The 27 Best Netflix Original Movies, Ranked From 'Okja' to 'Mudbound'

Netflix might be best known as a source of binge-worthy shows, but the streaming giant also has a pretty hefty lineup of original movies. Sure, there have been a lot of disappointments on that front, (we're looking at you, "The Cloverfield Paradox"). Even so, here are the 26 best movies you need to add to your queue.

27. 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'

This one has quite a mouthful of a title, but it's worth watching for anyone who loves their period dramas. Lily James proves once again that it's the genre she knows best, as she stars as an English writer who begins corresponding with the residents of Guernsey Island in the aftermath of World War II.

26. 'Come Sunday'

"Come Sunday" is flawed enough that it almost doesn't qualify to be grouped in with Netflix's best. But one great performance can make up for everything else, and that's definitely the case with star Chiwetel Ejiofor. Ejiofor shines as a conflicted pastor who becomes a pariah among his own congregation.

25. 'Velvet Buzzsaw'

"Velvet Buzzsaw" features a welcome reunion from 2014's "Nightcrawler," including director Dan Gilroy and stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo. The end result is far more uneven than we would have liked, but its unique combination of horror and art world satire is something that deserves to be experienced by everyone with a Netflix subscription.

24. 'Candy Jar'

The idea of a teen comedy about the trials and tribulations of a high school debate team may not sound appealing to most, but it's a formula that works surprisingly well here. It helps that the film boasts such a strong, likable cast, and that the intelligent script has plenty to say about the education system and the challenges of moving up in the world.

23. 'Happy Sunday'

"Happy Sunday" is a great way to get your romantic comedy fix on Netflix without having to devote hours to binging something like "Love." It stars Dinah Wells and Ben Schwartz as a couple contemplating whether to call it quits on their third anniversary. Not the most unique approach, but one that works well regardless.

22. 'Apostle'

If you ever wanted to see a modern remake of "The Wicker Man" that actually does justice to the original, you might as well check out "Apostle." A very different sort of film from "The Raid" director Gareth Evans, "Apostle" offers a tense, suspenseful thriller starring the always enjoyable Dan Evans as a man who returns home to discover his sister has been abducted by a religious cult.

21. 'Win It All'

Director Joe Swanberg and star Jake Johnson tend to make an effective comedic pair, and that holds true with "Win It All." It helps that the film's sense of humor is balanced out by an emphasis on character drama, with Johnson playing a self-destructive gambling addict who gets in way over his head.

20. '6 Balloons'

The last few years have seen Dave Franco emerge from his older brother's shadow and become a respected actor in his own right. This film certainly helped in that process, with Franco starring as a relapsed heroin addict. But the real star of the show is the mesmerizing Abbi Jacobson, playing the supportive sister to Franco's character.

19. 'Ravenous'

We never cease to be amazed when directors find ways to put a fresh new spin on the zombie genre. "Ravenous" is easily one of the best zombie movies in recent memory, combining the usual tropes with a healthy dose of humor, social commentary and musings on identity.

18. 'Like Father'

It does very little to subvert the usual romantic comedy tropes, but "Like Father" still succeeds on the strength of a very strong cast. You really can't go wrong with a movie pairing Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer as an estranged father/daughter pair.

17. '1922'

Hollywood has a pretty rough track record when it comes to adapting Stephen King stoires. We're starting to think streaming is the area where King's work shines best. This effective thriller is based on a more recent King story, one that offers a new spin on the classic Edgar Allan Poe story "the Tell-Tale Heart."

16. 'The Little Prince'

It's a tough market out there for animated films that strive to be something other than goody, family-friendly blockbusters. Thankfully, Netflix was there to extend a hand to this 2015 French film. The gorgeous animation and moving storyline make this a must-see for animation buffs.

15. 'The Other Side of the Wind'

It's hard to imagine a bigger selling point than Netflix debuting a new Orson Welles film decades after the legendary director's death. The finished film may alienate those hoping for another "Citizen Kane," but those without preconceived expectations will find a rewarding glimpse at a filmmaker in the twilight of his career.

14. 'Beasts of No Nation'

This was one of the first films to really establish Netflix as a forced to be reckoned with on the awards circuit. It offers a gripping and often unnerving look at the lives of child soldiers in West Africa. Yet as dark as it is, there's also a surprisingly optimistic tone to this drama.

13. 'Set It Up'

"Set It Up" is another must-watch for anyone needing a god rom-com fix. Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell star as two chronically overworked assistants trying to set their respective bosses up on a date. What seems like a generic project on paper turn out to be a surprisingly enjoyable take on a familiar genre.

12. 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore'

After making a name for himself as an actor, Macon Blair proved he has real chops behind the camera in "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore." This comedic thriller feels right at home alongside Blair's collaborations with Jeremy Saulnier. It's an amusing but also very bleak look at a pair of unlikely heroes searching for their place in a society that seems content to ignore them.

11. 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'

If Netflix can rope in the Coen Bros. for a new comedic Western film, you know they've really come into their own as a film distributor. "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" offers a wild ride of an anthology story with a hilariously compelling Tim Blake Nelson as a tour guide. Our only complaint is that we wish it had been a limited series as initially planned.

10. 'Gerald's Game'

This film proves again that Netflix knows how to do Stephen King adaptations better than most studios. It's all the more impressive considering how difficult the source material is. This streamlined thriller is pretty much just a movie about Carla Gugino's character being handcuffed to a bed, but it manages to make the most of that simple premise.

9. 'Divines'

This French drama delivers a total package. It's beautifully shot and thoughtful in its execution, yet also tells a gripping tale about two friends and small-time crooks who get caught up in a much larger criminal enterprise.

8. 'My Happy Family'

This Georgian drama has the rare distinction of earning a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's not hard to understand why. It offers a captivating look at a middle-aged woman who suddenly decides to abandon her family, even knowing her actions will make her a social pariah. Learning her true motivations is just one of the many highlights of the film.

7. 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'

Teen romantic comedies don't get any better than this. Lana Condor stars in this charming tale of an awkward high schooler facing every teen's worst nightmare - having her private love letters revealed to the entire school. But rather than serving as fodder for a grim story about the dark side of social media, it fuels a wonderfully entertaining rom-com instead.

6. 'High-Flying Bird'

We can only imagine how depressing it must be to be a director and see the quality of films Steven Soderbergh is able to deliver using nothing more than an iPhone. "High Flying Bird" is one of Soderbergh's best efforts in recent memory, regardless of what camera he employed. It features the always excellent Andre Holland as an ambitious sports agent trying to use an NBA lockout to his advantage.

5. 'The Meyerowitz Stories'

While Adam Sandler has starred in several Netflix originals, most of them will never land within miles of any Best Of lists. Thankfully, we have "The Meyerowitz Stories" to remind us of how big a draw Sandler can be given the right material. He stars alongside Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Marvel as a group of highly dysfunctional siblings struggling to escape their father's shadow.

4. 'Private Life' (2018)

This more recent addition to the Netflix catalog also happens to be one of the service's best. Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn are fantastic as a middle-aged couple trying to finally become parents by any means necessary.

3. 'Okja' (2017)

"Okja" embodies everything we love to see out of netflix's original movies. It boasts a strong cast and an acclaimed director, as well as a unique premise that makes it a tough sell in a more traditional movie-going environment. This adventure movie is pretty much the modern-day "E.T." - just the right blend of heartwarming and quirky.

2. 'Mudbound'

"Mudbound" played a key role in helping Netflix break through at the nortoriously traditionalist Academy Awards. It's basically impossible to ignore Mary J. Blige's contributions to the film as both an actor and a singer. Few recent dramas have succeeded so much in exploring the racial and class divide in the post-WWII South.

1. 'Roma'

Inevitably, any film Alfonso Cuarón is going to be an immediate contender for best movie of the year, regardless of where it lands. That's certain to be the case for "Roma," which is heading to Netflix after a brief theatrical run. This beautifully shot family drama draws from Cuarón's own personal life growing up in Mexico City.