Netflix’s New Number One: Not Exactly a Hit
Netflix's latest top film is The Seemingly Perfect Family, a Lifetime thriller based on a true story. The story follows an 18-year-old former foster kid, played by Rylee Reagan, who gets an au pair job by lying. Soon, she realizes the wealthy family she works for is hiding some dark secrets.
While the movie shot to the top of Netflix’s weekly rankings in just a few days after its September 15 premiere, audiences have been quick to pan it. On Rotten Tomatoes, some viewers have called it “probably the worst movie I have ever seen,” criticizing its “predictable, awful writing and acting.”
If you’d rather skip a disappointing streaming experience, here are three thrillers on Netflix that critics say are actually worth watching.
1. Leave the World Behind (2023)
Written and directed by Sam Esmail, Leave the World Behind features a star-studded cast including Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Kevin Bacon, and Myha’la. The film is backed by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions.
The plot centers on Amanda Sandford (Roberts) and her husband Clay (Hawke) who plan a luxurious getaway with their kids at a Long Island rental home. Their trip takes a turn when the homeowner (Ali) and his daughter arrive at night, warning them of widespread blackouts, cyberattacks, and a possible larger conspiracy.
Based on Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel, critics on Rotten Tomatoes called the Netflix adaptation “an exceptionally well-acted apocalyptic thriller” that “steadily draws the viewer in despite its leisurely pace and somewhat simplistic messaging.”
2. The Occupant (2020)
From Spain, The Occupant (original title: Hogar) is a 2020 thriller by David Pastor and Àlex Pastor. It tells the story of Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez), a former advertising executive in Barcelona who, after losing his job and unable to find new work, is forced to leave his upscale apartment along with his wife Marga (Ruth Díaz) and their son Dani (Cristian Muñoz).
Unable to move on, Javier keeps the keys to his old home and starts secretly entering the apartment. He grows obsessed with its new residents: businessman Tomás (Mario Casas), his wife Lara (Bruna Cusí), and their daughter Mónica (Iris Vallés).
3. Gone Girl (Leaving Netflix Soon!)
David Fincher's Gone Girl is leaving Netflix on October 1. The film stars Rosamund Pike as Amy Elliott Dunne, who enacts a calculated revenge on her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) after disappearing on their fifth wedding anniversary. The case triggers a media frenzy, with Nick, a writing professor, becoming the prime suspect in the eyes of law enforcement and the public.
Pike’s intense performance earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. Critics continue to praise the film as “dark, intelligent, and stylish,” and for “bringing the best out of stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike,” according to Rotten Tomatoes.
If you’re hunting for a suspenseful movie night, these three thrillers could restore your faith in Netflix’s offerings.
