Some Netflix movies should have been released in theaters. They had the kind of visuals and scale that would have looked better on a big screen. The sound design and cinematography would have hit harder in a real theater. A movie like The Irishman, for instance, was made for that experience. It was long, and used technology that would have been more impressive in a proper setting. Similarly, All Quiet on the Western Front had massive war sequences that lost some impact on a small screen. Here are 19 films that should have had a big screen release. Many of these had a limited theatrical release, but viewers worldwide mostly watched these films on small screens.
1. The Irishman (2019)

Scorsese’s The Irishman was made for a theater. The three-and-a-half-hour runtime alone demanded the kind of focus a theatrical setting provides. The de-aging technology used on Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci was ambitious, but it looked different depending on screen quality. In theaters, the detail would have been clearer and more immersive. The film’s slow-burn pacing and historical depth would have benefitted from a captive audience. Watching on a laptop, mobile phone or TV weakens the impact of its performances and cinematography.
2. Roma (2018)

Alfonso Cuarón designed Roma with theaters in mind. The black-and-white cinematography was carefully composed with deep, detailed shots that lost their power on smaller screens. The film’s use of sound was also a major strength. Scenes like the beach rescue or the Corpus Christi massacre were meant to be experienced in surround sound, not through basic speakers or earbuds. Roma was a deeply personal story, but its visual and technical achievements made it far bigger than home viewing could deliver.
3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

This sequel had all the qualities of a great theater experience — sharp dialogue, a large ensemble cast, and a twist-filled plot that would have been even more fun with a live audience. The luxurious set design, especially Miles Bron’s glass mansion, was meant to be seen in full detail. The film’s comedic timing and visual gags worked best when shared with a crowd. A full theatrical release would have let it reach the same cultural momentum as the first Knives Out.
4. The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

This gothic mystery had a cold, eerie atmosphere that deserved a proper big screen release globally. The cinematography made use of muted colors and shadowy landscapes that created a sense of unease. The snowy settings and candlelit interiors looked rich and textured, but much of that was lost on small screens. Christian Bale’s performance, which relied on subtle facial expressions, would have been more powerful in theaters. The film’s slow tension-building would have worked better in an immersive setting.
5. Don't Look Up (2021)

The satire had an ensemble cast filled with actors who were used to drawing big crowds. The disaster-movie elements, including large-scale destruction sequences and exaggerated media coverage, were designed to look chaotic and overwhelming. That sense of spectacle is harder to appreciate on a laptop or phone. The film’s humor, which played off absurd news coverage and public reaction, would have been more effective with an audience. The shared experience of watching it in a theater would have added to its impact.
6. The Harder They Fall (2021)

This Western had a slick visual style that needed a big screen. The vibrant color grading, stylized shootouts, and elaborate set design made it stand out. The sound design, including gunfire and the energetic score, had a dynamic quality that was dulled on smaller devices. The film’s action sequences were staged like classic Western showdowns, meant to be seen in full scale. A theatrical experience would have enhanced the tension and spectacle that made this film feel larger than life.
7. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

This war epic relied on scale. The battle sequences were brutal and immersive, with long tracking shots that showed the full extent of the battlefield. The use of sound was designed to emphasize the chaos of war, from the distant rumble of artillery to the deafening explosions. The cinematography made every trench and open field look vast and unforgiving. Watching it on a small screen softened the impact of its visual intensity. In a theater, the full weight of its imagery would have hit harder.
8. Extraction (2020)

This action movie was made for the big screen. The fight choreography was some of the most impressive in recent years, including a 12-minute one-take sequence that felt like it belonged in a high-budget theatrical release. The urban landscapes, rooftop chases, and river shootouts had a scale that was lost on smaller screens. The heavy use of handheld camerawork and kinetic action felt immersive, but a theater’s larger display and sound system would have made the experience even more intense.
9. Extraction 2 (2023)

The sequel went bigger than the original. The action scenes were longer and more ambitious, including a 21-minute single-take sequence that blended car chases, fights, and shootouts without a single cut. The stunts were massive, featuring explosions, fire, and high-speed combat that needed a large-scale theatrical release. The cinematography captured the raw intensity of each sequence, but much of the energy was lost on home screens. In a theater, the film’s action and sound design would have felt overwhelming.
10. The Power of the Dog (2021)

This slow-burning Western had cinematography that was built for a big screen. The vast landscapes of Montana (filmed in New Zealand) created a sense of isolation that was essential to the film’s tone. The way natural light was used made every scene look carefully crafted. Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance relied on quiet tension and body language, which was harder to appreciate on smaller screens. The film’s psychological weight would have felt heavier in a theater, where distractions don’t pull viewers away.
11. The Midnight Sky (2020)

This sci-fi film was visually stunning but lost its impact on home screens. The scenes set in space had the kind of scale that needed IMAX presentation, with huge planetary backdrops and sweeping shots of spacecraft moving through deep space. The sound design, from the hum of engines to the emptiness of space, was another key element that didn’t translate as well to home viewing. Watching it in a theater would have made its visuals and atmosphere more powerful.
12. Army of the Dead (2021)

Zack Snyder’s zombie heist film had the look and feel of a summer blockbuster. The neon-lit Las Vegas setting was rich in detail, but much of that was lost on smaller screens. The wide-angle cinematography and large-scale set pieces, including a sequence with a zombie tiger, were designed for a theatrical experience. The action, featuring shootouts and hand-to-hand combat with undead hordes, would have been far more exciting in a packed theater with immersive sound.
13. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

This stop-motion adaptation had craftsmanship that deserved a theater release. The animation was rich in texture, from the carved wooden detail of Pinocchio to the carefully designed sets that felt alive. The depth and lighting of each frame were carefully constructed, but home screens dulled the fine details. The film’s emotional weight, especially in its darker themes, would have resonated more with the scale and focus of a theater. It was too visually intricate for casual home viewing.
14. Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022)

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s surreal epic had cinematography that demanded a large screen. The dreamlike sequences were packed with symbolism and long, uninterrupted takes that felt immersive. The use of wide-angle lenses created a warped, exaggerated sense of space that was designed for a large-format experience. Watching it on a smaller screen diminished the film’s visual and emotional weight. The sheer ambition of its visuals and themes made it the kind of film that belonged in theaters.
15. Beasts of No Nation (2015)

This war drama had cinematography that captured both the beauty and horror of its setting. The natural landscapes contrasted with the brutal reality of child soldiers, creating a visual impact that was weakened on home screens. Idris Elba’s performance as the warlord was intense and nuanced, relying on subtle facial expressions that were harder to appreciate without a theater’s focus. The film’s raw power would have been far more overwhelming in a dark, immersive cinematic environment.
16. The Devil All the Time (2020)

This thriller needed a theater to bring out its full impact. The cinematography relied on dim lighting and long shadows that lost their depth on smaller screens. The movie built tension slowly and required focus to appreciate its unsettling atmosphere. Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson gave intense performances that depended on small details and controlled expressions. Watching at home made distractions easy. The film’s dark tone would have been stronger in a large theater where every moment felt heavier.
17. Reptile (2023)

This crime thriller worked best in a controlled setting. The cinematography used muted colors and slow camera movements to create unease. The story unraveled gradually and relied on small shifts in expressions to build suspense. Benicio Del Toro’s performance was filled with small details that got lost in casual home viewing. The film needed a space where distractions did not break the tension. A theater’s large screen and deep sound design would have made every moment feel more unsettling.
18. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

This movie relied on a dreamlike atmosphere that was harder to appreciate at home. The cinematography used close-ups and long takes that required full attention. The film played with shifting timelines and surreal storytelling that worked best when seen without interruptions. The eerie tone and strange visuals needed a theater’s controlled environment to feel as unsettling as intended. Watching on a small screen took away from its immersive effect. A larger setting would have made the film’s tension more suffocating.
19. 6 Underground (2019)

This action film was made for a big screen. The car chases and explosions were massive and lost their impact on small screens. The cinematography used fast cuts and wild camera angles that felt overwhelming when watched on a laptop. The high-energy pacing worked best in a theater where every explosion and stunt could be fully appreciated. The sound design was built for large speakers, to make every moment feel more intense. This was the kind of movie meant for theaters.

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