First Reformed

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, First Reformed is available in the US on Netflix and Darkroom right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 1,467 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Ethan Hawke anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason First Reformed keeps coming up in conversation. The writing in First Reformed treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. A pastor of a small church in upstate New York starts to spiral out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife. Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, First Reformed delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Ethan Hawke's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.