"We all have our Netflix comfort watches. Whether it’s journeying back to the operating room in Grey’s Anatomy or rooting for your favorite couples in Love is Blind, there’s nothing quite like cozying up with your tried and true viewing after a long day. Picture it: you are freshly showered, tea and phone in hand, Slack messages off, and ready to doom scroll through the entirety of the show (guilty). But as much as we love revisiting our favorite shows and movies, sometimes taking a chance on new cinematic worlds can be just as satisfying, if not more so.
Summer is officially here, and a hot new bombshell of a drink has entered our office: Espresso Lemonade.
Tucked away in those overlooked corners of your Netflix queue is a show or movie that will make you swoon, laugh out loud, or hide behind your throw pillow. Whether you’re craving a little drama, a rich character plot, or star-crossed romance, we have braved the never-ending Netflix scroll to find the hidden gems you won’t regret watching. The ones so good, you won’t believe you haven’t seen them on Netflix before. So next time you’re cuddled up on your couch, about to queue up your typical viewing, this mix of quiet new releases and library titles might be worth adding to your recently watched list.
You Hurt My Feelings
Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, this indie gem is one of those films that feels vulnerable and honest in the best ways. Full of Louis-Dreyfus’ signature sharp wit, this dramedy follows a novelist whose long-standing marriage is suddenly tested when she overhears her husband’s real opinion of her latest book. The fallout is incredibly funny, tender, and extremely self-aware. Exploring themes of trust and the lies we tell the people we love most. This film shines in asking hard questions and delivering even harder truths. I will never pass up a Louis-Dreyfus performance, and this one is pure magic.
Kevin Can F**K Himself
Starring Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy, this show’s unique structure makes it such a standout in clever storytelling. On the surface, the show feels like your typical laugh-track sit-com, only this time, something much darker and emotionally rich lurks beneath the surface, completely flipping the genre on its head. The story cleverly switches between sitcom-style and traditional drama while following a wife who wants to take back control of her life. It’s utterly funny, completely twisted, and definitely deserves more praise than it gets.
I’m Still Here
You might recognize this one from its Oscar win for Best International Feature Film earlier this year. If you’re down for entertainment that also humbles you with some grounding life lessons, sit tight. This one is a devastating watch, but also a powerful one. Following a mother and activist coping with the disappearance of her husband during a military dictatorship in Brazil, I’m Still Here is an incredibly important story. Be prepared for subtitles, but I promise it is so worth the extra reading.
Shiva Baby
While attending a Jewish funeral service with her family, a bisexual college student (Rachel Sennott) has an awkward encounter between her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend that quickly leads to a chaotic series of events. Watching this movie is like witnessing your worst social nightmare come to life in the most hilarious way. You’ll cringe the whole time, but also be thoroughly entertained. It’s full of sharp wit, standout performances, and raw exploration of identity and family.
Easy
With Aubrey Plaza, Dave Franco, Elizabeth Reaser, and Orlando Bloom (just to name a few), this Netflix Original comedy series follows an intertwined group of friends in Chicago fighting their way through a maze of modern love, sex, technology, and culture. From a couple hoping to reignite their sex life to middle-aged dating, this show is full of diverse and entertaining plot lines. If your weeknight lounging typically calls for 30-minute laughs, try this one out next.
The Quilters
Set in a Level-5 maximum security prison outside St. Louis, MO, this 33-minute documentary follows the lives of several inmates who sew custom quilts for children on adoption waitlists. Not only does this film give you a peek into this group’s month-long completion processes for each quilt, but it also shows the triumphs and life lessons each of them has learned from their time in prison. It’s a super sweet, grounded representation of what it means to learn from your mistakes and spread love in your community.
The Stranger
If you’re growing tired of rewatching predictable crime dramas—solving every whodunit like an expert detective 10 years on the job—it might be time to investigate something new. The Stranger is one of those masterful mystery shows that keeps you on the edge of your seat from episode one. It’s completely twisted, wildly unsettling, and will haunt you for weeks on end (in the best ways). Despite rave reviews from critics, The Stranger somehow slipped through my algorithm for far too long. But once I found it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it—and now I recommend it to anyone and everyone craving a new mystery.
F1: The Academy
If you love Formula 1: Drive to Survive, you need to watch the F1: The Academy series, it’s cooler younger sister. Produced by Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, this docuseries goes behind the scenes with a group of fifteen women in the 2024 F1 Academy season. The story highlights each of the drivers’ journeys, struggles, and determination as they compete for the championship amidst a traditionally male-dominated sport. The series was only released this past May, but still feels like it deserves more hype than it’s getting.
The Lost Daughter
Starring Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Paul Mescal, and more, this Netflix Original movie brings the world of acclaimed author Elena Ferrante from page to screen. Though the film divided critics upon its release, the psychological drama still delivers in its unsettling plot and a masterful performance from Coleman, which makes it well worth watching. Following a college professor who meets a woman and her young daughter while on vacation in Greece, a sudden obsession with the woman and her daughter quickly spirals.
Love
Perfect for fans of Nobody Wants This or rom-coms like This is 40, this romantic series offers a candid look at the highs and lows of modern intimacy. Following a people-pleasing “nice guy,” Gus and his fateful encounter with a wildly different Mickey (Gillian Jacobs), the two can’t help but fall for each other, despite their differences. It fits the “you can’t help who you love” mold we commonly see in rom-coms, but adds a refreshing edge that makes the two’s messy and chaotic relationship journey feel super grounded and incredibly bingeable.
One of Them Days
Getting stuck in a never-ending cycle of bad luck can be suffocating—unless you’re with SZA and Keke Palmer—then it’s just good fun. This film has a lighthearted vibe that’s easy to love. Full of relatable themes in friendship and financial struggles, SZA and Palmer portray a bestie duo who are having a really, really bad day. After one of their roommates steals their rent money, it’s a frantic race against the clock to find the money and avoid eviction. It’s the perfect watch for when you need a good laugh.
Rear Window
Classic movies are constantly overlooked when looking for a new watch, but when Netflix added its collection of Hitchcock classics earlier in June, I instantly felt nostalgic. It features over 30 of his films, with Rear Window being a standout. In case you don’t already know the plot, this masterclass in suspense follows a wheelchair-bound photographer who suspects his neighbor of murder. A must-watch for both longtime fans and new ones alike, this movie is a fun opportunity to explore the stories that have shaped some of our modern favorites. You didn’t ask, but this is also my favorite film of all time.
Somebody Feed Phil
Just like all of the best food shows really are, Somebody Feed Phil is not about the food—it’s about community. Not overly flashy or critique-heavy, this watch isn’t as viral as other food series (I’m talking about you, Is It Cake?). But what this show lacks in food-critique, it gains by offering you a feast of heartfelt moments. Each episode follows Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal as he tours the world in search of the best fine dining, street foods, and local delights. It feels less like a TV series and more like backpacking across the world with an adventurous tour guide who knows where all the real spots to grab a bite are hidden.
Past Lives
I have been waiting for this movie to hit streaming ever since its theater debut in 2023, and I was so excited to see it finally arrive on Netflix recently. Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro, this Oscar-nominated feature follows two childhood friends who reunite for one fateful week in New York City. Full of big-city nostalgia and stunning visuals, this watch promises to tug on the heartstrings. Plus, if you are already loving Celine Song’s Materialists, this movie offers another lively introduction to Song’s cinematic world-building.
Russian Doll
Created by and starring Natasha Lyonne—alongside Amy Poehler, who also writes and directs for the series—it’s so surprising to me how this show continues to fly under the radar, given its star power and playful plot. Who knows why this show doesn’t make as much mainstream noise in comparison to its peers, but it’s criminally underrated. Both sharp and wildly bingeable, the series follows a young woman named Nadia who keeps dying and coming back to life on her birthday, over and over again. Exploring themes of grief, trauma, and mortality, this watch is great for fans of The Good Place or those who loved Lyonne in Orange is the New Black.
Derry Girls
I always stumble across this Irish sitcom when searching for new comedy shows—but somehow, it always gets overshadowed by whatever new, shiny, star-studded series I end up clicking on instead. It wasn’t until recently, when I finally had a chance to dive in, that I witnessed what many Reddit users have been declaring for years: this show is still devastatingly underrated. Featuring familiar faces like Bridgerton‘s Nicola Coughlan, this coming-of-age story follows a group of teen friends and the trials and triumphs they experience amidst a world of armed police and British Army checkpoints in 1990s Ireland.
Fair Play
In this incredibly erotic thriller movie, an unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund company pushes a newly engaged couple to the brink—but more than just their relationship might be at risk. This film stares down the barrel of gender power dynamics, and leaves room to keep you guessing from beginning to end. It’s been hailed as “one of the more incisive and powerfully made movies about relationship dynamics,” by critics.
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
This underrated dramedy film follows three estranged siblings who come together in New York to celebrate their father’s work as an artist. While it received praise for its powerful performances and slow-burn plot, it still doesn’t find itself in Netflix roundups as often as it deserves. Offering a stunning mix of humor, thematic dialogue, and entertaining family dynamics, this movie delivers a story that feels deeply and utterly human.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.
Feature graphic images credited to: Nicole M | Dupe, Anne Marie Fox, TriStar Pictures | Courtesy Everett Collection