Netflix is constantly adding new movies to its library, some that are absolute classics and others that have a bit more of a mixed reputation.
In November, the streamer adds those of 2021 The little things to its content collection. The film follows two cops on the hunt for a serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles, while one of the cops harbors secrets that threaten to destabilize the case.
Although the film was less well received by critics, The little things has its share of fans.
Watch With Us breaks down our defense and why you should watch it this weekend.
This will work well for fans of crime thrillers
The little things follows career veteran deputy sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington) and rookie Sergeant James “Jimmy” Baxter (Rami Malek). After Deke discovers a connection between a recent murder and an old case he was investigating, they team up to track down a serial killer haunting the Los Angeles area. Deke has a secret about his involvement in one of the previous murders, while the two cops are convinced that a shady criminal named Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) is their man.
The film may not reinvent the wheel, but The little things offers a fun, retro noir vibe. Lovers of Zodiac And Se7en (both of whom seem to have a clear influence here) are sure to dig into the thriller and crime procedural vibe. The film leans into its own genre stereotypes and clichés in a way that will likely satisfy those who can’t get enough of these kinds of stories.
The film is both pulpy and clumsy
Part of what makes The little things a watch so fun is that it takes itself very seriouslya real breath of fresh air in an era where Hollywood often seems allergic to the risks of unapologetic seriousness. This is also coupled with a delightfully eccentric performance from Leto, of a character who seems genetically modified in a laboratory to be a serial killer suspect.
Other aspects of the film require some leaps of logic and a certain degree of suspension of disbelief, and the film attempts to gloss over the fact that plot holes and loose threads abound. But if you’re on the movie wavelength, it’s a pretty easy task to accomplish. Part of the appeal of this type of ridiculous, overly serious crime thriller is that they’re flawed, and often the flaws only make the movie that much more interesting.
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek anchor the film
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek in The Little Things
Nicola Goode /© Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett CollectionWashington and Malek are fantastic actors in their own right, and together their performances help elevate much of the film despite the fact that their characters are somewhat underwritten. Malek portrays Baxter as a slightly strange idiot, while Washington plays the grizzled elder statesman more expertly than Baxter. Expertise that Baxter desperately needs if he is to have any chance of solving this case.
Are you excited for the next big thriller? If you’re in desperate need of a suspenseful new movie, you’re in luck. With Hulu and Netflix dropping twist-filled premieres this month, October 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic season for thriller fans. The Watch With Us team is particularly enthusiastic […]
Although the two men are extremely different and do their jobs very differently, they (perhaps obviously) eventually realize that they have more in common than they might have thought. Both have a knack for finding clues, and both men are tormented by their work long after they’ve finished their jobs – but Deke doesn’t really want Baxter to turn into him one day. Plus, when Leto’s character joins the film, it gives the two disparate detectives a satisfying cat-and-mouse chase.
Flow The little things now on Netflix.
