5 Netflix Originals That Scored Over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

Key Takeaways

• May December leads with 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, featuring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore
• Da 5 Bloods offers Spike Lee's take on war drama with Vietnam veterans seeking gold and closure
• Films need 75% critic score with 40+ reviews to earn Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes

Finding something worth watching on Netflix can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The platform releases hundreds of original films each year, and quality varies wildly. One reliable filter: Rotten Tomatoes scores. A handful of Netflix Originals have cleared the 90% threshold, earning near-universal critical acclaim.

Here are five Netflix Original films that achieved what most cannot: winning over the critics.

May December (91%)

Todd Haynes' psychological thriller May December is one of the most unsettling films Netflix has produced. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth Berry, an actress who travels to Georgia to research Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), whom she's set to portray in an upcoming film.

Gracie's backstory is grim. She began a relationship with Joe (Charles Melton from Beef) when he was 13 and she was 36. The scandal made national news. Now, 24 years later, the couple lives in the suburbs with their children, attempting normalcy. Elizabeth's arrival disrupts their fragile peace as she crosses boundaries with everyone in Gracie's orbit.

The film is uncomfortable by design. The lead performances create character portraits you cannot look away from, even when you want to.

Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee's war drama takes a unique angle on the Vietnam War genre. Da 5 Bloods follows four Black veterans who return to Vietnam decades after the war ended. Their mission: recover the remains of their former squad leader, Norman, and retrieve a stash of buried gold they left behind.

As the group travels deeper into the jungle, old tensions resurface. What begins as a recovery mission spirals into something far more dangerous. Lee blends action with pointed commentary on race, trauma, and unfinished American history.

What Makes These Films Different

Netflix's content strategy produces high volume with high variance. The platform's most-watched titles often earn mixed reviews. Extraction pulled 99 million viewers but landed at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. The 90%+ club operates differently. These are typically slower, more deliberate films that prioritize craft over spectacle.

Reddit communities like r/NetflixBestOf frequently discuss the critic-audience divide. Films with high Rotten Tomatoes scores tend to be slow-burn dramas that may alienate casual viewers. Meanwhile, movies that go viral on social media often hold lower critical scores. The Certified Fresh tag has become a useful filter for viewers drowning in Netflix's overwhelming catalog.

Netflix's Critical Ambitions

The streaming giant has proven it can compete with traditional studios on artistic merit. Some Netflix originals have achieved perfect 100% scores. His House, a horror film about the refugee experience, earned universal acclaim. Critics called it "a terrifying look at the specters of the refugee experience and a stunning feature debut for Remi Weekes."

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio represents another high watermark, winning an Oscar while maintaining critical acclaim. These successes show Netflix can balance popcorn entertainment with prestige filmmaking when it chooses to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 90% on Rotten Tomatoes mean?

A 90% score means 90% of professional critics gave the film a positive review. It reflects critical consensus, not a letter grade. A film can be 90% fresh with mild praise across reviews or passionate endorsement from a smaller subset.

How many Netflix Originals have over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes?

Only a small fraction of Netflix's hundreds of original films clear the 90% threshold. May December (91%), Da 5 Bloods, His House (100%), and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio are among the standouts.

What is the difference between Tomatometer and Audience Score?

The Tomatometer reflects professional critic reviews. The Audience Score reflects ratings from general viewers. High-scoring films on one metric sometimes underperform on the other, especially for slow-burn dramas.

Are high Rotten Tomatoes scores a good indicator of entertainment value?

Critical scores predict quality craft and storytelling. They don't guarantee you'll enjoy the film. Action blockbusters often score lower but entertain millions. Use scores as one data point, not the only one.

Source: How-To Geek