(Credit: Netflix)

You know those weekends when you don’t want to commit to simply one genre on Netflix? One moment, you want something smart and political. Next, you are in the mood for moody assassins or maybe black-and-white Hollywood drama. This is for those weekends.

Netflix has been quietly sitting on a stack of films that don’t have much in common on the surface. They are not all thrillers, not all comedies, and definitely not trying to be crowd-pleasers. But each one hits hard in its own way. They make you think. Or laugh. Or text your friend in the middle of the movie.

These are films that feel like they should not exist on the same platform. A surreal pig adventure and a Wall Street satire? An existential hitman and a Citizen Kane origin story? But somehow, this chaos works. The only thing they have in common is that they are all streaming on Netflix right now.

So here it is. Five very different films that somehow, together, make up the perfect messy, memorable weekend.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix

Okja (Bong Joon Ho, 2017)

There are some movies that are hard to explain, and Okja is definitely one of them. This film tells the story of a young girl named Mija and her best friend, Okja. The only difference is, Okja is a genetically modified “super pig”. When a giant corporation tries to take Okja away, Mija goes on a mission to rescue her.

The film moves between languages, countries, and tones with ease. One minute, you are laughing at Jake Gyllenhaal playing a deranged TV host. Next, you are questioning your entire grocery list. It is beautiful and disturbing at the same time, and also completely unpredictable. Watch it if you want your heart broken by a giant pig. And then maybe go vegetarian for a day.

Mank (David Fincher, 2020)

If you love cinema, you owe yourself this one. Mank is a black & white drama, another David Fincher directorial that dives into the life of Herman J Mankiewicz. He was the man who wrote Citizen Kane. Gary Oldman plays Mank as a brilliant, self-destructive writer caught between his ideals and the Hollywood machine.

This is not a casual watch. It is layered and unapologetically old-school. But it is also stunning to look at and quietly powerful. Netflix took a big swing with this one, and whether or not you are a fan of Citizen Kane, it is a fascinating look at the power dynamics behind the camera.

Don’t Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021)

If you haven’t watched this chaotic end-of-the-world film yet, now is a good time. Don’t Look Up is what happens when two well-meaning scientists (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) discover a comet on its way to destroy Earth and then realise that no one, from the media to the President, actually cares. The film leans into absurdity, with the public deciding it’s probably fake news anyway.

Yes, it is satire. Yes, it is loud. But it is also frustratingly accurate. Adam McKay manages to take real-world ignorance, political spin, and distraction culture and crank it up to a volume. It is both funny and painful. Whether you roll your eyes or shout at the screen, this is one of those Netflix films that grabs your attention and makes sure you do not look away.

Dumb Money (Craig Gillespie, 2023)

This one is for everyone who ever thought, “What if I beat the system with five dollars and a Reddit post?” Dumb Money turns the 2021 GameStop stock saga into a funny, fast-paced, and surprisingly emotional story. It follows regular folks who decided to invest in a failing company. Surprisingly, they end up flipping Wall Street on its head. Paul Dano leads this underdog army, with a killer cast that includes Pete Davidson, America Ferrera, and Seth Rogen.

This film is not your typical finance movie. It has meme energy and a deep resentment for billionaires who treat money like Monopoly tokens. But what makes this film great is how grounded it stays in the chaos. It reminds you that real people were behind those Reddit threads. Also, the fact that collective frustration can spark something powerful.

The Killer (David Fincher, 2023)

Michael Fassbender barely speaks in this film, and yet you hear everything. The Killer is yet again a stylish thriller from David Fincher that places you inside the head of a professional assassin. There are no big explosions or car chases. Just the quiet, methodical unravelling of a man who suddenly starts questioning himself.

This is the kind of film that demands your attention. It is minimal and cold on the surface but loaded with tension underneath. Every shot is calculated, and every silence is deliberate. And by the time the cracks begin to show, you are already in too deep. If you’re tired of loud, messy thrillers and want something with surgical control, this Netflix gem is for you.