Though it is best known for its American productions, it must also be acknowledged that Netflix has shown itself quite willing to produce international films as well. As the streaming service has looked to expand its reach around the world, it has become one of the best homes for movies in languages other than English as well as a hub for popular foreign series such as Money Heist and Squid Game.
Netflix’s original international movies bring big budgets and worldwide exposure to filmmakers that would have been hard to seek out otherwise. As with all Netflix originals, it can be difficult for subscribers to sort out the wheat from the chaff, but Netflix’s best original international movies provide a great way for viewers to see actors, directors, and even genres they’ve never been exposed to before, and some have even been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
10 Ride Or Die (2021)
Adapted from a manga, Ride or Die is a Japanese thriller about a woman who collaborates with an old classmate who is still in love with her to kill her abusive husband and the criminal and emotional fallout that results. Ride or Die takes advantage of the creative freedom Netflix offers and includes explicit violence ad sex as well as LGBTQ+ themes in a way that would have been difficult in commercial Japanese cinema. Kiko Mizuhara and Honami Sato give striking performances as the mismatched pair of women on the run. Ride or Die can be a grueling watch, but it’s ultimately a movie that will stick with the viewer for a long time.
9 Riphagen (2016)
Though many movies about World War II situate viewers firmly on the side of the Allies and those who opposed the Nazis, Riphagen is a little different. It focuses instead on Dries Riphagen, one of those who actually collaborated with the Germans rather than trying to resist them. It’s a scathing portrait of one man’s tremendous and toxic mendacity. Rather than painting him as an antihero, Riphagen’s brilliance lies in his ability to show just how evil he was and, more importantly, how sometimes there is no justice even for those who are capable of doing the worst things.
8 Darlings (2022)
Darlings is a black comedy about a woman who enlists her mother to help get revenge on her cruel husband, only to have the situation escalate beyond the control of either one. Despite dealing with serious subject matter, the Indian film manages to keep a light tone without trivializing the issues at play. Fans of Tollywood crossover hit RRR will enjoy seeing co-star Alia Bhatt in a lead role, with Shefali Shah also shining as her cagey mother. Darlings became one of Netflix’s most-watched international movies in its opening weekend, and it’s not hard to see why.
7 The Hater (2020)
The Hater is a chilling movie for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that it is one of those films which manages to capture so much that is terrifying about the internet age. Focusing on a young man who becomes part of a troll farm, it is particularly acute in its depiction of what draws people into such a sinister and toxic world. What’s more, though the story is set in Poland, the movie is a warning to the rest of the world. It’s a social problem film that is an eerie exploration of things that have been and that may yet be.
6 Mars One (2023)
Mars One is one of the most recent of Netflix’s best original international movies. Far from the sci-fi drama its title implies, the film is a gritty Brazilian family drama about a child who dreams of becoming an astronaut despite his poor surroundings. Mars One touches on issues of race, class, and sexuality in modern Brazil, in part depicting the social circumstances around rise of far-right populist politician Jair Bolsonaro, but has also been acclaimed for its sympathetic and tender depiction of its characters. The film won high praise from critics on the festival circuit leading up to its worldwide Netflix release.
5 On My Skin: The Last Seven Days Of Stefano Cucchi (2018)
Movies are almost unrivaled in their power to engage with social justice issues. This is true, for example, of On My Skin, a searing and powerful movie about an Italian man who died while he was in police custody. From the moment he appears on-screen, Alessandro Borghi exerts a powerful charisma as the young man doomed to die by the movie’s end. It’s precisely because the viewer comes to care about, appreciate, and understand him that the film ultimately possesses its extraordinary emotional power, reminding everyone of the necessity for criminal justice reform, both in the US and abroad.
4 Andhaghaaram (2020)
This Tamil language movie, which marks the emergence of director V. Vignarajan, is a skilled mix of supernatural and thriller. Focusing on three different storylines, all of which are linked together by the otherworldly, it can at times be a bit difficult to follow. However, the film’s conclusion manages to tie these various elements up very neatly. What’s more, the movie’s cinematography manages to immerse the viewer in this dark and dangerous world, with a meticulous attention to detail that helps to immerse the viewer in this sinister world.
3 The Night Comes For Us (2018)
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Though The Night Comes For Us might be a bit too violent for some, it is important to point out that the moments of excessive brutality are key to the movie’s story. This is a film, after all, that focuses on an enforcer who gives up his former life in order to protect the vulnerable. Indeed, like the best movies based on comic books, the movie manages to bring out rich emotions even amid all of the violence and bloodshed. Coupled with the dynamic performances from its main cast, particularly Joe Taslim, it makes for compelling viewing for both American and international audiences.
2 All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
While Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front was adopted into a very successful Hollywood film in the 1930s, Netflix’s adaptation was the first time the story was rendered in its original German. The sweeping cinematography and vivid action allow a new generation of viewers to experience the horror and tragedy of World War I for themselves. All Quiet on The Western Front was a surprise international hit and had major awards success, including multiple Academy Awards for is technical achievements as well as one for Best International Feature. This recognition has made it a must-watch for anyone looking for Netflix’s best original international movies.
1 Roma (2018)
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, Roma set a high watermark for original international movies on Netflix. The film saw Cuarón returning to his native Mexico to depict heartfelt domestic drama about the housekeeper of a wealthy family who becomes pregnant unexpectedly. Roma is most noted for its beautiful cinematography, which depicts a trip through 1970s Mexico in gorgeous black and white, as well as the deft way in which it tells its simple story. The film was Netflix’s first major Oscar success, with awards for Best Cinematography and Best Director, and is still one of the best movies on Netflix from any country or in any language.
