10 Best Original Netflix Films You Must Watch

Ever sat scrolling through the bottomless pit that is Netflix, hoping that something jumps out at you, but then hours pass, and you've watched nothing but previews and remain uninspired?

Well, we'll take the work out and give you a list of some of the best originals Netflix has to offer below.

Dolemite Is My Name

If you love biopics with a twist, Dolemite Is My Name is the one for you. This fun comedy is a hidden gem on the streamer starring Eddie Murphy as real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Something for all the family to enjoy is last year's Oscar-winning Best Animated Feature Film: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. A twist on the classic tale, Pinocchio features stunning stop-motion that follows a father's wish, which magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child. The voice cast is stacked, including Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Ron Perlman, John Turturro, Cate Blanchett, Finn Wolfhard, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton and Christoph Waltz.

Marriage Story

Marriage Story is for all the people who love good dialogue. From three-time Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach comes the tale of a marriage falling apart with Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson delivering Academy Award-nominated performances. Baumbach based the film on his own experiences, delivering a film that is both a masterclass in comedy and tragedy.

The Harder They Fall

Jeymes Samuel's BAFTA-winning film follows outlaw Nat Love, who rounds up his gang to seek revenge on his enemy, Rufus, who is newly released from prison. The Harder They Fall is a twist on the Western genre that brings it into the modern day with dazzling visuals, a top-notch soundtrack, and a stellar cast. Zazie Beetz, Danielle Deadwyler, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, Idris Elba, Delroy Lindo... the list goes on.

All The Bright Places

If you're a fan of coming-of-age tales with romance running through it, you'll love All The Bright Places. Adapted from Jennifer Niven's 2015 young adult novel, we follow Violet Markey and Theodore Finch, who cross paths when they need each other the most. It's a devastating tale of young love with themes of mental health and how two people can find a home in one another. It's a tearjerker, though, so grab some tissues.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

This tale of tensions rising when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gathered at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927 won two Oscars in 2021 and has flown under the radar ever since. Viola Davis delivers a tour-de-force performance (as usual) with a stunning ensemble that also features Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo and Michael Potts. It's short and sweet, too, at 94 minutes, featuring some stunning blues music.

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Marvel play the children of Dustin Hoffman in The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). Another one from Noah Baumbach, The Meyerowitz Stories is great for people looking for a family drama with a sprinkle of humour throughout.

tick, tick... BOOM!

tick, tick... BOOM! is for the musical lovers. Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut is an adaptation of Jonathan Larson's musical of the same name, which follows a young theater composer waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. It's a touching tale of community and resilience with an abundance of cameos for the musical theater geeks to enjoy.

The Wonder

The Wonder dropped quietly onto the streaming service at the end of 2022. Directed by Sebastián Lelio, the film is an adaptation of Emma Donoghue's book of the same name. Taking place 13 years after the Great Famine, we follow English Nightingale Nurse, Lib Wright, who meets a young girl who claims not to have eaten for four months, surviving solely on "manna from heaven". Starring the incomparable Florence Pugh, The Wonder is a great option for those who love a mystery.

The Swimmers

Another one for true story lovers is BAFTA-nominated The Swimmers, which follows two young sisters who embark on a harrowing journey as refugees that takes them from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Based on the story of Yusra and Sarah Mardini, it's a film filled with hope and determination with a beautiful tale of sisterhood running through it.

There are ten recommendations to sink your teeth into, and if series are more your thing, we've also got a list of the 8 best original Netflix series you must watch.