Netflix : What is an existential film? Any movie that concerns the reality of life without the materialistic system of rules, political systems, or societal norms can be termed as existential. They are based on the premise of people attempting to find the true purpose of life in an alienated world while attempting to be oneself and exercise one’s own free will.

Such introspective movies educate us that society cannot regulate our beliefs; it’s us who need to understand that all these restrictions are in vain and it is our individual freedom alone that counts. So today, we shall have a glance at a few of the top movies on Netflix that discuss this philosophy.

13. The Disciple (2020)ॉ

‘The Disciple’ is an Indian film of the Marathi language, directed by Chaitanya Tamhane. It is about a young boy by the name of Sharad Nerulkar (played by Aditya Modak) who wishes to become a classical singer. Amidst all his work, practice, and ceaseless effort for perfection in Indian classical music, which in itself is a never-ending pursuit, Sharad becomes entangled in the web of an existential crisis from where he alone can rescue himself. Can he gather the courage to confront what he assumes to be his own mediocrity and persist in his search for divinity? Chaitanya Tamhane directs ‘The Disciple,’ an engaging multiple-award-winning drama that reveals the physical and mental exhausting that creative endeavors are familiar with, with the added sizzle of an intriguing story and phenomenal performances, led by Sharad Nerulkar. You can see it here.

12. Can You See Us? (2022)

Directed by Kenny Mumba, this is a Zambian film loosely on the life of Zambian artist John Chiti (24 February 1985), who was discriminated against as a child due to being born with albinism, a congenital skin disorder in which the skin has no pigment anywhere on the body. Chiti was rejected by his father and raised by his mother. The movie realistically depicts Chiti’s ordeal and the bullying he suffered in an African society where individuals with albinism are commonly persecuted as it is argued that they possess supernatural powers. ‘Can You See Us?’ also touches on the positivity of Chiti that kept him going. He later grew to be a singer/songwriter, and his songs became a means through which he would communicate his emotions. In the movie, Thabo Kaamba acts Young Joseph while George Sikazwe acts John’s older self. Watch the movie here.

11. STRAW (2025)

Directed by Tyler Perry, ‘STRAW’ focuses on the existence crisis of single, diligent mother Janiyah, who, out of desperation, takes an action that is criminal in society’s eyes. She enters a bank to get money out for a check, even though she is carrying a gun in her hand, as well. The police are called, and people

are afraid of her, but nobody cares that she is crying or hears what she has to say. The failures of the so-called system, the injustice, and the neglect have driven Janiyah to the point of no return. But the question, as ever, is will she live and not will she be rescued. With a performance by Taraji P. Henson that is heart-wrenching, ‘STRAW’ is a must-see. It can be streamed here.

10. The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

In ‘The Pale Blue Eye,’ a directorial masterstroke by Scott Cooper, Christian Bale (as ever) gives a powerful performance as veteran sleuth Augustus Landor probing a series of gruesome killings (hearts of victims are excised) during the 19th century at the U.S. Military Academy. Landor acquires the services of cadet Edgar Allan Poe, brought to life equally splendidly by Harry Melling,

as he is able to connect with people, including other cadets, and access evidence that Landor is not able to. As the detective investigates the dark alleys of the academy, the story evolves as a riveting mix of mystery, psychological suspense, and horror. Cooper expertly weaves the threads of morality, guilt, and the vagaries of the human mind together, so that ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ is not just a thriller but an existential inquiry into the repercussions that pursue people years after their decision has been made. You can see the movie here.

9. Ram Dass, Going Home (2018)

‘Ram Dass, Going Home’ is a heart-wrenching documentary by Derek Peck that provides a tender look into the last few days of spiritual guide and writer Ram Dass. Once Dr. Richard Alpert, a Harvard psychology professor turned spiritual innovator, Ram Dass offers insights into life, death, and his spiritual path in the peaceful settings of Maui. The movie gives us an intimate look at his acceptance of mortality, wisdom, and humor as he goes through the later years of life. With thoughtful dialogue and moments of reflection, ‘Ram Dass, Going Home’ is a soul-stirring journey through the human experience, giving audiences great insight into the nature of life and the passage into the great beyond. You can see it here.

8. Marriage Story (2019)

‘Marriage Story’ draws on existential themes in how it examines the intricacies of human connections and the inevitable conflict of identity in the context of marriage. Directed by Noah Baumbach, ‘Marriage Story’ traverses the breakdown of Charlie, a theatre director, and Nicole, an actor, with deep introspection. While the two attempt to keep the family together because of their eight-year-old son Henry, bitterness comes in all forms to disrupt the very foundation of their otherwise collective divorce, and love gets the fall. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver give strong performances, untangling the emotional complexity of love, loss, and self-discovery. The story goes beyond the standard divorce melodrama, presenting a philosophical exploration of the existential issues that surface when the ordinary forms of life collapse, and so ‘Marriage Story’ is a richly resonant and intellectually stimulating film experience. You can stream the movie here.

7. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ accesses existential themes by way of darkly comedic means. Directed by Macon Blair, the movie takes Ruth, portrayed by Melanie Lynskey, on a mission to retrieve her grandmother’s silverware,

which has been stolen from her home. She is accompanied by her neighbor, Tony, portrayed by Elijah Wood. Things happen one after the other, and they end up with deranged criminals. As Ruth struggles to deal with the absurdity of human actions and society’s apathy, the film probes the tension between individual expectations and the messy nature of the world. The film’s existential essence is in Ruth’s quest for meaning and relationship in a seemingly uninterested cosmos. Stream the film here at your leisure.

6. The Killer (2023)

In David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’, a solitary and deliberate killer (Michael Fassbender), without remorse or ethical guilt, hides in wait, patiently choosing his next victim. However, as the anticipation drags on, he fights against the rising tide of insanity and a crumbling decorum. It’s because of this that when his line of work goes wrong, and his love interest Magdala nearly loses her life as retribution, he embarks on a campaign of vengeance free of either sanity or self-restraint. This noir story is told as a raw and chic examination of a professional assassin lost in a moral gray area, guns blazing and walking a thin line between mental disintegration. The movie beautifully captures the mind of an isolated individual walking the thin line between sanity and brutality in a spine-tingling story of existence fall. You can view the film here.

5. My Beautiful Broken Brain (2014)

Directed by Sophie Robinson and Lotje Sodderland, this documentary movie chronicles 34-year-old Sodderland, who had a huge brain stroke in November 2011. As she started losing her capacity to read, write, and articulate things verbally, a new world opened before her eyes, one that enabled her to perceive sounds and colors in a never-before way. This prompted her to pen a letter to David Lynch because the way she perceived the world led her to believe that she was living in one of Lynch’s movies. Lynch would meet up with her and even joined as an executive producer. The movie pieces together self-shot videos and interviews with Sodderland’s loved ones to share with us a dreamlike exploration of Sodderland’s “beautiful broken brain.” You can view the movie here.

4. The Platform (2019)

‘The Platform’ is directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and is arguably one of the greatest existential films out there. The film is set in a tower which is partitioned into levels and contains two willing inmates on each level. There is a platform laden with food which begins at the top and descends, resting on every level for a few minutes. In those few minutes, the prisoners must consume all that they possibly can. In order to eliminate bias, the prisoners are rotated through levels every month.Obviously, the tower is a sign of a capitalist society where individuals at the top, the wealthy, have the best of everything and the individuals at the bottom, the poor and the oppressed, have what’s left. Nevertheless, there is an evident underlying tone of existential uncertainty as the prisoners struggle with the conditions they find themselves in, challenging life and existence. You may see the astounding drama here.

3. Society of the Snow (2023)

This Spanish drama was directed by J. A. Bayona and based on Pablo Vierci’s novel of the same title. It is an exhibition of the days of survival of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 (from Uruguay to Chile) that crashed in the Andes Mountains on October 13, 1972. Of the 45 passengers, only 14 were to make it through after having survived for 72 days in the middle of nowhere with biting cold and avalanches highlighted by starvation, deteriorating health, and eventual cannibalism (the survivors eating the flesh of the dead). The tragedy and the survival of the ones who survived made the event known not only as the Tragedy of the Andes but as the Miracle of the Andes too. The ghastly account of what the people endured those days proves the greatness of the makers in every way. If anything, this movie will make you think about existentialism, which is the only thing that exists when all the aspects of humanity are taken away, one that exists beyond society and culture. The movie features Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Esteban Kukuriczka, Felipe Gonzalez Otaño, and Simón Hempe. You can watch ‘Society of the Snow’ on the following platforms:

2. The Land of Steady Habits (2018)

Directed by Nicole Holofcener and based on the novel by Ted Thompson of the same title, ‘The Land of Steady Habits’ paints a multi-layered portrait of the lead, Anders Hill, played by Ben Mendelsohn, as he attempts to negotiate interpersonal relationships marred by his unlikable desires, which serve to push him further from ex-wife Helene (Edie Falco) and recovering addict son Preston (Thomas Mann). The occurrences and happenings in the film reveal the various sides of Anders’ nature, each raising a new question regarding his existence as a husband, father, and individual. Existential to an extent that the balance between comedy and tragedy gets eradicated, ‘The Land of Steady Habits’ is a scathing critique of the midlife crisis that is an absolute must-watch. It can be streamed here.

1. Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022)

Directed by Academy-award winner Alejandro González Iñárritu (‘The Revenant’ (2015)), it is a psychological dark comedy that raises the stakes of the cinematic investigation into existential crisis. ‘Bardo,’ in Buddhism, is the after-death state preceding rebirth. The movie traces the life of journalist-turned-director Silverio Gama, dealing with an existential and emotional crisis after his son’s death, who had expired a day after being born.

He is unable to distinguish between actual experiences and what his mind is leading him to visualize. From a mountain of corpses to his deceased parents to the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec highlighted by tense U.S.-Mexico relations, Silverio addresses all of these and more. The question is, what’s wrong with him? Is he dead and dreaming all of this, or is he actually in bardo? As what’s real and not real becomes blurred, Iñárritu creates a true-to-form absurdist image for the audience to lose themselves in. Its cast stars Daniel Giménez Cacho, Griselda Siciliani, Ximena Lamadrid, Jay O. Sanders, and Iker Sanchez Solano. You are able to watch it here.Read More: Best Movies About Psychopaths on Netflix