Netflix is home to a large library of exclusive content: from Netflix Original shows and movies to documentaries, this catalog is available to stream only on this platform. You can find many genres, tropes, and styles within this exclusive library, but how good are the titles?
Platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes allow you to find the most highly-rated and/or popular shows and movies, and these reviews can also help you shape your watch list. Here are five highly-rated Netflix Original films to watch in April.
The films on this list have been picked based on their IMDb rating, with all films having a rating higher than 7.5 out of 10. All of them are also Netflix Original films.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
A roadtrip, an apocalypse, and a family with a mission
If you’re an animation fan, you might have come across works by Sony Pictures Animation, which is the studio behind Netflix’s Oscar-winning film KPop Demon Hunters. One of its best films that you don’t want to miss is The Mitchells vs. The Machines, a sci-fi family comedy following the dysfunctional Mitchells. As an impending robot apocalypse builds, the Mitchell parents, Rick and Linda, set out to drop their daughter Katie at her film school after Katie and Rick fight.
Their family road trip turns into a nightmare when the world’s electronics gain consciousness and rise to rebel against humans, setting off a chain of events that could end the age of humans. The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of Netflix’s most-viewed animated works to date, being watched by over 53 million households within 28 days of its release. The movie is emotional yet humorous, with a quirky and fun animation style that keeps you glued to the screen.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
A courtroom drama based on real events
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a perfect combination of courtroom drama meets political thriller. Based on real events, it follows the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. As they are set up against a biased legal system and a judge that can make or break their cases, the defendants face an unfamiliar battleground.
The film features performances from a star-studded ensemble cast, including actors like Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, and John Carroll Lynch.
Beasts of No Nation
A brutal film that holds the mirror to the reality of war
If you like to stream war movies, Beasts of No Nation is a critically acclaimed film you should add to your watch list. This is one of those films that fall under the category of “films you should watch once and never again” for many viewers. Set in a small, war-torn West African village, the tragic and brutal war drama explores the journey of Agu, a young boy who escapes a village-wide execution in a civil war.
Taken under the wing of a ruthless Commandment (Idris Elba), Agu is quickly exposed to his new reality, transforming from an innocent boy to a war-hardened soldier and killer on the run. As the war worsens, Agu and his army’s lives hang in the balance, with Agu’s state of mind declining due to the brutality of his actions.
Elba’s strong performance in the film earned him several accolades, including a SAG Award.
The Irishman
Don’t skip this if you’re a fan of gangster films
When it comes to epic gangster films, you can’t go wrong with a quintessential one like Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. This slow-burning crime drama, which is set across multiple decades, from the 1950s onwards, tells the real story of Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran turned hitman who becomes deeply involved with the Bufalino crime family. As he rises up the ranks, Sheeran forms a close bond with powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa. As the story unfolds, Sheeran’s choices and the complex web of organized crime are explored.
The Irishman features an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and more. It marks the ninth collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese.
Klaus
May the spirit of Christmas be with you
Even if winter has melted away, a must-watch Christmas film is the animated movie Klaus. This highly rated Netflix film is an alternative origin story of Santa Claus. The animation in this film is incredible, adding to a story that is a perfect holiday-time family watch.
The movie focuses on Jesper, a lazy and privileged postman who is sent by his Royal Postmaster General father to the remote island town of Smeerensburg. Here, he must establish a post office and post 6,000 letters within a year. Desperate to meet this quota and avoid being cut from the family fortune, Jesper teams up with a reclusive toy maker named Klaus. As their unlikely partnership grows, the town is transformed, with children getting delightful toys in exchange for letters. Christmas brings about a demand for more toys, while the town throws obstacles in the way.
The film was nominated for the 92nd Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature category, making it the first animated film from Netflix to be nominated for an Academy Award.
You can find more Netflix Original content by going through the exclusive library or searching for Only on Netflix or Netflix Original. To filter your titles by genres and tropes, make use of Netflix’s secret codes for easy browsing.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
