Netflix has produced so many amazing original movies that some are bound to slip through the cracks, but a few of those forgotten films are worth revisiting. Netflix quickly positioned itself as the leading name in streaming in the late Aughts, and it hasn’t looked back since. Though competitors have challenged the red brand, it’s still preeminent.
The streamer’s success is largely due to its impressive back catalog, but it also sets itself apart by producing compelling originals. Many of Netflix’s movies have become bona fide hits, and garnered award success as well. Unfortunately, a lot of Netflix original movies fly under the radar and are bowled over by an avalanche of content. Nevertheless, they’re worth revisiting.
Mascots (2016)
Director Christopher Guest was one of the first filmmakers to get onboard with Netflix when the streamer distributed his mockumentary film, Mascots. The movie follows various professional mascots who arrive at an annual competition to crown the best of their profession. Guest rounds up his usual crew of collaborators, but adds hilarious newcomers too.
Because it was released so early in Netflix’s original filmography, Mascots seems to be consistently overlooked. While it isn’t as funny as Christopher Guest’s other films, it’s still a charming mockumentary with plenty of amazing performances. Since Netflix is heavy on easily digestible content, Mascots is a comedy that’s perfect for a quiet night in.
Okja (2017)
A few years before he would be thrust onto the international stage with Parasite, director Bong Joon Ho delivered Okja on Netflix. Genre-bending flick centers on a young girl who raises a genetically modified pig and must save it from a multinational food corporation. Though it wears its politics on its sleeve, Okja is still a subtle experience as well.
It embraces its coming-of-age elements, but isn’t afraid to get down and dirty to make its point. Okja is challenging, and represents Netflix’s early commitment to art that would probably never stand a chance in more conventional release mediums. Since Bong Joon Ho is one of the great cinematic voices of the era, the Netflix original demands a revisit.
White Noise (2022)
Despite its middling reviews, Noah Baumbach’s White Noise is one of the most underrated movies of the 2020s so far. Based on Don DeLillo’s book, the film follows a family of academics who are suddenly besieged by an airborne toxic event in their town. However, that description is only one small part of a much larger and more nuanced story.
Anchored by strong performances from Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, the film explores rich themes about the commodification of life, and the thin veneer between civility and savagery in society. It’s funny and even sometimes creepy, and completely flew over the audience’s heads in 2022. Of all the forgotten films on Netflix White Noise most deserves to be remembered.
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January 16, 2007
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Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph