The 23 Best Netflix Original Movies of 2021 (So Far)
With Octavia Spencer, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and Eric Andre on the docket, Netflix's original movie lineup is more incredible than ever.
At the very beginning of this long, long year, Netflix announced its commitment to bringing audiences a new original movie every single week of 2021. As 2021 nears its fateful end, the streamer has delivered on that promise. There's truly something for everyone: mystery, romance, comedy, horror, you name it. Plus all the stars your heart desires, from Leonardo DiCaprio and Zendaya to Eric Andre, Octavia Spencer, and more. So where should you begin?
Maybe you want a touch of horror, which is perfect because Netflix released its own anthology film series via Fear Street.Then there's Bo Burnham's hilarious, if not darkly damning, look at the past year and what isolation can do to us. And don't forget one of this year's earlier options, I Care a Lot, which features Rosamund Pike in her most disconnected, hauntingly hilarious role since Gone Girl. You've got options.
Here are our picks for the best Netflix original movies of 2021.
tick, tick...BOOM!
Even if you don't yet know the real-life story of the late playwright Jonathan Larson, you'll find tick, tick...BOOM! to be an absolute delight. Andrew Garfield transforms into the Rent creator for the movie musical, showing us the singing voice we never knew he had.
The Power of the Dog
Nowadays, Netlfix always has a legitimate awards season contender in its late-fall film lineup, and The Power of the Dog is it. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst take a break from answering questions about Marvel Cinematic Universe rumors to deliver one of the greatest westerns in recent memory.
Bruised
If you had any doubt, Halle Berry's turn as a a down-and-out, ex-UFC fighter makes for one of her best roles in years. (Side note: Netflix, you're in dire need of filling out your library of sports movies.)
Vivo
Just a hunch, but I think you—yes, you—would be better off for having watched a beautiful, bursting-with-color animated musical with Gloria Estefan and Lin-Manuel Miranda as the leads. Again, only a hunch.
The Guilty
The Guilty stars Gyllenhaal as a 911 call operator, following him over the course of a single morning. If you had any doubt, things go wildly out of control—making for a thriller that will surely go down as one of Gyllenhaal's most memorable performances.
The Swarm
The Swarm is one of the best dramas of the year, bar none. But it also (heavily) involves bees feeding on human flesh. So... you've been warned.
Beckett
Don't you hate when you go on vacation and become the center of a political conspiracy and nearly get assassinated? Classic hijinks! John David Washington stars in this thriller where exactly that happens. The only question is, will he live to tell the tale afterward?
The Fear Street Series
The worlds of film and television are constantly blending, but this smart three-part film series is one of Netflix's best outings in a while. Set across multiple centuries, a girl and her friends take on the menacing evil spirits that have been haunting Shadyside for far too long.
Bo Burnham: Inside
For a comedy special, Bo Burnham: Inside is a haunting look at what the past year has been like. That also makes sense, considering that he filmed the special over the course of the past year. Filled with commentary on quarantine, internet culture, and the everyday throes of what 2020 looked like, Inside is a comedic masterpiece and a sobering look at what will surely be one of the most historic events of our time.
Pieces of a Woman
This is arguably one of Netflix's best first outings of the year. Starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBoeuf, and Ellen Burstyn, Pieces of a Woman is the heartbreaking story of a tragic pregnancy whose aftermath cuts through a marriage like a sharp knife. Bonus: it's already out.
The Dig
The Dig transports us to early 20th century Britain on the verge of World War II, where a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) enlists an archeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her land. What he unearths is a medieval ship, discovering all the secrets of history held within it.
Finding 'Ohana
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly movie that you might actually enjoy, Finding 'Ohana seems like a solid bet. Picture The Goonies but in modern-day Hawaii, where two Brooklyn-raised siblings reconnect with their roots on an adventure to find a long-lost treasure (and save their grandfather’s home).
Malcolm and Marie
In March, as the world screeched to a halt, Zendaya teamed up with Euphoria writer-director Sam Levinson to begin work on this ‘secret,’ film—one of the first shot during the pandemic. John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Tenet) and Zendaya play filmmaker Malcolm and his girlfriend Marie, respectively, who must confront truths about their relationship after returning home from Malcolm’s movie premiere.
To All the Boys: Always and Forever
Lara Jean Covey is back for the final cinematic installment of the beloved high school rom-com. Based on the acclaimed books by Jenny Han, the third film takes Lara Jean on trips to Korea and New York City, as she faces the challenges of sustaining her relationship through the onset of college and young adulthood.
I Care A Lot
A sketchy guardian (Rosamund Pike) who cons her elderly wards out of their savings meets her match in Netflix's I Care A Lot. All is going well for the con woman until she tries to pull the stunt on a woman (Dianne Wiest) with powerful friends in a mafia-like crime organization. Pike won a Golden Globe for her performance in this twisted tale.
Moxie
In Amy Poehler’s coming-of-age comedy, a 16-year-old girl finds inspiration in her mother’s riot grrrl past, anonymously publishing a zine that challenges the sexist status quo at her Texas high school.
Yes Day
Jennifer Garner stars in this family comedy about two parents who decide to spend a day saying ‘yes’ to everything their kids ask to do—no adventurous request too big.
Bad Trip
Eric Andre's prank-style film features two best friends going around and pulling pranks on people. Sometimes, you don't have to get much deeper than that.
Madame Claude
Based on a true story and set in the 1960s, Madame Claude follows the life of the woman who ran the most famous brothel in Paris. Madame Claude's power and societal influence is unwavering, until a wealthy young woman threatens her empire.
Concrete Cowboy
Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things), and Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight) star in this Western drama about a teenage boy who discovers the world of urban cowboys after being sent to live with his estranged father in Philadelphia.
Every Star Wars Show Coming to Disney+
The Best Memes of 2021
The Best Video Games of 2021
The Best Songs of 2021
