Netflix announced late last year that they have no less than 80 new projects in the pipeline for release this year, and a huge amount of those will be original movies. It’s hard enough keeping up with everything at the multiplex, but now it’s getting even harder to discover which, of the many movies, we need to watch on Netflix streaming. Don’t worry. We have you covered.
Love Netflix? HateNetflix? you’re able to’t argue that they are an entertainment juggernaut. It would be enough if they were simply the company who made streaming viable. However, what they have become as a production/distribution powerhouse just about thwarts all of that. Making this even more impressive is the litany of content that Netflix continues to produce. Whether it is the animal consciousOkja, or theTraining DaymeetsAlienationmash-upBright, or the litany of documentary or TV shows (Orange Is the New Black,House Of Cardsand13 Reasons Whyare just a few that come to mind), Netflix is arguably the most interesting production entity in town. When you consider the stiff competition from Hulu and Amazon Prime that is really saying something.
Now, is everything that this production beast makes some amazing piece of priceless celluloid? No! And lets be honest we wouldn’t really want it to be. For everyStranger Thingsthere’s anIron Fist. This is just the way that it goes. The bigger point is that Netflix is trying. And in trying they have done something that seemed downright impossible. They have revived home video. Yes, the days of going to a cavernous video store are long since gone. That is only because Netflix has brought the video store to our home. And the search down the aisle can now be done with a few left and right thumb-strokes. But those video stores never gave us brand-new blockbuster movies not even available at the movie theater. It is with this in mind that we give you 17 Netflix original movies that will keep you streaming all the way into 2019.
17Before I Wake (January 5)
Before I Wakeis a creepy tale focuses on a couple (Thomas Jane and Kate Bosworth) who adopt a child and realizes that, while he sleeps, some very strange things happen. I once interviewed the great Thomas Jane for this site. That was for the DVD release (yeah, back when they still did interviews for those) ofThe Punisher. I asked him if his role as Frank Castle was the kind of role an actor waits their whole career to play. “Nah man,” he laughed. “It ain’t Shakespeare or nothin'.” One gets the impression he might say that about this horror film starring Kate Bosworth. Still, it should be highly entertaining to see where this goes.
16The Polka King (January 12)
With a tagline that calls this film “The greatest scandal in polka history,“The Polka Kingis either going to be amazing or amazingly forgotten. Starring Jack Black as polka impresario Jan Lewan this film has to be fun doesn’t it? After all what goes together better than the strains of polka music and Jack Black? In this film we see the erstwhile Lewan plot a scheme to score some quick loot that ultimately lands him in the big house. Regardless of how good or bad this film is it sure seems fun getting to watch Black inhabit this world.
15Step Sisters (January 19)
NoStep Sistersisn’t some long distance sequel toStep Brothers. Rather this is a dance film from the director ofDrumline, the producers ofStraight Outta Comptonand the person who put together all the dance moves inPitch Perfect. This story focuses on Jamilah. She rules the step dance crew and is called on to save the day when a bunch of white girls need to learn how to dance. Or, something like that. WhatStep Sistersis is a lot of fun. With a bunch of showy dance moves and some comments on race relations, this just might be the dark horse of all the Netflix films.
14The Open House (January 19)
Not sure where David Minnette made this film in his career. Was it before his star turn on the Netflix series13 Reasons Why? Or, was this film shot before that and Netflix figures anything with Minnette in it is bound to capture some views? Whatever the caseThe Open Housestars Minnette and Piercey Dalton as a mother/son team who have moved into a new house. Things get creepy when it becomes apparent that there are certain entities that do not want them there. Something tells us this horror/thriller will give us at least 3 reasons to watch this with the lights on!
13A Futile and Stupid Gesture (January 26)
WithI,Tonyashowing just how much fun biopics can be, something tells us thatA Futile and Stupid Gestureis going to be next level legendary. In short, this film follows the formation and success of National Lampoon. Believe it or not, there was a time that National Lampoon made movies likeVacationand notVan Wilder. It sure sounds like time well spent finding out just how people like Christopher Guest, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Douglas Kenney made this possible.
12On Body and Soul (February 2)
Okay, talk about a film that truly captures the spirit of what Netflix does best. I don’t care if they made this film from the script stage. I don’t care if they grabbed it as a negative pick-up (which, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did). The fact that they are making it available to their massive audience is something we should all be thankful for. Ildikó Enyedi’sOn Body and Soulfollows two people who work in a slaughterhouse. They also happen to have the same dreams and they try to make what’s in their minds a reality. Okay, this sounds like the most interesting film sinceBeing John Malkovich. Whether it is or not we will have to find out for ourselves.
11The Ritual (February 9)
Andy Serkis produces this reunion tale from director David BrucknerV/H/S. It centers on a group of friends that come together after college to go on a trip in the forest. It soon becomes apparent that they are being stalked and they’ve got to do anything in their power to get out alive. Okay, this probably isn’t the most groundbreaking offering that Netflix has given us. However, its output of titles like this take us back to a different time. Remember when you would rent a movie with a bunch of people in it that should’ve been stars but weren’t? WithThe Ritual, Netflix manages to remind of us that while also showing us the new shape of home video.
10Mute (February 2018)
Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux topline this futuristic thriller. Skarsgård plays amute bartenderwho just can’t let go of a woman who has disappeared from his life. So he sets about looking for her and this leads him on an odyssey into the dark depths of Berlin. Not knowing who can help him or who he can trust, Leo keeps going further down the rabbit hole. Okay, this film might beAlphavilleor it might beBuckaroo Bonzai. Either way you can count us in!
9Game Over, Man! (March 23)
You gotta love this title, right? If a mash-up of 80s action films were remade as a slapstick movie it might look something likeGame Over, Man!. From the crew behindWorkaholicsthis farce imagines how three less then tough guys might react if they had to save somebody from terrorists. At a time when we get anti-terrorism movies to bolster the US narrative of invading other countries, it’s kinda neat to see what happens when people like this have fun with this genre. In fact, in a very real way,Game Over, Man!might just be the most patriotic film we see all year.
8Cargo (TBD 2018)
The always good Martin Freeman (Black Panther) plays Andy. He and and his young daughter are being chased by creatures who have been infected by a pandemic. Making things even more precarious is that Andy only has 48 hours until he becomes one of the very creatures that is trying trying to kill them. With everybody a potential enemy it is a race against time for Andy to get his daughter to safety… and possibly save himself in the process. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night if I do say so myself.
