I constantly browse the thousands of movies on Netflix, checking out what’s getting the most views on the streaming service and writing up a set of recommendations. I use a variety of metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and my Letterboxd watchlist to surface four flicks every week. I’m expecting Remarkably Bright Creatures to be one of the best-reviewed Netflix movies of the year, so watch it now so you know what everybody’s talking about.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
It’s in second place on the US most-watched list for the week, but everybody’s talking about Remarkably Bright Creatures. Sally Field turns in a great performance as a widowed aquarium janitor who forges an unusual friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. The twist is that we get to hear the cephalopod’s thoughts, voiced by Alfred Molina, as the duo works with a struggling musician to get his life on track. It’s a totally unique movie that really delivers.
My Octopus Teacher
If you want to see the obvious inspiration for Remarkably Bright Creatures, then 2020 documentary My Octopus Teacher is it. This hit documentary follows diver and filmmaker Craig Foster over a year as he slowly earns the trust of a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest. The incredible intelligence of these animals comes to the fore as the octopus plays with him, fends off shark attacks, and eventually finds a mate. It’s a sweet and lyrical movie that will give you newfound respect for octopi.
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Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
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Stars: Craig Foster, Tom Braden Foster
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Genre: Documentary
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Rating: TV-G
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IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey
Another tale of an unusual friendship between humans and animals, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey takes us to Africa, where investment manager Gareth Thomas unexpectedly finds himself responsible for a baby pangolin, the nocturnal anteaters that are threatened by poaching for their meat and scales. With no experience in conservation, the movie follows Thomas as he bonds with the animal and learns how much it’ll take to keep it safe.
Okja
Probably Bong Joon Ho’s most tender movie, 2017’s Okja is set in the mountains of Korea, where teenage Mija and her grandfather are raising a genetically engineered pig named Okja for a competition. As the bond between the girl and the beast deepens, she rebels when its corporate owners come to take it away. After hooking up with an animal liberation group with their own secret motives, a daring heist to free Okja takes place. There’s a lot of sweetness in between the dystopian sci-fi.
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About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
