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The 11 best movies on Netflix you've probably never seen — but should

9 December 2024 at 11:56
Ellen Barkin holding Al Pacino
Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino star in "Sea of Love."

Universal/Getty

  • If you're looking for something different to watch on Netflix, you've come to the right place.
  • We've highlighted 11 titles you've probably never seen but should watch.
  • Check out movies like "Sea of Love," "The Thin Blue Line," and "Silverado."

Ian Phillips contributed to a previous version of this article.

Note: Numerous Netflix titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

"Blue Jay"
Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass walking
Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass in "Blue Jay."

The Orchard

Jim Henderson (Mark Duplass) is back in his hometown to sell his late mother's house when he bumps into his high-school girlfriend, Amanda (Sarah Paulson). They end up spending the day together, leading to a lot of laughs and some shocking revelations.

Duplass, who also wrote the screenplay, and Paulson are fantastic together. If you're looking for a different kind of love story, this is for you.

"Casting JonBenet"
Casting JonBenet Michael Latham Sundance Institute
Kitty Green's "Casting JonBenet."

Michael Latham/Sundance Institute

If you can't get enough ofΒ Netflix's new docuseries "Cold Case: Who killed JonBenΓ©t Ramsey," we recommend this fiction/doc hybrid the streamer made in 2017.

"Casting JonBenet," Kitty Green's directorial debut ("The Assistant," "The Royal Hotel"), explores the unsolved murder in a unique way: by filming the casting of a fake movie about the JonBenΓ©t murder.

Green hires actors who live in the region of Colorado where the Ramseys lived. Some of them even know the family. The movie is made up of actor auditions and reenactments of key events, like the police news conference after the murder, and JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy, being interviewed by police. A handful of actors portray the main figures of the case in these moments β€” yes, even young girls as JonBenΓ©t.

The movie is a fascinating study of our own obsessions about the case rather than a search for answers.

"Compliance"
Compliance Magnolia Pictures
Dreama Walker in "Compliance."

Magnolia Pictures

If you're looking for something very different, check out this movie.

Written and directed by Craig Zobel ("Mare of Easttown," "The Penguin"), this disturbing movie is based on "strip search phone scams" that went on in the early 2000s.

In the movie, like the real-life instances, someone calls a fast-food restaurant claiming to be a police officer, and then convinces the manager over the phone to conduct a strip search of a female employee.

The movie stars Dreama Walker as the employee, Ann Dowd as the manager, and Pat Healy as the caller impersonating a police officer.

"Emily the Criminal"
A scene from "Emily the Criminal"
Aubrey Plaza in "Emily the Criminal."

Universal Pictures

After a nonexistent theatrical release in 2022, this thriller has found a second life on Netflix.

Aubrey Plaza plays a woman crippled by student debt and unable to find a good job due to a criminal record. She decides to get into the credit-card scam game, leading her down a dark path in the Los Angeles crime scene.

"Kicking and Screaming"
kicking and screaming noah baumbach
Olivia d'Abo and Josh Hamilton in "Kicking and Screaming."

Trimark Pictures

No, we're not talking about that Will Ferrell soccer movie. This 1995 movie was Noah Baumbach's feature directing debut, showcasing his talent for mixing comedy with middle-class malaise. Here, he looks at a group of college graduates who are having trouble becoming real adults.

Josh Hamilton, Parker Posey, and Eric Stoltz round out the ensemble cast.

"Oldboy"
oldboy
Park Chan-wook's "Oldboy."

YouTube

Park Chan-wook's beloved film follows a man who seeks revenge after being imprisoned for 15 years. Get ready for a fun and twisted tale with an impressive single-shot fight sequence.

"The Other Side of the Wind"
the other side of the wind netflix
Peter Bogdanovich and John Huston in "The Other Side of the Wind."

Netflix

In 2018, 48 years after Orson Welles began production on what would become his final feature film, Netflix finally released what was meant to be Welles' Hollywood comeback.Β 

Chronicling the last day of a filmmaking legend's (John Huston) life, the movie plays with a film-within-a-film storytelling style, rapid editing, and numerous types of film stock to tell a moving story about life and legacy.

Keep an eye out for a Dennis Hopper cameo, a stunning performance by Oja Kodar, and a scene-stealing role from Welles' longtime friend, fellow filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich.

"Sea of Love"
Ellen Barkin sitting next to Al Pacino
Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino in "Sea of Love."

Universal

This late-1980s erotic neo-noir thriller stars Al Pacino as Frank Keller, a New York detective trying to track down a serial killer who is using a singles' column in the newspaper to find victims.

Ellen Barkin plays Helen Cruger, a woman at the top of Frank's suspects list. There's just one problem: he's falling in love with her.

John Goodman, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Rooker all give great performances, too.

"Silverado"
Danny Glover, Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, and Kevin Costner dressed as cowboys
Danny Glover, Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, and Kevin Costner in "Silverado."

Columbia Pictures

This classic 1985 Western from director Lawrence Kasdan ("The Big Chill") follows a group of misfit friends as they try to clean up the town of Silverado.

Filled with great gunfights and banter, it's highlighted by an ensemble cast that includes Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Fahey, and Linda Hunt.

"The Squid and the Whale"
The Squid and the Whale
Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney in "The Squid and the Whale."

Samuel Goldwyn Films/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Noah Baumbach's acclaimed early 2000s dramedy stars Jesse Eisenberg as a young man living in Brooklyn in the early 1980s who is dealing with the divorce of his parents, played by Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney.

"The Thin Blue Line"
Thin Blue Line 1
Errol Morris' "The Thin Blue Line."

The Criterion Collection

Errol Morris' acclaimed documentary proved a man was wrongly convicted of murder and also uncovered the man who actually did the crime.

Using beautifully shot reenactments and engaging interviews, this chilling exploration inside the mind of a killer is considered one of the best non-fiction works ever created.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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