It’s no secret that Netflix can be overwhelming with options. Most of us open the app, scroll for half an hour, and end up rewatching The Office. But beyond the flashy originals and popular hits, there are plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered—underrated foreign films, compelling documentaries, and overlooked stories just waiting for a new audience. Here’s a countdown of the top 10 Netflix titles you absolutely need to watch first.
10. System Crasher (2019)
If you were to tell me that you have seen every type of coming-of-age movie, I’d say this one is an exception. “System Crasher” is pretty hard to digest, but a poignant German drama revolving around a 9-year-old Benni whose emotional trauma and vehement outbursts cause her to be a kind of criminal that no foster care has a place for. The young actress Helena Zengel stunned me with her incredible performance that really moves and stays with you. To say it’s a hardship to see would be an understatement, but it stays with you long after.
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.