Netflix has several major biopics in its immersive catalog, including some original movies that are among the platform’s most popular releases. From Blonde to The Dirt to Rustin to Barry, the streaming service has no shortage of biographical films.

With so many options, the best of the bunch is hard to pick out, especially when the likes of Maestro found themselves nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. However, the best Netflix biopic is actually one that, despite critical acclaim, flew somewhat under the radar and doesn’t get talked about as much as it should.

Tick, Tick…Boom! Is One Of Netflix’s Best Movies

2021’s Tick, Tick…Boom! easily sits as one of the best movies on Netflix, period, and it’s the best biopic on the platform. It’s amazing that the film isn’t talked about more, given how critically acclaimed it was and that the director is the modern king of musicals, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Tick, Tick…Boom! marks Miranda’s directorial debut, and he imbues the film with exactly the kind of energy it needed to be a great musical. The “Therapy” scene is one of the most creatively done musical numbers ever, while songs like “30/90,” “Boho Days,” and “Real Life” are also fantastic.

While the musical aspect was clearly a success, Tick, Tick…Boom! truly shines as a biopic. The film tells the story of the life of Jonathan Larson as he attempts to write a musical to break into the theater industry. Ultimately, Larson went on to write Rent, which became one of the biggest Broadway shows ever.

As noted, Tick, Tick…Boom! was a huge hit with critics. The movie holds an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and found itself nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards. Praise went to Miranda’s direction, the musical numbers, and the performances of the cast, especially with the lead actor.

Andrew Garfield Should’ve Won Best Actor For His Performance

That lead actor who was incredible in Tick, Tick…Boom! is Andrew Garfield. Not only does he completely look the part as Jonathan Larson, but he nails so many of the real man’s mannerisms. Garfield also delivers an emotionally powerful performance as a man desperate to make his mark in the entertainment industry.

Garfield plays well off of everyone in the Tick, Tick…Boom! supporting cast, whether it’s the romantic and sometimes heartbreaking scenes with his love interest, Alexandra Shipp, the crushing sequence where he learns his best friend, Robin de Jesús, is sick, or the quirkiness of his musical number with Vanessa Hudgens.

Andrew Garfield was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars but lost to Will Smith’s work in King Richard. While Smith was great, Garfield was just a bit better. In fact, Garfield won Best Actor at the Satellite and Golden Globe Awards. His layered performance is a big reason why Tick, Tick…Boom! is as great as it is.