Dive into the wonderful world of cinema.
While it is still uncertain how long New Zealand will be under some level of restrictions in the near future after the new outbreak of Covid-19, one thing is for sure. Those Netflix accounts aren’t going anywhere and settling down in front of a great movie will always be one of the best ways to pass the time
And, there’s some absolute stonewall classics on here. Sometimes only the best will do, eh? So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most critically acclaimed movies on Netflix New Zealand for you to kill the time with.
From screaming “Here’s Johnny” to exclaiming “I love the smell of Napalm in the morning”, here are some of the top movies out there just waiting patiently for you to stream them.
1. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A brooding phycological thriller with typically sinister edges. 10 Cloverfield Lane starts with what seems like an act of kindness, with a man taking two strangers into his bunker as the world seemingly begins to implode from an Alien invasion. But is he telling the truth, or are there more eerie motives at play?
2. Apocalypse Now Redux (1979)
One of the most nightmare-ish movies ever made, with 40 minutes of extra footage added to the original. It follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) taking a terrifying voyage to Cambodia during the Vietnam War in search for an missing Colonel that is believed to have gone insane.
3. Black Swan (2010)
A stunning, Oscar-winning performance from Natalie Portman sees her portray the contrasting roles of the black and white swan in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Flittering between the grip of reality when challenged by another performer, what unwraps is a bumpy and sensational ride, making Black Swan one of the most essential viewings of the last decade.
4. Forrest Gump (1994)
One of the most famous walk throughs of America’s recent history, following the life of Forrest (Tom Hanks) talking through his life experiences and tragic events. It’s as unequivocally heart-breaking as it is uplifting and lives by the mantra “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.”
5. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
An unflinching look at the Vietnam war from Stanley Kubrick. Full Metal Jacket tackles the gruelling toll taken on soldiers in their training, before having set foot overseas, and the horror that ensues once they do.
6. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
With a star-studded cast including Ice Cube and Laurence Fishburne, Boyz N The Hood focuses in on childhood friends in South-Central Los Angeles chasing their dreams while grappling with their neighbourhood filled with violence.
7. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) first appearance on the big screen, and boy was it quite something. Follow Indy as he heroically restores biblical artefacts using his trusty whip.
8. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
A classic tale starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, depicting the fallout in a marriage that turns sour – and the issue of their son’s custody.
9. Mulholland Drive (2001)
In this thrilling neo-noir, David Lynch drags us into the seedy underbelly of Hollywood to uncover the mystery of what really happened to Rita (Laura Harring), a woman who can’t recall a car accident that nearly killed her.
10. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
A gritty psychological thriller following a frightful incident in the former marriage between Susan (Amy Adams) and her husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal). The film starts with Susan reading a copy of Edwards book, which she comes to realise depicts the event of the night in question…
11. Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal masterpiece, Psycho, places you in the middle of the strange happenings at Bate’s Motel, when an unknowing Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) decides to spend a night at the creepy lodge. NEEE NEEE NEEE.
12. Touch Of Evil (1958)
A spectacular piece of film-noir, directing and starring the mighty Orson Welles alongside Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh. It’s another classic tale of murder, robbery and corruption, and takes place at a US-Mexico border town.
13. The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden is a Korean psychological thriller, set during the era of Japanese colonial rule. It closely follows a con-man (Kim Tae-ri) attempting to seduce Japanese heiress Lady Hideko (Ha Jung-woo) out of her inheritance.
14. Trainspotting (1996)
Follow Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his gang as you dive deep into the deep struggles of heroin addicts and the difficulty of “choosing life” in Edinburgh during the 1980s.
15. The Shining (1980)
Perhaps the finest adaptation of a Stephen King story to date, The Shining – with the help of Kubrick’s marvellous gaze – follows a family who go to live in deserted hotel in the middle of nowhere. What starts happening to the mind of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is as mind-blowing at it is twisted, and presents a terrifying situation for wife (Shelley Duvall) and son (Danny Lloyd).
16. Goodfellas (1990)
This Martin Scorsese epic follows the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) as he works his way up the organised-crime ladder. You’ve got hysterical laughter, wise-cracks, and digging graves with Robert De Niro all in the streets of Brooklyn. What more could you need from one of the greatest films ever made?
17. The Dark Knight (2008)
Widely regarded as the finest edition of Batman on the big screen. Watch Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) take on the legendary portrayal of the Joker from the late Heath Ledger, this mind-melting Christopher Nolan picture around Gotham City.
18. Snatch (2000)
A hilarious and gritty British comedy-drama from Guy Ritchie comes in the form of Snatch. Follow Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham and the crew in the world of underground boxing, petty crime and more.
19. The China Syndrome (1979)
A paranoid tale of cover-ups and reporting that follows Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas getting in a tangle after an accident in a nuclear plant in a world filled with conspiracy.
20. Bonnie And Clyde (1967)
The ultimate tale of twisted love following Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) heading out on a murderous rampage and fleeing from the law during the great depression.
21. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Adapting Harper Lee’s seminal novel onto the big screen in 1962, To Kill A Mockingbird stars Gregory Peck, Brock Paters, Mary Badham and Robert Duvall in the wonderful portrayal of the small-town Alabama trial.
22. The Godfather (1972)
Claimed by many to simply be the greatest piece of American cinema to date, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a mammoth of a journey into the world of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), who grants his son control of his mafia empire.
23. What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
This hilarious gem sees a group of vampires getting up to know good in their flat in trusty ol’ Wellington, NZ. What goes on can only be described as some gloriously odd shenanigans that will quite likely have you crying tears of joy.
24. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgx1QZFNMz8
This musical horror comedy is one of the most beloved of its kind, dragging you into the world of the wonderful and the weird. A couple break down and find shelter at this bizarre hotel, and the following events are truly magical.