Best Arabic Movies To Watch On Netflix

As a result, there are many Arabic movies available on Netflix right now, including both classic works from the Arabic film canon and up-and-coming actors from the independent scene.

A lot of the options are Egyptian pop comedies, which do have their ageless charm—not least in the new collection of great comedy plays—but it could take a little longer to unearth the undiscovered jewels, festival favorites, and lost gems. So we tracked them down for you.

44 films by Arab directors, including Youssef Chahine, Youssry Nasrallah, Nadine Labaki, Moustapha Akkad, Anne Marie Jacir, Laila Marrakchi, and many more, have just been added to Netflix’s new repertoire.

20 Best Arabic Films To Watch on Netflix

With these new additions to its library of Arabic movies, Netflix has expanded its role as a veritable cornucopia for the genre’s master filmmakers.

1. Exterior / Night

The 2018 Toronto International Film Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema program featured a screening of the Ahmed Abdallah-directed movie, which also starred Karim Kassem, Mona Hala, Sherif El Dessouky, and Ahmed Malek.

Sherif El-Dessouky received the festival’s Best Actor Award for his performance in the movie. A stressed-out young director calls a cab in this story, and the turbulent ride becomes an analysis on class and gender with a sex worker and an aggressive driver.

2. Where Do We Go Now?

The Nadine Labaki-directed and -starred movie had its world premiere as part of Un Certain Regard at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

It was selected to represent Lebanon at the 84th Academy Awards (though it did not make the final shortlist), won the People’s Choice Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, and was the highest-grossing Arabic and Lebanese movie up until Labaki’s later movie Capernaum overtook it in terms of box office.

The ladies of a Lebanese town unite to creatively condemn sectarian bloodshed while their men fight a war.

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3. Sheikh Jackson

Following the untimely passing of pop icon and devoted Muslim imam Michael Jackson, the imam experiences a crisis of faith.

It was chosen as Egypt’s submission for the 90th Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category but was not nominated.

It was directed by Amr Salama and starred Ahmed Malek, Ahmed El-Fishawi, Salma Abu Deif, and Amina Khalil. It screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

4. Omar

The Hany Abu-Assad-directed movie, which featured Adam Bakri, Waleed Zuaiter, and Leem Lubany, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize.

It was also screened at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for the 86th Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film.

Omar, a contemporary classic, in which a young Palestinian man repeatedly scales the Apartheid Wall to see his girlfriend Nadia and becomes embroiled in the horrors of the occupation.

5. Clash

The Mohamed Diab-directed film, which starred Hany Adel and Nelly Karim, was officially chosen for the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and screened as the festival’s Un Certain Regard opening feature.

It was chosen as Egypt’s submission for the 89th Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category, however it did not receive a nomination.

In the chaos that followed the overthrow of Egyptian President Morsi, protesters from various backgrounds were brought together into a police van.

6. Theeb

In the midst of World War I, a 10-year-old Bedouin orphan sets out on a perilous trek to lead a British soldier through the hostile desert, past renegades and mercenaries.

The movie, which included Marji Audeh, Jack Fox, and Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen as its main cast members and was directed by Naji Abu Nowar, received the first-ever nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.

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7. Wajib

A Palestinian returnee and his traditional father debate their divergent ideas as they get back together to distribute wedding invitations to a family wedding.

The film, which was produced by renowned Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir and starred Mohammad Bakri, Saleh Bakri, and Tarik Kopty, was shown in the Contemporary World Cinema category at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

It was also chosen as Palestine’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards, but it did not receive a nomination.

8. Blessed Benefit

An honest guy learns that life in prison after being falsely convicted of fraud comes with a level of freedom that is unattainable outside, especially because all of his material problems are taken care of.

The 2016 Toronto International Film Festival’s Discovery section will have a screening of the Mahmoud al Massad-directed movie, which also stars Ahmad Thaher, Maher Khammash, and Odai Hijazi.

9. The Worthy

A tiny group of survivors who have sought safety close to a rare pure water source after the vast bulk of the world’s water supply has become lethally poisoned are forced into a deadly game of cat and mouse and must protect their life from infiltrators who are not who they seem.

10. Rock the Casbah

For three days of grieving and reflection, a recently dead Moroccan patriarch gathers his wife and three daughters back together.

Nadine Labaki, Hiam Abbas, and Morjana Alaoui all make appearances in the a-list movie, which is directed by Laila Marrakchi.

11. In Syria

In Syria, which also stars Hiam Abbas, centers on a family who shelters inside their Damascus flat while conflict rages outside. Phillipe Van Leeuw served as the film’s director.

12. Very Big Shot

With the aid of his two brothers and an untalented filmmaker, a small-time drug dealer from Lebanon is attempting to sneak a million-dollar cargo of drugs across the border.

The dark comedy, which was chosen as Lebanon’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards, is helmed by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya and stars Alain Saadeh, Fouad Yasmine, and Tarek Yaacoub.

It was presented in the Discovery section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

13. Dachra

A group of journalism students visit a mystery town filled with deadly rituals as part of a witchcraft investigation that is inspired by actual events.

The movie is starring Yassmine Dimassi, Aziz Jbali, and Bilal Slatnia and was directed by Abdelhamid Bouchnak.

14. Alexandria, Why?

In Youssef Chahine’s masterful autobiographical work, a young Egyptian man living in Alexandria during World War II falls in love with American movies and has aspirations of becoming a successful actor in Hollywood.

(Also, let none of us forget the beautiful queer subplot in this film, which Netflix has thankfully kept uncensored.)

15. Al Resala / The Message:

The Message, a religious historical epic simultaneously created in English and Arabic, tells the story of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the beginnings of Islam from the viewpoint of the religion’s first adherents.

16. Six Windows in The Dessert

This is more like a collection of six gift-wrapped Saudi short films than it is a single feature.

The movies include Is Sumyati Going to Hell? by Meshal Al-Jasser, Wasati by Ali Kalthami, 27th of Shaaban by Mohamed Al Salman, Predicament in Sight by Faris Godus, The Rat by Faisal Al Amer, and Curtain by Mohamed Al-Salman.

17. The Other Land

Young Egyptians flee their hometowns and set out on a perilous voyage across merciless waters in pursuit of better life in Italy. Khaled Abdelhamed, Muhammad Ali, and Amr Amin feature in Ali Idris’ film.

18. Stray Bullet

Stray Bullet, starring the as-of-yet unnominated Nadine Labaki, is the tale of soon-to-be-married Noha in 1976 Beirut who, following a run-in with an old flame, witnesses a violent occurrence and alters course on a journey to self-realization. Georges Hachem served as the film’s director.

19. In Paradox

A man urgently tries to get control over his weird memories while running from attackers before they take over his life and his sanity.

The movie, which was directed by Hamad AlSarraf, features Samr Ismaiel, Jafra Younes, and Faisal Al Omairi.

20. Villa 69

A dying old man’s pleasant solitude is disturbed when his sister and grandnephew move in, forcing him to consider his past.

Starring in the movie are Khaled Abol Naga, Lebleba, and Arwa Gouda, it is directed by Ayten Amin.

Conclusion

We don’t claim for these movies to be the absolute best, but they are surely worth a watch as they keep you engaged and also introduce you to a whole new culture.

It is important that we have a variety of movies to watch from, in terms of culture and originality. Share with us if you have any recommendations for Arabic movies on Netflix!