Netflix Philippines: Filipino Movies That Are Now Available For Streaming!

Since the release of Dalagang Bukid, the film industry in the Philippines has flourished into a thriving art form. Filipino films have not only received critical acclaim locally but also received recognition worldwide.

In 2016, Lav Diaz’ Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and Jun Lana’s Die Beautiful won the Audience Choice Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, to name a few. There are also Filipino films who are gaining international recognition, such as Sean Ellis’ Metro Manila and Brillante Mendoza’s Taklub.

Netflix, one of the largest streaming apps, has decided to add some of the best Filipino films in their collection of titles that can be streamed locally and internationally.

Also read: Travel Documentaries on Netflix to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

Join Philippine Primer as we go through some of the Filipino movies that you can stream on Netflix and some of the titles that are coming soon to your screens!

Birdshot

Mikhail Red’s coming-of-age thriller film, Birdshot was initially released in 2016 at the 2016 Tokyo Film Festival. It follows the story of Maya (Mary Joy Apostol), a 14-year-old girl who lives with her father, Diego (Ku Aquino) in an isolated shack. Diego makes his living as a caretaker of a sanctuary, and Maya has the urge to explore the land beyond their shack. Diego, who wants to teach Maya how to be self-sustaining, teaches her how to use a gun. After failing her first lesson, Maya wanders off into the sanctuary and consciously kills a Philippine Eagle. On the other hand, Domingo (Arnold Reyes), a newly-recruited police officer and Mendoza (John Arcilla), his partner, investigate the disappearance of a group of farmers who were en route to Manila. De la Paz (Dido de la Paz), the police commander, believes that finding the killer of the Philippine Eagle should be Domingo’s primary concern.

Birdshot is the first Filipino film to be streamed on Netflix worldwide, and it is the first Filipino film to be made available on Netflix Philippines.

Heneral Luna

Jerrold Tarog’s Heneral Luna is a historical biopic that follows General Antonio Luna, the leader of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the time of the Philippine-American war. The film begins with the conflict between the Philippine and American forces and ends with the assassination of General Luna in 1899. The film has received critical acclaim and was selected as the Philippine entry at the 88th Academy Awards but was not nominated.

Goyo: The Boy General (Ang Batang Heneral)

A sequel to Jerrold Tarog’s Heneral Luna, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (The Boy General) is a historical epic film that centers on General Gregorio del Pilar, a Filipino general who died during the Philippine-American War at the Battle of Tirad Pass. The events of Goyo follow the aftermath of General Luna’s assassination up to the capture of Former President Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini.

BuyBust 

Erik Matti’s BuyBust was first screened at the 2018 New York Asian Film Festival before it was released on August 2018 in the Philippines. The story follows Nina Manigan (Anne Curtis), a rookie police officer who is assigned to the anti-narcotic elite squad after being the sole survivor of her previous squad that was slaughtered in a drug raid. The team is assigned to conduct a “buy-bust” operation in the slums before finding themselves trapped by the settlers, where they are forced to fight to get out of the area amidst the chaos.

Kita Kita 

Set in Sapporo, Japan, Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo’s Kita Kita follows the story of Lea (Alessandra De Rossi), a tour guide in Hokkaido who suffers temporary blindness after witnessing the infidelity of her fiance. Her neighbor, Tonyo (Empoy Marquez), befriends her and the two eventually fall in love with each other. Kita Kita premiered at the 12th Osaka Asian Film Festival in 2017.

Eerie

Mikhail Red’s Eerie follows Pat Consolacion, a guidance counselor at an all-girls Catholic school where an unexpected and gruesome death of a student threatens the institution’s very existence. As Pat tries to involve herself with the students with the hope of helping them cope and uncover the student’s death. Her investigation is threatened by the strict and ruthless Mother Alice who puts into jeopardy Pat’s tenure at the school for meddling with the case. Pat, however, has an unusual talent that allowed her to meet Eri – a student of the school who has been watching the school for years. As the events progress, Pat begins to unearth the secrets of the school and the monster that it has fed for the past century.

The film first premiered in Singapore during the Singapore International Film Festival.

Metro Manila

Initially released in 2013, Sean Ellis’ Metro Manila follows the story of Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal), his wife, Mai (Althea Vega) and their two children, Angel (Erin Panlilio) and Baby (Iasha Aceio). The family relocates to Metro Manila when their rice crops were no longer profitable. Oscar finds himself a job as a security officer for the Manila Armored Couriers while Mai becomes a hostess for a nightclub in Makati City. The film ultimately shows how far a man is willing to go for the sake of his family.

Miss Granny

Based on the South Korean film of the same name, Miss Granny follows Fely, an old widower who comes across the mysterious Forever Young Photo Studio where she meets a mysterious photographer who offers to take a photo of her. Fely discovers that she has somehow transformed into her younger self and joins her unknowing grandson’s band as a singer.

Hintayan ng Langit (Heaven’s Waiting)

Lisang has overstayed her stay in purgatory after dying from a diabetes complication in her 60s. During her stay at her purgatory waiting room, Lisang occasionally causes trouble for other souls for her own entertainment. Today, however, her waiting has come to an end. She’ll finally be able to crossover and her waiting is going to be leased to a new tenant: Manolo who turns own to be Lisang’s newly deceased ex-boyfriend.

The film is based on the one-act play of the same name by Filipino spoken word artist, Juan Miguel Severo that first premiered in the 2015 Virgin Labfest.

Four Sisters and a Wedding

Four Sisters and a Wedding is comedy-drama that follows the Salazar sisters: Theodora “Teddie”, Roberta “Bobbie”, Alexandra “Alex” and Gabriella “Gabbie” as they attempt to stop the wedding of their younger brother and while doing so, the four of them discover resentments among each other.

Seven Sundays

Manuel is a widower is lonely as a result of being left by his children who are working and have no time for family. Manuel brings his children together to tell them that he was diagnosed with cancer and only had seven weeks to live. Because of the news, the Bonifacio siblings rally together to help each other and spend their father’s remaining days with him.

Also read: Award-Winning Films That You Can Stream on Netflix

These are just some of the Filipino movies that are available and will soon be available for streaming on Netflix. There are more films that are included in the line-up of Filipino movies that are available for streaming.

What are you waiting for? Catch these amazing titles on Netflix now!