Netflix has become a leading streaming platform over the years, thanks to its extensive collection of original movies and TV shows. The streaming giant has made some of the most binge-worthy and enjoyable content that has garnered a massive audience worldwide. Netflix Originals are exclusive to the platform and are produced or co-produced by Netflix.
Here are some must-watch movies and shows from Netflix Originals that you should add to your watchlist.
The Irishman
The Irishman is a Netflix Original film directed by Martin Scorsese that premiered in 2019. The movie stars Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran and former hitman for the Bufalino crime family, and Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, the powerful labor union leader who disappeared in 1975.
The film spans several decades, following Frank as he rises through the ranks of the Bufalino family and becomes close with Jimmy Hoffa. The movie explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of a life of crime. The Irishman features an all-star cast, including Joe Pesci as Bufalino family boss Russell Bufalino and Harvey Keitel as another high-ranking crime family member.
The Irishman uses de-aging technology to make the aging cast members appear younger in flashback scenes. The technology made De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci appear decades more youthful than their current ages, allowing the film to span a wide range of periods.
Critics have widely praised the Irishman for its masterful direction, outstanding performances, and engaging storytelling. The film has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a Netflix Original series based on the book of a similar name by Andrzej Sapkowski. The series stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who navigates a world filled with magic, monsters, and political intrigue. The show premiered in December 2019 and quickly became a hit with audiences worldwide.
The show follows Geralt as he takes on various contracts to hunt down dangerous creatures for money. As he travels from town to town, he becomes embroiled in a larger conflict involving the kingdoms of the world and the powerful magic users who seek to control them. Along the way, Geralt forms alliances with powerful sorceresses and a young princess with a dark destiny.
The Witcher has been praised for its complex characters, intricate world-building, and thrilling action sequences. The show is known for its striking visual effects, including its portrayal of magic and the various monsters Geralt battles. The series also features a talented cast, including Anya Chalotra as the sorceress Yennefer and Freya Allan as the princess Ciri.
Black Mirror
The series has been praised for its thought-provoking themes, compelling storytelling, and striking visuals. The show has covered many topics, including social media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the nature of reality itself. Black Mirror has also featured a talented cast, including Jon Hamm, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Letitia Wright.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Black Mirror is its exploration of the unintended consequences of technology. The show often questions what might happen if our current trends continue or a particular technology is taken to its extreme. The show has been described as a modern-day Twilight Zone, with each episode offering a new twist or moral lesson.
Mindhunter
The show is based on the book Mindhunter. The series follows two FBI agents, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), as they interview convicted serial killers to understand their psychology and develop new methods for profiling and apprehending criminals.
The show is set in the late 1970s and early 1980s and explores the origins of modern criminal profiling. Mindhunter has been praised for its attention to detail and accuracy, as well as its complex characters and thoughtful storytelling. The series has also been lauded for exploring the psychological toll studying serial killers can take on investigators.
One of the strengths of Mindhunter is its nuanced portrayal of the serial killers themselves. The show features interviews with real-life killers such as Ed Kemper, Jerry Brudos, and Richard Speck and offers insight into their motivations and thought processes. The show also delves into the agents’ personal lives, exploring their relationships and struggles as they confront the darkest aspects of human behavior.
Mindhunter has been highly praised by critics and has gained a devoted fanbase. The show has been praised for its thoughtful exploration of the human psyche, its careful attention to historical accuracy, and its outstanding performances. Unfortunately, the show was put on indefinite hold after its second season due to budgetary constraints, much to the disappointment of its fans.
Queen’s Gambit
Queen’s Gambit is a critically acclaimed Netflix Original limited series that premiered in October 2020. The show is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis and stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon, a young orphaned girl in the 1950s who discovers a chess talent and becomes a chess prodigy.
The series follows Beth’s journey from her traumatic childhood in an orphanage to her rise as a world-renowned chess player. Along the way, she struggles with addiction, loneliness, and the pressures of competition, as well as her insecurities and past traumas.
The show has been praised for its compelling storytelling, strong performances, and stunning visuals. Anya Taylor-Joy’s portrayal of Beth Harmon has been particularly lauded, with critics calling it a career-defining performance. The show also features a talented supporting cast, including Marielle Heller as Beth’s adoptive mother and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as her childhood friend and fellow chess player.
One of the most impressive aspects of Queen’s Gambit is its portrayal of chess. The show makes the game thrilling and intense, even for viewers who may not be familiar with chess. The series also delves into the psychology of the game, exploring the strategic thinking and psychological warfare involved in high-level chess matches.
The Pale Blue Eyes
In the mystery thriller The Pale Blue Eye, Christian Bale reteams with director Scott Cooper (Out of the Furnace, Hostiles). When a death occurs at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, in 1830, retired detective Augustus Landor (Bale) is called in to investigate. Landor finds that the cadet’s heart was extracted, and there were marks on his neck, which point to murder.
A young military student named Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling) offers to aid Landor (Brian Bloom) in his investigation after hearing of his interest in the case. This is the same Poe who wrote such classics as “The Raven” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The audience will be on the edge of their seats until the final scene of this gothic mystery.