(Credit: Netflix)

Have you ever wondered what Netflix thinks of you for once? What we mean is, have you ever scrolled through Netflix and felt like the platform thinks you have the personality of a teaspoon? It throws the same repetitive rom-coms and the same action thrillers. And yes, your homescreen does get some movement when there is a new arrival, but that’s it.

But if you are someone who gets excited when something feels a little offbeat, a little outside the box, then you are exactly who this list is for.

These are not the movies the homepage is desperate to show you. These are the ones you find when you are tired of being told what to watch, when you want something different enough to actually leave an impression.

And that’s why this weekend, we would like to help you elevate your cinematic choices a bit and watch these five films that your algorithm will hardly recommend. So before Netflix convinces you to rewatch K-pop Demon Hunters for the eighth time, press play on the following.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend

The Disciple (Chaitanya Tamhane, 2020)

So here’s a film that doesn’t rush to prove anything. The Disciple is about a guy named Sharad who has been training in Indian classical music since he was a kid. This guy is not chasing applause or viral fame. Nope, he isn’t one of those. Instead, he chooses to follow this old-school idea that music is supposed to mean something deeper, something sacred. He listens to tapes from his guru (mentor), sticks to a strict routine, and keeps telling himself it will all be worth it someday. But time moves, people move, and his life just kind of… waits.

You start to see him wrestle with the silence. Not something psychological, just that everyday heaviness where you begin wondering if belief is enough. And that’s where it hits you that even if you have ever poured yourself into something that didn’t give you answers, if you’ve ever held on longer than you probably should’ve, this film will understand.

Nothing Bad Can Happen (Katrin Gebbe, 2013)

And once you’ve sat with that silence, get ready to experience Nothing Bad Can Happen because it’s about to break it. The way it starts so slow, it’s easy to tell something is off. The film follows a young guy from a punk-Christian cult who ends up living with a family that seems normal… until they aren’t. It’s not an obvious horror film, but it’s the one where people smile while breaking you. And the worst part is, he lets it happen because he believes in goodness too much to leave.

You feel uncomfortable, and that’s what the director was aiming for. The pain enters on tiptoes; before you realise what’s happening, you are feeling everything. So before you press play on this one, we highly recommend you watch the trailer.

Horse Girl (Jeff Baena, 2020)

And after that kind of psychological weight, you might expect a breather. Sadly, Horse Girl isn’t interested in comfort either. At first, it appears to be a story about a lonely woman who loves crafts, horses, and her favourite supernatural show. There’s something awkward but endearing about her routine, like she is trying her best to feel normal even when she clearly doesn’t. But that calming routine starts breaking the moment she begins losing track of time. She starts forgetting conversations and waking up in places she doesn’t remember going to.

Alison Brie completely disappears into this role, and by the time you realise how far things have gone, you are right there with her, unsure what to believe. And please do not confuse it with a self-explanatory feeling. If you have ever felt disconnected or out of sync with everyone else, this film will help you relate.

Wheelman (Jeremy Rush, 2017)

And just when you think you are back in control, Wheelman slams the brakes… and this time, quite literally. The entire film takes place from inside a getaway car, with Frank Grillo behind the wheel, racing through the city on a job that turns sideways before it even begins. The film starts with high tension, and you only hear people on the phone, which makes it more intense.

Don’t tread lightly because you won’t have breathing space at all. But that’s the whole point, the tight execution. That’s the key to this film. And don’t worry, there is no big moral lesson or twist. All you’ve got is just one night, one man, and every single second counts.

Small Crimes (E.L. Katz, 2017)

And to close things out, Small Crimes gives you a character you might think twice about before rooting for. A disgraced ex-cop comes out of prison and claims he wants to start over. He means it, or at least, he thinks he does. But every step he takes to fix things pulls him deeper into the mess he left behind. The town hasn’t forgotten, and neither has he, no matter how many apologies he offers.

The film has more grey area than you think. Everyone here has done something wrong, and the more you watch, the less sure you are about what redemption really looks like. It is more like watching someone slowly realise they can’t walk backwards out of a burning house. And yet, you’ll keep watching, hoping they try anyway.