Best Netflix Original Movies Nobody Talks About Enough
- 01. These Netflix Original Movies Beat Hollywood Blockbusters
- 02. Top 10 Netflix Original Movies Ranked by Critical Acclaim
- 03. Why These Netflix originals Outshine Traditional Blockbusters
- 04. Notable Categories and Standout Films
- 05. Viewership Data and Cultural Impact
- 06. How to Choose the Best Netflix Original for Your Viewing
These Netflix Original Movies Beat Hollywood Blockbusters
The best Netflix original movies include Society of the Snow (IMDb 7.8/10), All Quiet on the Western Front (4 Oscar wins), Marriage Story (IMDb 7.9/10), The Irishman (IMDb 7.8/10), The Power of the Dog (12 Oscar nominations), Roma (BAFTA Best Film), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (IMDb 7.1/10), Tick, Tick... Boom! (IMDb 7.5/10), Nimona (IMDb 7.5/10), and The Swimmers (IMDb 7.4/10).
Top 10 Netflix Original Movies Ranked by Critical Acclaim
Netflix launched its first original film "Beasts of No Nation" in 2015, and by the 2025 Academy Awards, the streaming giant had amassed 26 Oscars across its original content library. These films demonstrate that original productions prove they can keep pace with Hollywood in terms of quality and recognition.
| Rank | Movie Title | Year | IMDb Rating | Award Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Society of the Snow | 2023 | 7.8/10 | 12 Goya Awards, 6 Platino Awards, Oscar nominee |
| 2 | All Quiet on the Western Front | 2022 | 7.8/10 | 4 Oscars: International Feature, Cinematography, Production Design, Score |
| 3 | Marriage Story | 2019 | 7.9/10 | 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture |
| 4 | The Irishman | 2019 | 7.8/10 | 10 Oscar nominations, Scorsese-De Niro-Pacino reunion |
| 5 | The Power of the Dog | 2021 | 6.8/10 | 12 Oscar nominations, Best Director win for Jane Campion |
| 6 | Roma | 2018 | 7.7/10 | BAFTA Best Film, 3 Oscars including Best Director |
| 7 | Tick, Tick... Boom! | 2021 | 7.5/10 | Lin-Manuel Miranda directorial, Andrew Garfield spotlight |
| 8 | Nimona | 2023 | 7.5/10 | Best animated film, subversive fairytale |
| 9 | The Swimmers | 2022 | 7.4/10 | True story Syrian refugee Olympic team |
| 10 | Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | 2022 | 7.1/10 | Daniel Craig, Rian Johnson mystery sequel |
Why These Netflix originals Outshine Traditional Blockbusters
Netflix has demonstrated talented art house and indie filmmakers collaboration, working with some of the most renowned directors in the business while giving platforms to budding newcomers. The streamer's original and exclusive films comprise half of the platform's content offerings in the United States.
- Academy Recognition: Netflix amassed 26 Oscars by the 2025 Academy Awards, proving institutional validation
- Director Partnerships: Collaborations with Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Alfonso Cuarón (Roma), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), and Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
- International Stories: Films like Society of the Snow (Spanish/Uruguayan) and All Quiet on the Western Front (German) bring global perspectives
- True Story Adaptations: The Swimmers chronicles real Syrian refugee sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini
- Genre Diversity: From survival drama to animated musical (Leo) to whodunit mystery (Glass Onion)
Notable Categories and Standout Films
- Leo (2023, IMDb 7/10): Adam Sandler animated musical about classroom pet with heart and sentiment
- The Devil All the Time (2020, IMDb 7.1/10): Southern Gothic thriller with Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson
- The Unforgivable (2021, IMDb 7.1/10): Sandra Bullock against-type role as parolee seeking second chances
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018, IMDb 7.2/10): Coen brothers Western anthology with six separate stories
- The King (2019, IMDb 7.3/10): David Michôd historical drama based on Shakespeare's Henriad with Timothée Chalamet
Viewership Data and Cultural Impact
From 2020 to 2024, Netflix increased the share of original films in its movie library from 15.5% to 19.8%, though audience demand for these originals plummeted from 28.3% to 12.3% during the same period. However, standout titles like Society of the Snow achieved 103.8 million views, ranking third behind only Damsel and Lift in Netflix's first-half 2024 viewership chart.
Netflix puts 12% more ads on original titles than licensed ones, demonstrating the streamer recognizes the special value of its originals according to Ampere Analysis. The top 10 Netflix movies on IMDb represent must-see offerings that keep pace with Hollywood blockbusters.
How to Choose the Best Netflix Original for Your Viewing
For award-worthy drama, choose Marriage Story or The Power of the Dog. For international cinema, select Society of the Snow or All Quiet on the Western Front. For family-friendly animation, pick Leo or Nimona. For mystery entertainment, watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. For historical epics, stream The Irishman or The King.
Everything you need to know about Best Netflix Original Movies Nobody Talks About Enough
What is the highest-rated Netflix original movie on IMDb?
Marriage Story holds the highest IMDb rating at 7.9/10 with 372K votes, featuring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in a grueling divorce drama directed by Noah Baumbach.
Which Netflix original movie won the most Oscars?
All Quiet on the Western Front won 4 Academy Awards at the 95th Oscars in March 2023: Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score.
What is the best Netflix animated original movie?
Nimona (IMDb 7.5/10) is Netflix's best animated original, combining sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure with shape-shifting teen Nimona voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz, proving Netflix's animated films may be the platform's greatest strength.
Which Netflix original is the best survival drama?
Society of the Snow (IMDb 7.8/10, 103.8 million views in first half of 2024) tells the true story of the 1972 Andes flight disaster where Uruguayan rugby team survivors resorted to cannibalism to stay alive.
What Netflix original movie features the best comeback performance?
Dolemite Is My Name (IMDb 7.2/10) marks Eddie Murphy's monumental comeback as Rudy Ray Moore, considered one of his best performances in recent years with perfect balance of stranger-than-fiction life and comedic take.
Are Netflix original movies better than Hollywood blockbusters?
Netflix's original productions prove they can keep pace with Hollywood, with multiple Oscar wins, 26 total Academy Awards by 2025, and top-tier IMDb ratings matching or exceeding many theatrical releases.
How many Netflix original movies are there?
Netflix increased original films from 15.5% to 19.8% of its movie library from 2020-2024, with Entertainment Weekly curating lists of 30-31 best originals from the expanding catalog.
What Netflix original movie should I watch first?
Start with Society of the Snow (most viewed recent hit at 103.8M views) or Marriage Story (highest IMDb rating at 7.9/10) for the best introduction to Netflix's original film quality.
