Short Term 12 was undoubtedly one of the best films of 2013 that got not enough buzz, and it is now streaming on Netflix.
Before each month begins, we bring you a list of what is new on Netflix. This month included films like Mean Girls, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, A League of Their Own, Rocky, and The Terminator.
Occasionally Netflix acquires streaming rights to movies between the date we publish our article and the day they get added to Netflix Instant. This month a very noteworthy movie falls under that category: Short Term 12.
Short Term 12 was one of the best movies released in 2013, but it’s one that far too few people were aware of. It did very well critically. It holds a 99% on the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes with nearly 150 reviews.
Unfortunately the movie never saw a wide release, particularly in comparison to some of the other 2013 movies that are comparable in theme (coming of age stories) such as The Way Way Back, Mud, The Spectacular Now, and The Kings of Summer. With the exception of Mud, none of the above films were as highly acclaimed, but they were all likely known by a wider audience.
What makes Short Term 12 such a great movie? It is a coming of age story, and yes that is a subset of movies that follow a familiar set of beats that make you think if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. But Short Term 12 is unique. It’s one of the most heartfelt films in quite a while, and it’s sure to leave people more than a little misty eyed, especially now that it will see a wider audience because it’s on Netflix.
Its cast isn’t filled with the most famous of actors, but Brie Larson is fairly recognizable in the lead role from past work in movies like 21 Jump Street, The Spectacular Now, Don Jon, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Her performance in Short Term 12 is nothing short of amazing, and not only should she have been nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, but she arguably should have won.