrifices everything to protect her child, but not before the film uncorks an orgy of blood, mayhem and surprises.

In a Valley of Violence (2016)

This western’s opening sequence is a stunner, but the best is yet to come. A nomad, played by Ethan Hawke, takes an unfortunate detour to a town roiled by the local Marshall (John Travolta) and his ne’er do well son. Sparks fly, as they always do in the genre, but it’s the attention to detail paid by director Ti West, best known for his horror fare, that grabs our attention and never lets go.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.