In recent days, Netflix informed analysts that just 1 million subscribers had cancelled their subscriptions to the service in quarter 2. Netflix expects growth to return for the current quarter that ends in September. That will come, of course, on the strength of the service’s bulging library of content, with a steady supply of new Netflix series and movies serving to keep subscribers hooked enough to stay.
The problem, though, is that for all of the big, marquee titles set to hit the streamer later this year — Blonde, Knives Out 2, and the like — some worthwhile gems can, unfortunately, find themselves a bit overshadowed. Below are eight Netflix series and movies (5 films, 3 shows) that we believe represent great hidden gems.
Hidden gem Netflix movies and series
Of course, the list of titles below is subjective. One man’s must-watch is another user’s hard pass. One thing is certain: canIt is clear that the Netflix series and movies mentioned here have received critical praise. Plus the appreciation of hardcore fans who’ve been singing many of their praises to gin up more interest.
You will find something to interest everyone from thrilling documentaries to crime dramas.
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Snabba Cash(Season 2 to this Netflix series will be available in the US soon)
I binge-watched the first season. Snabba Cash — a Swedish crime drama whose title translates to “easy money,” in keeping with the characters’ constant hustle for cash, for new angles, for an edge — faster than any Netflix series I can remember in quite a while.
This is what it looks like Breaking BadMixed with Gomorrah. That’s not a perfect analogy, but it gives you an idea of what you’re in store for. Here’s the Netflix description: “The lives of an ambitious businesswoman, a charming gang enforcer, and a troubled teen collide amidst a desperate — and sinister — pursuit of wealth.”
Evin Ahmad who plays Leya is the central character, needs special props. She plays the role of a businesswoman looking for money to launch her startup. She’s also a mother, and she’s related to an underworld figure. Netflix, please give this amazing actress more projects.
Vendetta – Truth, Lies, & the Mafia
Pino Maniachi, TV reporter, looks like an old man Pixar would draw with his thick glasses. His mustache is riotously bushy. This Netflix documentary series of six episodes is about an irascible, fearless reporter, Pino Maniachi. He went on television day after day and lashed out at the mafia. He was not afraid to risk his safety.
This Netflix series is for anyone who has an interest in journalism. Pino and a local Judge get involved in a duel of corruption accusations against one another, especially when the heat builds.
Speaking of the Mafia, HBO’s GomorrahAs far as dramas in this genre go, it will be my standard. But this 3-season Netflix series, the streamer’s first Italian-language original show, more than capably stands on its own and gives viewers a gritty look at the Rome underworld. It’s got a narrative that encompasses family tensions, gun fights, and power clashes between politicians, the church, and organized crime — all of which was inspired by a novel of the same name from Giancarlo De Cataldo and Carlo Bonini.
Icarus
This documentary from filmmaker Bryan Fogel, about the lengths to which Russia will go to cheat — in the Olympics, but really at anything — is all the more relevant today. At the center of the documentary is the participation of a Russian scientist who blows the lid on Russia’s doping scandal. And who, no surprise, becomes Putin’s most-wanted whistleblower.
There are more Netflix films and series that have been overlooked.
For the balance of our list of hidden gem recommendations, we’ve got two additional Netflix series and two movies. These include everything from a Jason Sudeikis drama to a comedy about teenage adventure.
The Billion Dollar Code
Did you love? Keep Calm and Fire? Then you basically need to stop what you’re doing and watch The Billion Dollar Code. This German-language Netflix series will be very similar to the AMC documentary about Silicon Valley’s early days.
Netflix’s synopsis of The Billion Dollar Code: “In 1990s Berlin, an artist and a hacker invented a new way to see the world. Years later, they reunite to sue Google for patent infringement on it.”
Teenage Bounty Hunters
This Netflix series, which features twin sisters who manage to balance their normal high school lives with a side hustle as bounty hunters, is more entertaining than any other on the list. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s loaded with humor and adventure, and it’s built around two young women who are a joy to watch. Both these actresses have bright careers ahead of their.
Kodachrome
I wrote last year that this drama — built around the complicated reunion of a son with his dying, cranky jerk of a father — is a must-watch. This is my belief. Ted Lasso’sHere, Jason Sudeikis plays the role of the son. Ed Harris and Elizabeth Olsen are two reasons why. KodachromeYou should add this to your watchlist. This is an additional enticement that I have written previously:
Sudeikis at its end “will have worked you over with the same kind of warm blanket, feel-good energy you get from Sudeikis’ Apple TV series.”
Lords of Scam
You might enjoy films like American HustleAndThe Wolf of Wall Street? This 2021 Netflix documentary should be able to hook you from the beginning. Here’s the streamer’s official description. “This documentary examines the rise and fall of fraudsters who conned the EU’s carbon quota system, and then took millions in their pockets before turning against one another.“ (Sorry, the trailer below isn’t in English. But it should give you an idea of the vibe of the film — which does have English subtitles).
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