Images: Netflix/Getty Images
Guillermo del Toro has earned Netflix its first Oscar in the animation category. He has been involved in numerous projects currently available for viewing on the platform, and there are several more in the works. Additionally, the acclaimed director and writer has backed a variety of other titles available on Netflix, which we’ll list below.
As mentioned, you can watch many Guillermo del Toro titles on Netflix right now. His relationship with the stream began in the mid-2010s when he began working on his ambitious DreamWorks Television series. Tales of Arcadia, which spanned four shows and one movie. Since then, we have seen him release Pinocchio and the excellent limited series, Cabinet of curiosities.
While we can’t guarantee we’ve caught all of GDT’s Netflix recommendations, over time we’ll compile the list below:
The murderer
Directed by David Fincher
Released on Netflix: November 10, 2023
Image: Netflix
Like GDT, David Fincher has called Netflix home for the past few years, with his 2023 Michael Fassbender film being one of his biggest projects to date. Based on the French comics, the film shows a murderer who questions his role in the world.
That Guillermo del Toro said in X:
“The Killer is a beautiful Bronson film written by Sartre and filmed by Melville with the liveliness of a Siegel. I just love, love, love when Fincher rocks a mediocre genre beat. Agile and like clockwork, precise and fun. The happiest movie I’ve seen in a long time. “It’s great when you can watch a movie and a movie at the same time.”
ONI: The Tale of the Thunder God
Created by Daisuke ‘Dice’ Tsutsumi
Episodes: 4
Released on Netflix: October 21, 2022
Image: Netflix
It’s no secret that Guillermo has an absolute love for all things stop-motion, so it’s refreshing that he gave his seal of approval to the criminally overlooked miniseries. ONI: The tale of the god of thunder.
An early tweet November 2022 said:
“Amazing beauty and generous heart. Look at this marvelous feat of art and storytelling…”
Entergalactic
Created by Scott Mescudi and Kenya Barris
Released on Netflix: September 30, 2022
Image: Netflix
Another animated choice from Guillermo del Toro is the ambitious television special in which Netflix teamed up with Kid Cudi for a unique piece of music to accompany the artist’s album of the same name.
In a September 30 tweet, GDT says the film has “a beautiful vibe: a peaceful, heartfelt pause in a world made magical through sound and image. “I could swim in it all day.”
Prayers for the stolen
Directed by Tatiana Huezo
Released on Netflix: November 17, 2021
Image: Netflix
Another drama produced in Mexico was Prayers for the stolenwhich served as Mexico’s entry to the Oscar of the year.
Here’s what you can expect from the film, which runs just under two hours:
“In a mountainous region of Mexico where poppies abound, three girls take refuge in their friendship to face the trials brought on them by a drug cartel.”
Here we have two recommendations for the price of one, with GDT also gives a thumbs up toward 2019 The Wolves.
The White tiger
Directed by Ramin Bahrani
Released on Netflix: January 2021
Image: Netflix
Originally from India, this great film adapted Aravind Adiga’s novel of the same name and tells the story of a man who comes from a poor village.
In its February 2021 review, GDT said:
“Dickensian fable of Razorblade via James M. Cain or a WB gangster epic (The Roaring Twenties, The Public Enemy). Brutal, precise and involving. Deep and ruthless. The carnivorous class struggle. A rage that slowly grows until reaching a shocking end.”
I’m not here anymore
Directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra.
Released on Netflix: May 28, 2020
Image: Netflix
From Mexico, this musical drama is about a 17-year-old boy forced to cross the border to save his life after having a misunderstanding with a local gang.
Guillermo del Toro reviewed the movie in June 2020 in Spanish (translated to English):
“With the world where it is, this splendid film resonated with me, moved me, shook me, made me think and provoked in me deep admiration and respect. She is on NETFLIX and speaks with strength and power. ””
Netflix even released a follow-up documentary to the film in 2020 that featured Guillermo del Toro in conversation with Alfonso Cuarón.
Dolemite is my name
Directed by Craig Brewer
Released on Netflix: October 25, 2019
Image: Netflix
Eddie Murphy played Rudy Ray Moore in this biographical comedy of the late comedy pioneer.
In a Tweet from October 6, Guillermo praises the two protagonists and says:
“Murphy and Wesley Snipes are fantastic in this! And Scott and Larry do it again! Congratulations!»
the Irish
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Released on Netflix: September 27, 2019
Image: Netflix
Guillermo praised Scorsese’s big Netflix film released in late 2019, calling it “monumental” in a Tweet and recommending everyone at the time to see it in a theater if they could.
He also wrote a 13 tweet essay about what he loved about the film and his general reflections throughout. It’s worth reading in full, but in his final comments, he writes:
“This film needs time, but it has to be processed as a real grief. It will emerge in stages… I believe that most of its power will be absorbed over time and will bring about a true realization. A masterpiece. The perfect corollary Goodfellas and Casino.”
when they see us
Created and directed by Ava DuVernay
Released on Netflix: May 31, 2019
Image: Netflix
When it comes to the best limited series on Netflix, many would place When Us See in the top 10, and it looks like Guillermo agrees! In July 2019GDT posted about the series’ 16 Emmy nominations, calling it «impressive.»
As a reminder, the series follows «Five Harlem teenagers are trapped in a nightmare when they are falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park.»
Roma
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Released on Netflix: December 14, 2018
Image: Netflix
For the next two titles, both were listed among those of GDT. favorites for 2018 but in the case of Roma, GDT wrote a short essay on Twitter about some of his reflections on the film.
For those unfamiliar, the black-and-white film portrays domestic life and social hierarchy in contrast to Mexico’s political turmoil of the 1970s.
Here it is Guillermo’s complete thread about the film.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen
Released on Netflix: November 16, 2018
Image: Netflix
The Coen brothers’ first foray into Netflix featured an anthology of stories (or vignettes) following numerous outlaws and settlers along the American frontier.
GDT mentioned the film in his Best of 2018 list He also reviewed the film, saying:
“A prodigious Memento Mori. A collection of cautionary tales about life’s ultimate destiny: death.
The ritual
Directed by David Bruckner
Screenplay by Joe Barton
Released on Netflix: February 9, 2018
Image: Netflix/EOne
Based on a novel by Adam Nevill, this is one of several horrors to hit Netflix that have often been overlooked in the years since their release.
Rafe Spall leads the cast of the film, which follows a group of college friends who gather for a trip to the woods, but soon encounter a mysterious creature stalking them.
That Guillermo said in X:
“Amazing and terrifying. Featuring a beautiful creature designed by frequent collaborator Keith Thompson.”
The Meyerowitz Stories
Directed by Noah Baumbach.
Released on Netflix: October 13, 2017
Image: Netflix
One of the many Adam Sandler films that have appeared on Netflix over the years includes the excellent Meyerowitz Stories, in which he stars alongside Ben Stiller and the great Dustin Hoffman.
Guillermo expresses his love for Adam Sandler constantly throughout his timeline, but this one got a particular thumbs up. saying:
«Adam Sandler is magnificent in this, just as he was in Punch Drunk Love… that PTA masterpiece that many don’t like but many more like…»
Errementari: The blacksmith and the devil
Directed by Pablo Urkijo Alijo
Released on Netflix: October 12, 2017
Photo: Filmax
One of the best things about Netflix is diving into the wide range of international titles in the catalog and, to date, this is one of the only Alava films in Basque.
According to Netflix, here’s what you can expect from the movie:
“A brutal blacksmith tortures a demon he blames for his misery, not knowing that an interloping orphan is about to change everything. “Based on Basque folklore.”
In several tweets, GDT referred to the film as a “great Basque horror/fairy tale.” and adds that it is “full of wit and great moments.”
in a Follow up, says: “Very out of character and moves quickly into unexpected tonal changes and emotions. Beautiful watch…”
If you want even more GDT recommendations, someone on Letterboxd has put together a complete list that includes titles not available on Netflix.
Guillermo isn’t the only famous creator sharing his Netflix picks online. As we covered before, Stephen King tends to review a lot of Netflix additions and we’ve listed most of his picks in the link above. We also recently looked at five sci-fi recommendations from Adi Shankar.
Have we missed any of Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix selections? Let us know in the comments below.