MomSkoop
Netflix has completely changed how we watch movies, bringing incredible stories right to our living rooms. From powerful dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, the streaming giant has created some truly unforgettable films that rival anything you’d see in theaters. Whether you’re in the mood for something thought-provoking or just want to enjoy a fun night in, these handpicked originals offer something special for everyone.
1. Roma
Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece takes you back to 1970s Mexico City through the eyes of Cleo, a devoted housekeeper working for a middle-class family. Shot entirely in stunning black and white, every frame feels like a painting come to life.
The film captures everyday moments with such beauty and care that you’ll feel transported to another time and place. Cuarón based the story on his own childhood memories, making it deeply personal and incredibly moving.
What makes Roma special is how it celebrates the quiet strength of ordinary people. The movie earned multiple Oscar nominations and won Best Director, proving that Netflix can create truly artistic cinema. It’s a slow-burning experience that rewards patient viewers with emotional depth.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Detective Benoit Blanc returns for another wild murder mystery, this time on a billionaire’s private Greek island during a lavish weekend getaway. Daniel Craig brings his charming Southern accent back as the world’s greatest detective, surrounded by an eccentric group of suspects.
The film plays with your expectations constantly, twisting and turning in ways you won’t see coming. Director Rian Johnson crafts a puzzle box of clues, red herrings, and hilarious moments that keep you guessing until the very end.
Unlike typical whodunits, this movie has something important to say about privilege and truth in our modern world. The star-studded cast includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, and Kate Hudson, all clearly having a blast.
3. Bird Box
Imagine a world where simply looking outside could cost you your life. Sandra Bullock stars as Malorie, a mother desperately trying to protect her two children from mysterious creatures that drive people violently insane if seen.
The tension builds incredibly as the family must navigate a dangerous river journey completely blindfolded. Every sound becomes terrifying when you can’t use your eyes to see what’s coming.
This thriller became a massive cultural phenomenon when it first dropped, inspiring countless memes and even a dangerous blindfold challenge. Beyond the scares, it’s really about the fierce love parents have for their kids and the lengths they’ll go to keep them safe. The film keeps your heart racing from start to finish.
4. The Two Popes
Who knew a conversation between two religious leaders could be so captivating? Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce deliver powerhouse performances as Pope Benedict and the future Pope Francis, two men with very different views on the Catholic Church’s future.
Set mostly within the stunning walls of the Vatican, the film explores their unlikely friendship through deep conversations about faith, doubt, and change. Director Fernando Meirelles uses humor and humanity to make these larger-than-life figures feel wonderfully real and relatable.
You don’t need to be religious to appreciate this beautifully crafted story about tradition versus progress. The chemistry between the two lead actors makes every scene crackle with intelligence and warmth.
5. Beasts of No Nation
Cary Joji Fukunaga delivers a heartbreaking look at child soldiers through the story of Agu, a young boy forced into a rebel army during a brutal civil war. Idris Elba gives one of his most intense performances as the charismatic yet terrifying commandant who becomes Agu’s mentor.
The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of war, showing how conflict destroys innocence and childhood. Newcomer Abraham Attah is absolutely stunning as Agu, conveying deep emotion with very few words.
Shot with gorgeous cinematography that contrasts beauty with horror, this powerful drama will stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s difficult to watch at times but important for understanding conflicts happening around our world.
6. Hustle
Adam Sandler proves once again he’s more than just a comedy guy with this heartfelt sports drama about second chances. He plays Stanley Sugerman, a worn-down basketball scout who discovers an incredibly talented street player in Spain and bets his career on making him an NBA star.
Real NBA players and coaches appear throughout, adding authentic basketball action and genuine locker room energy. The training montages and games feel real because the actors actually play, not just pretend.
What resonates most is the father-son relationship that develops between scout and player, both chasing their last shot at their dreams. It’s inspirational without being cheesy, funny without undermining the emotional stakes.
7. Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee crafts an epic adventure about four Black veterans returning to Vietnam decades later to find their fallen squad leader’s remains and buried treasure. Delroy Lindo delivers a career-defining performance as Paul, a man haunted by war trauma and struggling with his demons.
The film brilliantly shifts between past and present, showing the same actors as both young soldiers and older men. Lee tackles heavy themes about race, loyalty, and how America treated its Black soldiers during and after the war.
Action sequences mix with emotional confrontations as old friends must face what they left behind all those years ago. The treasure hunt becomes secondary to the real discovery: healing old wounds and finding peace.
8. The Irishman
Martin Scorsese reunites his legendary trio of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci for an epic three-and-a-half-hour mob saga spanning decades. De Niro plays Frank Sheeran, a truck driver turned hitman whose story intertwines with union leader Jimmy Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance.
Using groundbreaking de-aging technology, the actors play their characters across fifty years, from young tough guys to regretful old men. The film moves at a deliberate pace, letting conversations breathe and relationships develop naturally.
Unlike flashy gangster movies, this one focuses on loneliness and consequences, showing how a life of violence ultimately leaves you with nothing. It’s Scorsese reflecting on his own career while delivering one final masterpiece.
9. Marriage Story
Noah Baumbach’s devastating portrait of divorce follows theater director Charlie and actress Nicole as their marriage falls apart across two coasts. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver both deliver raw, vulnerable performances that feel painfully real.
What starts as an amicable split becomes increasingly bitter as lawyers get involved and small disagreements explode into major battles. The famous argument scene is so intense and honest that it’s hard to watch without feeling like you’re intruding on something private.
The film never picks sides, showing how both people contribute to the breakdown while still loving their son. It’s ultimately about how even good people can hurt each other deeply when relationships end.
10. Always Be My Maybe
Childhood best friends Sasha and Marcus reconnect after fifteen years apart and realize their feelings might be more than platonic in this charming romantic comedy. Ali Wong and Randall Park wrote the script themselves, bringing authentic Asian American representation to the rom-com genre.
The chemistry between the leads feels genuine because they’re real-life friends, making every awkward moment and sweet gesture land perfectly. Keanu Reeves steals every scene he’s in with a hilarious cameo as an exaggerated version of himself.
Food plays a central role, with Sasha as a celebrity chef and Marcus running his dad’s air conditioning business while playing in a local band. It’s funny, heartwarming, and refreshingly different from typical Hollywood love stories.
11. tick, tick…BOOM!
Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his directorial debut with this electric musical about Jonathan Larson, the composer who created Rent, as he approaches his thirtieth birthday without achieving his dreams. Andrew Garfield is absolutely electric, singing live and capturing the anxiety of an artist running out of time.
The film pulses with energy, jumping between performance numbers and real life as Jonathan struggles with relationships, money, and the fear that he’s wasted his talent. Musical theater fans will love the clever references and show-stopping numbers.
It’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever chased a creative dream while everyone around them settled for safer paths. Tragically, Larson died the night before Rent’s first preview, making this story even more poignant.
12. KPop Demon Hunters
K-pop meets supernatural action in this wildly entertaining film about idol singers who secretly battle demons threatening Seoul. The concept sounds ridiculous, and honestly, it kind of is, but that’s exactly what makes it so much fun to watch.
Stunning choreography blends seamlessly with martial arts sequences as the pop stars use their performance skills to fight evil forces. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, embracing the absurdity while delivering genuinely cool action moments.
Colorful visuals and catchy music keep the energy high throughout, making it perfect for anyone who loves Korean pop culture or just wants something different. It’s like someone mashed up a concert film with a monster movie and somehow made it work brilliantly.
13. The Lost Daughter
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut explores the complicated, rarely discussed darker sides of motherhood through Leda, a professor on a solo beach vacation. Olivia Colman is magnificent, playing a woman whose present-day encounters with a young family trigger disturbing memories from her past.
The film jumps between timelines, with Jessie Buckley playing young Leda struggling with the demands of motherhood while pursuing her academic career. It’s uncomfortable and honest in ways movies about mothers rarely dare to be.
Gyllenhaal trusts her audience to handle moral ambiguity, never explaining everything or asking us to forgive her protagonist’s choices. It’s a psychological puzzle that will have you thinking about parental sacrifice and personal identity long afterward.
14. Passing
Rebecca Hall’s stunning directorial debut examines racial identity in 1920s Harlem through two childhood friends who reconnect as adults. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga play light-skinned Black women who’ve made different choices: one lives openly as Black, while the other passes as white.
Shot in gorgeous black and white with a square aspect ratio, every frame feels like a vintage photograph come to life. The visual choices aren’t just aesthetic; they reflect the film’s themes about how we see ourselves and how others perceive us.
Tension builds slowly as the friendship becomes increasingly complicated by jealousy, desire, and unspoken truths. It’s a quiet, sophisticated film that explores identity, belonging, and the prices we pay for the lives we choose.
15. Power of the Dog
Jane Campion returns with a slow-burning Western psychological drama set on a 1920s Montana ranch where toxic masculinity runs deep. Benedict Cumberbatch is chillingly brilliant as Phil, a cruel rancher who torments his brother’s new wife and her sensitive teenage son.
The film unfolds with the patience of a coiled snake, each scene adding layers to characters who are never quite what they seem. Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee deliver quietly powerful performances as the targets of Phil’s cruelty.
Campion explores repression, hidden desires, and power dynamics with stunning cinematography that makes the Montana landscape feel both beautiful and threatening. The ending will have you immediately wanting to rewatch everything with fresh eyes.
16. Someone Great
Jenny’s dream job in San Francisco comes with a devastating cost: breaking up with her longtime boyfriend. Gina Rodriguez leads this heartfelt comedy about spending one last epic day in New York City with her two best friends before moving away.
The film perfectly captures how friendships sustain us through heartbreak, with Brittany Snow and DeWanda Wise as the supportive squad every woman needs. Instead of moping, they decide to party, reminisce, and help Jenny remember who she was before the relationship.
Set against a killer soundtrack and vibrant city backdrop, it’s refreshingly honest about breakups without being depressing. The movie celebrates female friendship as the great love story, showing how friends help us grow and heal through life’s toughest transitions.
17. Don’t Look Up
Two astronomers discover a planet-killing comet heading straight for Earth, but nobody seems to care in Adam McKay’s sharp satire of modern society. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play scientists desperately trying to warn humanity while politicians and media treat it like just another news story.
The all-star cast includes Meryl Streep as a hilariously awful president, Jonah Hill as her incompetent son, and Cate Blanchett as a vapid morning show host. McKay uses comedy to highlight how we ignore serious problems in favor of entertainment and celebrity gossip.
While obviously about climate change, the film resonates with how society handles any inconvenient truth. It’s funny, frustrating, and uncomfortably accurate in its depiction of our current moment.
18. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Lara Jean’s secret love letters accidentally get mailed to all her past crushes, turning her quiet high school life completely upside down. Lana Condor is absolutely adorable as the daydreaming romantic who suddenly finds herself in a fake relationship with heartthrob Peter Kavinsky.
This teen rom-com became a massive hit by updating classic tropes with genuine sweetness and diverse representation. Noah Centineo’s performance launched him to stardom, creating one of the internet’s favorite fictional boyfriends.
Based on Jenny Han’s beloved book series, the film balances humor with real teenage emotions about identity, family, and first love. It’s pure comfort watching that launched two equally charming sequels and proved Netflix could create franchise-worthy teen content.
19. The Harder They Fall
Director Jeymes Samuel reimagines the Western genre by centering Black cowboys and outlaws who actually existed but were erased from Hollywood’s version of history. Jonathan Majors leads as Nat Love, seeking revenge against the man who murdered his parents, played menacingly by Idris Elba.
The film explodes with style, featuring stunning costumes, a hip-hop influenced soundtrack, and action sequences that feel fresh and modern. Regina King, Zazie Beetz, and LaKeith Stanfield round out the phenomenal ensemble cast.
While the characters are based on real historical figures, Samuel creates a fictional story that’s pure entertainment. It’s a bold, beautiful celebration of Black Western heroes that Hollywood overlooked for far too long.
20. Mudbound
Dee Rees directs this powerful drama about two families, one Black and one white, farming the same Mississippi land in the 1940s. When sons from each family return from World War II, they form an unlikely friendship that challenges the racist social order around them.
Carey Mulligan, Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, and Mary J. Blige deliver stunning performances in this ensemble piece about racism, trauma, and human connection. Blige earned an Oscar nomination for her heartbreaking portrayal of a sharecropper’s wife.
The film doesn’t soften the brutal realities of Jim Crow South, showing how racism poisoned communities and destroyed lives. Rachel Morrison’s cinematography captures both the beauty and harshness of rural life, making every frame feel authentic and lived-in.