The Best Netflix Original Movies of 2020
From a Chris Hemsworth action-thriller to an Oscar-worthy Spike Lee joint.
While there is unfortunately an inherent lack of buttered popcorn, massive screens, and reclining chairs on its digital platform, Netflix has truly stepped up to the plate for this year without movie theaters. The massive streaming site is packed with incredible films for the watching, and it’s not just movies from yesteryear and pseudo-new films that technically came out last year, either. Netflix is now a place where you can go to watch new big-budget Hollywood films.
In 2020, they’ve produced a mix of of stellar documentaries, action flicks, psychological thrillers, and even a new Charlie Kaufman film to perplex us from the comfort of our homes. We’ve rounded up the the must watches of this bad year so far that will surely help you to escape reality for a short while, at least.
American Murder: The Family Next Door
It has been a banner year for true crime on Netflix. American Murder: The Family Next Door in particular took the platform by storm upon its October release, and is as heartbreaking as it is gripping. This documentary film tells the shockingly violent tale of a 2018 Colorado familicide, and is pieced together with never-before seen police footage. Not for the faint of heart.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
With standout performances from Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the film follows the real life events of a 1969 trail that looked into possible conspiracy charges against seven men who were protesting at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. And if that short synopsis doesn’t do it for you, then listen to this: you can’t miss the wild accents offered by Eddie Redmayne and Joseph Gordon Levitt.
The Boys in the Band
The Boys in the Band, a stage-to-screen adaptation from Joe Mantello, follows the same story from the 1968 stage play of the same name, and yet, it remains peculiarly relevant in 2020. Starring an all-star cast of actors, nine men at the core of The Boys in the Band gather to celebrate a friend's birthday, only for the night to take a turn for the serious. What ensues is an exploration into each of their lives, examining the beautiful, painful complexity of being a gay man in 1968 New York. Bonus fun fact: every actor in the film is reprising their roles from the 2018 Broadway revival, so this crew is seasoned when it comes to bringing the dramatic story to life.
Enola Holmes
Millie Bobby Brown produces and stars in Netflix’s adaptation of Nancy Springer’s book series Enola Holmes. Also starring Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sam Claflin, the film follows the misadventures of Sherlock Holmes’ bright younger sister Enola as she comes into her own as a budding detective. It’s a smart, feminist twist on a classic, packed with fun and suspense. Here’s hoping for a second installment soon.
The Devil All The Time
Netflix’s new Gothic period drama The Devil All The Time is based on the novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, who serves as the film's narrator. Examining religion and abuse of power, the film, who’s stacked cast includes Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, and Robert Pattinson, is a dark, twisted look at small-town America.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman’s book-to-screen adaptation of I’m Thinking of Ending Things is somehow a smart, tightly written fantasia of horror while also being quite the mind fuck. When an unnamed woman (Maybe Lucy? Maybe not?) heads home with her boyfriend Jake to meet his family, the two find themselves in a reality that isn’t quite concrete. Time shifts. Personas change. There’s a legitimate musical sequence, and the result? Well, let’s just say that it might say as much about you as it does the film. Just watch and see for yourself.
Crip Camp
Crip Camp, the latest documentary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, has received near-universal praise from critics and viewers. The documentary tells the story of Camp Jened, a summer camp for youths with disabilities that became a hotbed of 1970s activism and helped kickstart the disability rights movement. The film makes extensive use of archival footage, and is co-directed and narrated by James Lebrecht, who’s himself a former camper.
Athlete A
One of the most powerful moments of the Me Too era occurred when more than 150 women faced convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar in court to deliver emotional impact statements. But horrifyingly, those women represented just a fraction of the former USA Gymnastics doctor's 500 victims. This documentary from Netflix examines abuses in the gymnastics world, and just how Nassar was able to get away with his crimes for decades.
Uncorked
Courtney B. Vance and Niecy Nash alone should be enough to get anyone onboard with Uncorked, one of Netflix’s best reviewed dramas of the year. It tells the story of a young man caught between his parents’ expectations that he take over the family barbecue restaurant and his dream of becoming a master sommelier.
The Speed Cubers
This movie may not be much longer than your average episode of a network drama, but it still packs the punch of a feature-length documentary. The Speed Cubers takes a look at the world of competitive Rubik’s Cube solvers by examining the friendship between two world champion cubers.
Miss Americana
Taylor Swift is one of the 21st century’s best selling and most talked about artists, a figure who has tightly controlled her public image since she was a teenager. That makes Netflix’s documentary about the star all the more revealing. In the film, Swift opens up about her songwriting process, battling an eating disorder, and her decision to go public with her politics.
The Old Guard
The Old Guard sets a new standard for superhero movies. Based on the acclaimed comics from Greg Rucka, the film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, follows a group of near-immortal warriors who have worked for centuries to fight for the betterment of humanity. Led by the ancient warrior Andy (played by Charlize Theron) and the newcomer to their team Nile (Kiki Layne), the film finds a beautiful balance of emotion and action.
Eurovision
In a time when everything seems very serious and very bad, Will Ferrell has arrived with a movie that is frivolous and fun and escapist and stupid. Do you want weird European singalongs? Do you want murderous elves? Do you want Ferrell in a flowing blonde wig with a bad Scandinavian accent making fun of Americans? Right now, you absolutely do.
Da 5 Bloods
In his follow-up to the Oscar-winning BlackKklansman, Spike Lee sends four Black Vietnam War vets back to the country, where they set off on an adventure to find the body of the leader and the buried treasure they left behind. The film—with a powerhouse performance by Delroy Lindo—is a stunning response to decades of Vietnam films that have ignored the stories of Black heroes.
The Lovebirds
Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star as a couple whose fractured relationship hits another snag when they witness a murder and become the top suspects for the crime. This turns into a hilarious adventure with two comedians at the top of their talents as they attempt to solve the crime and clear their names.
The Half of It
Netflix might have thought it struck gold with To All The Boys I've Loved Before, but The Half of It feels different. You see, it's the classic story of boy meets girl, boy stumbles on words, employs another girl to write love letters, then girl meets girl, girl falls in love with first girl, but it's okay because guy who originally met girl wants to help second girl realize how wonderful she is being exactly who she is. That's a lot of girls and boys, but the film itself is a delight.
Extraction
If you’re in the market for a thrill, Sam Hargrave’s new action-packed film Extraction will keep your heart pumping for two hours straight, from one car chase scene to the next. Chris Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a hardened mercenary tasked with the rescue and extraction of a high powered drug lord’s son from a rival drug lord’s kidnapping. He and the boy, Ovi (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), form a bond on their wild journey across Dhaka, Bangladesh that leads Tyler to potentially sacrifice his life for the boy despite the fact that he will no longer receive payment for the mission...but probably not, because they have already announced a sequel.
A Secret Love
Move over A League of Their Own; this touching documentary about two women in love is one of the sweetest features currently available on Netflix. Pat Henschel and pro baseball player Terry Donahue formed a relationship over seven decades and for nearly the entirety of it, they kept their love hidden from those around them. Seeing all different shades of prejudice and hardship, the two prove that love runs deeper than hate.
Circus of Books
This documentary looks into a decades-old establishment in West Hollywood. In 1976, the book store became known as a salacious underground purveyor of gay pornography, but the secret continued to grow. Eventually, this mom and pop shop run by a nice Jewish couple became the largest purveyor of gay male pornography in the United States and solidified its place within the annals of adult entertainment history.
Horse Girl
While some of Netflix's original films have been hit and miss this year, Horse Girl is a welcomed walk on the wild side. The psychological drama, starring Allison Brie, Debby Ryan, and Molly Shannon, is a slow burn look into mental illness that leaves viewers questioning whether the truly bizarre film they've just watched is a meditation on stability or a treat of a sci-fi movie. Hot take: neither answer is bad.
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