The Best Netflix Original Movies of Every Year (2016–2025)
From Kpop Demon Hunters to Carry-On, we’re counting down Netflix’s best movies of each year from 2016 to 2025. A decade ago, in 2016, Netflix began to significantly increase its movie output with films like The Siege of Jadotville and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Fast forward to 2026, and the streamer will release many dozens of original movies. There’s no confirmed figure, but it’ll be over 50. Looking back at the last 10 years, Netflix has released a number of award-winning movies — and in some cases, Oscar-winning films.
What are the best Netflix Original movies from each of the last 10 years? Here’s our rundown, taking into account subjective opinion, critical reception, viewership, and awards recognition.
2025: Kpop Demon Hunters
Netflix released some of its biggest and most esteemed original movies throughout 2025. It’s hard to narrow it down to just one title, but overall, Kpop Demon Hunters stands out. This film brings together the world’s biggest pop genre with phenomenal animation. The story follows K-Pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who go undercover to protect their fans from supernatural dangers when their careers stall. It’s officially the most successful Netflix movie of all-time, drawing in an unprecedented 20.5 billion viewing minutes, equating to over 200 million full watches. The success culminated in the 2026 Academy Awards, where it secured the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. A sequel is already in development.
2024: Carry-On
When we think of action movies set at Christmas-time, Die Hard always comes to mind. In 2024, Netflix attempted to channel a similar energy with Carry-On, following Ethan Kopek, an airline security guard blackmailed into allowing an explosive through security. The movie blends incredible tension with high-stakes thrills and excellent action. It boasts a stellar cast including Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, and Sofia Carson. Carry-On was the most-viewed picture of 2024 at Netflix with 118.2M views, beating Damsel.
2023: Extraction 2
Netflix had three major hits in 2023: The Mother, Extraction 2, and Murder Mystery 2. However, Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction 2 takes the top spot. It delivers bigger and more ambitious action, most notably a huge 21-minute one-take. The sequel has a higher Rotten Tomatoes rating than the first movie (80% compared to 67%). It debuted in the streamer’s all-time top 10 with 29.3 million views.
2022: All Quiet on the Western Front
2022 was a highly esteemed year for Netflix. All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Edward Berger, was nominated for nine Oscars, winning four: Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design. This adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel follows a young German soldier on the frontline during World War I.
2021: The Power of the Dog
Benedict Cumberbatch shines in The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion. Based on Thomas Savage’s novel, the movie follows Phil Burbank whose life is turned upside down by his brother’s new wife and son. Other excellent Netflix movies from 2021 include Don’t Look Up, Tick, Tick… BOOM!, and Passing.
2020: The Trial of the Chicago 7
In 2020, Netflix kept everyone entertained with The Trial of the Chicago 7, based on the 1969 trial of anti-war protesters. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne, it’s a tense, politically-driven, and true story. It received 6 nominations at the Academy Awards.
2019: The Irishman
2019’s clear winner is The Irishman. Martin Scorsese assembled a legendary cast – Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Stephen Graham – for this epic gangster movie. It follows truck driver Frank Sheeran as he becomes entangled with a crime family. The movie received 10 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards.
2018: Roma
You cannot overlook Roma, a masterpiece from director Alfonso Cuarón. Set in Mexico during the early 1970s, it follows Cleo, an indigenous live-in maid. It garnered significant acclaim, being nominated for 10 Oscars and winning three, including Best Foreign Language Film.
2017: Mudbound
Mudbound retains a near-perfect 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Dee Rees’ directorial debut made history, seeing her become the first Black woman to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. It tells the story of two World War II veterans returning to a changed rural Mississippi.
2016: 13th
In 2016, Netflix honed in on its film division with releases like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny and The Siege of Jadotville. However, the most poignant release was the docu-film 13th, exploring the history of racial inequality in the United States. It swept awards ceremonies, taking home a BAFTA and Emmy for Best Documentary, and being nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards.
Netflix has already released a few big-budget pictures so far in 2026, including War Machine, The Rip, and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. There are plenty of other anticipated movies on the horizon too, including Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie.
