These Movies Should've Hit Cinemas- 6 Netflix Originals That Deserved A Theatrical Release
Netflix has become a powerhouse of original content with series, movies, documentaries and even interactive viewing experiences. But there’s only one problem: Big movies lose something on the small screen. Sure, the convenience of streaming is unmatched, but there are some films that just feel built for the big screen: epic visuals, booming sound design, or the kind of communal energy only a cinema can offer.
That conversation has been renewed with the release of the first teaser trailer for Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein adaptation with Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Ralph Inseon. Guillermo Del Toro- the mind behind Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak… You want to restrict his vision to the small screen?
But Del Toro isn’t the only one. So, whether it’s immersive war epics, stylish action thrillers, or haunting horror stories, certain Netflix originals weren’t just good- but they were utterly cinematic. These are six movies that deserved to be seen in cinemas, and not just streamed at home.
Apostle (2018)
Netflix has plenty of great horror movies, and many of them would’ve thrived on the big screen. But if there’s one that stands out from the pack, it’s Apostle. With Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton and Michael Sheen, Apostle is a chilling gothic folk-horror about a man who attempts to save his sister from a cult on a remote Welsh island. Set in 1905, Apostle has truly haunting visuals and an intense atmosphere.
Directed by Gareth Evans, who is responsible for the Raid movies, as well as the series Gangs of London, he brings with him his distinct visual style on which folk horror movies have been an influence. Apostle has a variety of expansive rural settings, and its intense practical effects make it feel a little like a video game- channelling vibes of iconic horror button-pushers like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. All that would have hit way harder on the big screen, allowing audiences to fully soak in the dread and tension.
Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut is a vibrant, musical biopic about Rent playwright Jonathan Larson, based on his own semi-autobiographical stage musical of the same name. It tells the story of an aspiring composer in early 90s New York City, played by Andrew Garfield, who struggles with his career choice and the difficulties and instability it brings, whilst navigating the pressures of love and friendship.
With dazzling performances, dynamic staging- not to mention wildly catchy tunes- Tick, Tick… Boom! was made for the energy and communal experience of a cinema. The musical numbers are packed with emotion and movement retaining their sense of theatricality and serving as a celebration of creativity and ambition which would feel right at home on the big screen.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
The Midnight Sky is directed by and also stars George Clooney, as well as Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo and Kyle Chandler. It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama that follows a lone scientist in the Arctic as he races to warn a returning spaceship crew about the uninhabitable state of Earth. It’s a slow-burn story about isolation, regret, and survival, interspersed with stunning cosmic sequences and icy, desolate landscapes.
Clooney leans into big, cinematic moments- spacewalks, distant star systems, and vast wastelands- such visuals and environments are then amplified by its haunting score- which seems like the perfect recipe for a dark room and a big screen. Despite its quiet tone, The Midnight Sky was built as a spectacle, and being restricted to watching it on a small screen just feels like a huge injustice.
The Old Guard (2020)
Big action movies need big screens- the scale, sound, and the energy of something like The Old Guard demands it. Starring Charlize Theron as the leader of a group of immortal mercenaries, this comic book adaptation blends slick and gritty hand-to-hand combat with supernatural lore and globe-trotting missions (I bet you’re already picturing it on that big screen).
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film’s action sequences are hard-hitting and brutal, steering clear of the over-stylisation that you might expect from a comic book movie. The Old Guard could’ve joined the likes of John Wick or Mad Max: Fury Road as a top-tier action movie and one that deserves a proper cinematic experience. It's getting a sequel this year- still on the small screen- but Uma Thurman is starring and wielding a sword for the first time in over two decades, since Kill Bill. So I'm excited!
Bright (2017)
Bright was one of Netflix’s earliest blockbuster attempts. It’s an urban fantasy buddy-cop movie starring Will Smith as an LAPD officer partnered with an orc played by Joel Edgerton. Set in an alternate version of Los Angeles where humans and magical creatures coexist, it’s a bold, messy mix of genres that clearly aimed for spectacle, despite its flaws.
Directed by David Ayer, Bright is creative full of big ideas and a vast alt-modern fantastical world that probably could’ve made for a great series, just so it could be explored further. With all of its ambition, big visual effects, sweeping cityscapes, and magic-fueled shootouts, Bright would’ve been great in a loud, packed cinema screening.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Anti-war films have been making quite the comeback in recent years- which in itself might be a little telling. Still, it’s hard to complain when the result is some truly powerful, thought-provoking cinema. That’s right, Netflix- cinema. Historically, anti-war films rose out of real-world events and the consequences even after the fact, and just as filmmakers always do, they used their medium to spread awareness through their art.
From (what could be considered) anti-war classics like Apocalypse Now (don't forget about the documentary) and Full Metal Jacket, to undeniably anti-war epics like Johnny Got His Gun and Come and See, cinema has long explored the harrowing brutalities of war. That tradition has seen a powerful resurgence in recent years with films like Best Picture nominee All Quiet on the Western Front.
Based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front is an epic and harrowing war drama with sweeping battle sequences and visceral realism. It is the third adaptation of that novel and like most war films, along with the likes of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Sam Mendes’ 1917, it would be made more impactful on the big screen. The immersive sound and visuals of a cinema experience can ensure viewers are fully confronted with the full weight of its anti-war message.
As Netflix continues to expand its catalogue of original films, it’s worth remembering that the medium still matters. Some stories are just better told in the dark, with surround sound, and a massive screen, and these movies had all the makings of great theatrical experiences- just minus the theatre.
Hopefully one day the gap between streaming and cinema will close, but until then, we’ll keep imagining what could’ve been!
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