In the modern age of filmmaking, it’s impossible to deny the influence and overwhelming popularity that streaming services have held as one of the main ways that many modern audiences experience film, whether it be an array of classics from the past or some of the hottest new releases. However, it comes down to the original content that a streaming service offers in terms of distinguishing itself from the competition, with no other streaming service coming close to the impact and outright memorability of Netflix‘s offerings.
In terms of original films especially, Netflix is leaps and bounds ahead of its competition, largely thanks to how wide of a net that the studio casts in terms of financing and distributing just about every type of film imaginable. When at their best, Netflix original films can be some of the most acclaimed films of their respective years and must-watch phenomena that continue to be appreciated years after their release. While there are many different methods to discern the best and most celebrated films Netflix has released, the Rotten Tomatoes score paints a picture of widespread appeal and praise for these films.
6
‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
The romantic comedy genre largely saw a downswing during the early 2010s, simply not being able to compete with the likes of massive romance blockbusters while the truly passionate and artistic rom-coms of the era aimed for a more niche, indie audience. However, Netflix has largely become one of the most pervasive forces for the return to prominence of rom-coms, especially teenage rom-coms, with the driving force for this return to form being To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
It may seem silly that this seemingly simple teenage rom-com has such a massive Rotten Tomatoes score, but it speaks volumes not only to how effectively the film plays into classic rom-com archetypes, but also just how starved many critics and audiences of the late 2010s were for a classic rom-com experience. The film soars due to an abundance of charm, largely thanks to the dynamic and chemistry between leads Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, as well as a quaint setup that helps with the inherent memorability of the film.
5
‘Roma’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
The latest cinematic masterpiece from legendary director Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is a strikingly beautiful portrait of emotional hardships that plays with the audience’s heartstrings with tactful precision. This Spanish-language film was the definitive must-watch indie film of 2018 and has stood as one of the premier examples of how Netflix is capable of releasing striking and beautiful works of cinematic art. It became the first Netflix original film to be nominated for Best Picture, as well as arguably being the closest that the platform has been to actually winning the legendary award.
It simply goes without saying that Cuarón’s masterpiece of black-and-white filmmaking was a massive hit with critics and audiences alike, with Roma being a once-in-a-generation work of art that spoke to the potential of the cinema in the streaming era. It’s far from the only critically acclaimed film that Netflix has put out, but the massive amounts of prestige and passion surrounding the film showed they are more than just a streaming platform — rather, they are a genuine competitor and provider of artistic cinematic brilliance.
4
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
All of the pieces were there for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to be a massive critical success, becoming a massively beloved love letter to 1920s blues music that defined the 2020 awards season but was sadly forgotten due to being snubbed for Best Picture. While its passionate musical story and how it balances the drama surrounding Blues culture in the ’20s is great enough, the real selling point and impact of the film comes from its legendary central performances.
Chadwick Boseman, in his final film role, absolutely steals the show in what is largely considered the best performance of his career, while Viola Davis matches this energy and further elevates the dramatic weight of the film. Between these outstanding performances and the overall lack of competition in prestigious films in the midst of the pandemic, it isn’t exactly surprising that critics of the era flocked to the film and were quick to sing its many praises.
3
‘The Perfect Neighbor’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
While Netflix has acted as a dominating force that has revitalized and completely transformed many different genres during its tenure, crime documentaries are arguably one of the genres most overwhelmingly changed by Netflix’s influence. The platform is constantly releasing high-profile documentaries that bolster its reputation as a source for hard-hitting cinematic journalism, although even with many great docs released, they don’t hold a candle to the brilliance and power of Sundance darling The Perfect Neighbor.
This emotional and painful story of real-life violence and murder in a small Florida community makes massive statements by largely showing how it transpired without much change. It tells its story entirely through bodycam footage, painting a picture both through what is directly seen by law enforcement and the implications and pain implied through what is seen. The film saw overwhelming acclaim after it premiered at Sundance, leading Netflix to acquire the film and add it to its repertoire of massively acclaimed documentaries.
2
‘Under the Shadow’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Compared to the films that have received multitudes of awards or overwhelming popularity on the platform, Under the Shadow overwhelmingly sticks out among the critical darlings that Netflix has released over the years. However, this emotional wartime supernatural horror film is absolutely deserving of its 99% Tomatometer score, bringing to life an incredibly abstract and intricate concept and utilizing it perfectly for its haunting themes of social terror and systemic misogyny.
It’s an outright perfect horror movie that most people simply haven’t heard of, but its critical reception paints the entire picture of just how much of a hidden gem Under the Shadow is. The film follows a mother and daughter who begin being haunted by a mysterious apparition that they believe may have entered their home after their building was struck by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War. Convinced of the danger of these supernatural forces, this mother will have to face them head-on in order to protect her daughter.
1
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
In terms of icon status mixed with an overwhelming abundance of charm and whimsy, it’s hard to beat the consistency of Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit. This placed all sorts of expectations on their glorious return to feature-length filmmaking after 19 years of absence, with Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl fully living up to the reputation of the franchise in the eyes of critics. In the process, it ended up being Netflix’s only film to have achieved an unbreakable 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It is certainly a bit silly that this illustrious achievement is held by a children’s animated film, but it’s impossible to conceive of even a single person who wouldn’t crack a smile at the stop-motion charm of one of animation’s greatest duos. Vengeance Most Fowl acts as a glorious continuation of everything that made this duo so iconic in the first place, amplifying their charms and sticking with what makes them great while also tapping into concerns of the modern age with a satirical anti-AI message. There’s certainly the possibility for Netflix to release another film that achieves a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes in the future, but for the time being, the mantle will have to be maintained by the UK’s favorite man-and-dog duo.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- Release Date
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January 3, 2025
- Runtime
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79 minutes
- Director
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Nick Park
- Writers
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Mark Burton
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Reece Shearsmith
Norbot (voice)
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Ben Whitehead
Wallace (voice)