So you’re paying for Netflix but lately, you’ve been spending more time surfing around on there than actually settling on a great film. Welcome to the Waste-Your-Time Club. It’s one club we’d rather not be a member of, thanks. Bottom line: There may be a ton of choices but if you don’t have recommendations, you’re as likely as not to pick a dud—or just watch hours vanish as you try to figure out if each movie is worth the hours. Or, even worse, you find yourself arguing with your man about which one is the best investment.
That’s why we’ve done the picking and choosing for you.
Need a good movie to watch on Netflix? Here are our top picks for sleeper hits you may not have heard of but won’t want to miss.
10 LESSER KNOWN MOVIES TO WATCH ON NETFLIX
The Deep Blue Sea (2012)
An unsatisfied wife (Rachel Weisz as Hester) turns to a charismatic young pilot (Tom Hiddleston as Freddie) in search of the passion she’s been missing in her marriage. It’s so entertaining to watch these lovers as they both fight their inner demons—one desperately craving real love (or really good sex, let’s get real)—and the other trying to live life to its fullest after staring death in the face during World War II. The heart wants what the heart wants, even when it’s self destructive.
Reason to Tune In: Tom Hiddleston sweeping us, er, Hester off our, er, her feet.
When two sisters are separated after arriving in America from Poland in search of a better life, one is lured into prostitution in 1920s New York. She tries to escape her pimp but is turned away by family she thought she could count on. Her only hope is a dashing magician who steals her heart but draws the wrath of her keeper.
Reason to Tune In: Fans of period pieces will be enchanted on every level.
Bride Flight (2011)
One man. Three women. All become friends after meeting on a flight to New Zealand. When the women are reunited 50 years later at the man’s funeral, they come to realize how their lives were intertwined because of their different relationships with him, whether that was on account of love, lust or family.
Reason to Tune In: S-E-X. Add this one to the guilty pleasures list.
Homesman (2014)
This Western that tackles such modern themes as mental health and feminism gives Hilary Swank another role in which to shine. This time, she’s a self sufficient woman in the the Wild West who volunteers to transport some of her more mentally unstable neighbours to a safe home in Iowa. Along the way, they cross paths with Tommy Lee Jones, a grumpy stick in the mud who sticks around for the ride.
Reason to Tune In: Woman power all the way!
Magic in the Moonlight (2014)
Some of our favourite actors light up the screen in this Woody Allen flick: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden and Jacki Weaver. The film explores the very human struggle between faith and reason. Firth, an unbelieving magician, falls for psychic Stone, whom he thinks is a fake. Will she be able to change his mind or is he right about her?
Reason to Tune In: It’s refreshing to watch a not-so-well-known rom-com.
A young girl sets off on a mission of self discovery through the Australian Outback—with only her dog and four camels as companions. Along the way, she meets a National Geographic photographer who documents her journey.
Reason to Tune In: Sometimes, you just want to crawl into the wilderness all by your lonesome.
Inspired by a true story, this film is about a mixed race girl raised by her aristocratic relatives. Throughout, her skin colour keeps her social standing in check but somehow, she manages to join forces with the son of a vicar to do the almost impossible: help end slavery in England.
Reason to Tune In: Think Jane Austen with a social conscience.
The Stoning of Soraya M (2009)
Spousal abuse, arranged marriages, religious fundamentalism, stonings and mob rule are all depicted in this tragic true story from 1986—that, interestingly, could be ripped from today’s headlines.
Reason to Tune In: This one is a reality check that will help you see how small your troubles really are.
Enough Said (2013)
What happens when you try to get involved in a relationship again after way too long? Julia Louis Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, two authentic and funny actors, star in this sad and hilarious comedy about starting over.
Reason to Tune In: Ideal for when you need a crazy love pick-me-up.
Labor Day (2014)
A chance encounter with a fugitive has lifelong consequences for a 13-year-old boy and his depressed single mother. What they learn about each other teaches them more than they expected: lessons about true love and the test of time.
Reason to Tune In: Unlikely circumstances can help you get your groove back.