International & Regional is where Netflix showcases stories from around the world. The category brings together films and series produced outside the English-language mainstream, including Korean thrillers, Spanish dramas, French comedies, Japanese animation, Nollywood productions, Bollywood blockbusters, regional Indian cinema, and acclaimed films from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
What was once considered a niche section of the platform has become one of Netflix's most important categories. International productions now regularly become global hits, attracting audiences far beyond their home countries. Viewers who may never have actively searched for a Korean drama, a Spanish thriller, or a Nigerian crime film often discover them through Netflix recommendations and quickly find themselves exploring entire national film industries.
The category's growth has been driven by a simple reality: great storytelling travels. While language and cultural context may differ, compelling characters, strong performances, and engaging stories resonate regardless of where a film was produced.
Netflix has invested heavily in international content, not only licensing successful regional productions but also funding original films and series created specifically for local audiences. The result is one of the most diverse collections of entertainment available on any major streaming platform.
Because the category spans dozens of countries, languages, and filmmaking traditions, it helps to understand the major regional groupings before choosing what to watch.
The subgenres inside International & Regional
Korean Film and Television
South Korean entertainment has become one of Netflix's biggest success stories. The category includes psychological thrillers, crime dramas, historical epics, romantic stories, horror films, and science fiction productions known for their strong visuals, emotional storytelling, and willingness to blend genres.
Spanish-Language Cinema
Spanish-language productions come from Spain as well as Latin America, offering everything from crime thrillers and family dramas to dark comedies and historical stories. Many have gained international recognition for their suspense, style, and distinctive storytelling approaches.
Bollywood
Bollywood films combine drama, romance, action, music, and spectacle on a scale rarely seen elsewhere. While musical sequences remain a defining feature of many productions, modern Bollywood also includes thrillers, biographical films, crime stories, and socially focused dramas.
Regional Indian Cinema
Beyond Bollywood, India's film industry includes major regional cinemas producing films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and several other languages. These productions often bring unique storytelling traditions, genres, and cultural perspectives to global audiences.
Nollywood and African Cinema
Nigeria's Nollywood industry has become one of the largest film industries in the world by output, while filmmakers across Africa continue producing stories that reflect local cultures, histories, and contemporary realities. Netflix has expanded its investment in African productions significantly in recent years.
Japanese Cinema
Japanese filmmaking ranges from animated features and science fiction to family dramas, crime stories, and historical films. The country has one of the world's most influential cinematic traditions, with both classic and modern productions continuing to find international audiences.
European Cinema
European productions cover a wide range of styles and languages, including French, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Polish, and other national cinemas. These films often emphasize character-driven storytelling, distinctive visual styles, and themes that differ from mainstream Hollywood productions.
Latin American Cinema
Latin American films frequently blend social commentary, family dynamics, crime, politics, and magical realism. The region has produced some of the most acclaimed international films of the modern era.
International Crime and Thriller
Crime stories have become one of the strongest international exports on Netflix. Whether set in Seoul, Madrid, Lagos, Paris, or Mumbai, these films often deliver suspense and tension while providing a window into different societies and legal systems.
International Drama
Dramas remain the foundation of many regional film industries. Family conflicts, historical events, social change, personal ambition, and cultural traditions often form the basis of stories that feel both specific to their setting and universally relatable.
Why this category keeps pulling viewers back
International & Regional content offers something that many viewers eventually realize they have been missing: fresh perspectives. After years of watching stories built around similar settings, familiar cultural references, and recurring formulas, international films introduce different assumptions, traditions, and storytelling approaches.
The category also benefits from unpredictability. Viewers often approach international films without the expectations they bring to major Hollywood releases. That openness can make discoveries feel more rewarding and memorable.
Language barriers have become far less significant than they once were. High-quality subtitles, dubbing options, and increasing audience comfort with foreign-language content have allowed international productions to reach audiences that would have been difficult to imagine a decade ago.
Netflix has played a major role in accelerating that shift. By placing international productions alongside English-language content rather than isolating them, the platform has helped audiences discover films they might never have actively searched for.
Perhaps most importantly, international cinema expands the range of stories available to viewers. Different countries emphasize different themes, genres, and storytelling traditions, creating a category that feels almost limitless compared to more narrowly defined genres.
International & Regional movies to watch on Netflix right now
This list reflects titles currently available in the category and gets updated as we confirm new additions and remove titles that rotate off the platform. Availability can vary by region, so always check whether a title is currently streaming in your country.
Society of the Snow (2023) – Spain follows the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash as they struggle against extreme conditions while waiting for rescue. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional intensity and historical detail.
The Platform (2019) – Spain takes place inside a mysterious vertical prison where resources are distributed unevenly from top to bottom. The film combines science fiction, horror, and social commentary in one of Netflix's most widely discussed international releases.
My Name Is Loh Kiwan (2024) – South Korea follows a North Korean defector attempting to build a new life in Belgium while navigating isolation, survival, and unexpected relationships.
Officer Black Belt (2024) – South Korea combines action and comedy through the story of a martial arts expert recruited to help monitor high-risk offenders, showcasing the blend of humor and action that Korean cinema often handles so effectively.
Carter (2022) – South Korea follows a man who awakens with no memory and a deadly mission to complete, delivering relentless action through an ambitious visual style.
RRR (2022) – India tells a fictionalized story inspired by two Indian revolutionaries during British colonial rule. The film became a global phenomenon thanks to its action sequences, emotional storytelling, and spectacular musical moments.
Maharaja (2024) – India follows a barber seeking justice after a violent robbery disrupts his life. What begins as a straightforward crime story gradually reveals a much deeper emotional narrative.
The Elephant Whisperers (2022) – India documents the relationship between a family and orphaned elephants they care for, winning international recognition for its intimate storytelling and emotional impact.
Aníkúlápó (2022) – Nigeria follows a traveler whose life becomes entangled with power, love, and supernatural forces in a visually rich historical fantasy inspired by Yoruba traditions.
Òlòtūré (2019) – Nigeria follows an investigative journalist who goes undercover to expose human trafficking networks, offering a tense and emotionally challenging look at exploitation and survival.
Under Paris (2024) – France follows a scientist confronting an unexpected threat lurking beneath the Seine River. The film combines disaster movie elements with creature-feature suspense.
Athena (2022) – France centers on escalating unrest in a housing complex after a tragic incident, delivering a visually striking drama that unfolds with remarkable intensity.
Troll (2022) – Norway begins when an ancient creature awakens deep within the Norwegian mountains, forcing authorities to confront a threat rooted in local folklore.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) – Germany follows a young soldier's experience during the First World War, offering a powerful and unflinching portrayal of conflict and its consequences.
The Wandering Earth 2 (2023) – China expands an ambitious science fiction universe in which humanity attempts to move Earth itself away from an existential threat, combining large-scale spectacle with global stakes.
We will keep updating this list
The International & Regional category evolves constantly as Netflix adds productions from new countries, expands partnerships with regional studios, and introduces original films designed for audiences around the world. We will continue updating this guide as we confirm additions and removals, helping you discover outstanding films from beyond your usual watchlist.
Looking for a different genre
If International & Regional content is not quite what you are after tonight, head back to the complete guide to Netflix movie categories and explore everything from drama and thriller to horror, documentary, science fiction, comedy, and romance.
