30 Incredible Movie Discoveries on Netflix

Netflix is a gift to modern movie fans. It isn’t Nirvana, though.

You have to search … and search … to find the right movie for a given evening. And while the service delivers some of the best films of the past 30 years, you’ll also find plenty of dreck. In short, movies you soon wish you could “un-stream.”

As a public service, HollywoodInToto.com offers the following 30 films available on Netflix as of August 2016. Comedy. Horror. Drama. Documentaries. There’s something for everyone here – although some films straddle categories.

We’ve left out some obvious movie choices. You don’t need anyone to tell you “Deliverance” should be seen again, right? So the films either weren’t box office smashes or simply got forgotten.

Others lacked the marketing muscle of their cinematic peers. All, though, are intriguing enough to justifying a few well-timed clicks.

“Touching the Void” (2003): You’ll want a big screen for this adventure film. A fear of high places might help, too. “Void” is based on mountaineer Joe Simpson’s book of the same name chronicling his 1985 attempt to climb Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes with fellow climber Simon Yates. Disaster strikes, and viewers are left to piece together what they would have done after watching this quasi- documentary.

“A Lonely Place to Die” (2011): This British thriller also involves mountainous terrain. Only it’s a fictional tale about five climbers who stumble upon a young woman trapped in an earthly prison. They set her free, an act which sets a series of deadly repercussions in motion. Melissa George stars as one of the troubled climbers. You may know her from the bizarre 2009 movie “Triangle” or the 2005 “Amityville Horror” remake.

“The Fundamentals of Caring” (2016): Netflix gobbled up the rights to this indie darling and for good reason. Paul Rudd plays a middle-aged man transitioning to a career in caregiving. His first client is an 18-year old (Craig Roberts) with both a physical disability and a potty mouth. Together, they hit the road, driving past the expected story beats. You won’t care, since the film’s humor and heart are often right where they should be. “They’re Watching” (2016): The Netflix overlords dropped this horror-comedy in the latter category, even though it delivers more of the former. It’s still a juicy tale teeming with three-dimensional characters and wit. Yes, horror films don’t have to bludgeon us with boring souls we can’t wait to meet their maker. The story, a spoof on home improvement shows, following an American woman who thinks she found the perfect flip target in a bleak Eastern European town. Think again.

ALSO CHECK OUT: HiT’s Interview with the directors of ‘They’re Watching’

“People Places Things” (2015): Jemaine Clement is much more than that “Flight of the Conchords” cutup. Here, he plays a recently divorced father dipping his toe back into the dating scene. Bad move. It’s also a story about a father reconnecting with his kids while coming to terms with his divorce. “Things” delivers a comic valentine to parenthood that won’t suffocate you with unearned emotion.

“My All-American” (2015): Aaron Eckhart puts his cleft chin to good use in this old-school drama. Young Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock – what a name!) is the “Rudy”-esque player who gives 110 percent. Eckhart plays UT Austin football Coach Darrell Royal, the man charged with much more than arranging X’s and O’s on a chalkboard. Yes, it’s syrupy sweet at times, but the actors deliver precisely as told, and that’s what matters most.

“Short Term 12” (2013): Anyone who caught this during its theatrical run knew Brie Larson was destined for greatness. She plays a counselor working with some pretty troubled teens. Her own life is far from perfect. It’s how those two worlds merge that makes this such a memorable tale.

“Chef” (2014): Jon Favreau makes a small but potent attempt to reclaim his indie root with this charmer. He stars as an elite chef who can’t agree with his practical boss (Dustin Hoffman). So the uber-chef starts his own food truck business from scratch. The film’s final act lacks drama, but until then it’s a satisfying melting pot of father-son dynamics, entrepreneurial pluck and knockout food visuals. “Begin Again” (2014): How this movie didn’t make more of a box office splash is a “Scooby Doo!” sized mystery. Mark Ruffalo stars as an aging, desperate music producer who thinks he’s found a new star in Keira Knightley’s heartbroken singer. Does she really want to make beautiful music for a living, though? And is he really the best person to make that happen? Director John Carney of “Once” fame does it again, delivering shimmering musical numbers serviced by an almost, sort of love story. Watch it, and then buy the soundtrack. You won’t help yourself.

ALSO CHECK OUT: HiT’s Interview with Actress/Songwriter Danielle Brisebois

“The Way” (2010): Emilio Estevez segued from Brat Packer to director, but with movies like “Men at Work” and “Wisdom” the culture essentially shrugged at his transition. That shrugging ended with “The Way,” a terrific drama starring pappy Martin Sheen. The “West Wing” alum plays a father grieving for the loss of his son by tackling the journey the younger man meant to complete – walking the “El Camino de Santiago.”

“American Hero” (2015): You thought “Ant-Man” was small? This superhero tale is even tinier in comparison, but it’s fresh and raw in most of the right ways. Stephen Dorff plays a loser with superhuman powers. He doesn’t fight crime, though. He spends most of his time trying to keep himself out of trouble while cracking wise with good pal (Eddie Griffin). You won’t see much FX razzle dazzle here, just a gentle tale of a superpower called friendship.

“World’s Greatest Dad” (2009): It’s simply the best Robin Williams performance you never saw. It’s not for everyone, though. Coal-black humor is an acquired taste, but director Bobcat Goldthwait (yes, THE Bobcat Goldthwait) delivers over and again. Williams plays a father mourning for the tragic, and embarrassing, death of his son by plagiarizing the late teen’s prose. Dark enough for you? Then give it a stream.

“Being Flynn” (2012): It’s getting harder each year to remember just how great Robert De Niro can be on screen. Mega-bombs like “The Big Wedding” and “Dirty Grandpa” have soiled his legacy. “Flynn” is a timely reminder of how good he can be on screen … still. He plays the mercurial dad to Paul Dano’s aspiring writer. De Niro’s Flynn is a “master storyteller,” but he’s also a legitimate piece of work.

“Bad Hurt” (2015): Dysfunctional family dramas are all the rage. The more dysfunction, the better. Too often these tales lack that organic spark that fuels genuine conflict. “Bad Hurt” follows a hard-luck Staten Island clan beset by personal tragedies. The oldest son hasn’t been the same since serving overseas. The daughter is mentally challenged, and her budding romance is complicating her job status. The younger son’s cop ambitions seem more like a pipe dream every day. How they cope, and cower, from life’s uppercuts will leave you with a sliver of hope.

“Bernie”: (2012) Think Jack Black plays the same marginally unhinged character in every other film? “Bernie” will set you straight. He stars as Bernie Tiede, an assistant funeral director beloved by his Texas community. Until the day he shoots a rich old lady dead. Or are the locals willing to forgive and forget that wee transgression? Black is outstanding as the complicated title figure, and director Richard Linklater delivers a black comedy with the perfect dash of absurdity.

“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”: (2012) Talk about lousy luck. A divorced man (Steve Carell) finally meets that special someone, but the earth’s expiration date has arrived. Really. What starts as an awkward bit of sci-fi hooey matures thanks to Carell and co-star Keira Knightley. Stick with this one, and the rewards will be plentiful.

“Kate & Leopold” (2001): A young Hugh Jackman stars as a 19th’ century Duke thrust into modern times where he meets … Meg Ryan. The actress rarely delivers a bad rom-com performance, but its Jackman’s work as the time-traveling nobleman that makes the film a sleeper treat.

“And So It Goes” (2014): Director Rob Reiner doesn’t flash the rom-com magic from his “When Harry Met Sally Does.” He does get out of the way of his older, attractive stars (Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton). The rewards here are modest, but watching two pros perform the “will they or won’t they” shuffle is worth your time.

“Batkid Begins” (2015): Get the Kleenex out. Now. This heart-tugging documentary follows a cancer- stricken five-year-old granted one outrageously wonderful wish. Watching a major city do everything it can to transform a child into a superhero is the stuff of movie magic.

“Hot Girls Wanted” (2016): Here’s the other side of the porn that floods the Internet. We’re introduced to an eclectic “family” of wannabe adult actresses learning just how cruel the industry can be. Imagine being over the hill a 20.

“Paul Williams: Still Alive” (2011): Whatever happened to the singer/songwriter who was virtually everywhere in the 1970s? Williams co-starred with Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit” and wrote the great Muppet ballad “The Rainbow Connection.” Then … he disappeared. This oddly compelling documentary catches up with Williams, learns about his addiction woes and how he emerged a wiser soul for his troubles. The other story? A quasi-obsessed fan doubling as the film’s director. His entrance into Williams’ world is personal and at times creepy. It gives the film an edge other documentaries lack.

“Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” (2012): You won’t think about China the same way after watching this documentary capturing the nation’s freedom snuffing ways. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is a perpetual thorn in the nation’s side, provoking government officials with his art. Communist officials fight back … hard, and that pull and push makes for a mesmerizing film.

“Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” (2015): The legendary country crooner embarks on one last tour just as his Alzheimer’s disease starts gnawing at his memories. The documentary proves an insightful look at a horrifying illness. It also celebrates the power of family and song. Surely Campbell can’t entertain like he could decades ago, right? Watch and see.

“The Host” (2006): What if “Godzilla” featured gripping, first-rate thrills, not just a man in a grey scaly suit stomping fake cities? This old-school monster movie is an unabashed treat with the usual dash of eco-scare mongering. A massive creature is stalking a South Korean town, and he’s taken a darling little girl hostage. It’s up to the girl’s less than heroic dad to save her. “Automata” (2014): There’s so few solid sci-fi films these days that this film gets a marginal recommendation. The story starts with great promise, depicting a future where most of humanity has been wiped out. Robots now help the remaining humans do basic chores, existing under a strict set of rules including an inability to evolve. When a robot appears to do just that, an insurance agent (Antonio Banderas) is assigned to investigate. There’s little new in this visually ambitious tale, but genre fans will find small pleasures to applaud.

“Hush” (2016): Original ideas are few and far between in the horror genre. Case in point … we’ll soon see yet another reboot of the “Halloween” franchise. “Hush” is both simple and original. A single woman is being stalked by an intruder in her spacious home. The catch? She’s deaf, and so she can’t hear his footfalls or anything else, for that matter. That single element, combined with crackerjack storytelling, makes this Netflix exclusive a first-rate shocker.

“The Invitation” (2016): The payoff to this spare thriller comes as less than a shock than it should. It’ll grab you all the same. A couple invites both old friends and new to a very special dinner party teeming with secrets. Old wounds reopen, but that’s just an appetizer to the ghastly main course. What follows is tense, engrossing and always thoughtfully presented.

ALSO CHECK OUT: HiT’s Interview with ‘The Invitation’ Director Karyn Kusama

“Housebound” (2015): What, another Kiwi comedy-horror hybrid? This delight is more than a cinematic novelty. A troubled young woman moves back in with her parents after her latest scrape with the law. She soon learns there’s something sinister lurking in their home. Smart, silly and occasionally creepy, “Housebound” deserves a long life as a cult favorite.

“The Sacrament” (2014): In a just world, director Ti West would be a household name director. His smart, slow-burn shockers like “The House of the Devil” are always intriguing. He shakes up his formula with “The Sacrament,” a tale that feels ripped from the headlines. Events certainly inspired the story of journalists visiting a hidden community deemed Utopian by its members. It’s no spoiler to say all isn’t what it appears to be. Watch it if only for a bravura turn by Gene Jones as the compound’s leader.

“The Taking of Deborah Logan” (2014): The found footage technique is tired and needs a fast retirement. This found-footage thriller nearly gets derailed by the technique, but strong performances and creepy sequences trump those shaky cams. Jill Larson excels as an old woman who agrees to have a small film crew document her Alzheimer’s disease deterioration. Only that might not her problem.

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