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WeirdThe 17 Best Drama Movies On Netflix
By Jade Budowski
@jadebudowski
Published
April 3, 2018, 9:00 p.m. ET
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These are the most critically-acclaimed titles on the platform.
Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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As I Open My Eyes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This French-Tunisian film follows Farah, an 18-year-old woman with a passion for music and life who joins a political rock band. Her mother, knowing the dangers of Tunisia, tries to push her towards being a doctor, but Farah has other plans. A beautifully-made portrait of youth and self-realization, As I Open My Eyes will surprise you in more ways than one.
[Stream As I Open My Eyes on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This French-Tunisian film follows Farah, an 18-year-old woman with a passion for music and life who joins a political rock band. Her mother, knowing the dangers of Tunisia, tries to push her towards being a doctor, but Farah has other plans. A beautifully-made portrait of youth and self-realization, As I Open My Eyes will surprise you in more ways than one.
[Stream As I Open My Eyes on Netflix]
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AWOL
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
AWOL follows Joey, an aimless young woman who visits an army recruiting office and seems to finally find a path for herself there. Just when she thinks she has it all figured out, however, she meets a woman named Rayna, and the two fall in love in a way that neither could have predicted. Authentically emotional, AWOL is a breathtaking, poignant portrait of first love.
[Stream AWOL on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
AWOL follows Joey, an aimless young woman who visits an army recruiting office and seems to finally find a path for herself there. Just when she thinks she has it all figured out, however, she meets a woman named Rayna, and the two fall in love in a way that neither could have predicted. Authentically emotional, AWOL is a breathtaking, poignant portrait of first love.
[Stream AWOL on Netflix]
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Layla M
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This Dutch drama tells the story of Layla, a teenager living in Amsterdam and coping with the ugly face of Islamophobia. In response to the bigotry, she marries a jihadist and moves to the Middle East, where she is radicalized. Belonging isn't as easy it seems, however, and Layla struggles to find her place in this unfamiliar society.
[Stream Layla M on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This Dutch drama tells the story of Layla, a teenager living in Amsterdam and coping with the ugly face of Islamophobia. In response to the bigotry, she marries a jihadist and moves to the Middle East, where she is radicalized. Belonging isn't as easy it seems, however, and Layla struggles to find her place in this unfamiliar society.
[Stream Layla M on Netflix]
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Meadowland
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Starring Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson, this raw, harrowing drama tells the story of a couple whose son is abducted and the way they unravel in the aftermath of his loss. The Handmaid's Tale's Reed Morano got her start directing with this heart-wrenchingly honest feature, and the result it a totally necessary viewing experience.
[Stream Meadowland on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Starring Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson, this raw, harrowing drama tells the story of a couple whose son is abducted and the way they unravel in the aftermath of his loss. The Handmaid's Tale's Reed Morano got her start directing with this heart-wrenchingly honest feature, and the result it a totally necessary viewing experience.
[Stream Meadowland on Netflix]
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My Happy Family
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Set in Georgia (the country!), My Happy Family sees 52-year-old Manana shock everyone she knows when she decides to leave her big family behind to venture into the unknown and make a new life for herself. Featuring remarkable performances from its leads and a fascinating perspective on patriarchal society, this film is truly something special.
[Stream My Happy Family on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Set in Georgia (the country!), My Happy Family sees 52-year-old Manana shock everyone she knows when she decides to leave her big family behind to venture into the unknown and make a new life for herself. Featuring remarkable performances from its leads and a fascinating perspective on patriarchal society, this film is truly something special.
[Stream My Happy Family on Netflix]
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Gloria
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Based on the life of Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi, this drama follows the singer as she moves onto the world stage but soon finds herself embroiled in her abusive manager's sex scandal, which threatens everything she's worked for. Gloria is the kind of flick that sneaks up on you and manages to pull at all the right heartstrings, making more than one connection in a relatively short amount of time.
[Stream Gloria on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Based on the life of Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi, this drama follows the singer as she moves onto the world stage but soon finds herself embroiled in her abusive manager's sex scandal, which threatens everything she's worked for. Gloria is the kind of flick that sneaks up on you and manages to pull at all the right heartstrings, making more than one connection in a relatively short amount of time.
[Stream Gloria on Netflix]
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Before Midnight
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The third film in Richard Linklater's talky trilogy finds duo Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years since our last encounter with them, now living in Paris with their twin daughters. On the invitation of a colleague of Jesse's, the family spends the summer in Greece, but when the vacation ends and Jesse's son heads off to the states, everything he used to know is thrown up into the air as he questions the life he's become accustomed to.
[Stream Before Midnight on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The third film in Richard Linklater's talky trilogy finds duo Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years since our last encounter with them, now living in Paris with their twin daughters. On the invitation of a colleague of Jesse's, the family spends the summer in Greece, but when the vacation ends and Jesse's son heads off to the states, everything he used to know is thrown up into the air as he questions the life he's become accustomed to.
[Stream Before Midnight on Netflix]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Mustang
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
When five free-spirited teenage sisters are seen innocently playing on a beach with male classmates, a neighbor passing by reports their behavior to the girls' family and they are soon confined to the home and stripped of their technological devices and freedom. While their guardians plan to prepare them to become brides, the younger sisters bond together to avoid this fate and empower themselves in the process.
[Stream Mustang on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
When five free-spirited teenage sisters are seen innocently playing on a beach with male classmates, a neighbor passing by reports their behavior to the girls' family and they are soon confined to the home and stripped of their technological devices and freedom. While their guardians plan to prepare them to become brides, the younger sisters bond together to avoid this fate and empower themselves in the process.
[Stream Mustang on Netflix]
Photo: Everett Collection
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The Godfather
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The first installment of this Academy Award-winning franchise the introduces us to the Corleones, an organized crime family led by Don Vito (Marlon Brando). As the dynasty is transferred into the hands of his reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino), politics shift and drama ensues (and some seriously quotable lines are spoken).
[Stream The Godfather on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The first installment of this Academy Award-winning franchise the introduces us to the Corleones, an organized crime family led by Don Vito (Marlon Brando). As the dynasty is transferred into the hands of his reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino), politics shift and drama ensues (and some seriously quotable lines are spoken).
[Stream The Godfather on Netflix]
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45 Years
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Charlotte Rampling was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in this romantic drama, and it's not hard to see why. Rampling stars as Kate, a woman who learns that her husband was once engaged to someone else right before their 45th wedding anniversary. Things are not as simple as they seem, however, and the secrets that are revealed threaten to shake up everything they've ever known together.
[Stream 45 Years on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Charlotte Rampling was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in this romantic drama, and it's not hard to see why. Rampling stars as Kate, a woman who learns that her husband was once engaged to someone else right before their 45th wedding anniversary. Things are not as simple as they seem, however, and the secrets that are revealed threaten to shake up everything they've ever known together.
[Stream 45 Years on Netflix]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Aquarius
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This Brazilian-French drama follows Clara, the last resident of a building called the Aquarius who refuses to sell her apartment to a construction company with plans to replace the building with a new structure. A stunning depiction of one woman's resolve to stick to her beliefs, this unique little movie is a beautiful character study.
[Stream Aquarius on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This Brazilian-French drama follows Clara, the last resident of a building called the Aquarius who refuses to sell her apartment to a construction company with plans to replace the building with a new structure. A stunning depiction of one woman's resolve to stick to her beliefs, this unique little movie is a beautiful character study.
[Stream Aquarius on Netflix]
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Boyhood
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Shot over 12 years with the same actors, there's an honesty to Richard Linklater's film that's rarely seen on screen. This gorgeous coming-of-age drama follows Mason's life from early childhood to his arrival at college and all the bumps on the road along the way. Featuring career-best performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Boyhood understands what it means to grow up.
[Stream Boyhood on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Shot over 12 years with the same actors, there's an honesty to Richard Linklater's film that's rarely seen on screen. This gorgeous coming-of-age drama follows Mason's life from early childhood to his arrival at college and all the bumps on the road along the way. Featuring career-best performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Boyhood understands what it means to grow up.
[Stream Boyhood on Netflix]
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Daughters of the Dust
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This visually-stunning, massively influential drama tackles heavy themes in an innovating, poetic manner. The 1902-set drama examines the Gullah culture of the islands of the coast of South Carolina and Georgia and the way that African traditions of spirituality and family were maintained well into the 20th century on these islands.
[Stream Daughters of the Dust on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This visually-stunning, massively influential drama tackles heavy themes in an innovating, poetic manner. The 1902-set drama examines the Gullah culture of the islands of the coast of South Carolina and Georgia and the way that African traditions of spirituality and family were maintained well into the 20th century on these islands.
[Stream Daughters of the Dust on Netflix]
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My Left Foot
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This incredibly moving biopic documents the life of Irishman Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a painter and writer born with cerebral palsy who learns to do these things with the only limb he can control - his left foot. Day-Lewis earned a Best Actor Oscar for his vulnerable, completely committed performance as Christy. This depiction of a real-life miracle will make you cry, laugh, and marvel at the nature of human resilience.
[Stream My Left Foot on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This incredibly moving biopic documents the life of Irishman Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a painter and writer born with cerebral palsy who learns to do these things with the only limb he can control - his left foot. Day-Lewis earned a Best Actor Oscar for his vulnerable, completely committed performance as Christy. This depiction of a real-life miracle will make you cry, laugh, and marvel at the nature of human resilience.
[Stream My Left Foot on Netflix]
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Schindler's List
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Steven Spielberg's stunning telling of Oskar Schindler's efforts to save refugees from the Nazis during the Holocaust is one of the most riveting films ever made. Starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Raph Fiennes, and a stellar ensemble cast, this gut-wrenching black and white film is necessary viewing. (Can you believe he made it at the same time he was helming Jurassic Park?!)
[Stream Schindler's List on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Steven Spielberg's stunning telling of Oskar Schindler's efforts to save refugees from the Nazis during the Holocaust is one of the most riveting films ever made. Starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Raph Fiennes, and a stellar ensemble cast, this gut-wrenching black and white film is necessary viewing. (Can you believe he made it at the same time he was helming Jurassic Park?!)
[Stream Schindler's List on Netflix]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Spotlight
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This harrowing film tells the true story of The Boston Globe's team of journalists who exposed the epidemic of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Boston and around the world. This star-studded, necessary film took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2016.
[Stream Spotlight on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
This harrowing film tells the true story of The Boston Globe's team of journalists who exposed the epidemic of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Boston and around the world. This star-studded, necessary film took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2016.
[Stream Spotlight on Netflix]
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The Godfather Part II
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Oft regarded as the best film in the trilogy, the second installment of The Godfather shows us a young Vito (Robert De Niro) paralleled with his son Michael's current status as the Don of the family after an attempt on his life. The film raked in 6 Academy Awards - including Best Picture.
[Stream The Godfather Part II on Netflix]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Oft regarded as the best film in the trilogy, the second installment of The Godfather shows us a young Vito (Robert De Niro) paralleled with his son Michael's current status as the Don of the family after an attempt on his life. The film raked in 6 Academy Awards - including Best Picture.
[Stream The Godfather Part II on Netflix]
