The parade of summer movies continue on Netflix as the calendar turns to June. After the success of Jennifer Lopez’s Atlas, Netflix will see if they have another winner in Hit Man. Directed by Richard Linklater, Hit Man stars Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, a college professor who stumbles into a job working as an undercover hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. Hit Man has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, so let’s see if it leads to a large viewership.
Beyond the splashy titles, Netflix has thousands of other movies to stream, many of which are quite underrated. Below, we selected five under-the-radar movies to stream in June. Our picks include a sports documentary about a football icon, an erotic thriller, and a heartwarming adventure film.
Dark Waters (2019)
In 2019, Todd Haynes tackled the environmental crisis involving DuPont in Dark Waters. Based on a true story from 1998, Dark Waters stars Mark Ruffalo as Robert Bilott, a corporate defense lawyer working for a firm in Cincinnati. A farmer named Wilbur O. Tennant (Bill Camp) asks Bilott to investigate why cattle are dying on his farm in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Tennant believes that the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont is behind the deaths.
Bilott discovers that DuPont is poisoning the cattle and the town’s residents. Now emotionally invested in the case, Bilott risks it all to take on DuPont, but the corporation won’t go down without a fight. Backed by a strong performance from Ruffalo, Dark Waters is an eye-opening view into corporate malpractice that will leave you horrified. Haynes manages to honor the victims by making Dark Waters an essential viewing.
Stream Dark Waters on Netflix.
Untold: Johnny Football (2023)
In 2012, Johnny Manziel, aka Johnny Football, was the most electrifying man in college football. The Texas A&M quarterback won the Heisman Trophy, leading the Aggies to an 11-2 record. Manziel was at the top of the world, and he just turned 20. However, Manziel was battling demons behind the scenes.
Untold: Johnny Football explores the rise and fall of Manziel. The documentary explores his dominance in college football, his rise in popularity, and the troubles that led to him being bounced from the NFL. A decade after his peak, Manziel now reflects on his mistakes and reveals if he’s at peace in his current life.
Stream Untold: Johnny Football on Netflix.
Fair Play (2023)
Fair Play is a throwback to the 1990s erotic thrillers that dominated pop culture, like Basic Instinct, The Last Seduction, and Indecent Proposal. Written and directed by Chloe Domont, Fair Play stars Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich as Emily and Luke, two financial analysts who work at a ruthless Manhattan hedge fund. Emily and Luke are in a secret relationship, though that doesn’t stop Luke from proposing, which Emily accepts.
Though Luke expects to be promoted, Emily surprisingly scores it instead. Now, the power dynamics in their relationship have shifted. Despite his initial support, Luke is disappointed he didn’t receive the promotion, so he tries to win the favor of the higher-ups behind Emily’s back. Meanwhile, Emily wants to stay in power by becoming more cutthroat at work. Between the sex, money, and backstabbing, can this relationship last?
Stream Fair Play on Netflix.
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Out of all the films on this list, The Peanut Butter Falcon will leave you with the biggest smile when the end credits roll. Zak (Zack Gottsagen) is a 22-year-old with Down syndrome who lives at a state-run care facility. Tired of his old life, Zak runs away and sets off to train as a professional wrestler in North Carolina under the guidance of his hero, the Salt Water Redneck. However, Zak is going to need some help getting there. Enter Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), an outlaw on the run from his fishing rivals.
Tyler agrees to help Zak get to the wrestling school, and along the way, the two form a familial bond. As they set sail down the river, Eleanor (Madame Web‘s Dakota Johnson), Zak’s caretaker at the facility, finds the duo and reluctantly joins them on their journey. Overall, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a fun, feel-good movie with a heartfelt message.
Stream The Peanut Butter Falcon on Netflix.
Megan Leavey (2017)
Megan Leavey is proof that dogs are awesome. In this true story, Kate Mara stars as Megan Leavey, a U.S. Marine corporal who works as a Military Police K9 handler. Megan is paired with Rex, a military combat dog with an attitude. The two end up working together during their deployments in Iraq.
Although Rex is aggressive, Megan forms a special bond with the dog as they build trust and understanding. The tandem goes on to work over 100 missions together, but a tragic explosion jeopardizes their survival. If you like dogs, you’ll love and appreciate Megan Leavey.
Stream Meagan Leavey on Netflix.
