With Valentine’s around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get ready to watch romantic hits on Netflix like Hit Man and Love Actually. These are guaranteed crowd-pleasers that will definitely set the mood for date night or even entertain a group for Galentine’s.
For anyone looking to watch films that are hidden gems, well, Netflix has a wide selection, with movies spanning a variety of genres. The following three movies are among these underrated films worth checking out, including a musical pick, an emotional breakup flick, and a unique coming-of-age story.
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Sing Street (2016)
In 1980s Dublin, Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) is sick of his troubled home life and experiences being bullied at his strict Catholic school. The one positive is his crush on the cool girl, Raphina (Lucy Boynton). To impress her and escape his day-to-day struggles, Connor forms a band with a group of similarly misfit friends. The titular band draws inspiration from the era’s biggest acts — Duran Duran, The Cure, and The Jam — to create a nostalgic and eclectic sound that permeates most of the film.
Perhaps overshadowed by director John Carney’s previous hits (Once, Begin Again), Sing Street remains criminally underrated, never gaining the same mainstream traction despite arguably delivering the filmmaker’s most charming and heartfelt story. Its overly saccharine elements and naive optimism are soon forgotten thanks to the way its uplifting narrative pairs flawlessly with its irresistibly catchy soundtrack. It’s not exactly among the greatest musical movies of the new generation, but it’s undoubtedly an enchanting one that delivers humor and heart.
Sing Street is streaming on Netflix.
Someone Great (2019)
Not exactly in the mood for Netflix’s cheesy romance movies? Perhaps an unforgettable breakup film, Someone Great, is the pick for a night alone at home or with friends for Galentine’s. The 2019 film sees Jenny suffer the cost of an opportunity when, as a music journalist, she lands her dream job at Rolling Stone in San Francisco. Soon after, her long-term boyfriend Nate (LaKeith Stanfield) ends their nine-year relationship, unable to make long-distance work. Jenny is devastated but is eventually consoled by her best friends, Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), who have one wild night full of spontaneous dancing, emotional confessions, random adventures, and lots and lots of tequila.
Someone Great features stellar performances and emotional storytelling but is too often dismissed as just another breakup movie. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film showcases how painful a breakup can be, but it also has a fantastic focus on the power of friendship, particularly among women. It’s a bittersweet ode to new beginnings and a promise that no matter how deep the heartache is, it won’t last forever.
Someone Great is streaming on Netflix.
The Half of It (2020)
Director Alice Wu’s The Half of It takes place in the small town of Squahamish, where the brilliant and introverted Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) makes extra money writing essays for her classmates. When the stereotypical jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) asks her to help him woo Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) by ghostwriting love letters, Ellie reluctantly agrees — only to realize she has feelings for Aster herself. What starts as a simple transaction turns into an unexpected friendship between Ellie and Paul, which is obviously complicated by her unexpected emotions.
The Half of It remains underrated despite a positive reception, possibly because it defies the typical teen rom-com formula. It’s neither a straightforward love triangle nor a conventional LGBTQ+ romance, defying typical coming-of-age movie plots by forging its own path. It may occasionally suffer from awkward pacing, but even that goes with the film’s overall message of embracing the messy process of self-discovery. Don’t expect a grand romantic ending, as The Half of It instead strives to encourage self-acceptance, even if the way towards it is challenging.
The Half of It is streaming on Netflix.