10 Best Netflix Original Movies Of 2020 - Ranked

Unlike the rest of Hollywood, Netflix had a pretty good year in the movie department...

The Social Dilemma
Netflix

The last ten months or so haven't been great for the film industry, with box-office takings hitting unprecedented lows, production on movies being halted, and the future of theatrical exhibition being called into question. It's been a bleak period of time.

You know things are bad when the highest-grossing Hollywood blockbuster of the year is Bad Boys For Life with less than $450 million worldwide, but while 2020 has been nothing short of a disaster for a lot of the traditional movie studios, streaming-focused companies like Netflix haven't been affected quite as much.

In fact, the streaming giant's 2020 slate has been jam-packed with some terrific movies, from chilling horrors to explosive action flicks to hilarious comedies - and even the odd Oscar-worthy drama.

Sure, Netflix puts out a lot of guff, especially around the festive period (please, for your own sake, do not watch The Knight Before Christmas), but the company has also put out several gems over the course of 2020, so if you're looking for something to watch over the New Year period, you can't go wrong with one of these.

10. Extraction

The Social Dilemma
Netflix

Extraction pulled in some insane viewership numbers back during its original release window, and overall, it ended up being one of the most-watched original movies of 2020, across any streaming platform.

Considering that the movie sold itself on the promise of polished action sequences and blockbuster thrills - at a time when those were lacking due to the widespread closure of cinemas - its popularity isn't surprising, and while Extraction isn't a great movie (its characters are generic, its story is hilariously predictable, and Chris Hemsworth is quite wooden), it doesn't half deliver in the spectacle department.

Whether it's car chases, gunfights, or hand-to-hand brawls, stuntman-turned-director Sam Hargrave has crafted something truly special here, with the movie's action easily rivalling some of the stuff in the John Wick series: it's technically impressive, gratuitously brutal, and most importantly, there aren't a million different cuts breaking up the punches and kicks into an incomprehensible jumble of shots.

Despite its narrative shortcomings, Extraction is fun, thrilling, and easy to switch your brain off to, which - after the year we've all had - is a trait that's more than welcome.

Contributor
Contributor

WhoCulture Channel Manager/Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture. Can confirm that bow ties are cool.