Netflixmade a name for itself as a streaming service through its combination of original shows and broad catalog. The first original series,Lilyhammer, came in 2012, and it took a few years before Netflix released itsfirst original movie,Beasts of No Nation, in 2015. However, while the early years of original shows were extremely successful and well-received, with the likes ofHouse of CardsandOrange is the New Black, Netflix has not always had the same luck with its movies.
There have been some successes, with the Oscar-nominated likes ofDon’t Look UpandRoma, but there are also a fair few shockers in the mix. Movies such asThe Ridiculous 6,The Last Days of American Crime, and more earned impressively bad scores of 0% onRotten Tomatoes. No matter how hard it tries, the phrase “Netflix original movie” just isn’t becoming synonymous with critically acclaimed in the same way as other production companies with better reputations.
However, not every Netflix original movie is as bad as it’s made out to be. Certain projects have received unfair treatment and could do with another moment in the sun. These 10 Netflix originals with low Rotten Tomatoes scores are deserving of a second chance.
10Ghost Lab (2021)
In a hybrid horror comedy effort,Ghost Labfinds two doctors, Wee and Gla, desperate to find scientific proof of ghosts after witnessing a haunting. Wee, played by Thanapob Leeratanakachorn, never believed in the supernatural and is now questioning everything. On the other hand, Gla, played by Paris Intarakomalyasut, has had his lifelong beliefs confirmed by this sighting.
Plenty of movies can offer twists and turns, butGhost Labtruly goes to shocking and unexpected places, both in terms of plot and tone. This has put off many critics who argue that it’s impossible to pin down, earning it a mere 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. But, for horror fans, the spooky offering can provide something that has definitely never been done before.
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9Secret Obsession (2019)
Secret Obsessionis also, unintentionally, a hybrid between horror and comedy, that also sharesGhost Lab’s 29% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The premise is familiar, a woman wakes up with amnesia and goes home with a man claiming to be her husband. Brenda Song stars as Jennifer, with Mike Vogel as the sinister and mysterious Russell.
There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s a hugely entertaining watch nonetheless. It’s perfect for when you want something silly but engaging to watch with a group or after a rough day. Yes, it’s cheesy and predictable, but someone has to make these movies, and critics suggesting that it was aiming to be anything other than that have missed the point entirely.
8Brain on Fire (2016)
From a crime mystery to a medical mystery,Brain on Firefollows the puzzling case of a journalist who started experiencing strange symptoms and behaving erratically despite seeming fully healthy. Chloë Grace Moretz stars as Susannah, the journalist, and she is joined by a great cast that includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Jenny Slate, and Tyler Perry.
The movie was based on a true and fascinating story, however, this means that the final act doesn’t pay off as well as some would like. But real life usually doesn’t conform to a traditional narrative structure, and the story is still informative, well worth watching, and deserving of more than just 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7We Have a Ghost (2023)
Finding a ghost in the attic is a timeless premise to build a movie on, and inWe Have a Ghost, it still has legs. A certain lack of originality stunted its Rotten Tomatoes score to just 46%, but don’t let that put you off. This time around, the Presley family has moved into a fixer-upper, only to find that it comes with a ghost. The teenage son of the family, Kevin, is played by Jahi Di’Allo Winston, with Anthony Mackie as his father, and David Harbour in the ghost role.
When Kevin’s father decides to post a video of the ghost on the internet, their house is swarmed by civilians and police alike, so Kevin has to evacuate the ghost. It’s sweet and charming, with Harbour doing well in his mute role, and brings a fun ghost story to all ages.
6The Kissing Booth (2018)
The teen rom-comThe Kissing Boothmay not be well reviewed, but it is definitely well known. It follows Joey King as Elle, a teenager who decides to run a kissing booth that lands her in trouble when she kisses her best friend’s brother. Elle’s best friend is Lee, played by Joel Courtney, and Jacob Elordi plays his brother Noah. LikeSecret Obsession,The Kissing Boothwas never designed to be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped it from receiving terrible reviews from publications likeIndieWire, which criticizes it for “attempting to romanticize a “bad boy” love interest.” But the things critics have complained about, which landed it a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, are precisely the trappings of melodramatic and entertaining romances.
5The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Returning to the horror genre,The Cloverfield Paradoxis an installment in the loose, connected but not connectedCloverfieldseries. This one finds a group of scientists in space testing out a device that they hope will solve the energy crisis, but actually opens a portal to an alternate dimension, leaving them stranded.
With the previous installments being so well received,The Cloverfield Paradoxhad big shoes to fill, and it didn’t quite manage it, resulting in a 22% Rotten Tomatoes rating. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of attention in its own right. It has a wonderful cast of Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, and Chris O’Dowd and the plot puts thetimeline of the seriesinto an interesting new perspective.
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4Rattlesnake (2019)
Rattlesnakeis another unfairly regarded horror from Netflix. Here, we find a mother and daughter, Katrina and Clara, caught in a nightmarish situation when Clara is bitten by a snake. Katrina gets help from the only person in sight, a mysterious woman who heals Clara with ease, only to find out that Clara’s life comes at the price of Katrina taking someone else’s.
Carmen Ejogo is brilliant in the central role as a desperate mother, and she carries the drama well. Although some argue that it overstays its welcome, resulting in a 30% Rotten Tomatoes score, what’s not up for debate is that Ejogo’s talents are severely underrated.
3The Last Thing He Wanted (2020)
Based on the novel of the same name by Joan Didion,The Last Thing He Wantedis yet another Netflix thriller that has been panned by critics. Anne Hathaway takes on the central role of Elena, a journalist who agrees to do a favor for her father, played by Willem Dafoe, which spirals utterly out of control and into conspiracy.
Due to the nature of the plot, things get intricate and, admittedly, hard to follow, and this complex narrative finds the thriller with only 5% on Rotten Tomatoes. But, importantly, Hathaway is a strong steward and, as always, is supremely watchable. Sometimes there is fun to be had in anoutrageously complicated plot, much like a movie likeTenet.
2The Discovery (2017)
An underrated sci-fi offering from Netflix isThe Discovery. Robert Redford plays a scientist who discovered scientific proof of the afterlife, which leads to a reappraisal of the value of life. Redford is joined by Jason Segel, who plays his skeptical son, and Rooney Mara, who also wants to learn more about this discovery but for mysterious reasons.
Much of the complaints directed toward the movie are due to frustration that we are not presented with clear answers to the questions posed by the premise. It’s hard to make a crowd pleaser that doesn’t have a satisfying and secure conclusion, so it’s understandable that critics were disappointed. However, an open-ended movie thatasks interesting questionsis just as valuable, if not more, than its more traditional counterparts.
1In the Tall Grass (2019)
Adapted from a novella by Steven King,In the Tall Grassis a mysterious horror movie from Netflix. Laysla De Oliveira and Avery Whitted play Becky and Cal, siblings who venture into a field of tall grass when they hear the sounds of a young boy in trouble. Quickly, they realize they’ve become trapped within the grass and must find a way out before someone else finds them.
Often, adapting short stories and novellas into movies can be fruitful as you can cover everything without condensing the narrative. But here, there may not have been sufficient plot to stretch into a 100-minute movie, which left enough critics disappointed to earn the movie a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even though there are some repetitive sequences, the atmosphere is firmly creepy and it lands a great ending.
