The 25 Best Netflix Original Movies, Ranked
Because your weekend marathon should only include these Rotten Tomatoes-approved picks.
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There are plenty of Netflix Original Series that we can't stop watching (Hello Ugly Delicious!), but sometimes you only want to commit to something for two hours. Lucky for us, Netflix has quite the extensive collection of movies. Its seemingly endless supply of films include heart-wrenching dramas, nostalgia-filled teen movies, and terrifying horrors. And just when you think you've seen it all, you stumble across another category of movies on Netflix. So if you're overwhelmed with the choices (we get it) or don't want to spend your precious time on the weekend scrolling from one genre to the next, use this list of Rotten Tomatoes' top movies as your guide.
Netflix has a great collection of older movies, but lately, its original films have been the most-buzzy and talked about movies around. However, not all Netflix movies are created equal. We went straight to the top of the Tomatometer, which pulls scores from Hollywood's most sought-after critics, to find 20 of the best Netflix Original Movies to add to your queue. And hey, some of the features in the top spots might even surprise you.
Someone Great
If you (or your bestie) are in need of a pick-me-up, then this romantic comedy starring Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez is a must-see. As you watch her character Jenny try figure out her plan of action after a blindsiding breakup, you'll laugh, cry, and best of all, relate.
Tallulah
Remember Ellen Page's breakout movie, Juno? Well, Netflix's Tallulah is the more grown-up version. In this movie, follow homeless teenager Tallulah as she gets tangled in a web of lies with her ex-boyfriend's family after she unexpectedly takes a baby from an irresponsible mom.
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6 Balloons
In this heartbreaking drama, you'll see funnyman Dave Franco (Seth) and Broad City's Abbi Jacobsen (Katie) in a totally different light. Set over the course of one (very long) night, Katie tries to get her brother, who is struggling with a heroin addiction, back on track — and as a result, she faces a struggle of her own.
The Land of Steady Habits
Mid-life crisis? Anders Hill is in the thick of it. Since he feels trapped in his stuffy Connecticut town, Anders quits his high-paying job, leaves his wife, and becomes an absentee father with the hopes that he'll rediscover what makes him happy. His family members, however, pay the price.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
This inspiring, family-friendly movie is proof that one spark — well, windmill — starts the fire. In the face of a drought crisis, Malawi-born William Kamkwamba discovers a way to build a windmill to power an electric water pump. Along the way, William must decide if the risk — and investment — is worth the end result.
Win It All
Most of us don't have $50,000 to lose, including Eddie Garrett. After gambling thousands of money that isn't his, the recovering addict goes on a quest to find himself and more importantly, find what's most important in life. Spoiler alert: It's not money.
The Incredible Jessica James
For a feel-good movie that'll inspire you to take charge of your love life, The Incredible Jessica James tells the story of Jessica (makes sense) as she befriends a guy from a blind date. And yep, things get very complicated.
Our Souls at Night
For starters, everything that Jane Fonda touches turns to gold. Grace & Frankie? Point proven. More subdued than her Netflix original series, Fonda plays a recent widower who leans on her neighbor while grieving — and as luck would have it, his unconditional support quickly escalates to romance.
Gerald's Game
It's not all fun and games for the Burlingames. After a kinky night of romance goes awry, Gerald's wife is left to pick up the pieces a.k.a. Gerald's dead body. It's dark. It's twisted. It's by far one of Netflix's creepiest thrillers.
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Set It Up
For Harper and Charlie, a happy boss equals a happy life. That's why they come up with the master plan to set their two bosses — Kristen and Rick — up on an epic meet-cute. Luckily for them, it works — until it doesn't. Once things start to escalate, Harper and Charlie lose control of the situation, and panic ensues.
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Paddleton
Sometimes, the best comedies are the darkest ones. Enter Paddleton, which shares one man's quest to end his own life before terminal stomach cancer does. During his final days, he leans on his best (and only) friend to go an adventure and ultimately, end his suffering.
Okja
This delightfully odd and endearing story follows a young girl who fights to save her genetically modified pet pig from a greedy corporation that wants to make a meal out of her companion.
Always Be My Maybe
After her hilarious standup specials Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife, comedian Ali Wong teamed up with Netflix for this rom-com starring herself and Randall Park as teenage friends that reunite as adults. No spoilers, but there is an hilarious cameo from Keanu Reeves.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Meyerowitz Stories
As if the stacked cast — Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson, to name a few — wasn't enough, this heartfelt drama tells the story of three siblings who come to their father's rescue. While they help (or attempt to help) their dad grapple with his questionable legacy, the family hashes out problems that they've ignored for far too long.
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See You Yesterday
High school best friends C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith) and Sebastian Thomas (Dante Crichlow) always knew their hobby — creating time travel backpacks — would come in handy, but they never knew how, when, or why. Then C.J.'s older brother Calvin is shot to death by a police officer, and the duo goes back in time to save him.
Private Life
A story that's relatable to many, Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti star as a 40-something couple struggling to conceive. Throughout the movie, they try it all, from adoption to IVF, yet still they aren't able to get the one thing they want more than anything: a child.
Atlantics
A complicated love story takes a turn for the worse when a fire breaks out in the middle of a wedding ceremony — and the bride is blamed for arson. But that's just the beginning: The young bride, Ada (Mame Bineta Sane), is reunited with her long-lost love who travels back to Dakar to seek vengeance, and is forced to make a difficult decision.
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Tramps
Callum Turner and Grace Van Patten star in this rom-com about two New Yorkers who get pulled into a shady deal surrounding a stolen briefcase. Once the heist goes wrong, the two strangers are forced to work together to make things right.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Meet your middle school/ high school/ current dream. Jenny Han's best-selling teen read has been transformed into a romcom that'll take you all the way back to your awkward years (but in a good way). With a perfect blend of charm and truth, this modern-day love story also highlights the power of sisterhood. So, grab your sis before you watch!
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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