Netflixhosts tons of well-known movies, but for an adventurous weekend binge-watch, the streamer also has a lot of amazing hidden gems. Though there is plenty of hearty competition in the streaming game, Netflix has been the dominant name since the very beginning. Drawing in audiences with classic content, the streamer also produces its own.
August is a busy month for Netflix, with popular original series likeWednesdayreturning for its long-awaited second season. Furthermore, the streamer added a wealth of classic movies on the first of the month, including recognizable favorites likeJurassic ParkorDespicable Me. However, Netflix also carries some less-familiar movies as well.
Streaming has been both a blessing and a curse for modern films, because streaming-exclusives are often buried under a mountain of new content. On the other hand, streaming has also saved dozens of forgotten movies from obscurity, and allowed new audiences to find them after they completely bombed in movie theaters or faded into the background.
Netflix carries all sorts of those types of films, and they make for perfect weekend viewing. Binge-watching has become a relatively new phenomenon in recent decades, but it has exhausted a lot of the old favorites. Therefore, Netflix’s hidden gems can spice up a weekend watch-a-thon, and allow viewers to discover some new favorites along the way.
3Pig (2021)
The current era ofNicolas Cage’s careerhas seen him alternate between forgettable films and movies that show off his acting chops. 2021’sPigis the latter, and isone of Cage’s best performances in years. Cage stars as a reclusive chef who must venture into the underbelly of Portland’s food scene to recover his stolen truffle pig.
The unassuming mystery thriller soon becomes something much deeper and philosophical asit tears down the notion of high-class dining. Cage is understated and reserved, and he conveys more emotion with the mere twitch of an eye than any of his hilarious outbursts in earlier films. He’s also balanced by a strong supporting performance by Alex Wolff.
Because it takes itself seriously,Pig’s themes are handled deftly, and it effectively builds suspense over its short running time. At 90 minutes, the thriller doesn’t waste a moment as it drives quickly toward its conclusion. It fits well in a weekend binge because it’s not too long, butit isn’t just another disposable movie that’s seen once and forgotten.
Its status as a hidden gem is bolstered by the presence of Nic Cage, andit straddles the line between mainstream film and the arthouse. It only got a limited release in theaters in the U.S., soPigwas essentially born as a misunderstood classic. When looking for something out of the ordinary, the Nic Cage movie can’t be beat.
2Copycat (1995)
Secret masterpieces don’t necessarily have to be failures, andCopycatwas actually quite successful when it debuted.The mid-’90s thrillerwas made in theSilence of the Lambstradition, with a female hero going against a truly repulsive serial killer villain. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as a psychologist who must overcome her own fears to catch a copycat murderer.
Atmospheric and unflinching,Copycathas classic ’90s gloss but is still effective in its chills. It strikes a nice balance between procedural police work thrillers and outright horror, due in large part to a surprisingly great performance from Harry Connick Jr. The rest of the cast is stellar, with Dermot Mulroney and Holly Hunter giving the film an A-list pedigree.
As binge-watching fodder,Copycatis perfect for movie fans who have already seen the established classics and are looking for something a bit more subversive. There’s also a nostalgic factor because the movie hearkens back to an era of film that has long since passed. Warner Bros. was quite ambitious withCopycat, and it paid off financially and critically.
Copycatcurrently holds a 76% score onRotten Tomatoes.
However, it’s not so subversive as to be inaccessible, and it’s not too long so that it cuts into other movies in a binge-watching session.Streaming has helped to resurrect the 1995 gem, and after its stint on Netflix, there’s no telling ifCopycatwill be obscure enough to even be considered a secret masterpiece anymore.
1Logan Lucky (2017)
Steven Soderbergh’sLogan Luckyhad all the ingredients to be a bona fide hit, but the movie didn’t find its audience right away.The heist comedy featuredan all-star cast including Channing Tatumand Daniel Craig, but might have been too off-the-wall for general audiences in 2017. Thankfully, it has secured a new fanbase, and is growing in reputation.
The plot concerns the down-and-out Logan family, who devise a scheme to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway during its annual NASCAR event.Hearkening back to classic rednexploitation films,Logan Luckyis quite deep once it gets beyond its amusing sense of humor. The heist elements are also well-executed, and makes for an all-around complete film.
Few movies are as bingeable asLogan Lucky, mainly because it has everything a movie should. It is larger-than-life, but also human. Though there are a lot of stakes, it’s the sort of movie that can become a comfort watch.Netflixhas been a perfect home for the unsung classic, and it deserves every bit of praise it has earned.
