The best Kevin Smith movies are slowly but surely making their way onto Netflix, with the classic Chasing Amy having been added in January 2020. I was first introduced to Kevin Smith’s work through films like Jay and Silent Bob and Dogma, with the latter requiring my friend and me to cycle miles through the rain to borrow an old copy.
His unique style of moving making is incredible to watch, and we have made a list of the ten best Kevin Smith movies on Netflix.
Clerks (1994)
Many Kevin Smith movies, especially in the early days, were low budget, and the cult classic Clerks is no exception. It follows the life of a regular guy who works as an attendant in a convenience store and his friends. The plot revolves around a single day where the characters try everything to get out of working their mundane job. Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson star, both of whom have solid acting chops but aren’t big names.
A sequel Clerks II followed in 2006, and there are even reports that Kevin Smith is working on a third film.
Mallrats (1995)
With the runaway success of Clerks, Smith was able to get more funding for his next movie. Mallrats had a $6.1 million budget compared to Clerks’ $30,000. The plot centers around two college kids trying to win back their girlfriends and stars Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee, and Claire Forlani.
Like all of the best Kevin Smith movies, Mallrats includes some social commentary on the rampant consumer culture throughout the U.S.
Chasing Amy (1997)
Chasing Amy now joins the list of Kevin Smith Movies on Netflix. Ben Affleck and Jason Lee play best friends who get caught up in a love triangle, and Joey Lauren Adams is the girl they both fall for. Their seemingly perfect friendship hits a rocky road as the pair duke it out for Adam’s attention. However, the female protagonist is a lesbian, and the film also explores her accepting who she is and her sexuality.
Dogma (1999)
Who wouldn’t want to get back into heaven? Well, Dogma follows Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who are disgraced angels that have fallen from heaven. They intend to use an age-old loophole to get back in. Their epic adventure sees them encounter supernatural beings and overcome hilarious obstacles along the way. The chemistry between the two main stars is fantastic and adds to the feel of the whole movie. It also stars heavy hitters Alan Rickman, Alanis Morissette, and Salma Hayek.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Making their first appearance as drug dealers in Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob became a recurring theme in Kevin Smith movies. Smith stars as Silent Bob while Jason Mewes takes the reins as Jay. In their first solo movie together, a major Hollywood studio has decided to make a movie about them based on a comic book. Their journey to the Tinseltown and the ensuing chaos is a great watch. The pair spawned a franchise, and two more stand-alone movies were created.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
After struggling to pay their bills and speaking with an old classmate at a high school reunion, Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen decide that the best course of action is to make a porno. The old friends are roommates but have never been romantically involved, but things are about to change as they need to pay their bills. Their porno is to be a parody of Star Wars, but that’s where the simplicity ends. Emotions begin to run high in this romantic comedy.
Cop Out (2010)
Like many of the best Kevin Smith movies, the protagonists in this movie find themselves in a bizarre world. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan star as two veteran cops searching for a stolen mint-condition baseball card. It’s not the crime that shocks them most but the sheer fanatical nature of the fans involved. This was the first film that Smith directed but did not write.
Red State (2011)
With a dabble of religion and a dose of sexuality, Red State revolves around three young men search for group sex. As they drive out to a remote location, they soon find themselves at the mercy of a Christian cult hell-bent on killing gay men. Michael Parks, John Goodman, and Melissa Leo star in this horror/ thriller. Like a lot of newer Kevin Smith movies, the movie forays into the horror genre.
Tusk (2014)
With a newfound taste for scaring, Smith created Tusk as the first installment in his horror-based True North Trilogy. The protagonist finds himself at the mercy of a lunatic who is mutilating him to look like a walrus, Mr. Tusk, who saved him earlier in his life. Michael Parks, Justin Long, and Haley Joel Osment star in Smith’s first major worldwide release since Cop Out.
Yoga Hosers (2016)
Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith star as two teenagers who stand accused of murder. After narrowly escaping a Satanic group with some Nazi bratwurst’s help, the pair must fight for their innocence. The movie is the sequel to Tusk and the second movie in the True North Trilogy, with Johnny Depp and Juslin long making an appearance.
