While everyone loves a good blockbuster from time to time, there’s something about a great independent film that strikes a particular chord. Indie movies can feel like hidden gems when you discover them, as they rarely get the kind of distribution or marketing that turns major studio movies into box office hits. And you can often feel the blood, sweat, and tears that went into making an indie movie, as the filmmakers involved put everything on the line for the sake of their art. So since Netflix contains a multitude of viewing options, we figured it’d be appropriate to go through and pull out the very best independent films currently available on the streaming service. So below, peruse through our list of the best indie movies on Netflix right now.
For additional recommendations, check out our lists of thebest dramas on Netflix,best comedies on Netflix,best documentaries on Netflix, andbest movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated August 2023 to include Frances Ha.
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 45 min |Genre: Romance Drama |Director: Sam Levinson
Cast:John David Washington, Zendaya
If you lovedEuphoriaand need moreZendayacontent in your life, then Netflix’s romantic dramaMalcolm & Marieshould provide more than enough great moments from the young star. Zendaya andJohn David Washingtonco-star in a semi-autobiographical story from directorSam Levinson; Washington plays an acclaimed filmmaker who returns home with his girlfriend after his latest film premiered at a festival. After he doesn’t thank her in his speech, the couple embark on a night of arguing, ranting about the state of the cinema industry, and deciphering whether they’re good together or not. It’s one of the few films to actually benefit from the restrictions of the pandemic, as trapping these two emotional powerkegs in an enclosed environment only increases the romantic tension. Neither character comes out on top, and its fun to watch these two charismatic stars trade zingers with each other. -Liam Gaughan
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Frances Ha (2012)
Run Time: 1 hr 26 min |Director: Noah Baumbach
Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen, Grace Gummer
Directed byNoah Baumbach(Marriage Story), who co-wrote the screenplay withGreta Gerwig(Barbie),Frances Hais a comedic drama set in New York. The raw, black-and-white film focuses on Frances (Gerwig), a woman in her late twenties facing the stark reality of pursuing dreams only to not find happiness. An exploration of one woman’s quarter-life crisis,Frances Hafiercely confronts themes of friendship and ambition, showcasing a phenomenal performance from Gerwig, as well as co-starsMickey Sumner(Snowpiercer),Adam Driver,andGrace Gummer(Let the Right One In).– Yael Tygiel
Tramps (2016)
Run Time: 1 hr 23 min |Director: Adam Leon
Cast: Callum Turner, Grace Van Patten, Michal Vondel
Directed by award-winning visionaryAdam Leon, who co-wrote the screenplay withJamund Washington,Trampsis an unexpected romance with the tone of a coming-of-age drama wrapped in an offbeat crime caper.Callum Turner(Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) stars as Danny, a down-on-his-luck aspiring chef desperate for cash who takes a seemingly simple job on behalf of his hustler brother. Co-starring with Turner isGrace Van Patten(Nine Perfect Strangers) as Ellie, another young dreamer in need of money, who joins him on a two-day adventure across New York City.– Yael Tygiel
An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn (2018)
Run Time: 1 hr 48 min |Genre: Comedy Crime |Director: Jim Hosking
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Jemaine Clement, Craig Robinson, Emile Hirsch
Co-written byDavid Wikeand directorJim Hosking,An Evening with Beverly Luff Linnis an eccentric comedy. Weaving together elements of slapstick with absurdism and mystery,An Evening with Beverly Luff Linnpresents a tapestry of oddities expressed vividly through a cast of beloved comedic actors.Aubrey Plaza(The White Lotus) andJemaine Clement(Men in Black III) star as a couple in turmoil supported by a noteworthy array of thoroughly hilarious comedians, includingCraig Robinsonas the titular Beverly Luff Linn.An Evening with Beverly Luff Linnastoundingly unites a ridiculous tale of love with screwball comedy antics, crafting a piece of magical entertainment. –Yael Tygiel
The Wonder (2022)
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min |Genre: Psychological Period Drama |Director: Sebastián Lelio
Cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy
Based on the novel byEmma Donoghue,The Wonderis set right after The Great Famine and follows a skeptical nurse named Lib (Florence Pugh) as she observes a young “fasting girl” – a young woman called Anna (Kila Lord Cassidy) who is seemingly able to live without eating due to miraculous circumstances. Despite a cold reception by the community and complicated politics of the matter, a determined Lib does everything in her power to do what’s best for Anna. The film has received praise across the board, particularly for its cinematography and excellent performance by Pugh. –Taylor Gates
The Lost Daughter (2021)
Run Time: 2 hr 1 min |Genre: Psychological Drama |Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Cast:Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Based on the novel of the same name by Italian writerElena Ferrante,The Lost Daughteris a slow-burn, unnerving drama about motherhood and all the pain that comes with it. In her debut as a director,Maggie Gyllenhaaltells the story of Leda (Olivia Colman), a literature professor vacationing in the Greek islands who develops an obsession with a young mother and her daughter. What begins as a would-be friendship slowly turns into something darker as Leda’s past and Nina’s (Dakota Johnson)family slither in between the two women, forcing them onto a path that can only lead to tragedy. Leda’s comings and goings in Greece are interwoven with glimpses of her past life as a young mother (played byJessie Buckley) that illuminate her choices and her fascination with Nina and little Elena (Athena Martin). The result is a brutally honest character study that looks at motherhood with a sincerity that few other movies can manage. -Elisa Guimarães
The Hand of God (2021)
Run Time: 2 hr 10 min |Genre: Comedy Drama |Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Cast:Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, Marlon Joubert, Luisa Ranieri, Renato Carpentieri, Massimiliano Gallo
The expressive arthouse style ofPaolo Sorrentinomight not be for everyone, but for cinephiles looking to get into his work for the first time,The Hand of Godis actually a great place to start. Rather than focus on themes of aging and mortality that tend to dominate his work, Sorrentino tells a personal autobiography story of his youthful summers in Italy, and how he discovered his passion for filmmaking in the first place. It’s an intimate story that speaks to the aspiring artist within all of us. If you’re looking for something halfway between81/2andCall Me By Your Name,The Hand of Godis for you.-Liam Gaughan
Blue Jay (2016)
Run Time: 1 hr 25 min |Genre: Romance Drama |Director: Alex Lehmann
Cast:Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson
In this sweet but gutwrenching story, former high school loves reconnect over one night when they return to their Californian hometown. Jim (Mark Duplass) returns to get his mother’s house ready for selling and is grappling with personal and professional issues. Amanda (Sarah Paulson) is successful and married, returning to visit her family. After a chance encounter at the supermarket, they decide to dance down memory lane, discovering tokens of their relationship in Jim’s mother’s house and role-playing as a middle-aged married couple like they used to when they were teens. However, painful memories also come to the surface and we learn more about our two main characters and their past as the film goes on, ultimately ending with no secrets spared, leaving both characters as vulnerable as possible. The chemistry between Paul and Duplass couldn’t be more natural, perfectly playing the ones that got away from each other, and even after 20 years, their connection is electric, showing that no love was lost.- Emma Kiely
Newness (2017)
Run Time: 1 hr 52 min |Genre: Romance Drama |Director: Drake Doremus
Cast:Nicholas Hoult, Laia Costa, Courtney Eaton, Jessica Henwick, and Matthew Grey Gubler
Newnessis a movie made for the Netflix and Chill era, as it takes a microscope to the world of online dating and casual hookups.Nicholas HoultandLaia Costaplay a pair of twentysomethings who meet in New York City on a dating app, and soon thereafter begin a somewhat open relationship. The ups and downs and all that entails care chronicled in intimate detail byLike CrazyfilmmakerDrake Doremus, and while this is very much a 21st Century Love Story at heart, it’s quite, uh, steamy getting there. –Adam Chitwood
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
Run Time: 1 hr 25 min |Genre: Romance Drama |Director: Jim Strouse
Cast:Jessica Williams, Chris O’Dowd, Lakeith Stanfield, Noel Wells
Jessica Williamsstill hasn’t got the breakout she deserves since her tenure onThe Daily Show, but the indie rom-comThe Incredible Jessica Jamesis the first time since then we’ve got to see her step into a lead role and she just lights up the screen. Now, the character of Jessica James may not be quite as incredible as the title leads you to believe — she’s actually pretty selfish and naive — but she’s passionate, raw, and ambitious, and Williams makes you love her in spite of her faults. A supporting performance from the constantly charmingChris O’Dowdcertainly doesn’t hurt, and the two have electric chemistry as they try to navigate the waters of heartbreak together toward something healthy and new. Sexy, funny, and decidedly modern,The Incredible Jessica Jamesis a refreshing spin on the rom-com that doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator.— Haleigh Foutch
