When it comes to streaming services like Netflix, we are all living under constant choice paralysis. There are just too many options, and I often find myself scrolling more than I do actually watching anything. While this can be annoying, it’s also led me down some rabbit holes away from the usual recommended algorithms that Netflix has to offer.
Sometimes scrolling off the beaten path can lead to some rewarding viewing, too. While Netflix has a plethora of options when it comes to movies, not everything on the platform is heavily advertised. Luckily, I’m always on the lookout for movies that are a little more obscure and hidden, and I’ve found quite a few gems in my hours of random scrolling.
One of the great comedies of the ’90s
There’s no doubt about it that Tommy Boy has developed quite a cult following since its release in 1995, as have most Chris Farley films. Still, it had been a long time since I had seen it before stumbling upon it on Netflix recently. Like most comedies of its era, it aged somewhat poorly in certain areas, but the nostalgia was overwhelming.
Focused on Tommy Callahan (Farley) and Richard Hayden (David Spade), as they try to save Tommy’s late father’s auto parts plant. It’s part buddy comedy, part road trip, and all pure comedic energy. There’s no doubt that Spade and Farley’s chemistry does a lot of the heavy lifting here. But if you’re looking for a fun, diverting 90 minutes, you could do a lot worse than Tommy Boy.
A smart romantic comedy that’s a cut above the rest
The thing about Netflix originals is that there are so many of them. What’s popular one week on Netflix usually has something of a short shelf life. So I was surprised to stumble upon Always Be My Maybe, a hilariously sweet rom-com that was well-received when it first came out. Still, I don’t often hear people talking about it as one of the great modern examples of the genre, and they really should be.
Ali Wong and Randall Park have incredible chemistry, playing two friends who reconnect after years and fall in love. It doesn’t exactly change the well-worn formula found in most romance films, but it absolutely elevates every single trope it uses. Always Be My Maybe is one of the better Netflix originals, and it’s a shame that it’s not way more popular than it currently is.
Ridiculous and cheesy, but filled with great action scenes
Sometimes you just come across a terrible movie that is endlessly entertaining anyway. For one of the best examples of that, I present to you The One. Starring Jet Li as both the protagonist and the antagonist, The One is pure sci-fi, B-movie shlock. What if there were multiple universes and multiple versions of you, and what if you could become more powerful with each version of yourself that you killed? Well, that’s the brilliant premise behind The One.
It’s a completely ridiculous concept, and the film knows it. You’re not going to find an example of a suspense movie that will haunt you afterward here, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining. Featuring awesome fight choreography and a lean runtime that never wears out its welcome, The One is exactly the kind of film that streaming services were made for. It didn’t win any awards, and nor should it have, but you won’t regret watching it.
A surprising twist on the revenge thriller
Upgrade is one of those movies that you have pretty low expectations for going in, but then it ends up surprising you with how smart and sleek it is. Upgrade is billed as a revenge thriller about a paralyzed man (Logan Marshall-Green) who regains control of his body after being injected with a sentient chip so he can find the men who murdered his wife. But that’s just the window dressing.
Upgrade moves beyond typical revenge fantasy conventions into full-on body horror, and asks questions about what it means to be human, and what would happen if we lost control of our very selves. I expected nothing more than a brainless action film, but what I watched left me stunned. It’s not quite on the list of terrifying horror movies that nobody talks about, but this is the perfect movie for anyone looking for a little more meat on the bones when it comes to typical thriller fare.
It’s like Jumanji, but in space
Like most people my age, I absolutely loved watching Jumanji growing up. I mean, it was a massive hit for a reason. You could say a big part of that reason is Robin Williams, and you’d be right, but the premise always fascinated me. Zathura: A Space Adventure shares a similar premise, where a board game comes to life, transporting its characters to essentially another world. It makes sense. The book Zathura: A Space Adventure is based on comes from the same author as Jumanji, and this film is often considered a stand-alone film in that franchise.
Zathura: A Space Adventure never really took off like Jumanji did, however, and that’s a shame. In a lot of ways, it’s more creative than its well-remembered predecessor, and the space setting just really fits with my own science fiction interests. Plus, the cast is completely stacked with greats like Kristen Stewart, Josh Hutcherson, and Tim Robbins. I didn’t even realize it was on Netflix until recently, and it had been years since I’d watched it, but Zathura: A Space Adventure is a surprisingly good time that still holds up.
Streaming can be a blessing and a curse for underrated gems
I’m thankful that I was able to find these films, and streaming services like Netflix can be excellent for allowing audiences to discover or rediscover hidden gems like these. But a lot of the time, these streamers are so packed with content that it can be hard to navigate. Hopefully, some of these films can help you avoid future indecision. Though if you’re looking for sitcoms that you can watch forever without getting bored, we have some recommendations there, too.
