Five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend
Remember the 2010s on Netflix, where the platform had smaller indie films that started blowing up purely because people wouldn’t stop recommending them to each other. Not massive blockbuster stuff either. We are talking about awkward, little, realistic dramas and psychological thrillers. Those character-driven films had a lot more potential, which still needs recognition. And people did love them. They became cult favourites after landing on streaming.
That’s probably because most of these films focused on smaller situations instead, like loneliness or identity crises, which were more relatable to the masses than ever. Then, audiences connected with them because the characters actually sounded and behaved like real people instead of polished movie versions of humans with perfect hair.
If you look at it closely, the 2010s indie scene genuinely produced a lot of actors and filmmakers who became massive afterwards. You watch these films back now and suddenly realise half the people involved went on to become Oscar nominees, Marvel stars or major directors later on. Bit mad seeing where everybody started before Hollywood grabbed them.
That’s exactly why these Netflix picks are such good weekend watches now, though. Every film has its own unique energy, but all of them have the same thing in common: strong performances and well-played characters. It’s time for an indie movie marathon.
Five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend
Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, 2017)
Lady Bird gives you an instant feeling of the main character making things really difficult for everyone around her, and here, it is Lady Bird herself. Christine McPherson calls herself “Lady Bird” because she is desperate to become somebody bigger and more exciting than a girl growing up in Sacramento with strict parents and constant money problems hanging over the house. And it plays out exactly like it sounds because she really does spend the whole film trying. The problem is, half her decisions blow up in her face, like most of ours.
So while she is trying to get into a college in New York, she is also lying to richer classmates about where she lives. Fighting with her mum, Marion, basically every other conversation. And listen, the arguments between them feel so real. Not movie arguments either. Actual mum-and-daughter fights where both people are emotional and saying things they probably shouldn’t. But that’s why the film ended up connecting with so many people. Lady Bird behaves exactly how many teenagers do when they are stuck between wanting to grow up fast and still having absolutely no idea who they are yet.
Other People (Chris Kelly, 2016)
Other People is a story of David Mulcahey, a struggling comedy writer who moves back to Sacramento after learning that his mother, Joanne, has cancer. Yes, we have Sacramento again. At the same time, his long-term relationship ends, too, so he returns home already dealing with his own problems. Jesse Plemons plays David as somebody who clearly cares about his family but also struggles to communicate with them, especially once the pressure inside the house starts building.
A huge part of the film focuses on David reconnecting with his parents and sisters while trying to process what’s happening to Joanne. But the family dynamic never turns dramatic in that typical Hollywood style. They still argue, avoid difficult conversations and irritate each other constantly. That’s what makes the film feel much more natural while you are watching it. Molly Shannon ended up getting loads of praise for playing Joanne because the character still feels warm and funny. And honestly, the film handles illness in a much more realistic way than most family dramas usually do.
Creep (Patrick Brice, 2014)
You know when somebody acts a bit too friendly, and your sixth sense alarms you that something is wrong? That’s basically the entire plot of Creep. The film follows Aaron, a videographer who answers an online ad from Josef, played by Mark Duplass, after Josef claims he is dying and wants to record video messages for his unborn son. Sounds sad enough at first, right? Then Josef starts behaving weirder every five minutes, and the whole film turns into one giant stress session.
And the crazy part is how simple the setup actually is. Most of the film is just two men talking in a cabin, but the awkwardness keeps building because Josef constantly says things that feel slightly off but never reveals much. Mark Duplass did such an amazing job in convincing people that he was a creep that many got scared of him.
Blue Jay (Alex Lehmann, 2016)
If we are being honest, Blue Jay genuinely feels like such a nosy film because watching it almost feels like you are listening to a really personal conversation. It tells you the story of Jim and Amanda, played by Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson, who randomly bump into each other in their hometown years after dating as teenagers. Initially, it looks like an unexpected and unwanted reunion, which turns into an entire day spent revisiting old memories and all the unfinished emotional business they never properly dealt with.
It has black-and-white visuals and tiny locations with barely any supporting characters, which makes it absolutely impossible for the performances to hide. It’s so intimate that you might feel that you are interrupting something. And if you like that, the nostalgic meet-cutes, this one is for you.
Hello, My Name Is Doris (Michael Showalter, 2015)
Before she absolutely killed it in Remarkably Bright Creatures, Sally Field carried this film on her back because Doris could’ve become unbearably dead easily in somebody else’s hands. You know what we mean? Sally did an excellent job in turning her into this lonely and lovable character who keeps making decisions that’ll give you secondhand embarrassment.
The story follows Doris Miller after she develops a massive crush on her younger co-worker, John, played by Max Greenfield. And instead of behaving rationally about it, Doris takes everything on edge by imitating his every detail to become a part of his world. It’s so hard yet funny to watch. But what stops the film from becoming a joke at Doris’ expense is the fact that it actually understands why she behaves this way. She is stuck in a routine and desperately trying to reconnect with a version of herself that disappeared years earlier while caring for her mother. If you’ve also tried to reinvent yourself after years, this one has to be on your watchlist.