The 10 Most Popular Non-English Netflix Exclusive Movies of All Time

Looking to add some non-English films to your Netflix watchlist but don’t know where to start? These Netflix Originals are some of the most popular and watched films the platform has to offer, spanning different genres and languages.

These films are a mixed bag, with some sweeping awards and a few amassing mixed reviews from critics. But if you want to expand your watchlist beyond English films, these popular ones are a good place to start.

10

My Name Is Vendetta

A classic mafia revenge story with a heart

My Name Is Vendetta (Italian: Il mio nome è vendetta) is a crime action thriller that tells a strong revenge story. After his wife is killed, Sata Romeo, a former mafia enforcer, lives in the shadows with his daughter in Milan, plotting his revenge on his enemies. The movie has heavy action tied together with an emotional plot at its core. In 2023, the movie’s producer said that a sequel was in the works.

9

Ad Vitam

A Former Elite Agent’s Manhunt for His Wife

Ad Vitam (Latin: For life) is a French thriller crime action movie that follows the story of Franck Lazarev, a former elite agent, as he tries to grapple with his wife, Leo’s kidnapping after a murder attempt on his life by a group of armed men. Ad Vitam focuses on Lazarev’s manhunt for his wife while he grapples with past demons and navigates through a conspiracy.

8

Blood Red Sky

A Gory Horror Thriller Set High in the Clouds

Blood Red Sky (or Transatlantic 473) is a German horror thriller film about Nadja, a German widow traveling with her son on a red-eye flight to New York when their transatlantic flight is hijacked by a group of armed men. When they’re plunged into chaos, Nadja must battle her past while surviving the hijack and save her son. Blood Red Sky is one of the 71 Netflix Original films released in 2021 when the streaming platform released at least one original movie a week.

This vampire-themed horror is rated ‘R’ for its gore and violence, so proceed with caution if you’re not a big fan of strong violence.

7

AKA

An Action-Heavy Story About an Undercover Agent

AKA is a French action crime thriller that tells the story of Adam Franco, an undercover special ops agent working for the French government, sent on a mission to infiltrate a crime syndicate run by a Sudanese warlord. While the movie has some strong action sequences and good fight choreography, the story also focuses on Adam’s unexpected bond with Jonathan, the son of the syndicate’s gangster boss. AKA is a gripping and entertaining watch for fans of action movies and has been praised for its cinematography.

6

Through My Window

A Romance Based on a Book

Through My Window (Spanish: A través de mi ventana) is the most-watched non-English romance Netflix Original film. This Spanish teen romance is based on the romance book of the same name, authored by Ariana Godoy. The plot follows Raquel and her obsession with Ares, her neighbor, with whom she has never talked. Their romance sparks when Ares hacks into Raquel’s Wi-Fi, forcing a confrontation. The story takes the audience through their love story, as Ares deals with his family’s disapproval, and Raquel deals with her hesitation to write and publish her novel. The film has two sequels, which you can stream on Netflix.

5

The Platform

An Innovative Yet Brutal Concept Set in a Dystopian Prison

If your poison of choice is sci-fi horror, then this Spanish original will have you hooked in seconds with its intense storytelling. The Platform is a dystopian thriller set in an industrial tower (Vertical Self-Management Centre) that acts as a prison with multiple levels. Here, inmates are forced to survive in a system where food is served on a descending platform, with those on the upper levels grabbing more than their fair share, leaving inmates on lower levels to fight for scraps. No inmate is allowed to keep food after the two-minute stop of the platform at each level. The protagonist, Goreng, decides to fight this system.

The Platform is a brutal survival story with psychological horror elements, and its high-strung plot and unique concept have helped garner the movie’s massive view time. A sequel, The Platform 2, is also available to stream on Netflix.

4

Nowhere

A Harsh Survival Thriller Set in a Dystopian Spain

Nowhere is a 2023 survival film set in a dystopian society where a totalitarian government, taking harsh measures to reduce overpopulation, has taken over. Separated from her husband, the protagonist, Mia is forced to survive in a harsh environment: stuck in a shipping container in the middle of the ocean during a violent storm while keeping herself and her unborn child safe. This gripping film takes the audience on a rollercoaster as Mia gives birth and must keep herself alive to save her child.

Nowhere was the most watched non-English film of 2023, garnering 24 million views within only three days of its release on the platform.

3

Society of the Snow

A Gripping Survival Film Based on a True Story

Set in 1972, Society of The Snow (Spanish: La sociedad de la nieve) depicts the true story of the Flight 571 crash and is based on Pablo Vierci’s book of the same name. The story focuses on the journey of a Uruguayan rugby team as they traverse through a dangerous, remote part of the Andes to survive a harsh environment after their flight crashes.

This nail-biting survival drama was met with critical acclaim, winning over 12 awards, including two Goya Awards and 6 Platino Awards. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards (Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling).

2

Under Paris

A Shark Movie With a Ticking Time Bomb

Under Paris (French: Sous la Seine) is a disaster horror film of the shark movie genre. It tells the story of Sophia Assalas, a grieving marine scientist who has to help save Paris from a disaster when Lillith, a shortfin mako shark, appears in the River Seine. Things get complicated as a triathlon is set to be held in this river, adding urgency to the situation.

Despite average reviews, Under Paris was the fourth most-watched film for the first half of 2024, amassing upward of 80 million views within its first month of release.

1

Troll

An Epic Monster Action Inspired by Norwegian Folklore

Troll is the most-watched non-English Netflix Original to date, with a whopping view count of over 103 million. This Norwegian epic monster action film, directed by Roar Uthag (Tomb Raider 2018), follows a group of unlikely heroes as they try to stop an ancient troll from wreaking havoc on Oslo. The story’s central concept of the ancient troll is inspired by a Norwegian folklore-focused idea that Uthag had been skirting around for over 20 years. A sequel to Trolls is currently in the works.

While this list is a good place to start, you can find many non-English films in different languages on Netflix, based on which genre you want to delve into. If you’re intrigued by the plot of the films listed, you can find similar films in Netflix’s recommendations.