Netflix has become a go-to for terrific new cinema, but one of the platform’s earliest original movies is a war film that deserves to be seen by everyone. There’s no denying that Netflix sits atop the mountain in the streaming wars, and the red brand is known throughout the world as the definitive platform.

Not only does the streamer carry classic movies and TV shows, but Netflix’s original content rivals anything coming out of the major studios. Netflix opened the door for filmmakers, allowing movies to have a home outside the restrictive theater system. What’s more, Netflix has gotten into the blockbuster game too, creating their own tentpole franchises.

One of Netflix’s first films is still one of their best, and showcased exactly what the new streaming-exclusive model could produce. A decade later, this film still stands as one of the best war movies in recent memory, and deserves a lot more attention as a groundbreaking piece of cinema.

Beasts Of No Nation Is A Movie Everyone Should Watch

Unlike war films which glorify the action and heroics of combat, Beasts of No Nation opted to show the much darker side of armed combat. The movie concerns a young boy living in West Africa, who becomes a child soldier when his country erupts in civil war. Adapting the eponymous novel by Uzodinma Iweala, the movie pulls no punches.

Anchored by a stellar performance from newcomer Abraham Attah in the lead role, Beasts of No Nation is a drama wrapped in a war film, and it certainly emphasizes the former more than the latter. However, it’s also a stunning investigation of human nature, examining the realities of African politics without resorting to Hollywood simplicity.

Idris Elba steals the show as the Commandant, and he is undeniably one of the greatest cinematic villains of the 21st century. Instead of portraying him as an over-the-top antagonist, the Commandant has a charming humanity which makes him all the more terrifying. Made for only $6 million (Variety) Beasts of No Nation puts its mega-budgeted contemporaries to shame.

Beasts Of No Nation Is Arguably Netflix’s Best Original Movie

Beasts of No Nation was the very first Netflix original movie, and it stands as the pinnacle of cinematic achievement in streaming. It has every hallmark of a classic, and could have been one of 2015’s biggest theatrical releases had things gone a different way. Major theater chains boycotted the movie because of its streaming release, thus killing its chances.

Nevertheless, it is one of the few Netflix movies that is totally sound, and feels bigger than its platform. It uses color to convey both the beauty and horror of the world, and despite its small budget, has the look of a blockbuster. It also added considerably to the war genre, offering a new vision without resorting to tired tropes.