Netflix’s catalog is truly overwhelming : it spreads in all directions (seemingly limitless in terms of eras, styles, or countries of origin) and can be complicated to navigate through its vast offerings. That’s why we present 25 undeniably quality films suited for all tastes: big-budget productions and small indie successes; artistic approaches and blockbuster hits; platform exclusives and timeless classics… a bouquet of ideas to prevent you from getting stuck when seeking great cinema on Netflix.
Roma (2018)
An exquisite film produced exclusively for Netflix that opened a brief period of collaboration between the platform and renowned directors, during which it seemed Netflix would become a classic-style film producer. Although fierce competition and the pandemic’s impact frustrated these plans, we were left with pieces like this fantastic movie by Alfonso Cuarón, featuring sensational black-and-white cinematography. It serves as a love letter from the director to the women who raised him, based on his own childhood in turbulent 1970s Mexico.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
The best Godzilla movie in years is this little masterpiece, which revisits the idea of the radioactive lizard as a war trauma . Blending war drama with traditional monster film elements, it doesn’t shy away from spectacle or reflective science fiction, taking Godzilla out of the pantheon of mega-monsters and restoring his original identity as a manifestation of the horrors of war. Keep an eye out, as Netflix also features an extraordinary black-and-white version of ‘Godzilla Minus One / Minus Color‘.
Nimona (2023)
An outstanding animated film from Netflix based on a magnificent comic by ND Stevenson: set in a futuristic medieval world, we meet a knight unjustly accused of a crime who must ally with an unpredictable, chaotic teenage shapeshifter to clear his name. This film explores identity and acceptance, radiating a unique energy while bravely stepping away from the uniformity often found in family animated cinema.
Puñales por la espalda (2019)
A superb revival of the classic whodunit style, drenched in social critique and humor, now a part of Netflix’s trilogy, with the final installment set to premiere soon. The first remains the best, introducing us to the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc, who investigates a renowned novelist’s death amidst a dysfunctional family and a web of lies. Rian Johnson’s keen eye for the genre shines through, anchored by an outstanding cast featuring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, and Christopher Plummer.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
One of Netflix’s biggest recent successes, boasting 12 Goya awards, further establishing J.A. Bayona as an international talent. It recounts the harrowing accident of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in 1972 when a rugby team and their companions were left stranded in the Andes after their plane crashed. The desperate fight for survival, extreme conditions, and borderline decisions go beyond mere cannibalism gimmicks , as Bayona opts for a sensory, ensemble approach emphasizing collective experience.
<img alt="Anime is dominating the streaming industry" width="375" height="142" src="https://i.blogs.es/9b6267/one-piece-1-/375_142.jpeg"/>El monstruo marino (2022)
</div>One of the best animated films to come out of Netflix, directed by the creator of *Bolt* and *Big Hero 6*. It follows an orphaned girl who stows away on the ship of a legendary monster hunter, together diving into unexplored seas, confronting colossal creatures while questioning the official stories about the beasts and the heroes.
Historia de un matrimonio (2019)
</div>Another Netflix exclusive framed as a couple’s drama in the style of Bergman, intense and painful, yet featuring absolutely devastating performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. It narrates the struggles of a New York theater director and his actress wife as they navigate the extreme challenges of their divorce, affecting both their private and professional lives. Directed with his usual emotional touch by Noah Baumbach, also known for *Frances Ha*.
La maravillosa historia de Henry Sugar (2023)
</div>A 39-minute short film directed by Wes Anderson based on a superb story by Roald Dahl, it follows a superficial millionaire and gambling lover who discovers a man capable of seeing without using his eyes through meditation techniques. Fascinated, he learns to do so to cheat but experiences an existential crisis leading to redemption. Visually, it’s pure Anderson, with vibrant colors and theatrical settings, featuring a star-studded cast (Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley) alongside Dahl’s almost infallible storytelling.
El poder del perro (2021)
</div>This psychological Western directed by Jane Campion was at one point one of Netflix’s major quality bets, garnering twelve Oscar nominations. Set in Montana during 1925, it depicts the clash between two opposing brothers, altered by the arrival of a woman and her son. Through this continuously conflicted group, the film delves deep into toxic masculinity, repressed desire, and buried violence, creating a constant tension accentuated by powerful performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons.
Nosotros (2019)
</div>While not quite matching the devastating impact of his debut, *Get Out*, ‘Us’ includes all the elements that have established Jordan Peele as a master of the genre: suspense, symbolism, and social critique. It explores deep-seated fears related to identity and racial inequality. A family vacation takes a dark turn when identical doppelgängers appear at night, bent on taking their place by force.
Cam (2018)
</div>A film fromNetflix’s early days as a producer that is worth revisiting for its excellent use of suspense and anticipation of an era of overexposure. Led by Madeline Brewer, it explores the world of camgirls through a young woman working on an erotic streaming platform. One day, she discovers she has been replaced by an identical clone of herself, continuing to broadcast while she loses control over her digital identity and life. The film creates a creepy atmosphere and offers an intelligent critique of our obsession with identity and online exposure.
1922 (2017)
</div>Based on a short novel by Stephen King and brutally led by Thomas Jane, *1922* introduces us to a Nebraska farmer who conspires with his teenage son to murder his wife, keeping the family land. After the crime, guilt and remorse begin to torment him as eerie and supernatural events unfold. ‘1922’ returns us to Stephen King’s morally grounded storytelling, offering a haunting portrait of guilt and self-destruction.
Sin novedad en el frente (2022)
</div>A sobering German adaptation of the classic anti-war narrative directed by Edward Berger. It follows a young German who enlists, alongside friends, to fight in WWI, only to quickly confront the brutality, horror, and dehumanization of trench warfare. This raw, direct narrative effectively portrays Paul’s transformation from naivety to resignation and trauma, creating a visually realistic and oppressive atmosphere devoid of any romanticism.
<img alt="Netflix is overwhelmed by Korean series" width="375" height="142" src="https://i.blogs.es/faf59d/si-la-vida-te-da-mandarinas-3/375_142.jpeg"/>1917 (2019)
</div>This film is one of the most impressive war productions in recent cinema, thanks to its spectacular use of long takes. It follows two young British soldiers during WWI in an impossible mission: to cross enemy territory to deliver a message potentially saving 1,600 men. Totally immersive and spectacular, it perfectly conveys the constant sense of danger of war, thanks to Sam Mendes’ direction and Roger Deakins’ cinematography.
Heat (1995)
</div>A modern and absolute classic of heist thrillers, profoundly influential in both action execution and narrative approach: a meticulous professional robber and an obsessive LA detective face off in a cat-and-mouse game while their personal lives spiral due to their intense collision. The solidity of its script and the psychological depth of characters shine through thanks to the trio of protagonists (Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer) and Michael Mann’s elegant staging.
Dune (2021)
</div>Both this sensational adaptation and its even better sequel are available on Netflix, presenting an opportunity to experience two of the best recent sci-fi spectacles, a grand display of galactic epicness with an adult approach, visually captivating thanks to Denis Villeneuve’s touch. This adaptation of Frank Herbert’s genre classic immerses us in the arid and hostile planet Arrakis, the epicenter of the battle for control over the spice, the universe’s most valuable resource.
Django desencadenado (2012)
</div>One of Quentin Tarantino’s two fabulous Westerns (if they’re not all disguised as westerns), set two years before the Civil War. Jamie Foxx stars as a freed slave who, alongside a charismatic bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), embarks on a mission to rescue his wife from the clutches of a cruel slaver. With stylized violence and wild humor, it’s an open and sincere homage to the universe of spaghetti westerns, daring and unclassifiable, a film worth revisiting time and again.
Matrix (1999)
</div>The original Matrix trilogy is available on Netflix, and we can’t think of a more reliable recommendation . Even if you dislike the two sequels (we enjoy even the late *Resurrections*), the original is one of the most influential films ever and a monument that remains profoundly impactful on pop culture: political, social, and cyber-futurist interpretations arise from its narrative, and each day that passes its concepts not only remain current but become even more relevant. Join Neo and Trinity in the ultimate struggle against the machines.
No mires arriba (2021)
</div>A science fiction comedy with a touch of epic disaster that sounded like a biting satire on the relationship between science and everyday life when released exclusively on Netflix, yet today it feels all too familiar. Two astronomers embark on a media tour to warn humanity of a comet on a collision course with Earth, facing ridicule and indifference at every turn. With an ensemble cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Cate Blanchett, it transforms into a sinister comedic vision of our future world thanks to Adam McKay’s excellent comedic timing.
Creep (2014)
</div>If you’re in the mood for disturbing and confusing horror mixed with equally unpredictable comedy, both installments of *Creep* (available on Netflix, with a third on the way) are a must-watch. Mark Duplass portrays the eerie lead in this absurd odyssey filmed in the *found footage* format, beginning when a cameraman responds to a seemingly simple job: filming a quirky man claiming to be dying who wants to leave a message for his unborn child. However, the experience turns into an increasingly uncomfortable entrapment as the dying man’s intentions become ambiguous and threatening.
Desafío total (1990)
</div>If you’re a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger, you’re in luck: thanks to the release of his charming old-spy series *Fubar*, Netflix has revived many of his movies — from later entertainments like *Collateral Damage* or *Escape Plan* to comedies like *Junior* and *Kindergarten Cop*, alongside the documentary series *Arnold* or total classics like *Terminator 2*. We’ll stick with *Total Recall*, the overwhelming adaptation of Philip K. Dick crafted by Paul Verhoeven, a classic of brutal action and conspiratorial science fiction that continues to shine as one of the best high-voltage satirical adventures to emerge from Hollywood in the 80s.
El hoyo (2019)
</div>One of the major surprises in recent genre cinema, which became a hit when acquired by Netflix, prompting a lesser sequel. However, the original retains all its anti-capitalist rage , depicting a dystopia where inmates of a vertical prison must survive on levels where a food platform descends daily, feeding those at the top first, leaving the bottoms with scraps. Each month, the inmates awaken at a different level, facing extreme moral dilemmas and the brutality of the system they end up feeding. A brutal allegory of everyday lack of solidarity and class struggle.
RRR (2022)
</div>Netflix is filled with Indian action films, but this was the one that made a significant splash on the platform: a spectacular epic set in the 1920s during British colonial rule in India, describing the bond between two historic revolutionaries who join forces to rescue a kidnapped girl and confront the colonial powers. As is common with high-budget Indian cinema, prepare for a visual onslaught , impossible action choreographies, vibrant musical numbers, and an utterly excessive mise-en-scène—perfect for a palate cleanse if you’re saturated with Hollywood-style action.
Drácula de Bram Stoker (1992)
</div>A lavish and romantic adaptation of the legendary literary classic by Bram Stoker, it continues to impress with its exquisite production design, wardrobe work, special effects, and especially the iconic performances of Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves. Coppola’s film may not have stayed completely true to the original, but it created lasting images and icons around the vampire mythos that remain relevant today: the initial segment, timeless love, connections with Vlad the Impaler… a theatrical excess entirely resistant to trends or modes.
La princesa Mononoke (1997)
</div>All of Studio Ghibli’s catalog is now available on Netflix, leaving you with no excuse not to immerse yourself in the masterpieces of one of the most significant animation studios in recent decades. Today, ‘Princess Mononoke’ is among the early films that captured attention outside Japan, mixing action for adults, Eastern mythology, feminism, and exciting doses of adventure: it narrates the odyssey of a prince, cursed by a boar god, seeking the deer god to find a cure for his life-threatening condition. His journey leads him into a conflict between humanity, represented by ambitious Lady Eboshi, and the forest’s spirits and guardian animals, led by Princess Mononoke, a girl raised by wolves.
In Xataka | Netflix’s substantial triumph is in bringing us back to square one: we want to pay to watch ads.