Considering the fact that Netflix debuted 371 original TV shows and movies in 2019 [1] alone, according to Variety, it shouldn't surprise you that not all Netflix content is created equal. (Our apologies, Secret Obsession [2], but you didn't quite deliver the same way Marriage Story did.) This year has provided the same mixed bag of Netflix originals, and while some have been total bombs, others are basically works of art. We've rounded up the best movies produced by Netflix so far this year — including films from Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, France, and here in the US — and we have a feeling you'll love them just as much as critics have.
37 Seconds
This Japanese drama revolves around Yuma Takada, a talented young artist with cerebral palsy who wants to make her name in manga and gain independence, despite her well-meaning mother's insistence on keeping her close. 37 Seconds offers a rare protagonist who isn't defined by her disability, and Yuma's exploration of her sexuality is handled with sensitivity and empathy.
Watch 37 Seconds on Netflix [4].
A Sun
This Taiwanese drama tells the story of two sons: A-Hao, who's bound for a top medical school, and A-Ho, a delinquent who's just been placed in a juvenile detention centre. Despite its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, this flick is compelling from start to finish, serving as both an intriguing character study and a smart exploration of the struggles that plague a middle-class family.
Watch A Sun on Netflix [5].
Horse Girl
Alison Brie [6] stars in this darkly funny psychological drama as Sarah, a socially isolated arts-and-crafts store employee whose obsession with horses and true crime eventually leads to surreal dreams that Sarah can no longer distinguish from reality. Horse Girl is about far more than one woman's struggle with mental illness, and it's sure to keep you guessing until the very end.
Watch Horse Girl on Netflix [7].
System Crasher
This German drama tells the story of Benni, an unruly 9-year-old struggling to find a permanent home with the help of child protective services — that is, until a gruff mentor finally gets through to her and convinces her to change her ways. Despite her violence, anger, and (frequent) temper tantrums, the movie manages to make Benni a character to root for without relying on any "troubled child" clichés.
Watch System Crasher on Netflix [8].
The Endless Trench
Based on a true story, this Spanish historical drama takes place during the Spanish Civil War, telling the tale of newlyweds who spend 33 years hidden away in their home to avoid possible retaliation. That may not sound like a terribly compelling plot, but this film manages to justify its 147-minute runtime by developing near-constant tension and accurately depicting the fear felt during that time in the country's history.
Watch The Endless Trench on Netflix [9].
I am Jonas
This French drama revolves around the titular Jonas, a 30-something troublemaker who can't stop revisiting a relationship he had as a teenager with an arrogant, impulsive man named Nathan. Rather than a story of first love, this movie is grim and at times tough to watch, but just like Call Me by Your Name, it depicts a coming-of-age romance with incredible intimacy.
Watch I am Jonas on Netflix [10].
The Platform
This Spanish sci-fi movie tells the story of the Vertical Self-Management Centre, a tower-style prison where the inmates are fed according to their rank in the tower — that is, until one man decides that all prisoners should get their fair share, no matter what floor they're on. Aside from being wildly inventive, this movie is filled with political and economic commentary, but be warned: not everyone can stomach this dark film.
Watch The Platform on Netflix [11].
Uncorked
Directed by Insecure executive producer and showrunner Prentice Penny and loosely based on his own life, this father-son tale revolves around a young man who aspires to become a master sommelier, though his father expects that he will someday take over the family barbecue business instead. Though it's a familiar story, Uncorked makes this parent-child conflict feel fresh and irresistibly charming.
Watch Uncorked on Netflix [12].
Tigertail
Set in New York, this bittersweet drama follows immigrant Pin-Jui as he recounts the life he left behind in Taiwan through stories told to his estranged daughter, Angela. While deceptively simple in plot, Pin-Jui's journey from an impoverished young factory worker in love to a lonely old man will break your heart over and over again, while also turning the idea of the American Dream on its head.
Watch Tigertail on Netflix [13].
The Half of It
This LGBTQ+ coming-of-age dramedy revolves around Ellie Chu, a shy, straight-A student who agrees to help a popular jock write a love letter to his crush — with whom Ellie is also secretly in love. The Half of It may sound like a setup for your typical teen-centric movie love triangle, but it is far too smart to rely on classic tropes.
Watch The Half of It on Netflix [14].