The 10 Best Netflix Original Movies of 2024 (So Far)
A Prince Andrew scandal, Glen Powell in disguises, and Aaron Pierre kicking ass? Phew.
As an entertainment writer, I’m always asked what I’m watching. It sounds like a low-stakes question, but it’s not. Whatever answer comes out of my mouth has to be accessible, cool but not pretentious, and, of course, really good. More often than usual this year, I’ve found myself recommending a Netflix movie.
Here’s a film that was very much slept on: the trippy sci-fi thriller It’s What’s Inside, which I’ve recommended to at least three people. (No complaints yet!) Then there’s Hit Man, which was hardly slept on but still a must-watch if you haven’t seen it yet. If you just want to feel good, let me point you in the direction of Will & Harper.
Below, you’ll find the best Netflix original movies of 2024 (so far). Give these a spin, and when you’re done, study up on the streamer’s top original series of the year. We have a list for that, too.
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
If you watch, let’s say, five documentaries a year, make absolutely sure The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is one of them. The film tells the beautiful story of Mats Steen, who suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and died in 2014. After Steen’s death, his parents discovered that he’d lived a vibrant life online through the video game World of Warcraft. Here’s what truly makes Ibelin special: The film uses Steen’s chat logs and animation to depict his life as he experienced it in the game. The result is truly exceptional.
It’s What’s Inside
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to live inside someone else? Watch It’s What’s Inside and express some gratitude that no one has developed the technology to do so. In this wacky adventure, a group of friends reunites for a buddy’s wedding. The night before the nuptials, they play with a fancy body-swapping gizmo. It all goes downhill from there. Press play and see for yourself.
Will & Harper
Comedian Will Ferrell turned a friendly road trip into a heartwarming documentary. Here’s the gist: After nearly thirty years of friendship, Will learns that his friend Harper has come out as transgender. Together, they head for the open road to discuss, well, everything. And guess what? It’s an absolute delight.
Hit Man
Glen Powell leads this delightful romantic comedy alongside Andor’s Adria Arjona, adapting the true story of an undercover hit man in Houston. Director Richard Linklater (Boyhood) adds a Hollywood twist when the protagonist falls in love with a woman who wants him to kill her husband. Plus, his coworker Jasper (Austin Amelio) is hot on his heels. If you’re looking for some classic summer-blockbuster fun, here’s your Hit Man.
Scoop
Scoop is the story of Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview, starring Rufus Sewell as the disgraced prince. In the film, he agrees to the interrogation in hopes of clearing his name. Instead, he tarnishes his reputation. The jaw-dropping interview questioned his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and sexual-abuse allegations from Virginia Giuffre.
Sue Bird: In the Clutch
Sue Bird is a legend in the world of women’s basketball. Over the course of twenty-one years, she won five Olympic gold medals and four WNBA championships before retiring as the most successful point guard in the league. Meanwhile, she was also a force in the fight for LGBTQ rights along with her fiancée, soccer star Megan Rapinoe. In Sue Bird: In the Clutch, we get an inside look at the icon’s career as she transitions into her next stage: retirement.
The Greatest Night in Pop
These days, it’s damn near impossible to get the biggest pop stars to collaborate, but in 1985 they made it look easy. The Greatest Night in Pop tracks the creation of “We Are the World,” a charity song featuring Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and so many more. The documentary takes you behind the scenes of their recording session to showcase the night forty-six artists made history.
Spaceman
Adam Sandler stars as a lonely astronaut named Jakub who finds himself with way too much time on his hands six months into his mission. Jakub’s isolation forces him to consider problems in his life back home—namely, his marriage, which is on the brink of collapse, and his career, which brought him to space in the first place. Just as he starts to unravel, he meets an alien-like creature. Is his new friend real, or has Jakub truly lost his mind?
Unfrosted
Unfrosted? That’s a monstrous way to eat a Pop-Tart. It’s almost as bad as thinking that frosted brown sugar cinnamon is the best Pop-Tart flavor. (We all know it’s frosted strawberry.) But Jerry Seinfeld, who helms this Social Network-but-for-Pop-Tarts comedy—costarring Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer, and Peter Dinklage, among other boldfaced names—told CBS he favors brown sugar cinnamon. Now, that’s comedy.
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