Netflix has already released some thrilling content so far this year, with a slew of gifted performers appearing in their original projects. Tyler Perry brought his beloved Mabel “Madea” Simmons out of retirement for the much-neededA Madea Homecoming,whileGame of Thronesalum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau battles the chilly elements in Greenland for the historical survival dramaAgainst the Ice.These are the best Netflix original movies to stream from this year.
8The Weekend Away
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While audience reactions were divided onThe Weekend Away, it garnered a lot of attention and streams, withRogerEbert.com calling it,“the best kind of purposely preposterous potboiler. The scenery is gorgeous, the twists keep the adrenaline pumping, and the performances are memorable. Even though you might not remember everything that happens, you’ll have a good time while it lasts.”
7A Madea Homecoming
After originally planning to retire the beloved Madea character in 2019’sA Made Family Funeral,writer, producer, and star Tyler Perry decided to revert these plans and once again don the famous persona in 2022’sA Madea Homecoming.The comedy follows the no nonsense Mabel “Madea” Simmons, as she prepares to celebrate her great-grandson’s college graduation but finds the occasion complicated as family drama and hidden secrets threaten the exciting homecoming. The gifted creator decided to revive the hilarious character because he thought that everyone needed and deserved a good laugh, tellingPeople magazine,“I was looking at the state of the world and how polarized it is…nobody’s laughing. Nobody’s getting the chance to bell-laugh anymore. And I’m like, ‘What tool do I have in my arsenal that can bring that kind of laughter?’”
6Against the Ice
Game of ThronesstarNikolaj Coster-Waldau headlines the historical survival filmAgainst the Ice,which centers on two men exploring Greenland’s vast landscape for a lost map, who must fight for survival when they are left behind while on their expedition. In the riveting drama, Coster-Waldau portrays Danish explorer and author Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen, who attempted to disprove the United States’ claim to North Eastern Greenland in 1909 by proving that the country is one island.
Mikkelsen, along with his inexperienced crew member Iver Iversen must battle fatigue, hunger, and the elements in order to stay alive and await their rescue. During production, the crew was oncestranded on a glacierin Iceland during a storm and were forced to take cover in a hut to avoid the hurricane-force winds.Against the Icewas watched for 30.73 million hours in its first five days of release, placing second on Netflix’s Top Ten.
Featuring the impressive cast of Jason Segel, Jesse Plemons, and Lily Collins, theNetflix thrillerWindfalltells the story of a robber who breaks into a tech billionaire’s empty vacation home, but finds his plans thwarted when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway. Segel not only stars in the thriller but also helped co-write it, drawing inspiration from the pandemic by creating an isolated atmosphere for the layered characters.
He revealed,“I think what this movie explores and the character of ‘Nobody’ represents is this part of us that knows, can see with our own eyes that something is fundamentally unfair and there seems to be no way to address it…that some people are going to have infinite money and some people are going to struggle for every dollar. ” The dark and twisty picture is propelled by the killer cast and their phenomenal performances, and is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
4Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The ninth installment of the iconic horror franchise, Netflix’s slasher flickTexas Chainsaw Massacrepicks up several decades after the original and focuses on the notorious serial killer Leatherface as he targets a group of teenagers, and is confronted by the vengeful survivor of his previous murders. The movie serves as a direct sequel tothe 1974 classic horror movie,and depicts the disturbed villain as a 60-year-old, similar to the approach Blumhouse took with theirHalloweenfilms.
3The Adam Project
Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynoldsstars in the sci-fi adventure filmThe Adam Project,appearing as time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed who accidentally crash lands in 2022 and must team up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future. With an additional cast of dazzling performers including Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, and Zoe Saldaña, the exciting movie follows the two Adams as they embark on a journey to find their father while healing the wounds and loss that have shaped them.
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Reynold’s performance and interactions with Ruffalo’s character were influenced by his memories of his own late father, havingtold Collider,“All I had to do is look at Mark and feel everything, every unrequited moment I’ve ever had with my own father in real life. Truly, I felt so lucky to be working with someone like Mark Ruffalo, who is as good, if not better than everyone already knows him to be.”The Adam Projectwas a smash hit for Netflix, attracting 3 million viewers over its debut weekend.
2Home Team
Viewers in search of some lighthearted entertainment need look no further than the sports comedyHome Teamled by Kevin James,which is inspired by the true story of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Peyton who, during his one-year suspension from the NFL, coached his 12-year-old son’s football team. Peyton was suspended the entire 2012 season for his perceived role in the Saints’ bounty scandal, under which “bounties” were allegedly paid for contact that would attempt to injure players on opposing teams.
The flick was co-produced by frequent James collaborator Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, and features the additional talent of funnyman Rob Schneider, Taylor Lautner and Jackie Sandler. The esteemed NFL coach even had a cameo in the comedy, appearing in the final scenes at the Saints training facility as Lionel the janitor.
1Munich – The Edge of War
Based on the Robert Harris novel, the German/British dramaMunich – The Edge of Warfocuses on a British diplomat who travels to Munich in the lead-up to World War II, where he crosses paths with a former classmate of his from Oxford who is working for the German government. British civil servant Hugh Legat and German diplomat Paul von Hartmann travel to the capital for an emergency conference, but as negotiations unfold as to how to handle the impending war, the two old friends find themselves at the center of a political ploy.
The enthralling picture stars esteemed actors like Jeremy Irons, George MacKay and Jannis Niewöhner and was praised for its commanding performances, thrilling pace and intriguing what-if twist on wartime history.The Guardiancommended the compelling film, writing, “It all rattles along easily enough, with some nice spycraft set pieces. As with Frederick Forsyth’sThe Day of the Jackal,the fact that you know what happens in the end is no bar to enjoyment…none of this stops it from being an ingenious, elegant counterfactual drama.”
