Netflix has set itself the ambitious goal of one movie a week and is already achieving it, but with the sheer volume of Netflix originals hitting the site, which ones are worth it? Below are our picks for the best new Netflix Original movies added in 2021 as of June 2021.
This list does not include documentaries and stand-up films. We mostly watch Netflix Originals. If this list doesn't impress you, check out the followingfilm front by the end of 2021.
19.Outside of Zica
Director:Mikaela Håfström
Roll:Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Enzo Cilenti
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Anthony Mackie is in high demand these days and unfortunately he couldn't elevate this movie to something big, but it's still a fun action movie.
Outside of Zicafollows a drone pilot who teams up with a new android officer in hopes of stopping a nuclear attack.
18.Arlo the alligator boy
Director:Ryana Crego
Roll:Michael J. Woodard, Ryan Crego, Dee Bradley Baker
Unfortunately, for some reason it looks like thisArlo the alligator boyhas not had a major release on Netflix to date, having only a few hundred reviews on IMDb.
However, this movie is an absolutely brilliant young adult watch with a hand-drawn aesthetic, some ear-splitting songs, and the promise of being a franchise Netflix is investing in for an upcoming spin-off TV series.
17.Finding 'Ohana
Director:Jude Wenga
Roll:Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson
Netflix closed 2020 with a family movieWe can be heroesand then, in our opinion, peaked in late January with a new video aimed at children,Finding 'Ohana.
The movie is a hybridcrazyIIndiana Joneswhere in the summer a group of children went in search of a mysterious lost treasure.
Many praised it as an excellent family adventure, while some called it too predictable and much worse than the abovecrazyfilm.
16.Roo Bombay
Director:Gitanjali Rao
Roll:Cyli Khare, Amit Deondi, Gargi Shitole
Netflix has made great strides in animation andRoo Bombayis a good example of this. The hour and a half feature film has every frame hand-painted, making it look absolutely stunning.
The love story features two people who hope to be together one day, but are held back by religious differences and obligations.
15.Malcolm and Mary
Director:Levinson herself
Roll:John David Washington i Zendaya
Let's face it, most "closed" series and movies produced on a shoestring budget were below par at best. Not applicableMalcolm and Marywhich fully carry two stunning character creations.
The video opens after the awards ceremony with the couple returning home for something to eat before going to bed. However, tensions arise which lead to several arguments in the early hours of the morning.
While the movie seems to be repeated several times, it's still a great character with two of the best actors working today.
14.The army of the dead
Director:Zaka Snydera
Roll:Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera
Right after Zack Snyder was releasedlaw leaguefor HBO Max, Netflix has prepared its project with the famous director to launch the film schedule for the summer of 2021.
Snyder, known from the remakeDawn of the Living Deadre-entered the zombie space with a fun 2.5 hours of entertainment in the Las Vegas desert. Although it certainly won't be for everyone and you could spend the whole afternoon therecutting gaping plot holes, you can still enjoy impressive images, albeit with often painful depth of field.
13.The Cleaners of the Universe
Director:Sung-hee Jo
Roll:Song Joong-Ki, Kim Tae-ri, Seon-kyu Jin
If you like great sci-fi blockbustersThe Cleaners of the Universeshould be high on your agenda.
The Korean movie takes place years in the future when crews of space scavengers hunt space junk to earn a few dollars. We follow the fate of the team, which seemingly finds a way to save its home world.
The movie jumps in and out of Korean with plenty of English, making it a truly international movie with great CGI.
I think the main pitfalls are the characteristics of Asian films, which tend to tell the story in a slightly different way and may tire you to keep up, but perhaps that is more a personal fault than the film's fault.
12. Fatherhood
Director:Paul Weitz
Roll:Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery
Kevin Hart stars in this down-to-earth drama about a father caring for his new daughter after the untimely death of his partner.
While critical reviews were not very favorable to the film, audiences seem to have embraced it, and it is a solid watch by most accounts.
11.Oxygen
Director:Aleksandra Aja
Roll:Melanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
Oxygenis another perfect example of a movie you would probably miss or see if it had a traditional theatrical release.
While simple and perhaps not the most inspiring storyline in the world, it is very well executed.
The story is about a woman who wakes up in a cryochamber with no memory of how she got there or who she is, but it's a race against time as the oxygen slowly runs out.
10. The woman in the window
Director:Joe Wright
Roll:Amy Adams, Gary'ego Oldmana, Anthony'ego Mackie
The pandemic affected several films, which prevented their wide theatrical releaseThe woman in the windoweventually traded from Fox to Netflix.
While the film certainly has its flaws, it sees another flawless performance from Amy Adams playing an agoraphobic woman living in New York City.
9.Dragon of Desire
Director:Chrisa Appelhansa
Roll:Jimmy Wong, John Cho, Constance Wu
Netflix has picked up a number of Sony Animation movies this year, and Wish Dragon is one of them. Made in China, Sony Animation originally bought the film but due to the Covid pandemic it was eventually sold to Netflix.
The beautifully animated title may not have the same feel as the other Sony Animation video we'll show you below, but it's still a heart-pounding and fun feature that rivals movies likeIron giant.
8.Excavations
Director:Simon Stein
Roll:Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James
There are exemplary performances in this biography that relive Sutton Hoo's excavation moments.
The British production is well written, and while the subject matter may not be to everyone's taste, those who delve into it will find much to remember.
7.Pieces of a woman
Director:Kornel Mundruczo
Roll:Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn
While the releasePieces of a womanperhaps a bit overshadowed by the allegations about Shia LaBeouf, which shouldn't deter you from watching this painful and emotional episode.
The upcoming Oscar-nominated film follows a failed birth and a family's attempts to get justice. The first 15 minutes alone are some of the most heart-rending minutes you'll see on Netflix, and it's almost certainly going to be painful for some, so keep that in mind before you tune in.
Vanessa Kirby's performance in particular is simply sublime.
6.Love and monsters
Director:Michael Mateusz
Roll:Dylan O'Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker
The Paramount Pictures film has been selected for international distributionLove and monsters. In a dystopian future where monsters rule the world, we follow a rather hopeless Joel who must venture outside his bunker to find his ex.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
5.World News
Director:Paula Greengrassa
Roll:Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Tom Astor
Attention:Not available on Netflix in the United States
Netflix has acquired the international rights to this Tom Hanks film from Universal Pictures, which was nominated for 2 Golden Globes.
The film takes you on a journey with Hanks and Zengel as they search for a rightful home for a young girl, while stopping in cities to read newspapers to the locals.
He is slow to shoot but has excellent character development with detailed plans and beautiful costumes.
4.White Tiger
Director:Ramin Bahrani
Roll:Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra
In recent years, Netflix has really ramped up the production of Indian content and perhaps the best title to emerge from these effortsWhite Tiger.
The film in hybrid language follows a young man who hopes to find his place in the criminal underworld.
With outstanding performances from all, the film is a prime example of a film that thrives on global Netflix, but not necessarily one that thrives in traditional cinema.
3.Blue miracle
Roll:Jimmy'ego Gonzalesa, Dennisa Quaida, Bruce'a McGilla
Director:Julio Quintana
Blue miracleis the definition of a hidden gem on Netflix.Glumiego Dennis QuaidaThe film is about a janitor and his children who enter a fishing competition that could help save their orphanage.
He has convincing performances and a lot of heart.
We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with ourJosh Shepherd's own review of the filmTo.
2.Just like it happened to me
Roll:Peter Dinklage, Rosamund Pike, Alicia Witt, Chris Messina, Damian Young,
Director:J. Blakesona
Attention:Only available on Netflix in the US and21 other countries. Amazon Prime Original elsewhere.
Just like it happened to merocked the top ten when it released in February 2021, and for good reason it's a suspenseful drama with an absolutely sublime performance by Rosamund Pike that brings the kind of contempt I haven't had for a character in a long time.
The story is about a clever businesswoman who manages and sucks all the money of rich elderly clients. However, her game is disrupted when she manages to find a client who may not be who she claims to be.
It's a movie you'd probably miss if it had a traditional theatrical release, but it's absolutely booming on Netflix.
1.Mitchells vs machines
Drivers:Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Roll:Charlyne Yi, Olivia Colman, Eric André
However, Netflix Animation gets better every yearMitchells vs machinesit's not from Netflix itself, it's definitely one of their best releases to date.
Coupled with stunning visuals, a great voice cast, the movie is a complete family package making it our favorite movie of 2021 so far.
Sony's animated film tells the story of a family on a journey that is brutally interrupted by the invasion of Earth by killer robots.
What's your favorite new Netflix Original movie of 2021? Let us know in the comments below.