Netflix has continued to pump out original movies in the month of September, adding films like Do Revenge, End of the Road, and Drifting Home to the mix recently. Ever since the streaming service released Beasts of No Nation in 2015, they have only added to a deep library.
With Netflix having so many subscribers, it makes sense that their original films would be big hits with so many people. While the most viewed Netflix movies aren’t the most popular ones on Letterboxd, the film lovers on that site have still picked out their favorites and viewed them more than any other.
Okja (2017)
![The 10 Most Popular Netflix Original Movies, According To Letterboxd](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ahn-seo-hyun-and-creature-okja.jpg)
After the massive success of 2019’s Parasite, it seems like everyone knows who Bong Joon-ho is. The filmmaker won a slew of Oscars, including Best Director, for that movie but Bong Joon-ho’s filmography goes much deeper than that. That includes the Netflix original, Okja.
It might’ve been overlooked at the time of its release but after Joon-ho’s fame grew, subscribers likely found the gem. The movie tells an emotional tale of a young girl who risks it all to save her best friend, a massive and unique animal named Okja. Reviews were strong and it boasts an impressive cast from top to bottom.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
![The Mitchells ready to fight robots.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Rick-Mitchell.jpg)
Sony Pictures Animation is on an impressive roll in recent years thanks to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs. The Machines. The latter was slated for a theatrical release but got picked up by Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The visual style is unique, the characters are likable, and the protagonist is a rare LGBTQ+ lead in an animated film. The story centers on a dysfunctional family that unexpectedly becomes the heroes during a global fight against a robot uprising. This well-received movie was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and won every category it was nominated for at the Annie Awards.
Bird Box (2018)
![Sandra Bullock blindfolded with two kids in Bird Box](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sandra-Bullock-blindfolded-with-two-kids-in-Bird-Box.jpg)
Due to Netflix’s immense subscriber base, any movie that becomes a hit there will likely trend online for weeks and that was the case with Bird Box. It was all anyone could talk about at the tail end of 2018 thanks to an intense premise and having the always lovable Sandra Bullock in the lead.
The film follows Bullock’s Malorie as she travels with two children and tries to keep them safe during a time when the world is overrun by creatures that cause people to kill themselves if they’re seen. Although reviews weren’t overly impressive, it’s the kind of movie that everyone buzzed about.
Roma (2017)
![Roma's family embrace on the beach](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Roma-movie-2018-poster.jpg)
When Roma hit Netflix, it was a huge deal. The film immediately was met with widespread acclaim and garnered talk of an Oscar win, with it becoming Netflix’s first original film to land a Best Picture nomination. Not only that but it actually led the ceremony in total nominations.
Alfonso Cuarón won for Best Director and Roma was the first Mexican movie to win Best Foreign Language Film. The tale takes place in the ’70s and follows the life of a housekeeper who works for a middle class family. This wasn’t a huge hit for Netflix commercially but the Letterboxd users who love critical darlings appreciated it.
I’m Thinking Of Ending Things (2020)
![I'm Thinking Of Ending Things](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Im-Thinking-Of-Ending-Things-2020-2.jpg)
One of the most intriguing and interesting filmmakers in modern history is Charlie Kaufman, who has been behind some of the most unique films ever crafted. He wrote and directed I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which is an adaptation of a novel of the same name.
It’s interesting to see how high this film ranks because while critics gave it sparkling reviews, it’s a dense movie that might take multiple viewings to fully understand. Focusing on a woman visiting her boyfriend’s parents for the first time, it goes on a twisty road that leaves the audience befuddled.
The Power Of The Dog (2021)
![Benedict Cumberbatch holding paper flowers in The Power of the Dog](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/power-of-the-dog-benedict-cumberbatch-shower.jpeg)
After striking gold with Roma, Netflix has become a regular at major award shows including the Oscars. That was again the case thanks to a handful of 2021 releases, with one of them being The Power of the Dog.
Directed by the always fantastic Jane Campion, the film was a hit for her work behind the camera, the screenplay, cinematography, and the outstanding cast. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee all received major award talk for bringing this story about the relationship between a ruthless ranch owner, his brother, his sister-in-law, and his new nephew.
Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021)
![Tick, Tick... Boom review](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TTB-20201015-03808r.jpg)
The other 2021 Netflix original to be a big deal come award season was tick, tick…BOOM! Lin-Manuel Miranda blew away audiences with his directorial debut as he put together some tremendous scenes in this musical biopic.
The film tells the story of Jonathan Larson, the legendary theater director who put together the iconic stage play Rent. With a stunning performance from Andrew Garfield (earning an Oscar nomination) and great supporting efforts from Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, and Robin de Jesús, it’s no wonder this was a hit with Letterboxd users.
The Irishman (2019)
![The cast of The Irishman walking together](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-cast-of-The-Irishman.jpg)
Even more than Roma, it felt like The Irishman was the biggest Oscar bait that Netflix ever landed. That’s what happens when Martin Scorsese helms a gangster film that brings back the pairing of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, alongside some other great actors.
Set during the ’60s, The Irishman is a sprawling epic with a loaded cast that follows a truck driver who becomes a hitman for the mob. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and even with the 200+ minute runtime, people flocked to their Netflix accounts to see it.
Marriage Story (2019)
![Adam driver holds a trumpet in Marriage Story as Scarlet Johansson looks on](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/marriage-story-2.jpg)
It was hard to find a Netflix user at the end of 2019 who wasn’t talking about Marriage Story. The movie told a relatable yet heartbreaking story of a couple going through a harrowing divorce as their lives split apart across the country.
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson were both nominated for Oscars while Laura Dern won for her supporting performance. This Best Picture nominee is possibly the most emotionally charged and realistic story ever released on the streaming service.
Don’t Look Up (2021)
![Don't Look Up Cast](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dont-Look-Up-Cast.jpg)
Yet another Best Picture nominee from Netflix, Don’t Look Up is certainly different from the rest. Instead of a drama, this is a sci-fi comedy that focuses on people on Earth not taking a global threat from an asteroid seriously.
Although it can be a frustrating watch, Don’t Look Up is an important film for the way that it satirizes government, politics, and media influence while also acting as an allegory for climate change. Throw in a phenomenal cast led by Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio and it’s clear why it was a big deal.