An August Wilson adaptation, Glen Powell in disguises, and Aaron Pierre kicking ass? Phew.
By Josh Rosenberg and Bria McNeal
As an entertainment editor, I'm always interested in what people are watching. Netflix shows usually come up a lot in conversation, ranging from cooking competition showdowns to reality dating nightmares. Squid Game returns for season 2 soon—I'm sure I won't hear about anything else for a whole month. But Netflix hasn't had the same success compared Wednesdayand Stranger Thingswhen it comes to the streamer's original movies.
Martin Scorsese's The Irishman received ten nominations at the Academy Awards and didn't win a single one. A travesty! But don't even get me started on how the Oscars treat poor Marty. Awards aren't everything. They're certainly nice, of course, but Netflix does offer up a handful of amazing original films every year.
In 2024, the streamer released one of the best action films of the year. Titled Rebel Ridge, the Aaron Pierre-starring film told the story of a man who is driven to extremes by a small town's corrupt police force. The trippy sci-fi thriller It’s What’s Inside was a slept-on Gen Z thriller, and Hit Manwas easily one of the year's must-watch romantic comedies. As we head into award season, I'd look no further than the recently released drama, The Piano Lesson. If you just want to feelgood, let me point you in the direction of Will & Harper.
Below, you’ll find the best Netflix original movies of 2024. Give these a spin, and when you’re done, study up on the streamer’s top original series of the year. We have a list for that, too.
View full post on YoutubeDirected by Denzel Washington's son, Malcolm, The Piano Lesson is a family affair. Denzel's eldest, John David Washington, stars in the movie alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Danielle Deadwyler. The Oscars-bound story follows the August Wilson play of the same name, focusing on a Black family living in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression.
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View full post on YoutubeAaron Pierre (aka a future Green Lantern...) downright shines as Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge. Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, the film follows a former Marine who goes toe-to-toe with law enforcement. Why? They’ve stolen something from him, and he intends to get it back—by any means necessary.
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View full post on YoutubeIf you watch, let’s say, five documentaries a year, make absolutely sure The Remarkable Life of Ibelinis one of them. The film tells the beautiful story of Mats Steen, who suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and died in 2014. After Steen’s death, his parents discovered that he’d lived a vibrant life online through the video game World of Warcraft. Here’s what truly makes Ibelin special: The film uses Steen’s chat logs and animation to depict his life as he experienced it in the game. The result is truly exceptional.
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View full post on YoutubeHave you ever wondered what it’d be like to live inside someone else? Watch It’s What’s Insideand express some gratitude that no one has developed the technology to do so. In this wacky adventure, a group of friends reunites for a buddy’s wedding. The night before the nuptials, they play with a fancy body-swapping gizmo. It all goes downhill from there. Press play and see for yourself.
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View full post on YoutubeComedian Will Ferrell turned a friendly road trip into a heartwarming documentary. Here’s the gist: After nearly thirty years of friendship, Will learns that his friend Harper has come out as transgender. Together, they head for the open road to discuss, well, everything. And guess what? It’s an absolute delight.
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View full post on YoutubeGlen Powell leads this delightful romantic comedy alongside Andor’s Adria Arjona, adapting the true story of an undercover hit man in Houston. Director Richard Linklater (Boyhood) adds a Hollywood twist when the protagonist falls in love with a woman who wants him to kill her husband. Plus, his coworker Jasper (Austin Amelio) is hot on his heels. If you’re looking for some classic summer-blockbuster fun, here’s your Hit Man.
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View full post on YoutubeScoopis the story of Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnightinterview, starring Rufus Sewell as the disgraced prince. In the film, he agrees to the interrogation in hopes of clearing his name. Instead, he tarnishes his reputation. The jaw-dropping interview questioned his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and sexual-abuse allegations from Virginia Giuffre.
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View full post on YoutubeSue Bird is a legend in the world of women’s basketball. Over the course of twenty-one years, she won five Olympic gold medals and four WNBA championships before retiring as the most successful point guard in the league. Meanwhile, she was also a force in the fight for LGBTQ rights along with her fiancée, soccer star Megan Rapinoe. InSue Bird: In the Clutch, we get an inside look at the icon’s career as she transitions into her next stage: retirement.
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View full post on YoutubeThese days, it’s damn near impossible to get the biggest pop stars to collaborate, but in 1985 they made it look easy. The Greatest Night in Poptracks the creation of “We Are the World,” a charity song featuring Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and so many more. The documentary takes you behind the scenes of their recording session to showcase the night forty-six artists made history.
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View full post on YoutubeAdam Sandler stars as a lonely astronaut named Jakub who finds himself with way too much time on his hands six months into his mission. Jakub’s isolation forces him to consider problems in his life back home—namely, his marriage, which is on the brink of collapse, and his career, which brought him to space in the first place. Just as he starts to unravel, he meets an alien-like creature. Is his new friend real, or has Jakub truly lost his mind?
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