Best New Netflix Originals Movies Released in 2021 So Far

Kasey Moore What's on Netflix Avatar
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best new netflix original movies of 2021

Netflix set the ambitious target of one movie a week and already, they’re smashing that target but given the high amount of Netflix Original movies coming onto the service, which ones are actually worth your time? Below, we’ll take you through our picks of the best new Netflix Original movies added in 2021 as of June 2021.

This list will exclude documentaries and stand-up specials. We’re specifically looking at Netflix Original movies. If this list is unimpressive to you, take a look at what’s coming up on the movie front for the rest of 2021.

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19. Outside the Wire

Director: Mikael Håfström
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Enzo Cilenti

outside the wire netflix

Anthony Mackie is in hot demand at the moment and sadly couldn’t elevate this movie into something great but is still an enjoyable action flick all the same.

Outside the Wire follows a drone pilot who teams up with a new android officer in the hopes of stopping a nuclear attack.


18. Arlo the Alligator Boy

Director: Ryan Crego
Cast: Michael J. Woodard, Ryan Crego, Dee Bradley Baker

arlo the alligator boy netflix april 2021

Sadly for whatever reason, it looks as though Arlo the Alligator Boy hasn’t had a huge release on Netflix with only a few hundred submitting reviews onto IMDb thus far.

However, this movie is absolutely brilliant watch for the young ones with a hand-drawn aesthetic, some earworm songs, and the promise of it being a franchise Netflix invests in with an upcoming companion TV series.


17. Finding ‘Ohana

Director: Jude Weng
Cast: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson

finding ohana netflix

Netflix ended 2020 with the family feature film We Can Be Heroes and in our opinion, then topped it in late January with the new kids-focused film, Finding ‘Ohana.

The movie is a hybrid of The Goonies and Indiana Jones where a group of kids in the summer set out to find secret lost treasures.

Many have praised it being an excellent family adventure while some have called it too predictable and far inferior to the aforementioned Goonies movie.


16. Bombay Rose

Director: Gitanjali Rao
Cast: Cyli Khare, Amit Deondi, Gargi Shitole

bombay rose netflix

Netflix has been stepping up big time on the animation front and Bombay Rose is an excellent example of this. The hour and a half long feature film has every frame hand-painted and as a result, looks absolutely gorgeous.

The love story sees two who hope to one day be together but religious differences and duty hold them back.


15. Malcolm & Marie

Director: Sam Levinson
Cast: John David Washington and Zendaya

malcolm

Let’s be honest, most of the “lockdown” series and movies produced with limited budgets have been subpar at best. That doesn’t apply to Malcolm & Marie which is wholly carried by two stunning performances by the leads.

The movie picks up after an awards evening with a couple coming home to have something to eat and then head to bed. However, tensions arise which leads to several arguments throughout the early hours of the morning.

While the movie does feel like it repeats itself several times throughout, it’s still an excellent character piece with two of today’s best actors.


14. Army of the Dead

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera

army of the dead netflix 2021

Hot off the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max, Netflix had its project with the famed director lined up to kickstart its summer 2021 movie schedule.

Snyder, known for his remake of Dawn of the Dead, reentered the zombie space with a fun 2 and a half hour frolic in the Las Vegas desert. While it’s certainly not going to be for everyone and you could spend all afternoon picking apart its gaping plot holes, there’s still a fun time to be had with impressive visuals albeit often nauseating depth of field.


13. Space Sweepers

Director: Sung-hee Jo
Cast: Song Joong-Ki, Kim Tae-ri, Seon-kyu Jin

space sweepers netflix

If big sci-fi blockbusters are your thing then Space Sweepers should be high up on your agenda.

The Korean movie is set years into the future when crews of space sweepers are after space debris to earn a few bucks. We follow one crew who seemingly manages to find a way to save their homeworld.

The movie jumps in and out of Korean with plenty of English spoken throughout which makes this a truly international movie with stellar CGI.

Its major pitfalls are what I think are hallmarks of Asian movies that tend to tell stories slightly different and can give you whiplash trying to keep up but perhaps that’s a personal flaw more than a movie flaw.


12. Fatherhood

Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery

fatherhood kevin hart netflix

Kevin Hart shines in this down-to-earth drama about a father that’s looking after her new daughter after the untimely death of his partner.

Although critic’s reviews weren’t too kind to the flick, audiences have seemed to taken to it and by most accounts, is a solid watch.


11. Oxygen

Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi

oxygen new on netflix may 12th

Oxygen is another perfect example of a movie that you would’ve probably missed or looked over had it had a traditional theatrical release.

Although it’s simplistic and perhaps not the most inspired plot in the world, it is executed very well.

The story is about a woman awaking in a cryogenic chamber lacking in memory as to how she got there or who she is but it’s a race against time as oxygen is slowly running out.


10. The Woman in the Window

Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie

the woman in the window new on netflix may 14th

There’s been a number of movies swept up by the pandemic preventing it from getting a wide theatrical release with The Woman in the Window ultimately getting sold from Fox to Netflix.

While the movie certainly has flaws, it sees another flawless performance from Amy Adams who plays an agoraphobic woman living in New York.


9. Wish Dragon

Director: Chris Appelhans
Cast: Jimmy Wong, John Cho, Constance Wu

wish dragon netflix

Netflix has picked up a number of Sony Animation movies this year and Wish Dragon is one of them. Created in China, Sony Animation originally bought the movie but thanks to the Covid pandemic, eventually got sold onto Netflix.

The beautifully animated title may not pack the same punch as another Sony Animation movie we’ll feature a bit further down, it’s still a heartwarming and funny feature that’s been compared to the likes of The Iron Giant.


8. The Dig

Director: Simon Stone
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James

the dig netflix

Exemplary performances are found throughout this biopic that relives the moments of the excavation of the Sutton Hoo.

The British production is superbly written and while the subject matter may not appeal to all, those who do dig in will find plenty to remember.


7. Pieces of a Woman

Director: Kornél Mundruczó
Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn

pieces of a woman netflix

While the release of Pieces of a Woman may have been slightly overshadowed by the allegations hanging over Shia LaBeouf, that shouldn’t discourage you from watching this heart-tugging and emotional feature.

Going on to be nominated for an Oscar, the movie follows a birth that goes wrong and a family’s efforts to get justice. The opening 15 minutes alone are some of the most wrenching minutes you’ll be able to watch on Netflix and this will almost certainly be a painful watch for some so bear that in mind before clicking play.

Vanessa Kirby’s performance, in particular, is absolutely sublime.


6. Love and Monsters

Director: Michael Matthews
Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker

love and monsters netflix uk

Picked up for international distribution is the Paramount Pictures movie Love and Monsters. Set in a dystopian future where monsters rule the world, we follow a rather hopeless Joel who has to go on a quest outside of his bunker to find his ex.

The movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.


5. News of the World

Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Tom Astor
Note:
Not available in Netflix in the United States

news of the world netflix original movie

Netflix acquired the international rights to this Tom Hanks movie from Universal Pictures that went onto be nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

The movie takes you on a journey with Hanks and Zengel who are on the search for the young girl’s true home while stopping off in towns to read out newspapers to the townsfolks.

It’s a slow burn but has some excellent character development throughout with detailed sets and superb costumes.


4. The White Tiger

Director: Ramin Bahrani
Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra

the white tiger new netflix original movie

Over the past few years, Netflix has really been ramping up production of Indian content and perhaps the best titles to have come out of those efforts is The White Tiger.

The hybrid language movie follows a young man hoping to make it big in the criminal underworld.

With great performances from all, the movie is an excellent example of one that thrives on a global Netflix but wouldn’t necessarily be one that does well in a traditional cinema environment.


3. Blue Miracle

Cast: Jimmy Gonzales, Dennis Quaid, Bruce McGill
Director: Julio Quintana

blue miracle best new movie on netflix

Blue Miracle is the definition of a hidden gem on Netflix. Starring Dennis Quaid the movie follows a guardian and his kids teaming up in a fishing competition that could help save their orphanage.

It features convincing performances and has a lot of heart.

We’d also recommend reading our own Josh Shepherds review for the movie too.


2. I Care A Lot

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Rosamund Pike, Alicia Witt, Chris Messina, Damian Young, 
Director
J Blakeson
Note:
Only available on Netflix in the United States and 21 other countries. Amazon Prime Original in others.

i care a lot netflix best new original movie of 2021

I Care A Lot rocked the top 10 charts when it released in February 2021 and for good reason, it’s a gripping drama featuring an absolutely sublime performance from Rosamund Pike who brings out a kind of contempt I haven’t had for a character in a long while.

The story follows an astute businesswoman who is in the business of care and sucking out all the cash from wealthy older clients. Her game is disrupted however when she manages to find a client that may not be who she seems to be.

It’s a movie you’d probably have missed out on if it got a traditional theatrical release but absolutely thrived on Netflix.


1. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Directors: Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Cast: Charlyne Yi, Olivia Colman, Eric André

the mitchells vs the mitchells netflix

Netflix Animation has been improving year over year and although The Mitchells vs. The Machines doesn’t come out from Netflix themselves, it’s by far one of their best releases to date.

Complete with stunning visuals, a stellar voice cast lineup the movie is the complete package for the entire family and therefore, our favorite movie so far of 2021.

The Sony Animation Picture follows a family on a road trip that gets rudely interrupted by killer robots who invade earth.


What has been your favorite new Netflix Original movie of 2021 so far? Let us know in the comments down below.

Written by

Founder of What's on Netflix and based in Norwich in the United Kingdom, Kasey has been tracking the comings and goings of the Netflix library for a decade having started the site in 2013. Kasey maintains the what's new library, keeps the coming soon lists up-to-date and writes about new and upcoming Netflix movies, series and games.