Best Netflix Original Movies of 2022 (2023)

Netflix releasedmany original filmsin 2022, from animation to prestige tariff to book adaptations especially for young adults. There was no shortage of feel-good and transport films that immersed viewers in entire universes, and even a real box-office hit in the form of Rian Johnson's Knives Out follow-up, Glass Onion. We've picked out some of our favorites below.

Behold, the best Netflix original movies of 2022, listed in order of release.

Stroke of luck

This one flew well under the radar when it released in March, but it's a tight and twisty little thriller that touches on some hot topics in interesting ways. Jesse Plemons plays a wealthy CEO who one day returns to his Ojai home with his wife (played by Lily Collins), only to find that they are about to be robbed by a stranger (played by Jason Segel). The stranger ties them up and holds them hostage, and the rest of the film takes place in the same location. There's a healthy dose of Hitchcock in this latest film from director Charlie McDowell, and it boasts an astute screenplay by Justin Lader and Andrew Kevin Walker (the latter of 'Seven'). –Adam Chitwood

With me on the trip

Based on the bestseller by Sarah Dessen, "Along for the Ride" started the summer with a bang. The May Netflix release stars Emma Pasarow as lead character Auden, a young girl who feels like it never quite fits between her divorced parents and her more mature outlook on life, and Belmont Cameli as the enigmatic Eli, a nocturnal boy who, similarly like Auden, keeps the style of a lone wolf to himself.Auden meets Eliwhen she decides to spend the summer with her father (Dermot Mulroney) and his new wife Heidi (Kate Bosworth) in Colby, a small seaside town where they have settled. Auden's loneliness dissipates when she befriends the girls who work at Heidi's boutique, where Auden spends the summer doing bookkeeping before going to college. She and Eli form a brooding, nervous bond that blossoms into more as they embark on a quest, challenging each other to confront parts of themselves that they would rather leave in the past. Complete with a secret diner corner serving up great cakes and a prom scene that successfully ties the movie Along for the Ride togetherbrought his vision to life. -Although Gomez

Other

One of the year's biggest (and best) surprises was Hustle, which could have been a pretty straight-up sports movie but is elevated largely due to Adam Sandler's sensitive lead, easily his best work since Uncut Gems. in 2019. (Yes, "Hubie Halloween" was a lot of fun.) Sandler plays a scout and coach for the 76's, a pro basketball team that's always looking for new talent. He finds this talent in an unlikely place: a neighborhood basketball court in Spain. There he discovers Bo (Juancho Hernangómez), a single father with a checkered past that Sandler's Stanley Sugarman believes he can handle. Surrounded by a satellite of outstanding character actors in supporting roles (including Queen Latifah as Sandler's wife, Heidi Gardner, Robert Duvall and a scheming Ben Foster - is there any other kind of Ben Foster these days?) It's the kind of mid-budget character drama that there are big studios too scared to produce any more, but Netflix will happily relent (especially if Adam Sandler stars). Few films this year were as cathartic and candid as Hustle. –Drew Taylor

purple hearts

Director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaummotion picturesstarring Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine, explores the coming together of a couple from very different backgrounds. The term "lovers' enemies" takes on a whole new meaning when polarized political views come into play. Luke (Galitzine) is training and about to become a Marine when Cassie (Carson) proposes to his boyfriend Frankie (Chosen Jacobs) because she's in a difficult situation with her health insurance - she has diabetes and needs insulin. t be met by their current policies. Luke, whose father is a retired military policeman, offers to marry Cassie, who immediately clashes with him for being more liberal while he leans conservative so he can take advantage of a scholarship to pay a drug dealer he works with something owes a lot of money. Cassie reaps better health benefits from the deal, and while Luke is deployed, her music begins to take off because she's found a subject she truly connects with - the love and sacrifice of military families. -Although Gomez

Hello, goodbye and everything in between

A down to earth Talia Ryder and a cheerful Jordan Fisher come together to create oneauthenticThe young adult love story takes place between senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Ethan (Fisher) meets Claire (Ryder) at a party just before her senior year begins, and although Claire is reluctant to act on her spark because she's moved a lot and her high school love parents didn't, Ethan manages not in marriage, pursues her until she gives in. Fisher contributed a song of his own to this adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith's popular novel. Thein the airThe ending reflects the reality of life and romantic relationships. –Although Gomez

Look both ways

If it's not about the split two timelines with a baby or no baby, this movie should be watched for its amazing animation. Natalie Bennett (Lili Reinhart) sleeps with her good college friend Gabe (Danny Ramirez) in a spur of the moment decision on one of her last nights in college before graduation. Later at her final party on the actual eve of graduation, Natalie's narrationbranchesin two ways: one in which she becomes pregnant with Gabe's child, and one in which she doesn't. From there, the film splits into two universes that sometimes run parallel in certain areas. Natalie explores the themes of career and motherhood, as well as soulmates and true love, and is ultimately still able to pursue her passion for art, animation and drawing in both realities. she learnsdifferent life lessonswith and without daughter Rosie. –Although Gomez

take revenge

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's girlsRiffon Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train caught the attention of Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z alike with its colorful basket of Easter egg nods to films like Mean Girls, Clueless and more. The Revenger cast, consisting of Camilla Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah, Alisha Boe, Jonathan Daviss, Talia Ryder, Maia Reficco, Paris Berlec and Ava Capri, packs a punchyoung star power, accompanied by guest appearances by Sophie Turner and Sarah Michelle Geller. Drea Torres (Mendes) falls out of favor when her boyfriend Max (Austin Abrams)leaksa sextape she makes just for his eyes. The former It girl meets Eleanor (Hawke) at summer tennis camp, where Eleanorplant the seedgetting revenge on each other in Drea's mind. Some twists and turns dig up real dirt along the way, both literally in sour mushroom form and metaphorically as Drea must confront her true self and the past she thought she had left behind. This one is delicious fun. -Although Gomez

The happiest girl in the world

Mila Kunis stars as TifAni FaNelli in the film adaptation of Jessica Knoll's book The Happiest Girl Alive. Chiara Aurelia plays Kunis'younger counterpart. Known only as Ani, TifAni has climbed her own ladder of success, rising through the ranks of the editorial board, and has a coveted role at The New York Times Magazine and a hot husband-to-be (Finn Wittrock ). She will marry into money, but she has a deep trauma. When Ani was in high school, she tried to run with the popular crowd until one night she was gang raped and didn't know who to tell. She confides in her high school English teacher, Mr. Larson (Scoot McNairy), who later triggers her memories of the whole experience when he comes back into her life just before their wedding. In addition to the gang rape, her initial boyfriend Arthur (Thomas Barbusca) - who took her under his wing when the popular kids dumped her - orchestrates a school shootout with her neighbor boyfriend Ben (David Webster). When a producer asks Ani to take part in a documentary called Friends of the Five about the five fatalities in the school shooting, all the drama and trauma is dug up and the tension mounts, leaving Ani with quite a bit leavesto make difficult decisions. -Although Gomez

Wendel and Wild

Everyone welcomes the return of Henry Selick. The elder statesman of stop-motion animation hadn't produced a feature film since 2009's Oscar-nominated Coraline. After a brief, disastrous stint at Pixar, it seemed like we'd never get another movie from him. But thanks to Jordan Peele, who signed on as co-writer, producer and co-star, it actually happened. And the resulting film, Wendell & Wild, is probably more imaginative and quirky than if Selick had invented it himself. A 'Beetlejuice'-style dark comedy about a young girl and her connection with otherworldly demons (played by Peele and his frequent collaborator Keegan-Michael Key), an anarchic spirit reigns in 'Wendell & Wild', with its afro-punk soundtrack, open thrashing of current political leaders and a storyline featuring (among other things) an army of invading zombies. It might not be the most prestigious stop-motion animated film to be produced by Netflix this year, but there's something incredibly special about having Selick back -- and even more so -- having him produce something so esoteric and awesome. Let's hope he still has one in him. The world is better off when he makes films in it. –Drew Taylor

The School of Good and Evil

Adaptation of Soman Chainani's best-selling School for Good and Evil book series,directed by Paul FiegShe arrived on Netflix just in time for Halloween. Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie) bond in the classic style of opposites attract, but when they are whisked away into the very real school of good and evil, Sophie ends up with evil while Agatha ends up with good, is the story of their tested friendship begins. With aemployees of starpoweredTeachers like Professor Dovey (Kerry Washington), Lady Lesso (Charlize Theron), Professor Anemone (Michelle Yeoh), and of course the Schoolmaster (Laurence Fishburne), begin the girls with an education that completely deconstructs fairy tales and the notion of good and evil in a strict binary number. Fantastic creatures and magical classes abound, just like Hogwarts but in a world all their own. -Although Gomez

Enola Holmes 2

Millie Bobby Brown returns, epic stunts and all, as Enola Holmes in the sequel to TheFirst installationwhich came out in 2020. Also returning are director Harry Bradbeer and Henry Cavill as Sherlock, Enola's older and more famous brother. Mycroft (Sam Claflin) is sadly absent from Enola Holmes 2, but Helena Bonham Carter plays her mother, Eudoria, and Lousi Partridge also returns as Viscount Tewkesbury. Enola takes on her first independent case when she starts her detective company, but the case turns out to be intertwined with Sherlock's own complicated case that has been baffling him lately. Historical events, social etiquette, and the continued female action protagonist make a sequel just as strong as the first Enola Holmes (2020) with more than a crime ending - someLife lessons for both siblingsare learned along the way. Also, a very special guest makes his debut in the Enola universe in aPost Credit Scenethat prepares for one more wrinkle in the detective story and world. –Although Gomez

The good nurse

One of the best, least talked about movies of the year was The Good Nurse. Based on the true story of the man who could be America's most prolific serial killer, a nebulous nurse named Charles Cullen (played by Eddie Redmayne) and the colleague who brought him down (Jessica Chastain), Danish filmmaker Tobias Lindholm's latest feature film is a disturbing and deeply human thriller. The screenplay, written by 'Last Night in Soho' and '1917' author Krysty Wilson-Cairns, cleverly focuses on the friendship between Charlie and the nurse who brought him down (Amy Loughren), while keeping crime in the background, until they can no longer be overlooked. What's more, Lindholm and Wilson-Cairns blame America's broken medical system, which allowed for years of questionable deaths at Cullen's various jobs, as much as they do Cullen himself. (It's been estimated he could be responsible for hundreds of deaths.) When Amy finally blamed him when asked why he did it, he replies, "Because they didn't stop me." It's a chilling admission, but it speaks to how the architecture of hospital administration allowed a killer to get in and out. –Drew Taylor

The wonder

Oddly overlooked, Florence Pugh's no. 1 film of 2022 is this gripping historical crime thriller, based on a novel by The Room author Emma Donoghue. In 1862, Pugh's character, a nurse who served in the Crimean War, is called to rural Ireland to investigate a medical mystery - a young girl (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who claims to fast for months but somehow survived. Parts of The Wonder feel like a Victorian episode of The X-Files, where faith is pitted against science and skeptical locals frown at the arrival of a curious outsider. But there's so much more going on beneath the surface of The Wonder, to the point that the "truth" completely slips away from the situation and instead reveals a story about what makes us human and the power it takes to believe . Directed and co-written by the great Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, who adds a number of enticing flourishes both stylistically and lyrically, and who brings along perhaps the film's least known MVP, British electronic musician Matthew Herbert, to compose a score from samples of the breathing of the characters and other driving elements. It's unlike anything you've heard in movies this year and only adds to the magic of The Wonder. –Drew Taylor

Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro's interpretation of "Pinocchio" brings new beauty to the classic Italian folk tale. The impressively detailed stop-motion animation combined with an equally impressive voice cast - including Gregory Mann, David Bradley, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Finn Wolfhard, Burn Gorman, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson and more - makes for a truly immersive experience immersive experience viewing experience. The film finds several ways into the hearts of the viewers. Less than 10 minutes into the film, the emotional themes of love, loss and family ties will captivate viewers and immerse them in the world of the pine puppet Pinocchio, who borrows the soul of Geppetto's son Carlo, who tragically died prematurely in a bomb blast was killed on a church. to please Geppetto and give the boy's soul a second chance. Telling the story from the perspective of Sebastian J. Cricket (Ewan McGregor), who literally settles into Pinocchio's heart, seals the deal. –Although Gomez

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

One of the biggest crowd-pullers of the year (hey, it was in theaters for six days on Thanksgiving) is also one of Netflix's best movies of the year. Writer/director Rian Johnson returns to the world of his 2019 breakout film Knives Out with the same mischievous wit and attention to detail. This time, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is drawn into an extravagant thriller on the imaginative island escape of a tech billionaire (Edward Norton), where he involves a group of his closest friends in a crime party that soon gives way to an actual killing. among thepotential victims(or Killers) are Janelle Monae, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom, Jr., Jessica Henwick, and Kathryn Hahn. And while the characters are broader and the setting more colorful than the cozy, closed-hearted crime thriller of Knives Out, the cast and Johnson create heartfelt characters that serve to draw you deeper and deeper into the film's dark contours. (Johnson has a lot on his mind, too, from men's rights activists to needlessly glorifying corporate revolutionaries.) "Glass Onion" is a minor marvel, in the sense that movies that are this fun are rarely that good. –Drew Taylor

White noise

For his first adaptation, Noah Baumbach chose a whopper - Don DeLillo's supposedly unfilmable 1985 novel White Noise. Adam Driver plays a professor at a leafy New England college (he teaches at Hitler Studios) whose wife (Baumbach's partner Greta Gerwig) he suspects , swallowing pills, and whose boisterous family, largely cobbled together from the children of their previous marriages, is a tornado of endless crosstalk and jibber jabber. Baumbach would probably just like to stay in her remote, dysfunctional enclave, but there are bigger issues here - primarily a train wreck that released a noxious cloud (classified as an "airborne toxic event") that threatens her small town and allows Baumbach to indulge in larger action sequences that border on Spielbergian. One can sense how Baumbach used the endless runway offered to him following the success of his brilliant, Oscar-winning "Marriage Story" to create something truly extraordinary and definitely expansive. And the film's ending, an elaborate dance sequence set to a dazzling new LCD sound system song, serves as perfect postmodern punctuation. What a ride. –Drew Taylor