Windfall (2022) is a suspenseful thriller starring Jason Segel, Jesse Plemons and Lily Collins and is directed by Charlie McDowell. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
This film has a stellar score to complement the minimal cast and the confined setting. A thriller that includes messages about the class divide as well marital issues, Windfall is is a brilliant film with a tight runtime but an intensity that stays strong for every single second. This list will look at several other films that follow a similar tone or tell a similar tale that will have the audience thoroughly satisfied by the end.
Here are 10 movies like Windfall on Netflix, Prime Video & more:
1. The Guilty
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Peter Sarsgaard, Christina Vidal, Eli Goree, Ethan Hawke
Told from the perspective of a 911 operator, ‘The Guilty’ follows disgraced officer Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal) as he takes a call that puts him right in the middle of a complicated hostage situation where a woman is allegedly kidnapped by her ex-husband. Spending almost an entire day talking on the phone with the woman and co-ordinating with various authorities, Baylor is distracted from the issues affecting his own life.
‘The Guilty’ is a absorbing thriller with a restrained cast and a gripping storyline bound to have you hooked onto every word that is being said. It has been adapted from an original Danish film of the same name.
2. Buried
Available on: HBO Max
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, José Luis García Pérez, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Samantha Mathis, Ivana Miño
Paul Conroy (Reynolds) is a truck driver stationed in Iraq in 2006. One day, his convoy is attacked and the next time he wakes up he finds himself stuck in a coffin with just a lighter and full charged cell phone. He has 90 minutes of oxygen to figure out where he is and how to relay that information to the outside world.
A breathtaking film about a man in a race against time, ‘Buried’ is one Ryan Reynolds’ early projects that proves he has some serious acting pedigree.
3. Swiss Army Man
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Antonia Ribero, Timothy Eulich, Richard Gross
Hank (Dano) is stranded on a deserted island and has lost all hope of survival. Just as he’s about to end his life, he comes across a corpse (Radcliffe) and goes to investigate. He soon realises that this is no ordinary corpse, as it can talk and perform many other supernatural feats that normal human bodies cannot even dream of. With his new friend, Hank starts to believe that he may get out of this predicament after all.
A quirky concept that is elevated by the performance of its two lead actors, Dano and Radcliffe, ‘Swiss Army Man’ is the perfect embodiment of less is more in this fun,hilarious ride.
4. The Hateful Eight
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
An eclectic group of individuals find themselves cooped up in a rest house trying to stay warm during a snowstorm. During the course of their stay, they share stories with each other of their various conquests and ultimately realise that something suspicious is afoot. What lies ahead is a mystery to all but one, and its down to the occupants to figure out who is the nefarious trickster.
A Quentin Tarantino masterpiece, ‘The Hateful Eight’ has all the hallmarks of one of his films with blood and guts galore as well as some very colourful language in the confines of old western cabin.
5. 12 Angry Men
Available on: Prime Video
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman
12 jurors are given the task on deciding the fate of a young man who has been accused of murdering his father after the defense and the prosecution have both made their case. While they all seem to swing the same way initially, the revelation of new evidence and the rigors of staying in with each other for so long complicates the decision as the jurors begin to conflict each other as their true nature seeps out.
A film taking place entirely within a jury room, ’12 Angry Man’ gives us a look at the the judicial process behind a conviction or an acquittal based on the opinions of 12 seemingly random individuals.
6. American Beauty
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher
Lester (Spacey) is going through a mid-life crisis as he finds himself struck in a soulless marriage, a dead-end job and failing to make any meaningful connection with his daughter. All this takes a turn when Lester meets his daughter’s friend and becomes infatuated with her. He begins to live life with a more upbeat attitude that lead to some questionable decisions that affect multiple peoples lives as they become intertwined in this web of the suburbs.
With the lead actor being blacklisted for his truly horrible actions, it’s a shame that this captivating film will not get the kind of attention it deserves. The fascinating build up to what is an extraordinary finish means ‘American Beauty’ is one of the better movies to have been made in this genre.
7. Office Space
Available on: Disney+
Cast: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader, Stephen Root
3 employees of the company ‘Initech’ are fed up of working under their condescending boss and conspire to cause the company a loss with the help of a computer virus. However, when the virus so much more damage then they intended, they scramble to fix their mistake and ensure that there is no evidence left behind to incriminate them. Meanwhile, office punching bang, Milton (Root), is going through his own sad life being walked over by everyone until he decides to do something about it.
‘Office Space’ is a film that resonates well even today as workers all over the world stand up to the rich upper class who horde all the wealth while leaving the hard work for the people lower down the system. A black comedy with some iconic moments, this film is definitely a must watch for all.
8. Clerks
Available on: Paramount+
Cast: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonauer, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith
The people ready to serve you at the counter of any particular convenience store always have the wildest experiences thanks to the diverse crowd they are exposed to during their hours at work. This film focuses on the lives of these people as they tells us what kind of people visit them and how they behave depending on a number of circumstances.
From the ingenious mind of Keving Smith, ‘Clerks’ is a slice of life comedy that was produced on a very small scale and yet had a very big impact on its audience.
9. Phone Booth
Availabe on: HBO Max
Cast: Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell, Katie Holmes, Paula Jai Parker
Stuart is a publicist who lives a very full life without inhibition, but one day he picks up a random call at a phone booth which leads to the most stressful time of his life. Stu is being extorted by the man at the other end of the phone, and his dirty secrets are revealed before the entire police force and the entire city of New York as tries to negotiate with a psychopath.
An absolutely thrilling film filled with witty banter and the musings of a mad man, Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland are the main reason ‘The Phone Booth’ is considered a great film because of their performances and a very solid script.
10. Falling Down
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin, Tuesday Weld, Frederic Forrest
William Foster is a very normal man on his way to celebrate his daughter’s birthday who lives with his estranged ex-wife. When his car breaks down and he’s forced to walk, he’s constantly with annoying roadblocks that complicate his day until the moment that he finally cracks leading to rage fuelled journey that leaves so much destruction in his wake.
‘Falling Down’ is a film that depicts what could happen when a man who’s at the very brink of his existence encounters just one bad day. There is no predicting how a person would react to extreme stress, and this film shows what the worst-case scenario would be.
Also Read: 10 best Lily Collins movies and series on Netflix, Prime Video & more