Video streaming is among the most popular options of online entertainment today, in which context, Netflix reigns supreme. It’s easy to understand why: the platform releases about 30 original movies yearly, not to mention other productions, like series and documentaries. When a new production comes up, it counts on a global audience of over 300 million subscribers.
Additionally, it has a perk for binge-watchers who need a break in between episodes: Netflix Games. Subscribers shouldn’t expect fancy AAA titles here, though, but easygoing games similar to Bubble Woods. However, this year’s movie list suggests there won’t be much game time. Here are the most important releases of the year.
Frankenstein
Arguably, the classic by Mary Shelley is among the year’s most anticipated releases. This is not only because Guillermo del Toro directs it but also because it has been 10 years in development at Netflix. Unlike his predecessors, Guillermo del Toro isn’t making a horror movie but a much more emotionally complex story out of the gothic novel.
Composer Alexandre Desplat, who signed the soundtrack, confirms del Toro’s intention, promising more lyrical musical moments, instead of “horrific music.” The new Frankenstein will be released in November; Oscar Isaac will play Dr. Frankenstein, while Jacob Elordi will breathe life into the horrible creature.
Havoc
An action movie with Tom Hardy is always worth watching. Directed by Gareth Evans from “Gangs of London,” Havoc brings Hardy as a tough detective with an even tougher mission: rescuing the son of a politician, diving deep into a corruption scheme involving high-profile government officials and drug trafficking.
Havoc has been four years in the making, and it also features Forest Whitaker, Timothy Olyphant, and Jessie Mei Li. The movie came out last April and was filmed in South Wales, UK. As the plot unfolds, the detective finds out that the missing son is the result of an ill-fated deal with a drug lord, making things even more complicated.
Back In Action
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz look like a normal couple in Back In Action, while they’re, in fact, former CIA spies who “quit” their jobs to start a family. The peaceful civilian life vanishes when the agency finds them again, dragging them into yet another risky mission. The movie came out last January, being one of the first big releases of the year.
Cameron Diaz hasn’t been acting in movies for over a decade, and her return was much anticipated. After all, Diaz has a long track record of action movies, including Gangs of New York, The Green Hornet, and Charlie’s Angels. Likewise, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx is used to action, having played in Django Unchained, Miami Vice, and Collateral.
The Thursday Murder Club
There are book clubs, movie clubs, and the Thursday Murder Club, where seniors band together to solve murders as a hobby. Things begin to spiral out of control when they finally find a real murder to solve. The curious group is composed of a former spy (Helen Mirren), a retired union activist (Pierce Brosnan), a former psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley), and a retired nurse (Celia Imrie).
The movie is based on the homonymous best-selling book series by Richard Osman. Chris Columbus directs the star-studded adventure, which mostly focuses on the series’ first book. It’ll be released in August, but fans are already speculating about possible sequels.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Wallace and Gromit are back in the spotlight, but this time, they face an old enemy, Feathers McGraw, a gnome created by Wallace that gets completely out of control. Now, it’s up to Gromit to save his master from his own creation (again) and, above all, stop Wallace from creating new problems. The last Wallace & Gromit adventure came out over 20 years ago; the newest one is already available.
Exterritorial
Here’s a German action-thriller with a good dose of maternal drama, plus a compelling storyline. Jeanne Goursaud plays Sara, a former Special Forces soldier looking for her son, who vanished in mysterious circumstances. However, while investigating her son’s whereabouts, Sara discovers his disappearance might be linked to a deadly conspiracy. Released last April, Exterritorial has quickly become one of the most-watched non-English movies on Netflix, earning a place among the Top 10 most-watched films of all time.
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