Searching for some viewing recommendations for tonight? Despite Netflix’s extensive collection of movies, we’ve got you covered. Below are 22 lesser-known gems currently available on their platform.
With so many streaming platforms available, each boasting extensive film collections, numerous hidden treasures often go unnoticed beneath more popular, well-known movies. This can make discovering new content feel quite daunting, particularly when blockbusters dominate the featured sections.
We’ve delved deeply into the vast collection of Netflix and uncovered many movies that you might not have discovered yet, or perhaps overlooked but warrant another viewing.
In our opinion, here are 22 lesser-known films available on Netflix UK that deserve your attention.
Unicorns
Ben Hardy’s single dad Luke falls for a drag queen Aysha (Jason Patel) in James Krishna Floyd and Sally El Hosaini’s infectiously romantic drama. It’s a romance like few others. Patel and Hardy’s chemistry is palpable and it’s a modern love story that feels necessary and important for our times. Really special film, this one.
Femme
Sam H Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s feature debut
Femme
is based on their short film of the same name, but sometimes longer is better. The film is riddled with tension, both sexual and the regular kind, and features two killer performances from George MacKay and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. Stewart-Jarrett plays a drag performer who is assaulted by MacKay’s Preston but when the pair meet at a gay sauna again, things get complicated.
Attack The Block
John Boyega later portrayed a Stormtrooper with a compassionate nature in
The Force Awakens
, but he achieved his major break playing a character in Joe Cornish’s incredibly entertaining London-based science fiction film.
Attack The Block
. Aliens attack Earth, yet a group of teens from South London refuse to yield effortlessly. The movie’s monster effects stand up against those seen in major Hollywood productions and
Attack The Block
It has that unique blend of thrills and humor. However, the sequel is still uncertain.
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Gerald’s Game
Before countless people became enthralled by the horrors of
The Haunting of Hill House
On Netflix, Mike Flanagan turned one of Stephen King’s short stories into a movie for the platform. When Carla Gugino’s companion has a heart attack mid-intimacy, she faces quite a predicament—she remains shackled to the bed without access to the key.
Gerald’s Game
Is unsettling for numerous reasons, and you’ll view handcuffs differently from now on.
Apostle
Apostle
left a significant impact upon its release in 2018 due to its graphic brutality, though it has subsequently faded into obscurity. In the film, Dan Stevens portrays a missionary grappling with doubts about his faith as he attempts to rescue his sister from a Welsh cult. The movie was directed by
The Raid
and
Gangs Of London
Gareth Evans’ film includes scenes of self-immolation, cannibalism, and numerous stabbings. However, it’s the gradually intensifying atmosphere of fear that truly distinguishes it from many contemporary horror movies. We suggest keeping a cushion nearby for when things get scary.
Let The Devil Claim You
Let The Devil Claim You
is another horror gem hidden in the streamer’s library. This one hails from Indonesia and is directed by Timo Tjahjanto, who has also helmed multiple entries in the
V/H/S
anthology movie series. A young woman visits her old home in search of answers after her father falls into a coma. Little does she know, a supernatural entity begins attacking her and her family.
Let The Devil Claim You
truly frightening with top-notch thrills, clearly drawing inspiration from Sam Raimi’s work but avoiding mere imitation throughout.
Alice, Darling
In this film, Anna Kendrick portrays Alice, a character trapped in a toxic partnership. Determined to make a change, she embarks on a journey with some concerned friends. However, upon encountering a poster for a missing young lady, Alice starts questioning her circumstances more deeply. Kendrick delivers what may be among her strongest roles yet through her portrayal of Alice, authentically capturing the character’s emotional frailty without shielding viewers from witnessing her genuine terror.
Alice, Darling
It is also a sincere homage to the healing strength of friendships and women becoming even more resilient when they stand together.
His House
Remi Weekes’
His House
is a horror film about a multitude of things. Not only do Rail and Bol, South Sudanese immigrants who have just arrived in England, encounter something supernatural within their house, they also encounter the horrors of racism. The scares hit hard and the film has an uncanny ability to burrow itself under your skin and remain in your brain for days after the credits stop rolling.
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Okja
Prior to his Oscar success with “Parasite,” Bong Joon-Ho created this environmentally themed comedy for Netflix. In the movie, Mija, a young Korean girl, nurtures a “super pig” as described—essentially an oversized hog—but she must battle against the powerful U.S. meat industry which prefers to have the animal served up on plates instead. Despite how it may be perceived from the synopsis, the film turns out to be quite humorous and ultimately tells a touching tale about a girl and her special bond with her pet.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Somehow it took 53 years to bring a film adaptation of one of Judy Blume’s most beloved books to the
screen
. Kelly Fremon Craig treats Blume’s book with delicacy and affection as she explores a year in the 11-year-old Margaret’s life. She’s awaiting for the arrival of her first period, hoping her boobs were bigger and genuinely is just looking to find her place in the world.
I am the beautiful being residing in the house.
You might connect Osgood Perkins’ name with
Longlegs
or
The Monkey
, but back in 2016, he delved into the world of gothic horror with
I Am the Beautiful Being Residing in the Home
. Ruth Wilson stars as a live-in nurse Lily, who becomes convinced her employer’s house is haunted. Personally, I would resign but Lily persists, with some pretty scary results. The film is an excellent example of Perkins’ natural ability to craft a horror film and a very overlooked film in his filmography.
Set It Up
Before Glen Powell became famous
Top Gun: Maverick
, he starred in a little Netflix rom-com alongside Zoey Deutch, Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs. Powell and Deutsch play Charlie and Harper, assistants to ridiculously overbearing bosses (Liu and Diggs) and they start trying to push them together romantically to simply catch a break. Naturally, Harper and Charlie catch more than a break.
Set It Up
is light, funny and sweet.
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Puss in Boots: The Final Desires
File this one under “This was much better than expected”. The
Shrek
spin-off franchise
Puss In Boots
has never quite reached the same levels of fame and fortune as the green ogre. But the franchise’s third entry, subtitled
The Last Wish
, proved that there was more to it than a cute cat in fancy boots. Surprisingly,
The Last Wish
finds Puss on his last life and trying to restore his other eight lives to avoid death. It might sound heavy, but somehow
The Last Wish
renders the concept of mortality approachable and comprehensible for audiences of every age group.
Gaga: Five Foot Two
When this was written, Lady Gaga had recently unveiled her eighth studio album.
MAYHEM
to widespread praise. Her vocal performances have earned her an Academy Award, and the artist behind ‘Bad Romance’ has toured globally, also achieving recognition as an award-nominated actress.
Gaga: Five Foot Two
offers us a close glimpse into Lady Gaga’s personal journey, touching upon her battles with fibromyalgia. Throughout the documentary, she appears candid, compassionate, and deeply committed to her artistry as we trace the creation process of her new album.
Joanne
and preparing to perform at the Super Bowl.
Snowpiercer
Another Bong Joon-ho one, no regrets.
Snowpiercer
had a troublesome release after The Weinstein Company demanded extensive cuts to the film, but Bong wouldn’t relent. In fact, he lied to Harvey Weinstein himself to keep a specific scene in the film, saying it was a tribute to his fisherman father. His father didn’t even fish. The film never made it into UK cinemas, finally receiving a proper release digitally in 2018, a whole five years after its initial release. Still, Snowpiercer remains a terrific dystopian satire, and a must-watch companion piece to
Mickey 17
, in cinemas now.
The Half Of It
It has been referred to as a queer
Cyrano de Bergerac
, but what
The Half Of It
It truly is a refreshingly original spin on a well-known tale. Leah Lewis’ character, Ellie, starts assisting her neighbor in pursuing Aster while she harbors secret feelings for Aster as well.
The Half Of It
It transcends being merely another teenage romance narrative. At its core, this tale revolves around an immigrant girl grappling with her identity and ultimately embracing who she is. Don’t assume you have figured out where this journey leads; you might be surprised.
The Half Of It
is filled with unexpected twists, and they’re all pleasant ones.
The Location Beyond the Pines
Derek Cianfrance’s
The Location Beyond the Pines
Is a grandiose crime saga centered around familial bonds between fathers and sons. In this narrative, Ryan Gosling portrays Luke, a character searching for direction, who resorts to bank robbery as a means to support both his child and former partner Romina. Their lives intersect with those of Avery, played by Bradley Cooper—a young police officer—resulting in catastrophic outcomes filled with sorrow. Decades pass, bringing together the offspring from these families; they form friendships without realizing how intertwined their pasts truly are.
The Location Beyond The Pine
It fits seamlessly into Cianfrance’s reflections on family and repercussions, with Cooper and Gosling delivering some of their finest performances yet. This is a stunningly beautiful and ambitious movie.
Sisu
Jalmari Helander stands out as one of Finland’s premier filmmakers currently active, and deservedly so; his movies are full of surprises, enjoyment, and originality, making them appealing beyond national boundaries. His 2022 blockbuster “Sisu” might be his most ambitious project to date. In this movie, which revolves around Aatami Korpi—a seasoned gold miner—Korpi falls victim to robbery at the hands of a group of Nazis. Unbeknownst to these bandits, Korpi was once an elite military operative. This revelation sets off some of the year’s top-notch action sequences. The scenes are brutal but brilliant, truly compelling viewing. Already, hints from Helander suggest plans for another installment, and audiences eagerly await further adventures with Korpi.
Missing
Missing
isn’t quite a sequel to Aneesh Chaganty’s films Searching and Run, but it exists in the same wider universe. Storm Reid stars as June, who is more than happy that her mum is heading to Colombia with her new boyfriend Kevin. But when June’s mother never returns, June begins investigating Kevin’s background and hires a local Colombian man in her search. Missing offers same easy, effective thrills as Missing and the film benefits hugely from Reid’s committed performance. This is a proper popcorn thriller with a few surprises up its sleeve.
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Only The Brave
Before Joseph Kosinski went on to direct
Top Gun: Maverick
, he directed a smaller, but just as affecting drama about the very real Granite Mountain Hotshots. They are the best of the best firemen, tackling the worst wildfires out there and
Only The Brave
details one of their devastating missions, fighting the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. The film has an excellent cast consisting of Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, Andie McDowell, Taylor Kitsch and Miles Teller. Kosinki’s film paints an impressive, visually handsome portrait of real life heroes.
The Mitchels vs. The Robots
Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks often lead discussions when it comes to animated movies; however, this category boasts numerous outstanding films that frequently slip through the cracks over time. These major players possess substantial resources and marketing strategies to keep their works at the forefront of popular culture. For instance, few people seem to discuss
The Mitchels vs. The Robots
No longer, yet we undoubtedly ought to. This movie centers around a family compelled to rescue the planet when robots try to seize control. It stands out for its portrayal of the main female character’s sexuality; Katie Mitchell’s queerness isn’t pivotal to either the plot’s challenges or her interactions with her parents but simply an ordinary aspect of who she is. Additionally,
The Mitchels vs. The Robots
is also utterly hysterical.
Cabin In The Woods
The inaugural film directed by Drew Goddard could very well be his finest work. Shot in 2009 but not unveiled until 2011, this movie stands out.
Cabin In The Woods
It begins like a typical teen slasher movie, then transforms into an unexpectedly entertaining and engaging experience. Goddard doesn’t shy away from playing with the viewers’ expectations as he sets out to comment on both horror movies and the broader entertainment business. By 2025, the film’s insights regarding audiences remain eerily relevant.
Cabin In The Woods
It offers top-notch gore, an abundance of frightening monsters, and humor that hits the mark. What else could you ask for?
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22 Underrated Movies on Netflix UK
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