This list includes two movies and three television shows that are not connected in any way; the only thing they have in common is that I consider them to be some of the best titles available for streaming on Netflix. My goal was to pick not-so-obvious content that isn’t already well known and loved.

Short Term 12 #1

I have been on an indie kick lately and was really excited when I could finally stream Short Term 12. This film is easily in my top five movies of all time – not just top five on Netflix – and is a definite must-see for those who enjoy films that force you to confront dispiriting life scenarios as well as controversy. I have found that as I grow older and continue to learn that there’s truly more to life than Liberty, Missouri, I appreciate these sorts of films more; they expose you to the lives and tragedies of the real world that you would never see in a town where everyone knows everyone.

Short Term 12 focuses on a group of staff members in their mid-20s who work at a treatment facility for troubled and underprivileged youths. Ten minutes into the movie, viewers get a glimpse of just how distressed some of these children are when one boy, Sammy, tries to escape the facility in a fit of panic and rage. Right away, viewers are assured this film is no holds barred.

Brie Larson, recognizable from 21 Jump Street as well as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, stands out in the challenging role of Grace, the head staff member at Short Term 12. When a young girl arrives at the facility with a past reminiscent of Grace’s, Grace comes unraveled and is forced to deal with the trauma she has kept buried for years.

I’ve watched this film twice now, and each time it has left me emotional and guilty for always complaining about the small problems in my life. It is impossible not to grow attached to the characters and their histories.

Short Term 12 has a much-deserved Rotten Tomatoes rating of 99% and should be on everyone’s Netflix queue.

Django Unchained #2

Django Unchained is one of those movies you absentmindedly scroll past in Netflix but revisit when you realize it’s the movie everyone used to talk about. I saw it in theaters when it was released in 2012 and left feeling like there wasn’t anything Quentin Tarantino couldn’t do.

It boasts an incredible cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington. Waltz plays Dr. King Schultz, a bounty hunter who frees a slave named Django, played by Foxx. Dr. King Schultz enlists Django into being his deputy bounty hunter and the two eventually embark on a journey to freeing Django’s wife from Calvin Candie, played by DiCaprio.

What I love most about Django Unchained is how it is able to keep viewers engaged from start to finish. It is almost three hours long, and so you would expect that it would be easy to doze off at some point – however, I never once stopped rooting for Dr. King Schultz and Django. The tests of their strong friendship are most likely what prevented me from occasionally getting distracted.

This film could be considered a classic simply because of its writer and director Quentin Tarantino. If you end up enjoying Django Unchained, you can also watch some of Tarantino’s other popular works on Netflix – Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Django Unchained is the sort of film that makes you cheer for revenge and rally behind the idea of the underdog.

Arrested Development #3

Arrested Development is a quirky television show that thrives on inside jokes and references to past episodes, much like How I Met Your Mother. The storyline centers around a man named Michael Bluth and his eccentric family after his father, George Bluth, is imprisoned for money fraud in relation to the family business. Michael and his son George Michael are the seemingly two sanest Bluths, but time and time again find themselves unable to escape the antics of their family due to one reason or another.

I have found there are some people who love Arrested Development and others who absolutely hate it; I’ve yet to meet an in-between. This is probably because the humor and shooting style are very unique to the show and aren’t typical of most comedies. An example of one of the bizarre storylines is George Michael’s infatuation with his cousin, Maeby. Michael Cera is absolutely perfect for the role of George Michael and helps make the character a common fan favorite.

If you think your own family is dysfunctional, queue up Arrested Development and think again.

Heroes #4

I don’t see the show Heroes get talked about very frequently, which is a surprise to me simply because it has a unique storyline that’s missing from many other shows airing today. It is essentially about a random group of people who discover they have special abilities – hence Heroes – and quickly find that they are all connected in a major way.

The plot sounds like a cheap knockoff of superhero comic books, but it’s really more complex than that. There were times when I would finish an episode and sit back with a headache because I had no idea what just happened. This occurred many times during the first season; there were so many twists and subplots that I was usually more perplexed than entertained.

Luckily, the confusion in the beginning of Heroes is eventually cleared up and it turns into the perfect show to binge watch on a Saturday. Standout roles are Milo Ventimiglia as conflicted hospice nurse Peter Petrelli, Hayden Panettiere as invincible cheerleader Claire Bennet, and biggest of all, Zachary Quinto as bad guy Sylar.

Heroes is a great show for people who enjoy complex storylines that aren’t centered around high school drama.

The Office #5

            Although The Office is quite an obvious choice, I believe it deserves an honorable mention because, in my opinion, it is a television classic. There are few people who have never seen the show and even fewer who have never heard of it.

If you’re not already familiar with it, The Office is a television show shot in the style of a documentary that focuses on paper supply company Dunder Mifflin, specifically its Scranton, Pennsylvania branch. Steve Carrell plays dimwitted but loveable manager Michael Scott, a man who can have you crying with laughter one second and with sadness the next (perfect example – the episode with Pam’s art show).

I have watched the entire series start to finish probably ten times on Netflix. Whenever I try to explain to someone what type of humor I have, I usually just end up showing him or her a few episodes of The Office.

There is also a British version of the show available on Netflix. I have not watched it, but I know some people who prefer it to the American version. As for me, I don’t think I could like any version of The Office that doesn’t star Michael Scott.

The Office is overall a very solid show that can make just about anyone crack a smile.