Netflix has become known as a platform that prioritizes quality, focusing on big-budget features and in-house originals with some of the most recognizable names in cinema. However, this has not always been the case, and the platform has also built up a substantial library of B-movies among its early original content. Viewers looking for cinema a bit off the beaten path can find some hidden low-budget gems in various genres throughout the platform.

After a deep dive into the Netflix catalog to look at some of the less-discussed originals with a smaller budget and smaller productions tucked away on the streaming service. These are the 15 best B-movies on Netflix.

15

‘Mako’ (2021)

Wanting to explore the infamous sunken Elsalam ship, eight businessmen hire a team and embark on an underwater expedition to create a documentary about the craft. However, when they enter the deep, they are confronted by all manner of threats, including a giant shark that threatens to swallow up the entire crew. Mako is a bit of an oddity in the shark genre, originating from Egypt rather than the West, which has traditionally dominated the niche B-movie shark space.

Shark Bait

Mako was poorly received on its release, and much of the surrounding critique stating it presented a bland story with insufficient shark action is warranted. However, for those shark film fanatics who will watch everything and anything with the ‘terror of the deep,’ it is still worth a watch. This is particularly true for those seeking more international cinema that tackles the micro-genre of shark horror.

14

‘Choose or Die’ (2022)

After unearthing a retro ’80s horror game, Isaac and Kayla discover that the game is beginning to seep into their reality, causing death and chaos. Becoming aware of the heightened stakes of the game, with the choices presented becoming more extreme, the duo races to find the source of the anomaly in the hopes of stopping its effects.

Video Games Kill

Toby Meakins’s Choose or Die certainly has that lower-budgeted charm, leaning into the nostalgia of text-based games and the retrospective humor surrounding the fear that the medium would corrupt the youth with satanic messaging. Moreover, there are some legitimately scary moments where others find themselves unwilling contestants in a game with ghastly and gory results. Still, the movie is a bit of a dud, tripping itself up in the final act and having a few groan-worthy twists. If you want to tune out, have some fun, and enjoy the odd bit of bloody chaos, Choose or Die is an excellent choice for a movie night if you approach it with lower expectations.

13

‘The Violence Action’ (2022)

Based on the manga of the same name, The Violence Action follows a young girl named Kei, who leads a double life as an assassin while attending college. Keeping the upbeat tone and over-the-top nature of its source material, the action flick follows Kei as she navigates various layers of the Yakuza, all while trying to balance her personal and academic life.

High Octane Silliness

The Violence Action is, in part, a lesson in working within a budget and realizing sometimes you need to cut back to ensure a more defined cinematic experience. In short, this one is rough around the edges and sometimes struggles to hide its limitations. Still, the action here is gratifying and explosive, the performances perfectly fit their comic counterparts, and the movie charges forward at an exciting pace. If your idea of fun is a kawaii (cute) character kicking some serious a**, then The Violence Action is an ideal watch.

12

‘The Block Island Sound’ (2020)

Mysterious and disturbing events are happening around the island of Block Sound, and in the middle of them is a fisherman, Tom Lynch, who is dealing with personal demons. The events agitate his already fragile psyche, and he becomes paranoid of a mysterious force in the sea that is potentially behind the occurrences throughout the town. As he begins to lash out violently, the lines between truth and reality blur as others desperately try to help him while figuring out the source of the tragedy befalling Block Island.

Hearing Is Believing

Kevin and Matthew McManus’s The Block Island Sound suffered a similar fate to many of the earlier Netflix Original movies, failing to strike the intended note with the audience and faltering in its execution. However, this one stands out in how well scripted, acted, and conceptualized it is, with most of the movie encased in a fascinating mystery. Actor Chris Sheffield also gives a memorable performance as Tom, delivering a believable descent into Lovecraftian-inspired madness.

11

‘Circle’ (2015)

The sci-fi psychological horror-thriller Circle follows a group of 50 strangers who awake in a mysterious room and are tasked with playing a game. In the blackened space, they must stand in their designated area, unable to move, and choose another contestant to be ‘eliminated,’ which causes them to disappear, presumably killed. As the numbers start to whittle down, people become more desperate while others try to figure a way out of the predicament.

360 Degrees of Mystery

A clever yet straightforward mash-up of genres, Aaron Hann & Mario Miscione’s 2015 film Circle unfolds more like a social experiment than a horror movie. Still, those who love to see people go up against each other and examine what they do under extreme circumstances will find the film deeply engaging. It may be a bit of a ‘one-trick pony’ that hides in ambiguity to avoid leading to more significant questions (how they got there, who is making them play, etc.). Still, it is delightful as a character study and a short piece of suspenseful cinema, running under 90 minutes.

10

‘Girls With Balls’ (2018)

This French-Belgian dark comedy by director Olivier Afonso follows the members of an all-girls volleyball team, “The Falcons,” who find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere after their van breaks down. Things become more complicated when they find themselves hunted by all manner of backwoods sociopaths, and the team has to band together to use their athletic prowess to defend against the attackers.

Balls to the Wall Horror Comedy

Girls With Balls is a hidden gem in the Netflix catalog, presenting a giddy mix of horror, blood, gore, and dark humor. At the same time, the French language film does lean big into genre clichés, and lacks much depth beyond the chaos it presents. This has given the movie a love/hate relationship with horror fans. Still, it is an undeniably perfect popcorn flick for those who like horror-comedy that delivers a simple plot to get to the ‘gory bits.’ Moreover, the film boasts a strong cast, shucking the last girl trope of the slasher genre and presenting an army of elite athletes fighting back.

9

‘Manson Family Vacation’ (2015)

Two brothers, Nick and Conrad, have grown estranged due to the carefree life of one, while the other has settled into the role of husband and father. They decide to take a road trip together to reconnect. As the two begin to rebuild their relationship on a tour of Manson’s notable sites, Conrad confesses that he believes that he is the son of Charles Manson and that he is going to connect with his followers to speak to his father.

Manson Family Values

A lo-fi comedy/drama, The Manson Family Vacation, was partly produced by Mark and Jay Duplass (Jay wrote the script and stars in the film). Those familiar with the brothers’ other works, either as producers or writers, such as Jeff Who Lives at Home, The Overnight, and The One I Love, should have an idea of what they are getting into, as their signature dry and awkward humor is the driving force in The Manson Family Vacation. Don’t expect a laugh-out-loud comedy, but its subtle approach to humor, combined with an exciting family drama, makes the movie worth checking out.

8

‘Creep’ (2014)

Looking for a gig, videographer Aaron answers an online ad for work filming a video diary for a client. Once he arrives, he meets the eccentric and off-putting Josef, who claims to be dying and wants to leave behind a memoir for his family. However, as the filming progresses, Josef becomes more erratic, and his claims of illness become questionable, as the video diary turns into a means to harass Aaron and make him as uncomfortable as possible.

Starring Mark Duplass (who was also involved with the previously mentioned Manson Family Vacation), Creep is easily the most beloved of the actor’s works. This is due to the interesting take on the found-footage genre, where Duplass puts everything into his performance (much of it impressively improvised) to convince the viewer his character is both malicious and unhinged in a cold, calculating way. It is challenging to prepare viewers for his portrayal in Creep. Still, if you enjoy moments of awkward dark comedy with a layer of thick uneasiness, you have to experience Duplass’s portrayal of the troubled Josef.

7

‘Bad Trip’ (2020)

Part hidden camera comedy and part scripted, Bad Trip follows two best friends, Chris and Bud (played by Eric André and Lil Rel Howery), who go on a road trip so that Chris can connect with an old crush. The trip becomes a game of cat and mouse, though, when they are hunted down by Bud’s sister, Trina, played by Tiffany Haddish, for stealing her car.

It’s Just a Prank, Bro

Bad Trip will be a slightly contentious inclusion in this list, as Eric Andre’s comedic stylings, best known for The Eric Andre Show, are somewhat divisive. Even as the movie offers more narrative and a wonderfully comedic performance from Tiffany Haddish, the same awkward, dangerous, and confrontational humor exists throughout the film. Still, those who love the prank format will find the absurd set-ups hilarious, while those looking for a more straightforward comedy will appreciate the scripted elements. Go in expecting crass, silly, and awkward, and the movie will deliver.

6

‘Cam’ (2018)

An ambitious cam-girl named Alice has garnered a decent following, but as the emphasis is put on more salacious content, she begins to feel the pressure to surpass her rival. When her account appears to be seized by a duplicate willing to take those next steps, Alice’s mental state slowly diminishes, as she sees her doppelgänger climb to fame while stealing her source of revenue.

Losing Oneself Online

Cam works both as a chilling horror film about a character declining under extreme circumstances and as a social commentary on the perils of online life. In a minimalistic setting with a small cast, Cam also has an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere, forcing the audience to focus on Madeline Brewer’s portrayal of a troubled and scared Alice. This one won’t be for everyone, as it’s split on Rotten Tomatoes, with 93% fresh with critics and 53% with the audience, showing it is more of a critical darling than a favorite among the horror fandom. Still, those who appreciate a good slow burn and socially conscious horror will enjoy Cam.

Ubisoft has been involved in so many different games that curating a list of its greatest titles is a little tricky. Not only did it publish just about every movie and TV tie-in game throughout the early 2000s – Lost: Via Domus, anyone – but it is also responsible for creating some of the most iconic and groundbreaking franchises of all time. Its influence within the open-world genre especially, is immense, even if, as of late, it has felt like the quality of its titles has slipped.

Still, if you’re looking for a collection of truly fantastic Ubisoft games, then you’ve come to the right place. As much as I’d like to put in some of Ubisoft’s lesser-known titles – you won’t find any CSI games, Rayman Raving Rabbids, or that one Naruto game here – these games are truly the very best that Ubisoft has created. In no particular order, these are the titles Ubisoft should be extremely proud of and we as players grateful we got to experience.

10

Just Dance

It Is An Iconic Series That Deserves Recognition

As much as people may bemoan the addition of Just Dance on a list of Ubisoft’s greatest games, it’s hard not to recognize just how influential and prevalent the franchise has been since it first launched back in 2009. It likely exists in practically every house, bundled with dusty Wii remotes and the Xbox Connect. Just Dance is iconic for a reason, each entry more or less doing the same thing, but mastering it practically every time.

While it’s hard to pinpoint a specific entry that outshines the rest – for they are all largely the same – Just Dance 2014 featured a plethora of engaging content and a strong selection of songs genuinely worth dancing to. The dances, vivid colors, and generally positive tone of the series have made each game a memorable experience. Of course, later entries have dipped in quality somewhat, but it is hard to deny just how actually fun the Just Dance series has been for nearly two decades.

9

Far Cry 3

The Best In The Series & Revolutionary For Open-World FPS Games

Far Cry 3 may be the first game people think of when they are choosing Ubisoft’s greatest hits. It is not only one of the most recognizable titles, jettisoning the series into the realm of mass appeal with its memorable villains and enchanting world, but also a truly remarkable title that dictated the direction of almost every open-world game until Breath of the Wild came out.

We now lament the inclusion of radio towers in games, with even Far Cry 5 poking fun at them, but they were a fun innovation at the time, and, frankly, Far Cry 3’s version of them is easily the best. From Vaas to the delightful and secret-laden Rook Islands, Far Cry 3 isn’t just one of Ubisoft’s best; it may indeed be its very best. It also spawned a handful of decent sequels, many of which became some of the best co-op shooters, of which, frankly, there aren’t enough.

8

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

The Most Beloved In The Series

It wouldn’t be a Ubisoft list without Assassin’s Creed. While each entry has its strengths – perhaps, in my opinion, aside from the first and Valhalla – Black Flag has to be the most discussed and beloved. The sheer number of rumors surrounding an alleged Black Flag remake, alongside the mere existence of Skull and Bones, Ubisoft’s failed attempt at recapturing Assassin’s Creed’s best entry, proves that AC: IV is a game worth caring about.

It is one of the few games that nailed naval combat, made exploring far too many islands actually fun, and, one of the few Assassin’s Creed games that actually has a good story. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag introduced us to one of gaming’s best protagonists, genuinely engaging parkour, and set the standard for this type of open-world game for years to come.

7

Rayman Legends

An Underrated Classic

Ubisoft isn’t particularly well known, anymore, for games outside the open-world RPG genre. However, once upon a time, it experimented quite a bit with platformers, puzzle titles, stealth experiences, and so much more. Rayman Legends is proof that Ubisoft is capable of so much more than just copying and pasting the Assassin’s Creed formula.

It is a colorful, frenetic, action-packed platformer with some of the most fluid, creative, and engaging level design in the history of the genre. Rayman Legends isn’t particularly overlooked – there are far more obscure Ubisoft hidden gems out there – but it doesn’t get nearly as much attention or praise as it deserves. Frankly, it should be uttered in the same breath as Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

6

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Still One Of The Greatest Stealth Games

There’s quite a considerable amount of desire for a new Splinter Cell game from its most dedicated fans, and it isn’t hard to see why. While not every game in the series is perfect, those that really nailed the formula have proven to be some of the greatest stealth games of all time. Chaos Theory, which really refined the series’ trademark gameplay, should be the blueprint for all games like it. It is genuinely that good.

It cleverly integrates both stealth and action mechanics to emphasize the former while still catering to the latter. It ditches the instant fail state when caught, and inside allows tension to build and players to wrangle their way out of difficult situations as they see best. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is creative, gritty, dark, fun, and a genuinely compelling game that remembers that stealth mechanics have to be more than just throwing stones to distract enemies and attacking them when their backs are turned.

5

Driver: San Francisco

A Truly Inventive Driving Game

Driver is one of Ubisoft’s most underrated series, and I wish more people talked about it. It is the precursor to Ubisoft’s The Crew, although minus the online-only requirement and poorly implemented microtransactions. Instead, Driver is just a really great series about driving across beautiful cities with excellent handling, and fun novel additions to help spice things up.

Case in point is Driver: San Francisco, a game that not only features some of the best driving mechanics in all gaming, but also the fun gameplay feature of teleporting between cars, allowing you to switch vehicles literally on the fly. It is as fun as it sounds, and the game’s gorgeous version of the titular city makes for an excellent sandbox to drive around in. With explosive missions to complete, a fun story that ties into Driver 3, San Francisco is easily one of Ubisoft’s best games.

4

Rainbow Six Siege

One Of The Greatest Comback Stories In Gaming

It is easy to forget that Rainbow Six Siege, a game that still ranks as one of the best multiplayer shooters of all time, launched in a pretty dire state. Six Siege was not favorably received at launch and required a serious amount of hard work and dedication from Ubisoft to turn it around. Fortunately, the developer managed to make it not just a great game, but a ridiculously profitable one too.

Rainbow Six Siege may have had its ups and downs over the years – and a rather bafflingly bad extraction spin-off game – but it still remains a consistently excellent game that manages to meaningfully integrate tactical gameplay, environmental destruction, and interesting character design in a way few other games have dared. Rainbow Six Siege isn’t for everyone, but Ubisoft genuinely did an amazing job with it, at least eventually.

3

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

A Modern Classic

There are lots of great Prince of Persia games, but none are as good as one of its most recent entries, The Lost Crown. Once again, Ubisoft proved it can make decent games outside its well-known and familiar formulas with this masterfully crafted MetroidVania. Its precision platforming, interesting abilities, captivating boss fights, and unique art style put a fun spin on the franchise that I’m not sure any of us saw coming.

It is a shame that the team behind it was disbanded and moved to other projects, despite a sequel allegedly having been pitched and rejected. There was a lot of potential for this universe to have more great games like it that we’ll never get to see realized. Regardless, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is another feather in Ubisoft’s very versatile cap, and a great showcase for what the publisher can do when it lets its most creative developers break away from the formula.

2

Child of Light

A Hidden Ubisoft Gem

Child of Light is the Ubisoft hidden gem you’ve maybe heard of the most. It, alongside the likes of Valiant Hearts, makes up what feels like the studio’s most indie experiences. Child of Light is perhaps Ubisoft’s best-looking game, despite the fact that it doesn’t conform to the studio’s desire to make the most realistic worlds imaginable. It is colorful, creative, vibrant, and often jaw-droppingly engrossing, making for a fantastical world that actually immerses you.

Child of Light is a fairly experimental RPG for Ubisoft, veering more into JRPG territory with its active-time battle system. That sense of being so far removed from anything else the studio does is what makes it one of its greatest games. It is inventive in a way Ubisoft hasn’t been in quite some time, and, thus, a remarkable achievement. Honestly, if you were to play any Ubisoft game, I’d probably recommend this.

1

Beyond Good And Evil

Ubisoft’s Cult Classic Masterpiece

Beyond Good and Evil is probably the closest Ubisoft has to a cult classic game. It is from that truly exceptional era of adventure games with impeccably inventive art styles that feel like nothing else available. Beyond Good and Evil’s world is so unique, oozing with atmosphere, tantalizingly engrossing worldbuilding, and a cast of incredibly memorable characters.

It is no wonder that so many people constantly latch onto any Beyond Good and Evil 2 rumors that occasionally circulate on the internet before fading into obscurity. This is the type of game Ubisoft, and really the gaming world at large, should be making. It is the game I think of the most when I reflect on Ubisoft’s wasted potential as a developer. Beyond Good and Evil is definitely one of Ubisoft’s greatest games, and I sincerely hope it is remembered as such.

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March 28, 1986

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Yves Guillemot

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