14 Short Films You Can Watch On Netflix If You Don't Have The Patience To Sit Through A Long Movie

You can thank me later.

1. The Present

Philistine Films

This Oscar-nominated short film tells a moving tale about a man and his daughter who go on a shopping trip to Beitunia, to buy an anniversary gift for his wife. However, they end up facing certain challenges on the way. The movie chronicles the reality of living in an Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory where even a simple activity like shopping for a gift can become a Herculean task.

Directed by: Farah Nabulsi

Watch here on Netflix.

2. Two Distant Strangers

NowThis

This Groundhog Day-like short science-fiction drama revolves around Carter James, a Black urban hipster, who relives the same tragic day where he experiences police brutality over and over again.

Directed by: Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe

Watch here on Netflix.

3. If Anything Happens I Love You

Gilbert Films

This heart-wrenching 12-minute animated short film about two grieving parents as they try to cope with the loss of their daughter, who was killed in a school shooting, delivers a powerful message on the issue of gun violence and trauma.

Directed by: Will McCormack, Michael Govier

Watch here on Netflix.

4. Angela's Christmas

Brown Bag Films

Set in Ireland in 1914 with World War I just around the corner, this sweet and heartwarming animated short film follows a young girl named Angela, who attempts to reunite her family during Christmas. It is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Frank McCourt.

Directed by: Damien O'Connor

Watch here on Netflix.

5. The White Helmets

Netflix

This Academy Award-winning short documentary film follows a group of Syrian Civil Defence volunteers, also known as the White Helmets, in the aftermath of a bombing in Aleppo, as they recover bodies, rescue civilians caught in Syria's civil war, and provide them emergency medical assistance.

Directed by: Orlando von Einsiedel

Watch here on Netflix.

6. Anima

Netflix

In this 15-minute short musical comprising of three songs, Paul Thomas Anderson collaborates with Radiohead's frontman Thom Yorke to provide the audience with a stunning piece of art.

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Watch here on Netflix.

7. The Trader

Netflix

This beautiful yet grim short documentary provides a glimpse into the poverty-stricken lives of a travelling trader and other inhabitants of a small village in the Republic of Georgia, where they trade potatoes in exchange for the things they require.

Directed by: Tamta Gabrichidze

Watch here on Netflix.

8. What Did Jack Do?

Netflix

In this brilliant short film, a homicide detective interrogates a capuchin monkey named Jack, who is accused of murder. The conversation between the two makes this 17-minute film extremely worthwhile and entertaining.

Directed by: David Lynch

Watch here on Netflix.

9. Heroin(e)

Netflix

This is an important documentary highlighting the opioid epidemic that has been rampant in the United States of America since the 1990s. We see the opioid crisis through the eyes of three women in Huntington, West Virginia, who have dedicated their lives to fighting the same.

Directed by: Elaine McMillion Sheldon

Watch here on Netflix.

10. Extremis

f/8 Filmworks

This short documentary follows Dr. Jessica Zitter, an ICU and palliative care specialist in Oakland's Highland Hospital ICU, as she helps families make end-of-life decisions for their loved ones, who are often terminally ill.

Directed by: Dan Krauss

Watch here on Netflix.

11. Baxu and the Giants

Mamokobo Video & Research

This Namibian short film centers around a 9-year-old girl named Baxu, who lives with her older brother and alcoholic grandmother in a village in Damaraland, North West Namibia. It addresses the issue of rhino poaching in the country.

Directed by: Florian Schott

Watch here on Netflix.

12. Lorena, Light-Footed Woman

No Ficción

This film about the life of Lorena Ramirez, a long-distance runner from a remote region of Mexico, takes us on an inspiring journey as we see Lorena conquering various ultramarathons — all while donning traditional Rarámuri clothing and a pair of sandals.

Directed by: Juan Carlos Rulfo

Watch here on Netflix.

13. Long Shot

Hayden 5 Media

Long Shot (2017) attempts to shed light on the flaws of the justice system by portraying an engaging real life incident of an innocent man named Juan Catalan, who is arrested for a murder that he didn't commit.

Directed by: Jacob LaMendola

Watch here on Netflix.

14. Sitara: Let Girls Dream

Waadi Animations

This animated silent short, set in Lahore, highlights the issue of child marriage and how it thwarts a girl child's dream. It follows the life of Pari, whose dream of becoming a pilot gets destroyed as she becomes a victim of child marriage.

Directed by: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Watch here on Netflix.