Netflix‘s most popular movies list almost always features at least one unheralded film that surprises everyone by getting a high placement.
This week, the movie in question is Alice, a 2022 crime thriller that bombed in limited release. But now, it’s a streaming hit.
It’s also one of Watch With Us‘ picks for the three popular Netflix movies you need to watch now.
Our other choices include a sports comedy and a comic-book flick that’s finally getting a larger audience on Netflix.
‘Alice’ (2022)
Keke Palmer stars in Alice as the title character, a woman who was raised in slavery by a man named Paul Bennett (Jonny Lee Miller). When Alice finally makes her escape from bondage, she discovers that she’s been misled her entire life. It’s not the 19th century, it’s 1973, and her past was predicated on a cruel lie.
A truck driver named Frank (Common) helps Alice adjust to life in the present, but it’s not enough. She needs to go back and find Joseph’s hidden compound, rescue the slaves and get her revenge. And not necessarily in that order.
Alice is streaming on Netflix.
‘Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story’ (2004)
Ben Stiller gets to play a hilariously obnoxious villain named White Goodman in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and the film always feels more alive when he’s on-screen. Vince Vaughn headlines the film as Peter LaFleur, the down-on-his-luck owner of Average Joe’s Gym. Goodman owns Globo Gym, and he’s able to use Peter’s financial difficulties to force him out of his own business unless he can raise $50,000 in a month.
Peter’s only hope to save his gym is a dodgeball tournament that has a very high cash prize, and some of his regular customers are even willing to join his team. When Goodman discovers Peter’s plan, he puts together a dodgeball team of his own to crush his rival’s dreams once and for all.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is streaming on Netflix.
‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’ (2012)
The second Ghost Rider movie, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, brings back Nicolas Cage one last time to play Johnny Blaze, a former stuntman who was cursed by the devil to be the Earthly vessel of the spirit of vengeance, Zarathos. Johnny tried to be a hero, but now he just wants to hide from the world.
Unfortunately for Johnny, hiding is no longer an option. A cult leader named Roarke (Ciarán Hinds) is targeting a young boy, Danny Ketch (Fergus Riordan), for a dark ritual that will place Roarke’s mind in Danny’s body. In exchange for a promise to remove Ghost Rider from his soul, Johnny agrees to help Danny’s mother, Nadya Ketch (Violante Placido), protect him from Roarke. But if Johnny’s bargain frees him from the Ghost Rider, he may be left powerless when the forces of evil track them down.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is streaming on Netflix.