10 Great Films From 2017 You Can Stream Right Now

There are only a few weeks left in 2017, which means that countless film fans are scrambling to see as many titles from the last 12 months before completing their year-end list.

While a difficult, and stressful task, fear not, as we here at Talk Film Society have assembled our list of great films that you can easily access right now on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.

Raw (streaming on Netflix)

Making her feature debut, writer-director Julia Ducournau’s coming-of-age tale made a splash at various festivals thanks to its shocking subject matter. Rigorous vegetarian Justine (Garance Marillier) follows in her family’s footsteps by entering veterinary school, and upon consuming meat for the first time as part of a hazing ritual, begins to feel intense and unexpected urges from deep within, of a violent and sexual nature. Full of unexpected and truly revolting sequences, Raw takes its premise and defies expectations, instantly making Ducournau a director to watch. Our review.

The Lost City of Z (streaming on Amazon Prime)

Adapting the novel by David Grann, director James Gray (We Own the Night, Two Lovers, The Immigrant) undertakes a period adventure setting for his most ambitious film to date. Captain Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) sets out to discover a hidden city in the Amazon over multiple expeditions in the early 20th century, along with the assistance of British corporal Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson). Awe-inspiring and gorgeous, even when consumed with madness and obsession amidst a dark chapter of colonialism, it is truly a one-of-a-kind feature.

Columbus (streaming on Hulu)

A quiet, beautifully captured story with shades of Richard Linklater and Yasujiro Ozu, Columbus one of the year’s most distinctive debuts. Set in Columbus, Indiana, a relatively small city that’s home to some of the world’s most foremost pieces of modern architecture, the emphasis is on the relationship between two strangers (John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson) who form an unlikely connection. Simply stunning from start to end, it is sure to make its director Kogonada a soon-to-be household name.

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (streaming on Netflix)

As a character actor, Macon Blair has quickly become sought out, thanks to his roles in films directed by Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room). For his directorial debut, Blair infuses the backwater-noir stylings of his buddy’s work with something more darkly comical, akin to the Coen brothers’ work, make with I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore. After she is burglarized, Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) teams up with her martial-arts crazed neighbor (Elijah Wood) to take back what is rightfully hers, but in the process, ends up in a situation way over her head with a local gang of violent criminals. This year’s Sundance Grand Jury prize winner, it’s a captivating and enthralling story from start to finish. Our review.

Colossal (streaming on Hulu)

A unique and fantastic spin on your typical kaiju movie, Colossal takes on an absurd premise as its protagonist (Anne Hathaway) discovers she holds a mental link to a giant monster which has invaded Japan and is causing massive amounts of destruction and death. Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes, Open Windows) constructs a more thoughtful approach to the typically action-oriented genre film, complete with ramifications about how addiction and depression create toxicity. With a great cast, including Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, and Tim Blake Nelson, it’s easily one of 2017’s biggest surprises.

Nocturama (streaming on Netflix)

At once controversial and disturbing, Bertrand Bonello’s Nocturama follows a group of young radicals in Paris after they ignite a series of terrorist attacks, and come to grips with their actions in the deadly aftermath. The film explores the leftist leanings of today’s youth and their proclivities towards political action, making it downright unforgettable and a film that many believe is worth considering for film of the year.

After the Storm (streaming on Amazon Prime)

A drama centering around a man (Hiroshi Abe) attempting to reconnect to his broken family after the death of his father, After the Storm is another well-paced affair from Japanese writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Like Father Like Son, Still Walking). While simplistic from the outset, it manages to channel a soft sense of subtle emotionality that shows why Kore-eda is among the greats in his field.

The Transfiguration (streaming on Netflix)

A tragic, slow-burn, postmodern take on vampirism, Michael O’Shea’s The Transfiguration centers on troubled teen Milo (Eric Ruffin), who truly believes he is a vampire, and Sophia (Chloe Levine), a young girl alienated in her own way with whom Milo strikes up a relationship with. The dark undercurrent which guides the story is remarkably intense, and has what it takes to situate the film itself as one of the most singular horror films of the past few years. Our review.

The Girl with All The Gifts (streaming on Amazon Prime)

Based on the novel by M.R. Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts is an unconventional zombie drama, set in the aftermath of a global catastrophe that has turned most of the world’s population into thoughtless killing machines. After one military outpost is engaged in a full-scale attack that leaves many dead, a small band of survivors including a scientist, a schoolteacher, and an infected young girl with psychological abilities attempt to find refuge while evading packs of zombies roaming the countryside. For fans of British zombie films like 28 Days Later, it comes well recommended, thanks to featuring well developed characters, an intriguing story, and lots of nasty gore.

All These Sleepless Nights (streaming on Netflix)

If you’re a fan of Terrence Malick’s last few films, chances are you’ll adore the dreamy aesthetic of All These Sleepless Nights from director Michal Marczak. The nightlife of Warsaw, Poland is the setting for this feature that seamlessly blends truth and fiction, focusing on two young art students regaling in their youth, falling in and out of love, and enjoying what the city has to offer through the bliss of summer. Adored by many since its premiere at Sundance in 2016, it manages to be captivatingly hypnotic with a sense of energetic exuberance.