Fun
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Curious
Romantic
WeirdThe 20 Best Indie Movies On Netflix
By Jade Budowski
@jadebudowski
Published
May 9, 2017, 9:00 p.m. ET
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Dramas, comedies, romances, documentaries, you name it - indie's got it all.
Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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Memento
IMDb Rating: 8.5
This 2000 neo-noir helmed by Christopher Nolan depicts a man with short-term memory loss (Guy Pearce) who attempts to solve his wife's murder by piecing together a sequence of Polaroid photographs. This dark, nonlinear story is bound to take you on a series of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you simultaneously thrilled and devastated.
[Stream Memento]
IMDb Rating: 8.5
This 2000 neo-noir helmed by Christopher Nolan depicts a man with short-term memory loss (Guy Pearce) who attempts to solve his wife's murder by piecing together a sequence of Polaroid photographs. This dark, nonlinear story is bound to take you on a series of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you simultaneously thrilled and devastated.
[Stream Memento]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Boyhood
IMDb Rating: 7.9
There's honesty to this film that's rarely seen on screen; Richard Linklater shot this gorgeous coming-of-age drama over 12 years with the same actors and edited the final result into a feature-length film that follows Mason's life from early childhood to his arrival at college. Genuinely moving and featuring career-best performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Boyhood truly understands what it means to grow up.
[Stream Boyhood]
IMDb Rating: 7.9
There's honesty to this film that's rarely seen on screen; Richard Linklater shot this gorgeous coming-of-age drama over 12 years with the same actors and edited the final result into a feature-length film that follows Mason's life from early childhood to his arrival at college. Genuinely moving and featuring career-best performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Boyhood truly understands what it means to grow up.
[Stream Boyhood]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Nightcrawler
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Jake Gyllenhaal is at his wild, crazy-eyed best in this neo-noir crime thriller. Gyllenhaal stars as Louis Bloom, a very determined man who will do just about anything to get what he wants. When he fights his way into the world of Los Angeles crime journalism, he begins to overstep his boundaries and endanger the lives of those around him to advance his career and get the perfect shot.
[Stream Nightcrawler]
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Jake Gyllenhaal is at his wild, crazy-eyed best in this neo-noir crime thriller. Gyllenhaal stars as Louis Bloom, a very determined man who will do just about anything to get what he wants. When he fights his way into the world of Los Angeles crime journalism, he begins to overstep his boundaries and endanger the lives of those around him to advance his career and get the perfect shot.
[Stream Nightcrawler]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Mr. Nobody
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Starring Jared Leto and Diane Kruger, this strange sci-fi drama follows Nemo Nobody (Leto), the last mortal in a world of immortals, as he reviews his life at 120 years old and begins to wonder if he made all the right choices. Ambitious, visually engrossing, and featuring a dazzling performance from Leto, this cult hit is worth your time.
[Stream Mr. Nobody]
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Starring Jared Leto and Diane Kruger, this strange sci-fi drama follows Nemo Nobody (Leto), the last mortal in a world of immortals, as he reviews his life at 120 years old and begins to wonder if he made all the right choices. Ambitious, visually engrossing, and featuring a dazzling performance from Leto, this cult hit is worth your time.
[Stream Mr. Nobody]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Moonrise Kingdom
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Helmed by indie god Wes Anderson, this quirky story of young love depicts two pre-teens who decide to run away together from their New England hometown. The disapproving adults who will do whatever they can to stop our two young lovers from being together, but Suzy and Sam won't give up. Rife with innocence, humor, and wit, Moonrise Kingdom is the offbeat youth romance you're bound to fall in love with.
[Stream Moonrise Kingdom]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Helmed by indie god Wes Anderson, this quirky story of young love depicts two pre-teens who decide to run away together from their New England hometown. The disapproving adults who will do whatever they can to stop our two young lovers from being together, but Suzy and Sam won't give up. Rife with innocence, humor, and wit, Moonrise Kingdom is the offbeat youth romance you're bound to fall in love with.
[Stream Moonrise Kingdom]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Beasts of No Nation
IMDb Rating: 7.8
True Detective's mastermind, Cary Fukunaga, helms this riveting drama that follows Agu, a child soldier fighting in a civil war in a fictional West African country. He fears the men around him and tries to make sense of his war-ravaged world as he's forced into a life of death and violence. Equally devastating and fascinating, the film also stars Idris Elba as the menacing commander.
[Stream Beasts of No Nation]
IMDb Rating: 7.8
True Detective's mastermind, Cary Fukunaga, helms this riveting drama that follows Agu, a child soldier fighting in a civil war in a fictional West African country. He fears the men around him and tries to make sense of his war-ravaged world as he's forced into a life of death and violence. Equally devastating and fascinating, the film also stars Idris Elba as the menacing commander.
[Stream Beasts of No Nation]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Blue is the Warmest Color
IMDb Rating: 7.8
This sweeping, controversial French film follows a teenage girl named Adèle whose life is changed when she encounters a blue-haired girl named Emma (Léa Seydoux). The romance follows their relationship from their teen years through early adulthood, through love and heartache, and it's stocked with emotionally raw, intense performances.
[Stream Blue is the Warmest Color]
IMDb Rating: 7.8
This sweeping, controversial French film follows a teenage girl named Adèle whose life is changed when she encounters a blue-haired girl named Emma (Léa Seydoux). The romance follows their relationship from their teen years through early adulthood, through love and heartache, and it's stocked with emotionally raw, intense performances.
[Stream Blue is the Warmest Color]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Weekend
IMDb Rating: 7.7
This compelling, fresh drama takes the "could a one-night stand be something more?" premise and explores it more intimately than most films out there. After leaving a house party one night, Russell heads to a gay club, where he picks up another young man named Glen. While the two have their reasons for hesitating to get involved, they evidently decide to entertain the idea.
[Stream Weekend]
IMDb Rating: 7.7
This compelling, fresh drama takes the "could a one-night stand be something more?" premise and explores it more intimately than most films out there. After leaving a house party one night, Russell heads to a gay club, where he picks up another young man named Glen. While the two have their reasons for hesitating to get involved, they evidently decide to entertain the idea.
[Stream Weekend]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Victoria
IMDb Rating: 7.7
This German crime film follows four Berliners who enlist an adventurous Spanish woman named Victoria to act as their getaway driver for a bank robbery. This incredible cinematic stunt - it was shot in a single continuous take - is truly something to behold, and will keep you on the edge of your seat for its entire two hours.
[Stream Victoria]
IMDb Rating: 7.7
This German crime film follows four Berliners who enlist an adventurous Spanish woman named Victoria to act as their getaway driver for a bank robbery. This incredible cinematic stunt - it was shot in a single continuous take - is truly something to behold, and will keep you on the edge of your seat for its entire two hours.
[Stream Victoria]
Everett Collection
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Barton Fink
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
The Coen Brothers' trademark off-beat comedy and eccentric characters ring truer than ever in this dramedy. This flick may often be forgotten in favor of their more popular titles, but this story of a clueless, pseudo-intellectual New York playwright who ventures to California to write movies and discovers the hard truth about Hollywood is essential viewing for any Coen Brothers lovers.
[Stream Barton Fink]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
The Coen Brothers' trademark off-beat comedy and eccentric characters ring truer than ever in this dramedy. This flick may often be forgotten in favor of their more popular titles, but this story of a clueless, pseudo-intellectual New York playwright who ventures to California to write movies and discovers the hard truth about Hollywood is essential viewing for any Coen Brothers lovers.
[Stream Barton Fink]
Photo: Everett Colleciton
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Y Tu Mamá También
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Featuring one of the steamiest three-way scenes, like, ever, this Alfonso Cuarón-directed dramedy finds two teenaged boys and an older woman on a road trip in Mexico. It turns out to be a journey of many kinds, as the group soon learns a few things about life, love, sex, and friendship.
[Stream Y Tu Mamá También]
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Featuring one of the steamiest three-way scenes, like, ever, this Alfonso Cuarón-directed dramedy finds two teenaged boys and an older woman on a road trip in Mexico. It turns out to be a journey of many kinds, as the group soon learns a few things about life, love, sex, and friendship.
[Stream Y Tu Mamá También]
Everett Collection
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Mississippi Damned
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Featuring some of the most stunning performances Netflix's indie category has to offer, this drama follows three children from a lower-class black family in Mississippi who attempt to break the cycle of addiction and abuse happening around them. This is a beautiful, honest film will keep you glued to the screen - and make sure you come prepared with tissues.
[Stream Mississippi Damned]
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Featuring some of the most stunning performances Netflix's indie category has to offer, this drama follows three children from a lower-class black family in Mississippi who attempt to break the cycle of addiction and abuse happening around them. This is a beautiful, honest film will keep you glued to the screen - and make sure you come prepared with tissues.
[Stream Mississippi Damned]
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A Single Man
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Colin Firth will break your heart as George Falconer, an English professor who loses his partner of sixteen years in a tragic car accident and tries his best to cope with life without his love. As he plans his suicide, he encounters individuals who begin to affect his decision and change his outlook on things.
[Stream A Single Man]
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Colin Firth will break your heart as George Falconer, an English professor who loses his partner of sixteen years in a tragic car accident and tries his best to cope with life without his love. As he plans his suicide, he encounters individuals who begin to affect his decision and change his outlook on things.
[Stream A Single Man]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Following
IMDb Rating: 7.6
This black-and-white thriller from Christopher Nolan marked his feature film debut and was made on a budget of $6,000. The clever neo-noir follows a young man who pursues strangers on the streets of London and gets sucked into the city's criminal underbelly when he gets too close for comfort.
[Stream Following]
IMDb Rating: 7.6
This black-and-white thriller from Christopher Nolan marked his feature film debut and was made on a budget of $6,000. The clever neo-noir follows a young man who pursues strangers on the streets of London and gets sucked into the city's criminal underbelly when he gets too close for comfort.
[Stream Following]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Philomena
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Picture!), this drama starring Dame Judi Dench chronicles the journey of an aging Irishwoman and a journalist (Steve Coogan) as they attempt to find the son that she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.
[Stream Philomena]
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Picture!), this drama starring Dame Judi Dench chronicles the journey of an aging Irishwoman and a journalist (Steve Coogan) as they attempt to find the son that she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.
[Stream Philomena]
Photo: Everett Collection
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We Need to Talk About Kevin
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly star in this disturbing drama that follows a mother (Swinton) who struggles to love her eccentric son as his actions grow more and more violent throughout his childhood and result in something more horrifying than anyone ever anticipated. This exceptional film will send shivers down your spine and make you ache for Swinton as she tries to pick up the pieces.
[Stream We Need to Talk About Kevin]
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly star in this disturbing drama that follows a mother (Swinton) who struggles to love her eccentric son as his actions grow more and more violent throughout his childhood and result in something more horrifying than anyone ever anticipated. This exceptional film will send shivers down your spine and make you ache for Swinton as she tries to pick up the pieces.
[Stream We Need to Talk About Kevin]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Amal
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Set in New Delhi, this drama follows an auto rickshaw driver named Amal whose livelihood is threatened by the impending Metro. This kind, compassionate, honest man is generous to a fault, and after an eccentric millionaire moved by his humility bequeaths his entire estate to Amal, his life is turned on its head and he is confronted with more obstacles than he ever imagined.
[Stream Amal]
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Set in New Delhi, this drama follows an auto rickshaw driver named Amal whose livelihood is threatened by the impending Metro. This kind, compassionate, honest man is generous to a fault, and after an eccentric millionaire moved by his humility bequeaths his entire estate to Amal, his life is turned on its head and he is confronted with more obstacles than he ever imagined.
[Stream Amal]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Howards End
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and an all-star slew of British actors round out the cast in this 1992 drama that follows ahusband that refuses to accept his wife's deathbed wish. Full of unexpected romance, drama, and moral differences, this film will move you in more ways than one.
[Stream Howards End]
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and an all-star slew of British actors round out the cast in this 1992 drama that follows ahusband that refuses to accept his wife's deathbed wish. Full of unexpected romance, drama, and moral differences, this film will move you in more ways than one.
[Stream Howards End]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Fruitvale Station
IMDb Rating: 7.5
This riveting, harrowing drama tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a young man shot by San Francisco transit police in 2009 on New Year's Day. Helmed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, this film is a showcase for brilliant, honest performances and authentic storytelling.
[Stream Fruitvale Station]
IMDb Rating: 7.5
This riveting, harrowing drama tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a young man shot by San Francisco transit police in 2009 on New Year's Day. Helmed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, this film is a showcase for brilliant, honest performances and authentic storytelling.
[Stream Fruitvale Station]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Babel
IMDb Rating: 7.5
This riveting drama from award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett among a stunning ensemble cast that act among four separate storylines set in multiple countries. The engrossing, moving account of death, tragedy, and family speaks to why Iñárritu is such a master of the craft.
[Stream Babel]
IMDb Rating: 7.5
This riveting drama from award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett among a stunning ensemble cast that act among four separate storylines set in multiple countries. The engrossing, moving account of death, tragedy, and family speaks to why Iñárritu is such a master of the craft.
[Stream Babel]
Photo: Everett Collection
