Four Film Genres Perfect For Netflix

Despite the fact that Netflix has been a sensational success on the streaming front, there’s some debate over its original films. To put things simply, there really hasn’t been a bona fide hit among them, despite the presence of some major actors and significant budgets. Most recently, A-list star Chris Pine starred in a historical epic about Robert the Bruce and the Scottish rebellion against Edward I (a sort of unofficial Braveheart follow-up). And while the film, Outlaw King, has its positives, it’s ultimately getting a mediocre reception at best. One review called it a purposeful but empty bid for Netflix’s filmmaking legitimacy.

Ultimately it may simply be that the streaming giant is aiming too high. Historical epics and prestige pictures are in some sense meant for the big screen, and might just not translate as well to people’s phones, tablets, and computer screens. Sticking with this thread, we gave some thought to some of the genres that could help Netflix establish a little bit more clout in filmmaking circles.

This is what we came up with.

While action might dominate the big screen, crime and detective sagas and intellectual thrillers have come to define streaming. This has been proven over and over in streaming series, from originals like Stranger Things and Ozark to the brand new British series taking Netflix by storm, and it should extend to original films in short time. The simple fact is that intrigue built through characters, plot and exposition, as opposed to action and special effects, is perfect for the platform.

There aren’t many genres that do more with less than poker and gambling films. Granted, the sets can sometimes be elaborate if we’re talking about real casinos, but a film like Rounders or Mississippi Grind needs very little in the way of visuals to work, and can therefore do wonderfully on a small screen. Now, some might imagine this genre is just about played out anyway, but there are plenty of ideas left untapped. A whole industry of licensed and vetted sites comprising the online poker and gambling world has basically been ignored by cinema to this point for instance. There would seem to be a place for an online gaming film or two that would be natural fits for a streaming service. Additionally, there’s some talk of projects such as a Rounders sequel, which may also be perfect as a straight-to-streaming option.

Indie dramas, or at least the good ones, are more and more aimed at major award shows, and thus tend to do better with limited or wide cinematic releases. Meanwhile, there’s something about a standard comedy film that still feels like a shared experience. A laugh-out-loud film is just more enjoyable in a theater with other people who will laugh along with you. However, the middleground here - more understated, indie comedies - can make for nice, pleasant home watches via streaming services. A film like 2017’s The Big Sick for instance - which did find success on cinema screens - could conceivably have done very well on Netflix. It’s a comfort watch, and one that’s clever throughout but aiming more for chuckles than uproarious laughter. Movies striking a similar note would make for a great focal point for Netflix.

There may not be a genre better suited to Netflix than horror. In part this is for some of the same reasons applied to crime and detective sagas above. But there are also other reasons, such as the notion that there’s something particularly effective about being scared by a movie in your own home, or that the broader community of filmmakers that can pitch projects to streaming services introduces the possibility of new and innovative horror movies. Case in point, a new horror show headed for Netflix was recently described as being more disturbing than any horror film.