The visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema, which makes him one of the most trusted sources for story recommendations.
With a penchant for the fantastical, del Toro has consistently used platforms like Twitter to share his thoughts on movies and TV shows, often highlighting hidden gems and celebrating the diverse array of storytelling available on streaming platforms like Netflix.
As a curator of cinematic experiences, Guillermo del Toro’s recommendations can easily serve as a guide for Netflix subscribers seeking captivating stories that transcend traditional boundaries.
One recent film that has received del Toro’s endorsement is The Killer, directed by David Fincher, which made its Netflix debut on November 10th, 2023. Del Toro wrote, “I simply love, love, love when Fincher swings with a mean genre beat. Nimble and clockwork precise and fun. The breeziest film I have seen in a long time. It’s great when you can see a film and a movie at the same time.”
Del Toro’s eclectic taste spans various genres and cultures, evident in his praise for acclaimed titles such as The Irishman, When They See Us, Roma, and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Each recommendation reflects del Toro’s deep appreciation for storytelling, diverse narratives, and cinematic craftsmanship. Speaking of the Scorsese film, del Toro wrote 13 tweets! He signed off, urging everyone to give it a watch, mentioning how it is the “fastest 3 hours in a cinema. Do not miss it.”
He has also been all praises about Adam Sandler’s performance in Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories, “Adam Sandler is superb in this- just as he was in Punch Drunk Love… that masterpiece by PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson] that many don’t like but many more do.”
The animated special Entergalactic, a collaboration between Netflix and Kid Cudi, also caught del Toro’s eye. He commended its beautiful vibe and characterised it as a mellow, heartfelt hang in a world made magical by sound and image. Paul Urkijo Alijo’s Basque horror Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil is one of those obscure horror films that should be on your watchlist immediately because the master of modern horror, del Toro, called it a “Lovely watch.”
Fernando Frias de la Parra’s I’m No Longer Here received some of the most emphatic praise from him, “With the world where it is – this splendid film resonated with me, moved me, shook me, made me think and provoked deep admiration and respect in me. It’s on NETFLIX and it speaks with strength and power.”
Del Toro’s recommendations extend beyond the fantastical and animated, as he praised The White Tiger, a film directed by Ramin Bahrani, based on Arvind Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning novel. Released on Netflix in January 2021, del Toro characterised it as a razorblade Dickensian fable with brutal precision, offering a gripping portrayal of class struggle.
Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix recommendations:
- Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil (2017)
- The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
- The Ritual (2018)
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
- Roma (2018)
- When They See Us (2019)
- The Irishman (2019)
- Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
- I’m No Longer Here (2020)
- The White Tiger (2021)
- Prayers for the Stolen (2021)
- ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (2022)
- Entergalactic (2022)
- The Killer (2023)
