The Best Bets on Netflix

by jamilammar

It's always hard to find the best Netflix movies, or really just any good ones, so I thought it would be nice to list the best streaming movies on Netflix by each category listed on my site, separating the good Netflix movies from the great Netflix movies. I know a lot of people have different tastes in movies, so I hope that at least one of these will keep every person entertained. Although some of these movies belong to more than one category, I tried my best to pick the best-suited genre. Each of these movies have great ratings and are definitely on my list of the top Netflix movies currently available. So without further adieu, here is my list of the best movies streaming on Netflix, by category.

Thriller

  • It Follows

A lot of people might say that this movie belongs in the horror genre much more than the thriller genre, but give me a chance to explain. Does it belong to both? Yes, but if you had to sway one way or the other, you would have to sway to thriller. The reason is, this movie will keep you on edge the entire movie. It's a good horror movie and a great thriller. It Follows didn't necessary scare me, but it kept me thinking about the danger lurking in the shadows and kept me looking over my shoulder, just in case.

Horror

  • The Babadook

There are very few movies out there that actually cover the full spectrum of a good horror. The main requirements are that the movie has to be original, chilling, and seriously scary. And here you will find all of that and more. With most horror movies, you can see everything that's coming. You might still jump here and there, but the scares are generic if anything. But oh no, not with The Babadook. You will get no answers from the horror that lurks within. In fact, I guarantee it will send chills up your spine and stick with you long after you've seen it.

History

  • The Way Back

Ok ok, I know it's the only movie on my list under the history category, but hey, what are you gonna do? It fits nicely into the genre and it is based on the true memoirs of Polish prisoner of war, Sławomir Rawicz, who claimed to have escaped from a Russian prison camp and walked 4,000 miles to freedom. It's a gritty, brutal, and real glimpse into the Soviet era Siberian prison camps. Also, like I mention in my review, Colin Farrell actually does a good job in this one. I think it must be his one and only good role.

Fantasy

  • Baskin

Baskin easily found it's way to the top of the fantasy category. Most people would claim the grotesqueness alone qualifies it as a typical horror, but it's much more than that. Baskin puts you in a dream-like state of mind, questioning if what is happening it front of your eyes is really happening. I mean, it's so off the wall that you start to lose your grasp of what is a dream and what is the real story—all in-between the torture, blood and sacrifice, of course. It's definitely one of the more hardcore movies on Netflix.

Action

  • 13 Assassins

I find it strange that hardly any people have seen 13 Assassins. Maybe it's the name that sounds a little too cheesy to people. However, for those who haven't seen this, it is a must for action lovers. The cinematography, acting, and action are all on point. I often get criticism for being a little blood thirsty with my movie picks, but who wouldn't like the most authentic Samurai movie mixed with limb severing brutality? In fact, this genre demands it; you're welcome.

Comedy

  • Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Ah, nothing better than a dark comedy. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil cannot be beat in this genre. It's got blood, gore, and pointless nudity mixed with backwoods hillbillies and annoying teenagers. Once the body count starts going up, you can't help but laugh at all the ridiculousness going on. This is a refreshing twist on the age-old story of teenagers running into backcountry hicks.

Crime

  • Gomorra

I've always been a fan of true crime. I guess I always felt like crime based on real events was much more palpable because you know it isn’t some random idea popping up in some writers head just to keep you entertained. Gomorra is story based on the book by Roberto Saviano, detailing the crimes of the Neapolitan mob in Italy. It's pretty terrifying to see the affects of the mob on communities and Gomorra doesn't hold back. There's no glorification of the mob. This movies shows them for what they really are, ruthless murders who don't give a damn about anyone other than themselves. As far as gangster movies on Netflix go, this is as real as it gets.

Documentary

  • Valley Uprising

Valley Uprising was such a diamond it the rough. I don't actually remember how I found it, but I’m glad I did because it is done so well. Most of the time going into documentaries, you feel like it's going to be mostly old film without any modern views of cinematography, but this was the first documentary I've seen that totally broke the mold. It's insanely interesting and I don't even know much about rock climbing. The heights are terrifying and the rush is real.

Family

  • Mountain Men

I know, I’ve only got one "family" movie for you, but if you find yourself in the mood for the family genre, it's right on par. It doesn't take much to relate to Mountain Men. Anyone with a brother or sister knows the bond that children form during childhood. It's a good, wholesome movie with lots of laughs and even some positive light shed on serious subjects that tend to have negative connotations in society.

Drama

  • Heaven Knows What

Ugh, what a train-wreck of a movie Heaven Knows What is. You want drama? You got it. I actually always thought of drama as typical Hollywood stories written in the hopes of welling up tears in the viewer’s eyes no matter what the cost, but the girl in Heaven Knows What is so broken it's impossible not to see how this may be the most realistic drama movie I've ever seen. If you didn't already know, drugs are the ingredients of soul sucking depravity. But hey, don't take my word for it, check out this movie.

Mystery

  • The Wailing

So, The Wailing is one twisted, horror mystery. You never really get what's going on, but the movie will get under your skin the deeper into it you get. The mysteries of The Wailing build a steady amount of dread and terror at what's to come. I always try to tell people, Korean horrors are some of the darkest, most twisted movies I've ever seen. This ones proves that I’m right, again.

War

  • Beasts of No Nation

There's no good war movie that's easy to watch and Beasts of No Nation is no exception. It's as brutal as you would except from war torn nations in Africa recruiting children soldiers to commit murder. Idris Elba gives a great performance and is a particularly evil leader preying on the most desperate and destitute children of Africa. It's one of those movies that you wish you could ignore, but it's just too real not to pay attention.

Romance

  • Last Cab to Darwin

Last Cab to Darwin was a very pleasant surprise. I feel like there are a lot of great Australian movies that go un-noticed on Netflix. The landscapes alone are enough to enjoy this movie, but fortunately you also get a great story about love, compassion and the affect of the choices we make in life. There's also a ton of laughs, beer, and a crazy journey through the countryside.

Adventure

  • Touching the Void

Talk about a wild, horrifying adventure. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates are clearly aware of the risk they are taking attempting to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They complete the first stage of the journey and then all hell breaks lose. This is an absolutely amazing story of fighting for survival and I guarantee you will not see anything coming if you didn't know the true story already.

So there you go, this Netflix movies list should be enough to get you started on the road to entertainment. It's always hard to find good Netflix movies, but I really think I found at least one for everyone. Enjoy!