Netflix Original picks that are actually worth watching

Picking popular Netflix Originals like The Queen’s Gambit or To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is a piece of cake. The real struggle comes when we have no clue what to watch: we attempt to pick a promising film that we’ve not yet seen, realise it’s kind of tacky, and eventually give up.

To save you the future trouble of spending an hour trawling your home page for something decent to watch, we’ve come up with a list of Netflix Originals that we think you might enjoy.

1. The Half Of It

The Half Of It is one of the latest additions to join the growing line-up of Western films that feature Asian representation. The 2020 release is directed by Alice Wu, and focuses on a coming-of-age and LGBTQ theme.

The plot is set in the town of Squahamish, where Chinese-American Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) earns extra income from completing her classmates’ homework. The paper that she receives from school jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) is not like the others, though. Things get complicated when she is tasked to write a love letter on behalf of him to popular girl Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), whom she also has a crush on.

The film received a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is not hard to understand why. Expect the blooming of unexpected friendships, important life lessons and heartfelt moments of growing up.

Watch The Half Of It On Netflix.

2. Murder Mystery

Murder Mystery is a comedy-mystery that once again showcases the popular on-screen chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. The 2019 release was directed by Kyle Newacheck, and while it only scored 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, there are quite a number of positive reviews in favour of the witty script and hilarious execution by the duo.

Follow couple Audrey (Aniston) and Nick (Sandler) who jet off to Europe for a vacation as they attempt to spice up their 15-year-long marriage. The pair somehow end up enjoying life on a billionaire’s yacht, but it was only the calm before the storm as they suddenly find themselves entangled with a murder on the ship.

Watch Murder Mystery on Netflix.

3. A Whisker Away

If iconic films like Spirited Away and Your Name are your cup of tea, A Whisker Away might be the pur-fect recommendation of what to watch next. An animated production by Studio Colorido, it was released in 2020 and achieved a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The story centers about Miyo Sasaki, a high school student who faces issues with her family. She spends her time at school trying to win the affections of her crush, Kento Hinode, but fails. She one day acquires the ability to transform into a cat, which successfully gains the adoration of her crush. However, things start to get complicated when Sasaki has to decide between her human and cat form.

Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions as the film potrays both lighthearted and heart-wrenching moments.

Watch A Whisker Away on Netflix.

4. Enola Holmes

Avid fans of the Sherlock Holmes series or not, Enola Holmes is one film that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Generating much anticipation on social media, it arrived on Netflix in late 2020, and unsurprisingly marked a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) one day finds that her mother, a constant figure of familiarity, has mysteriously disappeared. While she tries to uncover the truth, she has to learn how to navigate around her meddling brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). Her journey of looking for her missing mother becomes more complicated when she meets a runaway boy of important status.

From Brown’s excellent character portrayal to the witty plot, this is a thrilling and satisfying film to catch.

Watch Enola Holmes on Netflix.

What are some of your favourite Netflix Originals? Share them with us!

Feature image taken from Unsplash