Everyone knows that Netflix can be really hard to navigate with all the stuff they have. Most of the time, you just open the app, scroll for like 30 minutes, and then decide to watch The Office again. However, if you manage to ignore the popular originals and the eye-catching titles, there are actually heaps of treasure buried. How about some forgotten foreign movies or really interesting documentaries? These lesser-known picks are definitely worth it. Here is a list of the top 10 best Netflix movies that you have to see.
10. System Crasher (2019)
System Crasher is a profoundly compelling drama and remains your ultimate reference for emotionally exhausting stories, even if you think you have already seen every single coming, of, age story. This is a gut-wrenching, harsh to watch, but memorable and unforgettable film chronicling the story of 9, year, old Benni whose emotional trauma and impulsive outbursts cause her to be rejected by the foster care system. Acting lead Helena Zengel simply amazes with the depth and sparkle she brings to the pain and the difficult side of the character she portrays, which makes it a lasting experience long after the movie ends. It is an unsettling film, but one of those that stays with you.
9. Happy as Lazzaro (2018)
Equal measures enchanting and remorselessly real, this Italian treasure marries fairy-tale surrealism with incisive social commentary. Narrating the endlessly gentle Lazzaro, who appears immune to time even as the world around him shifts, the Best Screenplay at Cannes winner is a haunting, dreamy ride that lingers long after the final credits.
8. The Look of Silence (2014)
Joshua Oppenheimer’s sequel to The Act of Killing changes the focus from killers to survivors of Indonesia’s massacre. After Adi, an optometrist who confronts the murderers of his brother with a quiet resolve, this documentary is both heartbreaking and audacious. It’s one of those precious few films that expands what nonfiction filmmaking can accomplish.
7. The First Slam Dunk (2022)
Anime lovers (and skeptics alike) will have something to love about it. Adapting Takehiko Inoue’s classic manga, this basketball drama offers pulse-pounding gameplay scenes to go along with a moving narrative about loss and perseverance. It’s well-dressed, emotionally charged, and yes—deserving of its box office record breaker.
6. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024)
This Thai dramedy is much more than its cheeky title. A dropout grandson moves in with his ailing grandmother for the “inheritance,” but what he finds instead is meaning, love, and perspective. By the end, you’ll be laughing, crying, and probably calling your grandma.
5. Güeros (2014)
Filmed in stunning black-and-white, this Mexican indie tracks three teens who roam Mexico City amid a university strike. It’s half road movie, half political satire, and half coming-of-age drama, with witty humor and beautiful imagery. Chic and profoundly insightful, it’s the essence of an under-the-radar gem.
4. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024)
This documentary demonstrates that a video game is capable of being more than that. It chronicles the tale of Mats Steen, a man with muscular dystrophy who constructed a second existence—and enduring friendships—within World of Warcraft. Utilizing home footage and creative reenactments, the film depicts just how real, enduring connections can be forged through virtual worlds.
3. Rebel Ridge (2024)
If you’re in the mood for a smart, tightly wound thriller, this one will satisfy. Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge tracks an ex-Marine who’s drawn into a circle of police corruption and systemic inequality. Aaron Pierre’s starring turn is powerful, and the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat until the final frame.
2. It’s What’s Inside (2024)
Half sci-fi, half dark comedy, and all mayhem, this movie plunges a group of friends into a sinister game that quickly descends into madness. Twisty, unreliable, and darkly humorous, it’s one of the most creative Netflix originals in recent history.
1. The Half of It (2020)
At number one is Alice Wu’s offbeat teen drama—a smart, poignant take on Cyrano de Bergerac. Ellie Chu is a mousy student who writes love letters on behalf of a classmate, only to develop a crush on the same girl herself. It’s touching, hilarious, and genuinely uncompromising, demonstrating Netflix can still get a coming-of-age story just right.
So next time you’re stuck in Netflix scroll purgatory, skip the obvious picks and dive into one of these hidden treasures. From tender love stories to gripping thrillers, they’re proof that the platform still has plenty of magic left—you just need to know where to look.