Credit: Netflix

Giddy up, people, because we have got you a rather strange bunch of Netflix films this week, and honestly, you are spoilt for choice. Fancy something weird? Sorted. In the mood for something daft? Plenty of that too.

The films could hardly be more different from one another, and that is exactly the appeal. This week’s list is a smorgasbord. You see, Netflix has hundreds of films, but numbers do not help when you need one that is worth your time. A useful list should make a case for each title without telling you the whole story.

That is the fun of it, though. You can pick something odd and then swerve straight into something silly before the night is out. No rules. Just five films with enough personality to keep things interesting.

So, what are you watching first? We have pulled together five Netflix films that are well worth your time this weekend.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend

I Am Thinking of Ending Things (Charlie Kaufman, 2020)

We begin with a young woman travelling through a snowstorm to meet her boyfriend Jake’s parents, despite privately considering ending the relationship. Brilliant timing, obviously. Then they reach the farmhouse, and that’s when everything goes strange. Time starts wobbling, and stories don’t match. Again, strange timing if you think about it. Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons have done a phenomenal job carrying much of the film through long exchanges that feel natural even when nothing around them does. Toni Collette and David Thewlis play Jake’s parents, and they go for it, shifting from welcoming to unsettling before you have had time to get comfortable.

Charlie Kaufman adapted the film from Iain Reid’s 2016 novel, though he took the story somewhere very much his own. He folded in poetry and Oklahoma! because apparently one source of unease was not enough. You couldn’t write it. Buckley reportedly secured the role within hours and built parts of her performance from small physical details. Keep your eyes peeled, because tiny changes matter here.

Eighth Grade (Bo Burnham, 2018)

After that wintry head-scratcher, Eighth Grade takes us back to a world most people will recognise all too well. Kayla Day is thirteen and approaching the end of middle school, where she struggles to speak to classmates despite posting online videos about confidence. Elsie Fisher plays her with such honesty that some scenes are almost unbearable. Not being funny, but you may find yourself watching through your fingers. Josh Hamilton is just as good as her father; it’s heartbreaking.

The film was comedian Bo Burnham’s feature directing debut, and the idea came partly from watching YouTube videos with almost no views. Rather than treating phones as the root of all evil, Burnham shows how they can magnify the worries already sitting in someone’s head. Fisher was close to Kayla’s age during filming and started high school soon afterwards, which helps explain why the performance never feels groomed for adults.

Are We Done Yet? (Steve Carr, 2007)

Growing pains become building pains in Are We Done Yet?. Newlyweds Nick and Suzanne move their family to the suburbs, convinced a larger house will give them a fresh start. He thinks he has it all sorted. Then the wiring and plumbing begin proving otherwise. Before you can say Jack Robinson, the dream home has become an absolute circus.

Although the film continues the story of Are We There Yet?, its central idea comes from the 1948 Cary Grant comedy Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House. That connection gives the film an old-fashioned comic setup: a family buys the perfect house, only to discover that the house is having none of it. Anyone who has dealt with builders or surprise repair bills will know the feeling. You’d be fuming, wouldn’t you?

Seed of Chucky (Don Mancini, 2004)

Now, be honest: if you discovered your parents were two murderous dolls, you would probably have a few questions. Seed of Chucky follows Glen, the gentle child of Chucky and Tiffany, who travels to Hollywood after seeing film props that look familiar. The parents are brought back, obviously. Chucky wants to start killing again, and Glen wants nothing to do with it. You can see the problem, can’t you? Jennifer Tilly plays both Tiffany and an exaggerated version of herself, and the film has great fun blurring the line between actor and character.

This was the first Child’s Play film directed by the franchise’s creator, Don Mancini, and he used the chance to push the series further into comedy. He also explored Glen’s and Glenda’s identities long before that sort of conversation was common in mainstream horror. You might go in expecting nothing but blood and silly jokes, but there is more going on underneath.

The Fifth Element (Luc Besson, 1997)

Once you have had your fill of killer dolls, The Fifth Element enters the picture. Guess we were saving the best for last. The film takes you to the 23rd century; Earth is in serious trouble, and Korben Dallas, played by Bruce Willis, is only trying to get through another shift as a taxi driver. Then Leeloo lands in his cab and, just like that, he is dragged into a mission to stop an ancient force from wiping everyone out. You would be fuming, wouldn’t you? From driving your taxi to handling the fate of the planet. What a carry-on.

Luc Besson first came up with the story as a teenager, which tells you quite a lot about why the film has so much going on. Jean-Claude Mézières and Jean Giraud helped shape the world, while Jean Paul Gaultier designed more than 1,000 costumes. Does every bit of it make sense? Do me a favour. It is far too busy enjoying itself.