Lesser-Known Netflix Movies That Are Totally Worth Watching

There are plenty of Netflix films that quietly slipped under the radar and still deliver strong stories, memorable performances, and fresh ideas. This list pulls together diverse picks from thrillers to international dramas, all streaming on the platform. You will find details on plots, key cast and filmmakers, and where each title comes from so you can pick what fits your mood. Save a few for later and make a mini watchlist you can dip into anytime.

‘A Sun’ (2019)

This Taiwanese family drama follows two brothers on very different paths after one is sent to juvenile detention and the other shoulders the weight of family expectations. The film is directed by Chung Mong Hong and stars Chen Yi Wen, Wu Chien Ho, and Liu Kuan Ting. It runs a little over two and a half hours and explores consequences, forgiveness, and the pressure of parental hopes. Netflix carries it with both subtitles and dubbing options in select regions.

‘The Platform’ (2019)

This Spanish sci fi thriller is set in a vertical prison where food descends level by level and survival depends on what is left. It is directed by Galder Gaztelu Urrutia and features Iván Massagué and Antonia San Juan. The film uses a contained setting to explore scarcity and social structure. Netflix offers it with original Spanish audio and multiple subtitle tracks.

‘His House’ (2020)

This UK film follows Sudanese refugees trying to rebuild their lives in England while confronting a presence in their new home. It is written and directed by Remi Weekes and stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and Wunmi Mosaku. The story blends migration trauma with folklore and uses the house setting to explore memory and loss. Netflix lists it under horror and drama with a compact runtime under two hours.

‘Calibre’ (2018)

Set in the Scottish Highlands, this thriller follows two friends on a hunting trip that spirals after a tragic mistake. Matt Palmer writes and directs with Jack Lowden and Martin McCann in the lead roles. The film is noted for a tight rural setting and escalating tension driven by local relationships. Netflix presents it as a Scottish production with English audio and standard subtitle options.

‘The Perfection’ (2019)

This psychological thriller centers on two cellists whose paths cross at a prestigious music institute with disturbing results. Directed by Richard Shepard, it stars Allison Williams and Logan Browning. The plot unfolds through shifting perspectives and uses classical music training as a backdrop for manipulation and revenge. Netflix streams it with descriptive audio and multiple subtitle choices.

‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ (2017)

A medical assistant teams up with an eccentric neighbor to track down burglars after a home break in. Macon Blair makes his feature directing debut and the cast includes Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood. The story moves through small town settings with bursts of clumsy amateur detective work. Netflix lists it under crime and dark comedy with a brisk runtime.

‘Wheelman’ (2017)

A getaway driver is forced to navigate a double cross while staying on the move through one night in Boston. Jeremy Rush directs and the film stars Frank Grillo with a focus on in car perspectives. The tight framing keeps most scenes inside the vehicle which shapes the pacing and tension. Netflix categorizes it as an action thriller with English audio and subtitles.

‘Shimmer Lake’ (2017)

Told in reverse, this crime story rewinds over several days to unravel a small town bank heist. It is written and directed by Oren Uziel and features Benjamin Walker, Wyatt Russell, and Rainn Wilson. The structure reveals clues backward to show how the plan came together. Netflix presents it as a darkly comedic thriller with a standard feature length.

‘Apostle’ (2018)

A man travels to a remote island to rescue his sister from a mysterious cult in early twentieth century Wales. Gareth Evans directs with Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen leading the cast. The film blends period detail with folk horror and uses practical effects for several key sequences. Netflix streams it with English audio and accessible subtitle options.

‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)

This Indonesian action film follows an elite enforcer who turns on a criminal syndicate to protect a young girl. Timo Tjahjanto directs and the cast includes Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais. The movie features close quarters fights and extensive stunt work shot in warehouses, clubs, and apartments. Netflix labels it as an action thriller with original Indonesian audio and subtitles.

‘1922’ (2017)

Based on a novella by Stephen King, this period thriller follows a Nebraska farmer who conspires to murder his wife and faces the aftermath. Zak Hilditch directs with Thomas Jane and Molly Parker in key roles. The film uses rural landscapes and voiceover confession to frame guilt and decay. Netflix includes it in its library of King adaptations with English audio and subtitles.

‘Cam’ (2018)

A cam performer discovers her identity has been stolen by a double that is taking over her channel. Directed by Daniel Goldhaber and co written by Isa Mazzei, it stars Madeline Brewer. The film examines online persona, platform rules, and digital imitation through a tech focused thriller. Netflix streams it with a concise runtime and multiple subtitle options.

‘Hold the Dark’ (2018)

Set in Alaska, this mystery follows a naturalist called in to track wolves after a child disappears. Jeremy Saulnier directs with Jeffrey Wright, Riley Keough, and Alexander Skarsgård. The film moves from wilderness searches to a grim undercurrent of war trauma and isolated communities. Netflix offers it under mystery and thriller with English audio and subtitles.

‘ARQ’ (2016)

This sci fi chamber piece traps a couple in a time loop tied to an experimental energy device. Tony Elliott writes and directs with Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor in the leads. The story resets through repeated break ins and uses limited locations to emphasize the loop mechanics. Netflix lists it as a Canadian production with a runtime under two hours.

‘Spectral’ (2016)

A special ops team in a war torn European city confronts enemy figures that appear to be non human entities. Nic Mathur directs and the cast includes James Badge Dale and Emily Mortimer. The film blends military tactics with speculative tech built around hyperspectral imaging. Netflix released it as a sci fi action feature with English audio and subtitles.

‘Imperial Dreams’ (2014)

A young father returns to Watts and tries to support his son while staying clear of gang life and prison. John Boyega plays an aspiring writer who struggles with housing, parole rules, and family obligations. The film premiered at Sundance and won the Audience Award for Best of Next. Netflix released it worldwide after its festival run.

‘The Siege of Jadotville’ (2016)

This war drama recounts the 1961 siege in the Congo where Irish UN peacekeepers held off a larger force. Jamie Dornan portrays Commandant Pat Quinlan with support from Jason O’Mara and Mark Strong. The story draws from Declan Power’s nonfiction account of the battle. Netflix financed and released the film with a focus on the historical operation.

‘Tramps’ (2016)

A courier mix up sends two strangers across New York City to recover a lost briefcase. The film is directed by Adam Leon and stars Callum Turner and Grace Van Patten. It blends a light caper with small moments across outer borough neighborhoods. Netflix acquired the movie after its festival screenings and released it as an original title.

‘Cargo’ (2017)

Set in rural Australia, a father searches for safe haven for his infant daughter after a viral outbreak. Martin Freeman leads the cast along with Simone Landers and Susie Porter. The feature expands a 2013 short by the same directors Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. Netflix distributed the film as a post apocalyptic survival story.

‘Hush’ (2016)

A deaf novelist faces a masked intruder at her isolated home and must rely on sight and touch to survive. Mike Flanagan directs and co writes with star Kate Siegel. The movie uses minimal dialogue and practical effects to build its set pieces. Netflix released it following a limited festival run.

‘Gerald’s Game’ (2017)

A married couple’s attempt at a getaway leaves the wife handcuffed and alone after a sudden medical emergency. Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood star in this adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Mike Flanagan directs with a focus on flashbacks and hallucinations to reveal backstory. Netflix produced and released the film with English and descriptive audio tracks.

‘The Ritual’ (2017)

Four friends take a memorial hike in northern Sweden and find signs of a presence in the forest. Rafe Spall leads the ensemble with Arsher Ali, Robert James Collier, and Sam Troughton. The screenplay adapts Adam Nevill’s novel and incorporates elements of Norse folklore. Netflix acquired international distribution and streams it in multiple regions.

‘The Discovery’ (2017)

A scientist proves the existence of an afterlife which triggers widespread consequences across society. Jason Segel and Rooney Mara play central roles with Robert Redford as the researcher. Charlie McDowell directs and explores the ripple effects through a low key sci fi premise. Netflix released the film after debuting it at the Sundance Film Festival.

‘iBoy’ (2017)

After an attack, a London teenager finds fragments of his phone embedded in his head and develops unusual abilities. Bill Milner and Maisie Williams star with supporting roles from Rory Kinnear and Miranda Richardson. The story adapts Kevin Brooks’s novel and uses city estates and schools as main settings. Netflix premiered the film as a UK focused original.

‘Tallulah’ (2016)

A young drifter rescues a neglected baby and seeks help from her former boyfriend’s mother in New York City. The film stars Elliot Page and Allison Janney with Tammy Blanchard in a key role. Sian Heder writes and directs after developing the story from a short. Netflix acquired distribution following its Sundance premiere.

‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ (2016)

A home caregiver and his teenage client take a road trip that grows with stops pulled from a personal bucket list. Paul Rudd and Craig Roberts lead the cast with Selena Gomez joining en route. The script adapts Jonathan Evison’s novel and uses roadside landmarks as chapter points. Netflix released the film after its festival debut.

‘Time Share’ (2018)

At a tropical resort, two families encounter an aggressive corporate program that pushes unsettling group activities. Sebastián Hofmann directs with performances by Luis Gerardo Méndez and Miguel Rodarte. The film premiered at Sundance in the World Cinema competition and later played Rotterdam. Netflix handles international streaming under the title Tiempo Compartido.

‘Forgotten’ (2017)

A student watches his abducted brother return home and suspects something about him has changed. Jang Hang jun directs with Kang Ha neul and Kim Mu yeol in the lead roles. The thriller threads memory loss and a buried case from the past through shifting timelines. Netflix licenses the film for streaming with original Korean audio and subtitles.

‘The Occupant’ (2020)

An out of work advertising executive tracks the new residents of his former apartment and inserts himself into their lives. Javier Gutiérrez and Mario Casas star under directors Álex and David Pastor. The story follows surveillance, identity, and class anxiety in contemporary Barcelona. Netflix released the film under the Spanish title Hogar.

‘I Lost My Body’ (2019)

In Paris, a severed hand escapes a lab and crosses the city to find the young man it once belonged to. Director Jérémy Clapin adapts Guillaume Laurant’s novel and blends romance and adventure across two interwoven threads. The film won the Nespresso Grand Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week and received an Academy Award nomination for animated feature. Netflix acquired worldwide rights and presents both dubbed and subtitled versions.

‘Rebirth’ (2016)

After a corporate worker reconnects with an old friend, he is pulled into a self help weekend that quickly turns into something more extreme. Karl Glusman and Fran Kranz lead the thriller directed by Bobby Miller. The story follows a series of controlled exercises and escalating deceptions that blur consent and coercion. Netflix released the film following its festival premiere with English audio and subtitles.

‘Clinical’ (2017)

A psychiatrist takes on a new patient while recovering from a violent incident that shattered her confidence. Vinessa Shaw and Kevin Rahm star in a psychological thriller directed by Alistair Legrand. The plot uses therapy sessions and home visits to unravel trauma and unreliable memory. Netflix distributed the film as an original with descriptive audio and multiple subtitle tracks.

‘The Most Hated Woman in America’ (2017)

This biographical drama traces the rise and disappearance of activist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, a central figure in atheist advocacy. Melissa Leo plays O’Hair with supporting roles from Adam Scott and Juno Temple. The film covers legal battles, family tensions, and the kidnapping that dominated later headlines. Netflix produced and released the feature with English audio and captions.

‘The Outsider’ (2018)

Set in postwar Japan, an American former soldier enters the yakuza underworld after a prison stint. Jared Leto stars with Tadanobu Asano in a crime drama directed by Martin Zandvliet. The story follows initiation rituals, shifting loyalties, and turf pressures inside an Osaka clan. Netflix released the film globally with original English audio and subtitle options.

‘Extinction’ (2018)

A father is haunted by visions of an attack on his city that seem to predict an actual invasion. Michael Peña and Lizzy Caplan headline the sci fi thriller directed by Ben Young. The narrative hinges on a mid story reveal that reframes the conflict and the family’s past. Netflix acquired and premiered the film with English and dubbed language tracks.

‘Tau’ (2018)

A young woman is imprisoned in a high tech house controlled by an artificial intelligence that studies her behavior. Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein, and Gary Oldman star in a contained sci fi story. The film focuses on experiments, escape attempts, and the evolving relationship between human and machine. Netflix released it as an original with multiple subtitle options.

‘The Titan’ (2018)

Military researchers push human subjects toward adaptation for life on Saturn’s largest moon. Sam Worthington and Taylor Schilling lead the cast in a science fiction drama directed by Lennart Ruff. The plot follows training, medical procedures, and the unforeseen costs of accelerated evolution. Netflix handled international distribution and streams it with English audio.

‘Fractured’ (2019)

After a roadside accident, a man brings his injured daughter to a hospital and cannot locate her in the system. Sam Worthington stars with Lily Rabe in a mystery thriller directed by Brad Anderson. The story moves through wards, security checkpoints, and records as the clock runs. Netflix released the film worldwide with descriptive audio and subtitles.

‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ (2019)

A Philadelphia detective chases a killer whose appearances follow a strange pattern across years. Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, and Michael C. Hall star under director Jim Mickle. The investigation ties forensic details to a timeline that challenges cause and effect. Netflix debuted the feature as an original with English audio and global subtitles.

‘Earthquake Bird’ (2019)

An expatriate in Tokyo becomes a person of interest when a friend goes missing. Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough, and Naoki Kobayashi star in a psychological drama directed by Wash Westmoreland. The film adapts Susanna Jones’s novel and blends romance, suspicion, and cultural dislocation. Netflix released it following a festival bow with both subtitles and dubbing options.

‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ (2019)

Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba, a Malawian teenager builds a wind turbine to help his village. Chiwetel Ejiofor directs and appears alongside Maxwell Simba as William. The film follows school access, resource challenges, and a technical solution assembled from scrap. Netflix financed and distributed the feature with educational extras available in some regions.

‘I Am Mother’ (2019)

In a post cataclysm bunker, a robot raises a human child to repopulate the Earth. Clara Rugaard, Rose Byrne, and Hilary Swank lead a contained science fiction narrative directed by Grant Sputore. The plot probes trust, testing protocols, and conflicting accounts of the outside world. Netflix launched the film on its platform with original English audio and subtitles.

‘The Decline’ (2020)

At a remote survivalist camp in Quebec, an accident fractures the group and sparks a dangerous standoff. Patrice Laliberté directs with performances by Guillaume Laurin and Marie Évelyne Lessard. The film uses training drills, supply caches, and shifting alliances to build momentum. Netflix produced the French language feature and streams it with subtitles and dubbing.

‘The Paramedic’ (2020)

A paramedic coping with paralysis fixates on his former partner and begins a campaign of surveillance and control. Mario Casas and Déborah François star in a thriller directed by Carles Torras. The story traces assistive devices, altered routines, and escalating intrusions into private spaces. Netflix released the Spanish film under the title El practicante with global subtitles.

‘The Block Island Sound’ (2020)

An unexplained force near a coastal community triggers unusual animal behavior and growing paranoia among residents. Chris Sheffield and Michaela McManus star in a slow burn mystery directed by Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus. The narrative blends fisheries work, family history, and strange phenomena recorded on the water. Netflix acquired streaming rights and presents it with English audio and captions.

Tell us which quiet Netflix gems you think deserve more attention in the comments so everyone can add them to their watchlists.