The Ultimate Guide To "Netflix And Chill"

We've all been there...

The postdates delivery person has rung your doorbell-Chinese food in hand.

You smile at them excitedly, peeking through to make sure your order of steamed dumplings was not left forgotten.

Alas, it was not.

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You finally settle back into the couch, cozying up to your significant other when... they slowly lean over and whisper the dreaded phrase:

“it’s your turn to pick the movie”

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NOOOOO!

Everyone who has frequented the land of “Netflix and Chill” has experienced the excruciating event of having to flip through the website’s numerous-and sometimes dubious- film artillery. You’ve already seen all the flashy Hollywood blockbusters on offer

and now

it’s time to sort through Netflix’s B-roll.

Your food gets cold as you wait to settle on the perfect film, imdb.com open on your phone. The arguments arise, genre remains undecided, and the evening eventually ruined as you just settle for an old rerun of a “Friends” episode you’ve both seen multiple times, as you quietly eat your mediocre dumplings.

Fear not!

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For I have been there my friends -many a-time- and have created for you The Ultimate Guide to Netflix and Chill.

Here are some great late-night recommendations for every genre that may come up in this debilitating time:

1. ROM-COMS: for when you're hoping to set the mood for the 'chill' portion of 'Netflix & Chill':

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Chalet Girl

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The vivacious Felicity Jones (yes, the chick form that new Star Wars film) is delightful to watch in this romantic comedy about a tomboy that travels to Switzerland to work at a rich family’s ski chalet. It’s got charm, wit, snowboarding, and stunning visuals of the Swiss alps (basically vacation porn). One bonus is that the film also stars Ed Westwick (Chuck from Gossip Girl) as the hunky love interest - he even comes equipped with his original British accent (basically audio porn).

While You Were Sleeping

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This 90’s gem of a rom-com needs to be resurrected as its stars, Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, go head to head in love/hate heaven. Their meet-cute ensues when Bullock, through a series of mishaps, finds herself pretending to be the finance of Pullman’s hospitalized and unconscious brother, played by young Dermont Malroney (who is still stunning, despite being completely zonked out most of the film).

90’s rom-coms are where it’s at, y’all.

Man Up

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Simon Pegg and Lake Bell are both atypical rom-com leads in this quirky comedy that arises when Pegg’s character mistakes Bell for his blind date. It’s a light-hearted, fun, easy watch packed with a couple of laugh-out-loud moments, and although Bell’s British accent is pretty questionable, her bangs are on point.

2. COMEDY SPECIALS: for when you're in the mood for light-hearted laughs without the incoherent plot points provided above:

Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King

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What an experience. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll laugh again. Minhaj is an extraordinary and hilarious story-teller and the original formatting and direction of the comedy special really make it a spectacular event to behold.

John Mulaney: New In Town

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Although this is already a pretty popular comedy special, it’s on this list in case there are any out there ignorant to the hilarious charm of John Mulaney’s first stand-up special, you are indefinitely welcome. This man and his feminine hips (it's an inside joke, guys, watch the special!) shimmy on to the screen and keep the laughs rollllling. His sophomore special is also on Netflix in case you would like to graduate to the next step, but it’s a pinch less genius….just a pinch.

3. PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS: for when you want to get to know your S.O. by seeing how they react to eerie plots twists.

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Circle

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This low-budget film is quite the captivating thriller as it follows 50 people who wake to find themselves trapped in a strange room, getting killed off one by one in specific increments of time. They must band together to try to find out what is happening to them and why. The film focuses on human ethics and questionable social behavior. You’ll question them, you’ll question your significant other, you'll even question yourself. IT'S DEEP YO.

Would You Rather

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Kind of like the simple game we've all played as children, but upgraded to the sick, adult, twisted version (a metaphor for life also). Brittany Snow's character Iris is in need of some quick cash to care for unwell brother. Enter one rich psychopath with the answer to all her financial problems. She is then invited to play famed children's game with seven other strangers in his mansion.

*Spoiler alert: it does not go as smoothly as it did when we were kids.

4. BRAIN MUSH: for when you're not in the mood to think & want to watch dribble because everything sucks (also acceptable for that time of month ladies):

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High Strung

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This film is awful. It’s the trite and tired plot of a naive white girl from the midwest, moving to the Big Apple to attend a prestigious dance academy. She’s got a hot -but bland- bad boy love interest and a sassy roommate that is -of course- a minority. It’s awful….but also great for when you’re curled up on the sofa with a heating pad and a bowl of ice-cream because the dance moves are cool and the stupid is easy to digest. ALSO Jane Seymour’s role as the ballet teacher will leave you wondering...why Jane Seymour...why?

Meet the Blacks

A comedy horror parody, "Meet the Blacks" follows a family as they bounce out of Chicago and make their way to Beverly Hills, unfortunately at the same time as the annual purge.

The film provides a good amount of laughs without ever taking itself seriously or requiring too much brain power from us, its slightly exhausted-but-now-relaxed audience.

5. DRAMAS: for when you finally want to watch the critically-acclaimed films you put off the one night you didn't feel like thinking:

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We Need To Talk About Kevin

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You’ll want to double up on your birth control options after getting a whiff of this monster of a movie. Tillda Swinton is a incredible in the role of a mother dealing with a seriously problematic child in this psychologically captivating drama. The film’s content is super relevant to social issues we’re currently facing in this country and chills are guaranteed.

Christine

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This movie is based on the real story of Christine Chubbuck, a television reporter in the 70’s that committed suicide on live television! Rebecca Hall is amazing and this is just a wild non-fictional storyline. Need one say more?

6. HORROR: for when you're in the mood to be reminded that there are more terrifying things than work on Monday

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Last Shift

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A rookie cop is forced to babysit an abandoned police station that is shutting down. The horrors arise as she tries to survive through one last overnight shift in the precinct from hell. This film is jump scare galore and great for those late night cuddle sessions.

*even a small gif from the movie is nightmare-inducing *shudders*

The Babadook

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The Babadook is a film that makes many horror film recommendation lists, so this is not an original entry by any means, but it is a must-see film. It follows a recently widowed mother and her young rebellious son as they battle against The Babadook, a mysterious creature that seems to have been conjured from a strange children's book.

When you're through with the film, cuddle close and google some theories behind the meaning of the film's monster. Mind. Blown.

7. TEARJERKERS: for when you need a good outlet for the tears you don't want to cry about your own life (been there):

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Dear Zachary

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Disclaimer: The coldest of hearts have melted after watching this film, so beware. The documentary follows the story of Andrew Bagby after he was shot to death by his ex-girlfriend before she fled the country-pregnant with his child. The film was created by Bagby's childhood best friend, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, as a tribute to his son Zachary. However, the gut-wrenching plot twist at the end will have you sobbing (I even cried writing this summary guys, keep the Kleenex close!)

Pay It Forward

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Haley Joel Osment (back when he was an absolute cherub of a child) stars as a young boy who turns a school assignment into an opportunity to help three people.

Guaranteed you will cry and guaranteed you will feel kind of like a crappy human being. It's great.

8. IF you're that couple that enjoyed watching "The Human Centipede" together (there's something here for everyone, ok?):

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Contracted

A young woman is nervous she's contracted a sexually transmitted disease after she begins to experience some very odd physical symptoms-turns out it's much worse than she initially realized.

Although slightly grotesque, the film is actually quite entertaining and, if anything, somewhat sexually educational.

Wetlands

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I'm not going to lie, I chickened out of finishing this movie. It's a tough one and I had just eaten (my bad) but good luck to you on your journey, my friends.

Here's a summary I grabbed off it's google description : After an unfortunate shaving accident lands her in the hospital, a rebellious teen (Carla Juri) bonds with a male nurse (Christoph Letkowski) and schemes to reunite her divorced parents.

It's based on a best-selling German erotic novel. What can go wrong?

Hopefully, by the end of this post, you've landed on a film while the steam is still seeping out of your food delivery bag, and the hope is still glistening in your irises.