The best dramas to watch on Netflix

With the release of Beasts of No Nation in 2015, Netflix made its first foray into producing original cinematic content. Since then, the streamer has created a reputation for itself, garnering many Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and drawing elite talent such as Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Jane Campion, and David Fincher.

Netflix currently boasts one of the most robust drama collections in streaming, creating bold and intriguing films that few other studios would attempt. Its products also contain outstanding works from other studios, courtesy of various well-executed collaborations throughout the years.

The Woman King (2022)

In Gina Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic The Woman King, Oscar winner Viola Davis leads an amazing ensemble cast. Davis plays General Nanisca, the head of the Agojie, an all-female military squad entrusted with safeguarding the kingdom of Dahomey.

A foreign danger pushes the Agojie to protect their realm and way of life while Nanisca prepares for the next generation of warriors. The Woman King was praised for its ensemble and combat scenes, and many consider it to be one of the finest films of 2022. Unfortunately, it garnered no Academy Awards, with Davis’ omission from the Best Actress category being especially divisive.

All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

The 1930 version of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic World War I novel is regarded as an all-time great war film, but current special effects give a new degree of realism to this Netflix original. Paul Baumer (Felix Kammerer) and his friends Albert (Aaron Hilmer) and Muller (Moritz Klaus) respond to the call to battle for Germany on the Western Front of World War I, but their initial joy of fighting for their country and a noble cause rapidly turns into a dreadful hellscape in the trenches.

The Lost Daughter (2021)

The Lost Daughter is an artful drama about memories and the persistence of suffering that has divided critics and fans. Leda (Olivia Colman) is alone on a beach vacation when she becomes captivated by a mother-daughter bond — as well as their entire family. As Leda draws closer to the family, she is overwhelmed by thoughts of her own early motherhood until an impulsive move sends her deep into the shadows of her own psyche, forcing her to confront the decisions she made as a young mother.

The Power Of The Dog (2021)

In this slow-burning Western, Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch plays cowboy Phil Burbank. Phil’s whole existence revolves on the farm, and he’s renowned as one of the top ranchers in 1920s Montana. One night, he and his brother, George (Jesse Plemmons), go to the market, where they encounter Rose (Kirsten Dunst), the widowed proprietress of the Red Mill restaurant, and her son, Peter. While George takes an instant interest in Rose, Phil abuses her inhumanely. Phil is forced to adjust when George returns to the café to confess to Rose and take her back to the Burbank ranch. As a result, he adopts Peter as his protégé. Does he, or doesn’t he?

Roma (2018)

Alfonso Cuarón, a four-time Academy Award winner, directed Roma, a semi-autobiographical film based on his boyhood in 1970s Mexico. The plot revolves around Cleo, a Mixteco cleaner who lives with an upper-middle-class family. Things become problematic when Antonio, the patriarch, goes to be with his mistress, just as Cleo finds she is pregnant, upsetting the family’s delicate equilibrium. Roma, which was nominated for ten Oscars at the 2019 event, became the first Mexican movie to win Best Foreign Language Film.

Phantom Thread (2017)

If Daniel Day-Lewis actually is retiring from acting, he left on a high note with Phantom Thread. Reynolds Woodcock, a 1950s fashion designer whose clothes are much sought after, is played by Day-Lewis in the film. Reynolds courts Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps), a waitress, as both his muse and his girlfriend after meeting her. Reynolds’ domineering tendencies, on the other hand, alienate Alma, who wishes to reclaim control of her own life. And she’ll go to some unusual lengths to acquire it.

Carol (2015)

In the epic love drama Carol, acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes brought together Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar contender Rooney Mara. In 1950s New York, the film depicts the growing romance between Carol Aird, a mature lady facing a divorce, and Therese Belivet, an ambitious photographer.
Carol was universally hailed by critics, who lauded Haynes’ direction, Blanchett and Mara’s performances, as well as the narrative and production qualities. Carol has frequently ranked as one of the finest films of the 2010s by reviewers, establishing its status as a modern classic.