A decade ago, Netflix was just dipping its toes into original filmmaking. Today, it’s a full-blown cinematic powerhouse with Oscar wins, global blockbusters, and record-breaking animated films. Here’s the definitive list of Netflix’s best original movie from each year — 2016 through 2025.
Best Netflix Original Movie by Year
| Year | Best Film | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 13th | BAFTA & Emmy-winning racial inequality documentary |
| 2017 | Mudbound | 97% on Rotten Tomatoes; Oscar-nominated screenplay |
| 2018 | Roma | 10 Oscar nominations; won Best Foreign Language Film |
| 2019 | The Irishman | Scorsese’s epic; 10 Oscar noms including Best Picture |
| 2020 | The Trial of the Chicago 7 | 6 Oscar noms; won Best Picture (Drama) at Golden Globes |
| 2021 | The Power of the Dog | Oscar-nominated Best Picture; Jane Campion’s masterwork |
| 2022 | All Quiet on the Western Front | 9 Oscar noms; won 4 including Best International Feature |
| 2023 | Extraction 2 | 80% on RT; 21-minute one-take action sequence |
| 2024 | Carry-On | 118.2M views; Netflix’s most-viewed film of 2024 |
| 2025 | Kpop Demon Hunters | 20.5B viewing minutes; won Best Animated Feature at Oscars |
The Films — Briefly Explained
2016 — 13th: Directed by Ava DuVernay, this documentary explores racial inequality in the United States and swept awards ceremonies, taking home both a BAFTA and Emmy for Best Documentary. So significant that Netflix made it free to watch on YouTube.
2017 — Mudbound: Dee Rees’ directorial debut made history, seeing her become the first Black woman nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. The film follows two WWII veterans navigating a changed rural Mississippi — raw, powerful, and nearly perfect.
2018 — Roma: Alfonso Cuarón’s black-and-white masterpiece, set in 1970s Mexico City, garnered 10 Oscar nominations and won three, including Best Foreign Language Film. A deeply personal, visually stunning triumph.
2019 — The Irishman: Martin Scorsese assembled a God-tier cast — Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci — for his epic gangster saga, which received 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.
2020 — The Trial of the Chicago 7: Based on the infamous 1969 trial of anti-war protesters, this tense political drama won Best Motion Picture (Drama) at the Golden Globes and earned 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
2021 — The Power of the Dog: Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a cruel rancher in Jane Campion’s western drama, which received nominations for myriad awards including Best Picture at the Oscars.
2022 — All Quiet on the Western Front: This WWI adaptation was nominated for nine Oscars, taking home four: Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design. An absolute must-watch.
2023 — Extraction 2: Chris Hemsworth’s sequel delivers bigger, more ambitious action than the original — most notably a massive 21-minute one-take sequence — and earned a higher Rotten Tomatoes rating of 80%. whats-on-netflix
2024 — Carry-On: Starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, this high-tension airport thriller became Netflix’s most-viewed picture of 2024 with 118.2 million views.
2025 — Kpop Demon Hunters: The animated sensation blending K-Pop and supernatural action drew an unprecedented 20.5 billion viewing minutes — making it officially the most successful Netflix movie of all time — and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. whats-on-netflix
👉 Also read: Best Netflix Shows to Binge Right Now — Our Top Picks 👉 Don’t miss: Most-Watched Netflix Movies & Series of All Time — Full List
