As the weekend approaches, it’s only natural that your mind might drift to what you’ll watch to take advantage of your downtime.
But instead of hitting play on the first movie that you see pop up in your queue, why not check out one of these underrated films?
Featuring beloved actors like Steve Coogan, Emma Stone and Margot Robbie, they may not be the world’s biggest hits, but they’re definitely good for some weekend entertainment.
Check out Watch With Us’ selections from Netflix below.
‘The Penguin Lessons’ (2024)
This historical dramedy, based on a memoir of the same name, transports us to 1970s Argentina, where English teacher Tom Michell (Steve Coogan), living abroad, becomes entangled in the country’s political unrest. When he rescues a penguin from an oil spill on a weekend trip to Uruguay, he forms a bond with the feathered fellow — and so do his students.
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Before long, the unofficial class pet helps everyone cope with the trauma of the coup with its unique charm. This film is so sweet, and its lead animal character so adorable, that you’ll have a hard time believing it’s based on a true story. It’s a feel-good gem that proves sometimes the smallest creatures can make the biggest difference.
‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ (2012)
Andrew Garfield’s turn as Spidey wasn’t as popular as Tobey Maguire’s or Tom Holland‘s — something that was even alluded to when the character appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But what The Amazing Spider-Man lacks in a compelling villain (Rhys Ifans is a great actor, but his performance as The Lizard is lackluster) or incredible special effects, it makes up for with the charm of Garfield’s Peter Parker and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy.
The personal and emotional touches are what bring out the “Amazing” in this film. Revisiting it now, you may find it deserves a lot more love than it got the first time around.
‘Focus’ (2015)
Set in glamorous locations like New Orleans and Buenos Aires, this fun crime dramedy follows two con artists — Nicky (Will Smith) and Jess (Margot Robbie) — who fall in love. Since they’re both used to trickery and deceit, they have to confront their own trust issues to make the relationship work — all while executing a complex heist with an expert crew of charlatans.
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The chemistry between Robbie and Smith is captivating, and even more so is the complex reveals of grifts, cons and tricks that the thieves pull off. It’s slick, stylish and just unpredictable enough to keep you hooked until the very end.
