Netflix has some corking hidden gems that, despite being slighted by the critics, are definitely worth a watch this weekend.
Some films are immersive, great watches that become a complete cultural phenomenon, and yet receive nothing but backlash from the critics.
Netflix is home to many fabulous films, but also as such a huge platform it is also home to some that are considered…not so good.
With so many excellent, new, and award-winning shows joining the platform and highlighted to viewers, it can be tricky to unearth some hidden gems.
Here are some of the best of the worst films on Netflix, that have received pretty poor reviews from critics, but are no doubt worth a watch!
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Before I Go To Sleep
With a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2014 film Before I Go To Sleep has a shockingly poor score considering its star power.
Starring none other than Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth, this thriller focuses on a woman (Kidman) who grows increasingly confused as she wakes up every morning next to her husband Ben (Firth) with absolutely no memory.
The amnesiac learns that she was in a car accident and now her memory resets every night, but her reality begins to unravel as she learns she has a secret camcorder that she hides from her husband, a suspicious neuropsychologist, an returning memories that make no sense.
The movie might not be a work of art that critics anticipated, but it certainly gripping, well acted, and a fun thriller for a Sunday afternoon.
The Choice
With an absolutely abysmal 11% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, the romantic-comedy The Choice has been described as ‘painfully formulaic’.
And to be fair, the critics are not wrong, this film does have a bit of a twist a the end, but is pretty much your bog-standard Nicholas Sparks adaptation.
But you know what? What’s wrong with that!
Sometimes its nice to turn the brain off and watch something easy like pretty people falling in love.
The film is a classic love triangle with the lead character Gabby Shaw (Theresa Parker) falling in love with her irritating neighbour Travis (Benjamin Walker), but battling with her feelings towards her former flame, a hunky Dr Ryan played by Smallville hottie Tom Welling.
Filmed in North Carolina, the film has beautiful filming locations and an atmosphere so cosy, you’ll enjoy this sweet little film despite its cliches.
Unbroken
With a 54% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, this war film is criminally underrated and stars Jack O’Connell and Domhnall Gleeson.
From director Angelina Jolie, this 2014 film tells the true story of Olympic athlete and army officer Louis Zamperini (O’Connell).
The story focuses on Louis’s journey from starring in the Olympics to joining the army and facing unimaginable horrors, like surviving in a raft in the ocean for 47 days and surviving a prisoner of war camp in Japan.
The film grossed $163 million ($120.2m) worldwide against a $65m (£48m) budget, with a lot of praise aimed at O’Connell’s performance, but critiquing the film for being detached and not quite ‘penetrating the surface of emotions’.
Bee Movie
Bee Movie is an eternally quotable film starring Jerry Seinfeld, which was quite the cultural phenomenon when it was released in 2007 and the years afterwards.
The children’s comedy film received a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was met with entirely mixed results. While some found the movie hilarious and original, others found it generic and lacking originality.
The film is silly and easy, and the perfect thing to watch with kids if you’re looking for some jokes that’ll go right over their heads and entertain you too. It’s a light non-thinker and will definitely elicit some hearty chuckles.
The film focuses on Barry Benson (Seinfeld), a bee who flies out of the hive for the first time, falls in love with a human, and forms an uprising against humans exploiting bees for honey.
The film made a worldwide total of $293.5m (£216.5m) against a budget of $150m (£111m).
Yes Man
Yes Man is an underrated comedy from Jim Carrey that was released in 2008 and co-stars Zooey Deschanel.
With a 45% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, the film isn’t his most well-reviewed, but is a sweet movie with an original concept with a good message.
Carrey stars as Carl Allen, a negative Nancy who has become withdrawn from life and friends (including Bradley Cooper) since divorcing his wife.He then attends a convention that persuades him to say ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’ and seize life – leading to mayhem.
Critics pointed to the film’s similarity with Carrey’s Liar Liar, with some suggesting it was a bit generic and predictable.
However, the film has real heart, a very sweet love story that unfolds, and a genuinely good message about life. Yes, it didn’t win any Oscars, and might not be remembered as his best, but it’s certainly rewatchable, romantic and a bit of fun!
White Chicks
The 2004 film White Chicks has earned a 15% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans as two undercover cops.
In order to protect two rich socialites named Brittany and Tiffany, the two policemen must pose as the duo while at a weekend-long fashion event in the Hamptons.
Posing as the ‘white chicks’ leads to hilarity and many, many quotable moments and catchphrases, including Terry Crew’s memorable rendition of A Thousand Miles from Vanessa Carlton.
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes agrees that the film includes ‘scattershot comedy that’s silly and obvious,’ and while that may be true, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a rib-tickler!
The Other Boleyn Girl
The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical drama starring Eric Bana as King Henry VIII, Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn, and Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn.
The period film is a reimagining of historical events with Mary positioned as the King’s mistress before he finds himself attracted to her sister Anne, who becomes his ill-fated second wife.
The 2008 film received a 43% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the film receiving a lot of flak for casting three non-Brits in the leading roles.
The Guardian called the film ‘absurd’ and highlighted that it was a ‘flashy, silly, undeniably entertaining Tudor romp.’
The mixed reviews agree that the film is more ‘soap opera’ than ‘drama’, but it’s still a very entertaining watch. The performances are strong, and the critical response seems to be because reviewers were expecting something less fictitious and less fun!
Just Go With It
With just a 19% ranking, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston’s movie Just Go With It is not the most critically appreciated film of all time.
Released in 2011, the romantic-comedy is trite and cliché and has a healthy sprinkling of slapstick comedy in Sandler’s classic style.
Underneath the silly veneer, the film actually has some very sweet moments between the leads, and a stellar performance from Nicole Kidman, who guest stars in what is possibly her most unhinged role yet.
The comedy focuses on a rich plastic surgeon who convinces his assistant her kids to pretend to be his ex-wife and children on holiday after a misunderstanding with his new girlfriend, Palmer (Brooklyn Decker).
The fake family agree to ‘just go with it’ and improvise their way through a holiday in Hawaii and convince Palmer that Danny is a wonderful man.
The film is silly and funny, and the perfect thing to watch on a hangover when you just need something entertaining to keep you from sinking into hanxiety.
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