25 Hidden Gems to Check Out on Netflix, According to an Entertainment Editor
We’ve been keeping ourselves entertained with Netflix’s newest and most popular releases, from captivating documentaries to action-packed crime thrillers. This time, however, we’re turning our attention to the underrated titles, better known as the hidden gems on Netflix. Sure, they may not have been major box office hits, but considering the strong performances and complex storylines, these movies are just as compelling as the ones we’ve all heard of. From The Florida Project to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, see 25 hidden gems that are definitely worth your time.
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1. ‘Little Boxes’ (2016)
If Little Boxes taught us anything, it's that adjusting to small town life is no easy task. When an interracial couple and their adolescent son leave their gentrified Brooklyn neighborhood and move to a town in Washington State, they find it incredibly difficult to fit in.
2. ‘Agatha and the Truth of Murder’ (2018)
If you loved Death on the Nile or Enola Holmes, then meet your newest obsession. Set in 1926, Agatha and the Truth of Murder follows Agatha Christie (Ruth Bradley), a famous crime writer who feels uninspired. But that changes when she crosses paths with a woman named Mabel Rogers (Pippa Haywood), who’s trying to investigate the mysterious death of her partner, Florence Nightingale Shore (Stacha Hicks).
3. ‘Beasts of No Nation’ (2015)
Based on Uzodinma Iweala’s novel of the same name, the war drama depicts the story of Agu (Abraham Attah), a young boy who's forced to become a child soldier when war breaks out in his country in Africa. It’s definitely not an easy watch, but you’ll want to stay for the powerful performances and gripping storyline.
4. ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ (2016)
Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a rebellious teenager, and his foster father agree to disappear into the wilderness to avoid his return to the foster system. But when the authorities find their home empty, a manhunt ensues.
5. ‘First They Killed My Father’ (2017)
Inspired by Loung Ung's memoir of the same name, this incredibly touching story details Ung's experience as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975. Directed and co-written by Angelina Jolie, the film is widely considered one of her best works yet.
6. ‘The Intouchables’ (2011)
Philippe (Fran?ois Cluzet), a wealthy man who suffers from quadriplegia, hires the most unlikely candidate to become his live-in caregiver: An ex-con. The heartfelt comedy was a huge box office hit in France, earning more than a dozen awards.
7. ‘The Florida Project’ (2017)
As hordes of visitors enjoy their adventures at Walt Disney World, six-year-old Moonee and her single mom struggle to make ends meet at the nearby motel, Magic Castle. Still, despite their living conditions, Moonee and her best friends are determined to create their own adventures. It’s raw, it’s emotional and it’ll stick with you long after you watch it.
8. ‘The Invitation’ (2015)
Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his girlfriend decide to attend a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, Eden (Tammy Blanchard). But when they arrive at his old home, he’s haunted by a traumatic event and begins to suspect that Eden has dark motives.
9. ‘Amanda Knox’ (2016)
This eye-opening documentary explores the murder of Meredith Kercher and the highly publicized investigation that followed. Amanda Knox, who was convicted (and acquitted) twice for the murder, tells her side of the story.
10. ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011)
When Kabir Dewan (Abhay Deol) gets engaged to his girlfriend, Natasha Arora, his close friends opt for a three-week road trip through Spain instead of a traditional bachelor party. Little do they know that they’re about to have a life-changing adventure.
11. ‘The Climb’ (2017)
How far would you go to win the heart of the one you loved? Shower them with gifts? Write them a poem? Or maybe climb the highest mountain on Earth? Loosely based on the experiences of Nadir Dendoune, the plot follows Samy Diakhaté, a Senegalese man who decides to climb Mount Everest to win the girl of his dreams—and become famous while he's at it.
12. ‘The Incredible Jessica James’ (2017)
After experiencing a horrible breakup, Jessica (Jessica Williams), a struggling New York-based writer, strikes up an unlikely romance with a recently divorced designer named Boone (Chris O'Dowd). This captivating romance is filled with witty one liners and will make you swoon.
13. ‘Dear Ex’ (2018)
The critically acclaimed Taiwanese comedy centers on Song Cheng-xi (Joseph Huang), a teen who finds himself stuck in the middle of a heated feud between his mother and his late father’s lover, Jay (Roy Chiu).
14. ‘Good Hair’ (2009)
"Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" It was the simple question of Chris Rock's daughter, Lola, that sparked this fascinating documentary, which explores the meaning of "good hair" and how this affects Black women in the hair industry. The doc includes interviews with stylists, beauty experts and several celebrities, including Maya Angelou, Kerry Washington and Raven-Symoné.
15. ‘Fruitvale Station’ (2013)
Based on the true story of Oscar Grant III, who was killed by a police officer in 2009, the film details the events leading up to his murder at the Fruitvale district station in Oakland, California. Michael B. Jordan delivers a powerful performance as Grant while Chad Michael Murray and Kevin Durand portray the two officers involved in the incident.
16. ‘I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore’ (2017)
Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) is not having the best day. After a long day of work, she comes home and realizes that she’s been burglarized. Worse yet, the police refuse to help her, and so she enlists the help of an unlikely neighbor, Tony (Elijah Wood). But when they investigate, they realize that they’re going up against dangerous criminals.
17. ‘The Master’ (2012)
Set during the 1950s, The Master follows Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a troubled World War II veteran who struggles to come to terms with his dark past. But his life takes an interesting turn when he meets Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the leader of a religious movement called “The Cause.” Considered one of Paul Thomas Anderson's best works, the film earned three Oscar nominations.
18. ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ (2019)
Prepare for a poignant love story, minus the cheesy romantic tropes. The Filipino romance drama centers on Joy Fabregas (Kathryn Bernardo), an overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong who dreams of pursuing a better career outside the city. But her life is turned upside down when she meets Ethan Del Rosario (Alden Richards), a bartender who plans to build his life in Hong Kong.
19. ‘Time Share’ (2018)
Everything is not what it seems in this thought-provoking Mexican thriller. Also known as Tiempo Compartido, the movie follows Pedro (Luis Gerardo Méndez), who travels with his family to a luxury resort for a special getaway. But their vacation goes south when they discover that they have to share the same bungalow with another family. From nail-biting tension to commentary on corporate greed, there isn’t a dull moment in this film.
20. ‘Dumplin'’ (2018)
Based on Julie Murphy's young adult novel of the same title, the movie centers around Willowdean "Dumplin" Dickson, a plus-size teen who struggles to connect with her mother (Jennifer Aniston), a former beauty queen who runs the town's annual Miss Teen pageant. In an act of protest, Willowdean decides to enter the pageant, which leads to an even greater movement that revolutionizes the small town.
21. ‘The Last Days’ (1998)
This gripping film, which earned an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, highlights the stories of Bill Basch, Irene Zisblatt, Renee Firestone, Alice Lok Cahana, Tom Lantos, Dario Gabbai and Randolph Braham, five Hungarian Jews who survived the horrifying Holocaust.
22. ‘Loving’ (2016)
Based on the inspiring true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the biographical drama follows the landmark Supreme Court Case of Loving v. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriage.
23. ‘The Bleeding Edge’ (2018)
This Netflix documentary takes a deep dive into the $400 billion medical device industry, exploring how life-saving innovations have actually harmed patients. You'll never look at hip replacements the same way again...
24. ‘6 Balloons’ (2018)
Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco and Tim Matheson star in this intimate drama, which follows a young woman (Jacobson) who tries to help her brother, who has relapsed in his heroin addiction. It offers a raw and honest look at how one's drug addiction can affect the people around them.
25. ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ (2012)
The Hindu comedy centers on Rahul (Imran Khan), an architect who suddenly loses his job and struggles to cope with the abruptchange. After one drunken night, he accidentally marries a free-spirited woman named Riana (Kareena Kapoor). But after they both agree to end the marriage, Rahul starts to develop feelings for Riana. It will keep you cackling all the way through.
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