The Best Foreign Streaming Films on Netflix

You can find a lot of foreign movies on Netflix, but finding the good ones is another story. Great Netflix movies are always hard to come by, and I would say no list of the “best streaming Netflix movies” would be complete without at least some foreign movies.

The biggest issue people sometimes have with foreign movies (primarily in America) are subtitles.

The Issue with Subtitles

I feel like sometimes viewers just disregard movies with subtitles, and they really shouldn't. Even though I understand that subtitles create an extra amount of attention that has to be given throughout the movie, they shouldn't prevent you from enjoyment. Instead of considering it a hindrance, I like to use it as a different perspective on life; as no two languages are 100% translatable. It makes me feel like I'm watching a part of life I've never experienced before. A second benefit is that foreign movies inspire me to travel! A good foreign movie will always make me want to visit the country I'm viewing. Finally, one of the most important advantages is benefitting from the practice of any foreign language you are hoping to learn through the help of subtitled movies. Some of the best Netflix foreign language films have helped me learn a tremendous amount of the language.

So here's a list of foreign movies on Netflix that I think you'll enjoy and that are well worth spending a little extra effort reading the subtitles.

Night Watch

Do you like extremely weird, off the wall movies? Then Night Watch is for you! I remember when I first started wanting to learn Russian and I was looking for all the Russian subtitled movies I could find. There was only one problem. At the time, Russian film was just barely starting to take off and there was a serious lack of quality films. Along came Night Watch and it's strangeness blew me away and kept me intrigued the entire movie. Oh and by the way, Night Watch is not your typical subtitled movie. I bet you've never seen animated subtitles like these. Check it out; it's well worth your subtitled reading time.

Omar

Omar is a romantic drama portraying the issues of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. The subtitles didn't bother me at all on this one because I was honestly just interested in learning more about the cultures of both sides involved in the movie. I personally don't know much about the situation of Israel and Palestine, but it made it much easier to understand through the eyes of the younger generation. There's plenty of action to keep you entertained. It's a story of love in the middle of a brutal conflict.

Headhunters

If ever there was a foreign movie on Netflix worth spending time reading the subtitles, it's Headhunters. It's not fair to say it's just one of the good thrillers on Netflix, this is a thriller of all thrillers and will keep you guessing the whole time. Not only is it a great movie, it gives you a glimpse into the Norwegian city life, and even the countryside. Scandinavian movies are always so sleek and stylish. Headhunters continues in this fashion with sharp turns at every corner and skillfully constructed action.

The Look of Silence

I always try to tell people how powerful this movie is. This was one of the most interesting foreign movies I had seen at the time, being that I knew nothing about the history of Indonesia. In fact, I only really thought of Indonesia as being a dream vacation destination. I didn't have to get very far into the movie to learn of a dark, haunting past of genocide. But hey, another example of a great foreign movie that was immensely well done and a very good story to learn for everyone.

Wailing

Right now, I would call The Wailing one of the best Korean movies on Netflix. It's extremely dark and pretty twisted. One thing I noticed is that at times the subtitles can move a little fast, but it's such an interesting movie that your eyes really never leave the screen or struggle to keep up. Korean horror movies is a genre within a genre. With a good Korean horror, expect to be shocked and awed at how grotesque things may turn out. I bet The Wailing will do just that to you.

These films definitely make up some of the best foreign movies on Netflix. You won't be disappointed in any of them, even with the subtitles. Need some more? Look no further than here.