PHOTO: COURTESY OF NETFLIX.
With all the things Netflix has done right, it still hasn't figured out an easy way to help users find those hidden gems. Unless you don't have a job, a family, hobbies, or any social life whatsoever, poring over its endless array of sub-sub-sub genres can prove a real waste of time.
That's why today we give thanks to A Better Queue. Designed by Dave Jachimiak, the website allows users to filter through Netflix Instant titles by manipulating a series of criteria. Toggle the genre, year of release, and Rotten Tomatoes rating to discover obscure titles, hidden gems, and critical darlings that may otherwise get lost among the glut of new releases and TV shows that tend to dominate Netflix's homepage. Once you've found what you're looking for, just click the title, and A Better Queue will instantly redirect you to Netflix with your selection ready to go.
An example: I just set the Tomatometer at 70, the genre to sci-fi/fantasy, and the year of release to nothing before 1980 and nothing after 1985. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with Explorers starring a young River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke.
A Better Queue, making life better, one cheesy '80s movie at a time.