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Photography provided by Netflix

Kicking the year off with a bang, Netflix has stepped up its streaming game with a loaded roster of binge-worthy original films and series sure to be the topic of discussion during late-night cocktails and Sunday brunches alike. Whether you’re looking for a 12-episode thriller, a sci-fi adventure or an unbelievably true documentary, here are the 8 Netflix shows and flicks we suggest fill your screen time during the start of 2019.


You

A Lifetime-turned-Netflix series, You is the latest age-of-the-Internet thriller. Think elite characters like in the iconic series Gossip Girl but with multiple slow-building twists and turns, similar to that of Gone Girl. Headlined by Penn Badgley and Shay Mitchell, this tour de force will have you on the edge of your sofa feeling all the feelings.


Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

A bona-fide superhero, Marie Kondo is making her presence even larger in our homes with her reality show. Author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and creator of the KonMari method, she has reshaped how we think about our cluttered homes and has made us realize how the state of our living spaces ultimately affects our entire lives. A tearjerker at points, this series guarantees to have you folding, organizing and questioning at any given moment: Does this spark joy?


Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Based on chef and food writer Samin Nosrat’s James Beard–winning book of the same name, this series is an exploration of why things taste the way they do. Stepping into home kitchens around the world, Nosrat discovers how exactly flavor is created by using the central principles of the four title elements, demystifying the magic of each dish one ingredient at a time.


Bird Box

If you haven’t seen Bird Box, honestly, where have you been? Breaking the Internet at the end of 2018, the Sandra Bullock–led thriller has had social media in a frenzy for weeks now. Based on the buzz-worthy novel by Josh Malerman, the film depicts a world plagued with mass suicide by an enemy that can’t and shouldn’t ever be seen. OK, so maybe Bird Box isn’t going to earn Bullock an Oscar nod, but you can’t be a part of the conversation if you don’t watch it, am I right?


Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Expanding the narrative of one of Netflix’s biggest hits even further, the first Black Mirror film has started a revolution in the way we consume media. The first choose-your-own-adventure experience on the streaming platform, Bandersnatch follows a young programmer who adapts a fantasy novel into a video game, ultimately losing control — and perhaps his sanity — in the process. With countless permutations based on decisions you make throughout the film, Bandersnatch is built to be watched (played?) over and over again.


FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

Fyre Festival is finally getting the documentary it deserves. This film tells the story of the horrifically comical scam-ridden event, paints a portrait of the mastermind behind the tragic flop and sheds light on the terrifying power of modern influencers.


Russian Doll

Out February 1

Created by Amy Poehler, Natasha Lyonne and Leslye Headland, this existential dark comedy follows Lyonne’s character through an endless cycle of partying and death. With Poehler on board, it’s sure to be an absolute hit.


The Umbrella Academy

Out February 15

An adaptation of Gerard Way’s popular comic-book series, the Umbrella Academy is Netflix’s latest attempt at reinventing the superhero. Starring Ellen Page, Tom Hopper and Mary J. Blige, this adventure centers around an estranged family destined to save the world during an imminent apocalypse.

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