Even as a movie buff who loves a chunky runtime (3+ hours is no problem for me), I often find myself craving streaming movies that can be enjoyed start to finish rapidly. Particularly when I’m looking for mid-week watches, a 90-minute runtime becomes very appealing.
Fortunately, the Netflix movie library houses plenty of worthwhile picks that can be polished off in just an hour and a half (even less once you remove credits). And some of these quick-watches are seriously underrated. I’m talking about great movies that deserve more attention.
So, I’ve combined the two criteria to bring you a trio of fantastic Netflix movies that run just 90 minutes (or less), and that I reckon you (probably) haven’t already streamed.
‘Locke’ (2013)
“Locke” proves the power of Tom Hardy. The British actor plays the only character who appears on screen (the rest are voice-only), and the entire 85-minute psychological thriller is set in the confines of a car. Even with a shorter runtime, the limits of this simple setup could have been exposed before the hour mark, but Hardy has the dramatic chops to keep you invested for the 90, and the gripping narrative also keeps you locked in.
Ivan Locke (Hardy) is a construction foreman making the two-hour drive from Birmingham, England, to the capital, London. His reason for travel is to be present for the birth of his child, conceived during a one-night stand with a former colleague. Along the road, he faces personal and professional obstacles as his life starts to unravel. A real one-man showcase of Tom Hardy, “Locke” is a movie that wrings every ounce of tension from its plot, and was written/directed by Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders.”
Watch "Locke" on Netflix now
‘How to Have Sex’ (2023)
“How to Have Sex” is basically the dark version of a sun-soaked movie about three friends heading off for a summer vacation. On the surface, it might seem a setup ripe for comedy, but there’s nothing funny about filmmaker Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut. But that’s certainly not a criticism. It trades poolside hijinks for powerful, raw drama, and its exploration of adolescent angst and awkwardness is truly masterful. It also goes deeper, unafraid to explore the darkest corners of sexual encounters.
In “How to Have Sex,” three British teenagers, Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce), Skye (Lara Peake) and Em (Enva Lewis), head off for a holiday in Malia, Crete (a notorious party location). Their plans involve alcohol, clubbing and meeting boys, but what was supposed to be a memorable rite-of-passage holiday becomes unforgettable for a very different reason. McKenna-Bruce is the real star here, giving a subtle performance that’s award-worthy.
Watch "How to Have Sex" on Netflix now
‘The Double’ (2013)
Filmmaker Richard Ayode’s directorial debut, “Submarine,” is fondly remembered to this day (or at least the soundtrack, created by “Arctic Monkeys’” frontman Alex Turner, is). However, Ayode’s follow-up, “The Double,” is a comedy-thriller that I rarely see mentioned. That’s a great shame because this off-kilter flick is a unique effort that deserves better than its unfortunate fate of fading into near obscurity over the past 13 years.
Jesse Eisenberg plays dual roles here. He plays Simon James and James Simon, the former a downtrodden officer worker, ignored by those around him, and the latter a doppelgänger, who is the polar opposite. James is cool and charismatic, and takes Simon under his wing to help him win the heart of his love interest, Hannah (Mia Wasikowska). But before long, James starts taking over Simon’s life, running his romantic and career goals. The movie’s surrealism and dry humor won’t appeal to all, but you should give it a shot.
Watch "The Double" on Netflix now
