For pop-culture junkies, Netflix is a gift from the heavens. It allows us to consume all the movies and TV shows we could squeeze into our idle hours. And in the past year or so, we’ve had a lot of idle hours.
Thanks to Netflix, we can fill those voids of inactivity with a semblance of preoccupation: binge-watching TV shows and movies.
But if you’ve been watching stuff on Netflix for an extended period, chances are you’ve somehow reached Netflix fatigue. The symptoms of this malady are easy to spot. You keep scrolling through titles. You watch a few minutes of whatever catches your fancy and hit x. Only to scroll some more. But you can’t seem to find what you want.
That’s perfectly understandable. You’re going through the paradox of choice. You have too many options and you’re stumped by indecision. To help narrow down your options, here are underrated movies on Netflix that are definitely worth your time.
Burning
Released in 2018 at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Burning is directed by Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong and stars your favorite The Walking Deadstar, Steven Yuen. In this movie, Steven plays the bad guy, which is refreshing to see after seeing him heroically fighting zombies for multiple seasons of TWD. He plays the role of Ben with panache.
We don’t know a lot about Ben other than he’s affluent. We don’t know what he does specifically, but he could very well be working in ServiceNow software implementation or something that has to do with a tech startup. If you want to see one of Hollywood’s most likable actors play a villain, watch Burning.
The Grandmaster
If you’re a cinephile, you probably know who Wong Kar Wai is. However, you do not need to be a cinephile to enjoy his work titled The Grandmaster. In this period martial arts film, Tony Leung plays Ip Man, who’s somehow responsible for Bruce Lee’s awesomeness. This movie will give you cool fight scenes, gorgeous cinematography, and top-notch acting. It could very well be your gateway Wong Kar Wai. Explore the rest of his filmography as soon as you’re done with The Grandmaster. Start with Chungking Express.
Kicking & Screaming
Noah Baumbach became a household name because of the success of Marriage Story. Also, because he’s the partner of Greta Gerwig who’s arguably one of Hollywood’s prime talents. However, even before Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach was already an accomplished filmmaker, of the independent sensibility. Kicking & Screaming was his celebrated debut.
This ensemble comedy was released in 1995. It stars Parker Posey and Eric Stoltz, among others. It’s about Gen Xers going through the usual concerns of their generation. Consider it Reality Bites that do not take themselves too seriously. If you liked Marriage Story, watch this movie to see how Noah Baumbach has grown over the years as a filmmaker.
Maps to the Stars
This movie is more of an experience rather than a narrative. And that’s exactly what you usually expect from David Cronenberg who has also directed Crash and Existenz. Map to the Stars is a satirical drama starring Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, and Mia Wasikowska. If that lineup’s not enough to convince you to see the film, consider this come on: it premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. That means it’s an interesting picture. Plus, if you’re a Twilight fan, it’s time to see your Edward Cullen take on a meatier part.
Wildlife
This film was directed by the character actor Paul Dano. He wrote the script with his partner Zoe Kazan, who’s also a formidable actress. The film’s cast includes Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. If you want an unabashed drama, this one is for you. You’ll witness a family of three unravel due to forces beyond their control. Make sure you have something to wipe your face with nearby. You’ll be shedding a tear or two. Sadly, this film did not catapult Paul Dano into filmmaking stardom. But we know he’s just getting started.
Netflix suggests titles based on the stuff you’ve previously watched. While that allows you to sit back, relax, and let the algorithm decide on your behalf, sometimes you need to venture beyond those AI-generated recommendations. It’s a waste of your subscription if you fail to see the gems hidden in Netflix’s expansive library of films.
Start with the titles included in this list. They could be enough to shake up your algorithm. Confuse Netflix a little. Tell Netflix that they haven’t completely figured you out. It’ll be fun.
